# Apocalypse Unsealed *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.* --- > The Apocalypse Unsealed > The world of the first century > The above map, adapted from the writings of the ancient geographer > Strabo, represents the extent of knowledge of the world at the dawn of the > Christian Era. > *, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶_______________________________________ > > The Apocalypse Unsealed > Based in part upon the Writings of > The Bá b > Bahá 'u'llá h > 'Abdu'l-Bahá > and > Shoghi Effendi > > Compiled and interpreted by > Robert F. Riggs > > Philosophical Library, N.Y. > Copyright 1981, by Philosophical Library, Inc. > 200 West WXth Street, New York, N.Y. 10019 > > Library of Congress Catalogue No. 89-81698 > ISBN 8022-2367-U > To > Dorothy* > Gift of God > > * > Dorothy Riggs died ./ December 3445. > Preface > The interpretation of The Revelation of St. John the Divine presented in > this volume is based on the writings and teachings of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith, a > religion founded by Mı́rzá Ḥusayn 'Alı́, known as Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of > God. > The Bahá 'ı́ Faith grew out of the Bá bı́ Faith that was founded in 1844 by > the Bá b, Mı́rzá 'Alı́ Muḥ ammad of Shı́rá z, Persia. The Bá bı́ teachings > emphasized the forthcoming appearance of "The One Whom God will Make > Manifest", a new Prophet or Manifestation of God. The Bá bı́ Faith stemmed > from Shı́'a Islá m which taught the forthcoming return of the Twelfth Imá m, > Muḥ ammad's Successor, Who would renew religion and guide the faithful. > "This messianic view was the basis of the teachings of the Shaykhı́ sect, so > named after Shaykh Aḥ mad."* The teachings of this sect gave allegorical > interpretations to doctrines such as the resurrection, the Last Judgement and > the return of the Twelfth Imá m. > When the Bá b announced in 1844 that He was the channel through which > grace from someone as yet veiled from men was to flow, it caused > considerable excitement among His fellow Persians. Many people became > followers of the Bá b, but the Persian government and clergy were opposed to > His new doctrines and eventually the Bá b was executed and with Him a large > number of His followers, the Bá bı́s. > Among His followers was a man of wealthy background Who was > incarcerated in Ṭ ihrá n for allegedly attempting to kill the Shá h of Persia. It > was while this man was in prison that He learned from God of His unique > station. His name was Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of God, and He was the > Messenger God had chosen to carry His Message for this Era to all mankind. > Long years of exile saw Bahá 'u'llá h banished from Persia and sent > > * > Firuz Khazemzadeh, "The Bahá 'ı́ Faith", World Order, Spring, .GH/, p. .4. > vii > The Apocalypse Unsealed viii > throughout the Ottoman Empire until, at last, He was sent to the prison > fortress at 'Akká . Notwithstanding the attempts of governments, clergy, and > individuals to halt His teaching, Bahá 'u'llá h proclaimed to the people of the > world God's Message for this time. By His death, in 1892, the Bahá 'ı́ Faith had > spread "beyond Persia and the Ottoman Empire to the Caucasus, Turkistá n, > India, Burma, Egypt, and the Sudan."* > To preserve the unity of the Bahá 'ı́ community after His passing, > Bahá 'u'llá h appointed His son 'Abdu'l-Bahá as leader of the community and > authorized Interpreter of His writings. This appointment, and 'Abdu'l-Bahá 's > subsequent appointment of Shoghi Effendi Rabbá nı́, His grandson, as sole > Interpreter of the teachings of Bahá 'u'llá h and Guardian of the Cause, > ensured that the writings of the Faith and, indeed, the Faith itself would be > free from the dangerous schisms and taints of personality that had harmed > the Faiths of previous Manifestations of God. Clearly, Bahá 'u'llá h intended to > secure for His followers a single, unquestioned interpretation of His words > and teachings. > In His writings, Bahá 'u'llá h has unsealed the meanings of the Books of the > Bible that were sealed in the time of Jesus Christ until man should be of > sufficient spiritual maturity to understand what is in them. In the case of The > Revelation of St. John the Divine, a book that has been interpreted by > numerous worthy scholars, Bahá 'u'llá h's interpretation is deeply symbolic > but clear and concise within the teachings of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith. > Using the words of Bahá 'u'llá h and the interpretations of His teachings as > a base, the writer has carefully gone through each verse and revealed the > meaning that lies richly within, waiting to illumine the eyes of mankind and > fulfil the promises made to him by God through His Manifestations. > Melissa Tansik > 10 November CE 1975 > S Qudrat BE 132 > > * > Kazemzadeh, p. ... > Contents > Preface...................................................................................................................................... . vii > Acknowledgements.. .......................................................................................................... . xv > Part I > Introduction........................................................................................................................... . l > Sources.......................................................................................................................... . m > The allegorical method.. ........................................................................................ . n > Gematria.. ..................................................................................................................... . ll > Number symbolism.. ............................................................................................... . lm > Astrological symbolism.. ....................................................................................... . op > Geometric symbolism.. ........................................................................................... . oq > Further literary devices.. ....................................................................................... . mp > The time and space of the Apocalypse.. .......................................................... . mp > Future scholarship.. ................................................................................................. . ml > Part II > The Revelation of Saint John the divine..................................................................... . rl > l. The Greatest Name.. ................................................................................................. . rm > o. Letters to ancient faiths.. ....................................................................................... . ns > m. Letters to recent faiths............................................................................................ . tu > r. The invisible Zodiac.. ............................................................................................... . qt > s. The book of seven seals.. ........................................................................................ . uu > n. The Book is opened.. ................................................................................................ . lpt > t. God's servants are sealed.. .................................................................................... . lls > q. The fate of the early church.. ................................................................................ . lou > u. The fall of Christendom.. ........................................................................................ . lms > lp. Interlude.. ..................................................................................................................... . lrm > ll. The course of Islá m.. ................................................................................................ . lrt > lo. The travail of the word.. ......................................................................................... . lst > lm. The rise of the caliphate.. ....................................................................................... . lns > lr. The world-stage is set.. ........................................................................................... . ltt > ix > The Apocalypse Unsealed x > ls. His name revealed.. .................................................................................................. . lqt > ln. The end of the age.. .................................................................................................. . lut > lt. Mysteries revealed.. ................................................................................................. . opt > lq. Encomium of victory.. ............................................................................................. . olm > lu. The triumph of Bahá 'u'llá h.. ................................................................................. . olu > op. Satan bound.. .............................................................................................................. . oos > ol. The Holy City.. ............................................................................................................ . oml > oo. Epilogue.. ...................................................................................................................... . oss > Appendices............................................................................................................................. . onl > A. The number of Bahá in the Apocalypse.................................................... . onl > B. Correlation of some dates in the Book of Daniel.. ................................ . onm > C. Origins of gematriot and number symbolism.. ..................................... . ont > D. The Arabic and Hebrew gematriot.. ........................................................... . otl > E. Glossary of symbols.. ........................................................................................ . otm > F. Chronological table.. ......................................................................................... . oqu > G. Some Bahá 'ı́ Apocalyptic Writings.. ........................................................... . ous > H. Late changes and errata (copied from I, Daniel).. ................................ . mpt > References.. ................................................................................................................. . mpu > xi Contents > > Illustrations > Figure Page > The world of the first century ii > The time and space of the Apocalypse xiii > la The T'ai-Chi, or Yang-Yin symbol of China ls > lb The all-seeing eye of Brahma ls > o The sacred tetraktys of Pythagoras lt > m The ancient cosmos ol > r The precession of the equinoxes os > s Examples of the quadratura circuit ou > n Hierarchy of revelations sr > t The Greatest Name sn > q The sickle formed by the seven churches np > u The four pillars of the Age of Aquarius ul > lp The invisible zodiac or hidden mandala ur > ll Aries the ram or lamb lpl > lo Prophecies to the Christians lpq > lm The golden triangle lom > lr Harmonic patterns using the golden triangle lor > ls Pentagon, dodecahedron, pentagram los > ln Future, present, past lot > lt Sagittarius-Scorpio lmt > lq Prophecies to Islá m lrq > lu Wonders in heaven lsu > op War in heaven lnl > ol The woman in heaven lno > oo nnn, the magic square of the sun ltm > om The horse in heaven lqm > or A mystic triangle lur > os Geometry of the Holy City, New Jerusalem omn > on Geometry of the Bahá 'ı́ Mashriqu'l-Adhká r omu > ot Decagon, decagram ort > oq Neter, arm, cubit ort > The time and space of the Apocalypse > > xiii > Acknowledgements > The writer wishes to acknowledge the assistance given throughout the > writing of this book by the Bahá 'ı́ Friends. Initial encouragement and > continued promptings were the gifts of Flora Brooks of Staunton, Virginia. > Her class notes of a course on the Apocalypse given by Ruth Moffett were > inspirational. The writer was also fortunate to have within the local Bahá 'ı́ > communities several people of outstanding talent and knowledge who > offered references, leads and possible answers to perplexing questions as > they arose. Among them were Robert Keithley, Edward Price, James Price > and the late Edward Schlesinger. Edward Price was particularly valuable in > matters pertaining to Islá m and the Arabic language. James Price assisted in > the history of religion. Michael Bernhard gave important aid at several > critical points during the research and also helped in linguistic matters, > especially Greek, Persian and Arabic. In matters pertaining to Koine Greek, it > was sometimes necessary to seek the assistance of Father Peter Rexinas of > the Greek Orthodox Church. > Later during the research, it was my very good fortune to have the > invaluable assistance of Marion Hofman, who alerted me to additional source > material, and, by her critical analysis of the manuscript, led me to a reexamination of certain aspects of my text. > Melissn Tansik wrote the Preface and offered valuable suggestions > > xv > The Apocalypse Unsealed xvi > in matters of style and grammar, suggestions that, unfortunately, were not > always followed. Bette and John Alden Decker were responsible for most of > the art work. Typing assistance was sometimes given by Shirley Johnson. > Tireless patience, encouragement and understanding were the major > contributions of my beloved Dottie, who also helped in typing and offered > numerous suggestions to improve the style. And, most of all, the writer > wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the Master, His Holiness 'Abdu'l- > Bahá , without Whose gentle whisperings the writer would not have passed > the first alpha. > R. F. R. > Charlottesville, Virginia > X October, CE 1979 > 11 Mashı́yyat, BE 136 > Part I > Introduction > The sources > The Revelation of John, also known as the Apocalypse, or simply > Revelation, has been the subject of controversy since early Christian times. > The controversy is still active, many doubting its authenticity, others > doubting its originality. There can be no doubt, however, that the book has > been widely known and accepted in the West since the second century after > Jesus Christ. > The book purports to be a revelation to a certain John, possibly the > Apostle, given to him through an angel by Jesus Christ. The language of the > book is highly allegorical and has defied all attempts at interpretation until > the present time. Like all prophetic books, it has been "sealed"* and has > awaited the time when the One worthy of unsealing it has made His > appearance on the stage of history. That One was Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of > God, and the Manifestation of God in our time. > Bahá 'u'llá h unsealed the Apocalypse in two ways. Firstly, His Advent > fulfilled many prophecies in the book, thus making them comprehensible and > permitting the remaining portion to be filled in by scholars. Secondly, > Bahá 'u'llá h revealed with His own pen the meanings of many important > symbols used in this and other prophetic writings. Without these symbols > being explained it would be impossible to find a rational interpretation of the > Apocalypse. > Bahá 'u'llá h was assisted in unsealing the books by His Fore- > > * > See Daniel .3:/, M–G; John .5:.3–.Q; I Corinthians .Q:M–.3. > Z > The Apocalypse Unsealed c > runner, the Prophet-Herald Mı́rzá 'Alı́-Muḥ ammad, the Bá b. He too fulfilled > many important prophecies in the book. The work of unsealing the books > was continued by the son of Bahá 'u'llá h, 'Abdu'l-Bahá , designated as the > Centre of the Covenant by Bahá 'u'llá h and the Interpreter of the Bahá 'ı́ > Revelation. For the first time in nearly two thousand years, 'Abdu'l-Bahá > revealed the meanings of whole chapters of the Apocalypse in a language that > was clear, unambiguous and convincing. In particular, He revealed in totality > the meaning of Chapter 11 and part of Chapter 12, probably the most difficult > and the most crucial for the interpretation of the remaining chapters. These > and other revelations are found in Some Answered Questions.* Following the > death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Shoghi Effendi Rabbá nı́, the great-grandson of > Bahá 'u'llá h and a relative of the Bá b, continued the work by revealing the > meanings of certain important symbols in the Apocalypse. These are found > principally in his masterpiece, God Passes By. > In addition to these authentic sources, various additional material was > used. Tablets from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to private believers were very useful, as > were transcriptions of conversations between 'Abdu'l-Bahá and visitors to > the Holy Land. One example of the latter was a transcription of a > conversation purported to have occurred between 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shahná z > Waite. The title of this item is The New Jerusalem and its Twelve Foundation > Stones. Its content deals exclusively with subject matter in Chapter 21 of the > Apocalypse. Although it contains errors in transcription and typing, its style > and depth are clearly that of 'Abdu'l-Bahá , and this writer adapted its > contents as if they were authentic, although the obvious errors were > corrected. > The remaining sources have no authenticity whatsoever in terms of the > Bahá 'ı́ Revelation. They were used only when they seemed to concur with > and to amplify the authentic sources. As for the remaining bulk of the > material in this book, it must be > > * > A list of references can be found at the end of this book. > W Introduction > confessed that it is largely the result of the writer's own research, intuitions, > and deductions. Consequently, they should not be considered the official > view of the Bahá 'ı́ Universal House of Justice nor any other official organ of > the Bahá 'ı́ Administration. However, the writer has written nothing that is > contrary to his own convictions as a Bahá 'ı́. > Does this book succeed in reconstructing the original meanings in the > Apocalypse? The answer to this question must rest with each individual > reader. It is the writer's opinion that, as a whole, it represents a fair > approximation to the original meanings. As a Bahá 'ı́, I accept the total > validity of those passages that have been specifically revealed by the > Prophets and Interpreters of the Bahá 'ı́ and Bá bı́ Faiths, but beyond being a > matter of faith, their interpretations are totally convincing from a rational > point of view. Furthermore, their interpretations compel the seeker to go > beyond well-travelled roads of scholarship and to explore the intellectual life > of the ancients, an exploration that proves to be a rewarding adventure. > Modern man has little use for ancient numerology, gematria, and other > obscure literary devices. But even the casual seeker will soon realize that an > understanding of the ancient allegorical method is absolutely essential to > understanding the Apocalypse. If he chooses to pursue the study, he will > discover that modern science and mathematics rest upon hypotheses that > are basically identical to those of the ancient Pythagoreans. The particular > numbers and geometry that are held to be significant in the construction of > the universe are, for the most part, different from those held to be significant > in the first century, but a number-geometrical rationality or logos underlying > the apparent chaos of nature is still hypothesized by the modern natural > philosopher. The seeker will also discover that ancient symbolism, long > assumed to have no relevancy to modern man, may still exist in the collective > unconscious and manifest itself in dreams, art-forms, and modern religious > practices.1 > The Apocalypse Unsealed Y > One point needs to be emphasized. The Revelation of John belongs to a > former Era. Its significance to the Bahá 'ı́ Era is that it accurately prophesies > historical events between the first century and modern times. The > culmination of the prophecy has been the Advent of Bahá 'u'llá h and the > beginning of a new cycle of human events. It is, therefore, a further proof of > the validity of Bahá 'u'llá h as the Messenger of God in this Day. The principal > value of this book, if it has any, will be as a teaching aid. Hopefully, it will > help to correct certain fallacious notions held by some modern theologians > concerning the nature of the Second Coming of Christ and the events that are > to attend the Coming. These fallacious notions have been serious > impediments to a truly constructive and realistic understanding of > progressive revelation and the roles played by the many Messengers of God > throughout history. > > The allegorical method > The prophet who has had a vision of the future course of events cannot > reveal the vision undisguised. To reveal it in direct and unambiguous > language would automatically preclude the prophecy from coming true. For > if past experience proved that a prophet's predictions were unambiguous > and perfectly reliable, would not man seek to avoid the dire consequences of > some future catastrophe by avoiding the events leading up to it? For > example, if a man knows for certain that he will die by an aeroplane accident, > surely he can thwart fate by the simple ploy of travelling by train or ship. > But there is another reason for using symbol and allegory.2 The prophecy > becomes a test of one's spiritual acuity. To the sceptic who denies the > existence of anything beyond that which can be touched or measured, the > prophecy is nothing but meaningless, even laughable, nonsense. To the > gullible and the superstitious, the prophecy is to be taken literally, regardless > of how absurd such an interpretation may be. Neither of these attitudes will > lead to understanding. The sceptic avoids the necessity of understanding by > denying the existence of the spirit. The super- > X Introduction > stitious avoids the necessity of understanding by playing it safe and denying > nothing. > The true road to understanding lies somewhere between these extremes. > The true seeker must admit the reality of things spiritual but must not accept > a theological assertion that does not seem reasonable and in agreement with > common sense. The bridge to salvation is as fine as a thread and as narrow > as a blade. But the bridge must be crossed and the risks of disaster must be > accepted. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained the need for allegory in these words, "… the > revelations of the prophets can never be adequately translated owing to the > poverty and imperfection of our language. Their thought is so lofty that > human minds do not grasp it. Hence the use of allegories. Parables make > men ponder and pray for enlightenment that they may understand the > hidden meaning. Search for truth deepens man's capacity, clarifies his vision > without engendering intellectual pride."3 > To the modern intellectual, conditioned by a world of scientific > exactitude, the allegorical method is frustratingly inexact. A symbol is > somewhat like a variable in a mathematical equation—it may assume any > one of several values depending upon the context. But there are bounds > beyond which the symbol cannot vary, and when found, the correct value has > the ring of truth. More than that, an incorrect interpretation in one section of > the prophecy has a way of refusing to fit somewhere else. To use a modern > analogy, the Book of Revelation is something like a gigantic crossword puzzle: > although a word with the correct number of letters may be found that seems > to approximate the intended meaning, it may later prove to be the wrong > word when the rest of the blocks are filled in. It is for similar reasons that, > when correctly interpreted, the entire prophecy will hang together and > become a convincing whole. > Symbolism, by virtue of its flexibility and its inexactness, allows the > prophet to extend the meaning of a prophecy to include more than one event. > Thus a passage of prophecy may refer to several events, some immanent, > some in the distant > The Apocalypse Unsealed S > future. Consequently, the use of symbolism permits the prophet to reveal > some universal principle whose validity is independent of time and place. It > is for this reason that numerous interpretations have been found for various > passages in the Apocalypse and more will be found in the future. The pursuit > of the "beast whose number is 666" has occupied biblical hunters for > centuries with many unpopular candidates being caught in the net. > The prophet was able to find symbols everywhere, in nature, in historical > and contemporary events, and even in everyday mundane experience. > Arising in the morning, the glorious sunrise reminded him of the dawning > of a new Day of God, a new Dispensation whose Lord was the Manifestation > of God for that Day. The dawning place of that sun had a zodiacal sign, and > the slow Precession of the Equinoxes reminded him of the long duration of a > Day of God compared to a day of man. Almost certainly, the early Christians > must have noticed that their symbol for Jesus, the Fish, coincided with the > zodiacal sign of their age—Pisces. They may also have noticed that the > preceding zodiacal ages of Aries the Ram and Taurus the Bull had been > dominated by priesthoods characterized by those symbols. And perhaps > even earlier under the age of Gemini the Twins, there may have been a > priesthood memorialized by the Cain and Abel story.* 4 > To the prophet, the warmth and life-giving power of the sun5 suggested > the spiritual light and life-giving power of God. Sometimes the light was > direct. Sometimes it was reflected off of man-made structures. In this way, > the mirror became like the Prophet Who reflects the attributes of God clearly > and without distortion. Reflected off other objects, it became the earthly > church, imperfect and corruptible. > The night was watched over by the moon that reflected the light of > heaven onto the earth. Here the moon in its various phases also resembled > the Prophet, or some other great religious > > * > See below, "Astrological Symbolism". > R Introduction > leader of the Church. The star became other members of the hierarchy. The > morning star became the Herald of a new Day of God. Other stars were fallen > stars and thus fallen from heavenly grace. Still others were brilliant and > constant; in this way they also symbolized important spiritual leaders, > prophets, or Revelators from God. > Besides the days and nights, there were the seasons. The seasons > suggested the birth, growth, flowering and decay of a religion or a society. > Sometimes there were clouds that obscured man's vision of the sun and were > like veils between man and God. At other times they were clouds of glory, or > became sources of rain—heavenly bounty that caused the living things of the > earth to offer praise and gratitude to the Creator. Rain was sometimes > destructive too, especially when accompanied by high winds and lightningfire from heaven At other times the winds became gentle breezes wafting the > Word of God over mankind. > Destructive rains were sometimes followed by a rainbow. Its multicoloured iridescence reminded the prophet that God speaks to man in many > ways. The arc of the rainbow was a bridge between heaven and earth and > was like the Covenant between God and man. > Walking through the forest, the prophet saw the whole world of man in > allegory. Herbs, flowers, and grass were rooted in the soil, like the great > masses of mankind. Towering above the herbs were the magnificent trees > reaching towards heaven like great leaders of men, sometimes spiritual, > sometimes secular. The fauna of the forest were particularly expressive, > some animals being like vicious men, others being gentle and loving. Birds, > because of their curious shapes and voices, seemed to be like men's souls > that wing their ways to heaven, or to express special attributes often found in > men. Slithering among the herbs and flowers there was the serpent—kingly > in appearance, cunning, often deadly. Because it shed its skin it also seemed > to express the principle of immortality and healing. > Coming across stones of curious shapes reminded him of the > The Apocalypse Unsealed 10 > solidity of truth* or of the concepts of God sometimes held by men. But when > one discovered a gem, a divine principle might become crystallized, uniquely > combining pure spirit and matter to express some abstract thought in solid > form. Larger rocks became places of refuge, especially when they enclosed > caves or places of hiding. And when he saw mountains and valleys covered > with trees, rocks, flora and fauna, they were like nations and great religions. > Some mountains were towering bulwarks of strength, some seemed to reach > towards heaven, and many mountains were sacred places where man might > make contact with God Himself. Other valleys and mountains had been > places of conflict and suffering and attained special significance of their own. > But what could be more refreshing to the spirit than some clear, pure > spring or brook? Water became something to purify the soul, spiritual > knowledge and insight—the renewal of spiritual life itself. The springs and > running brooks emptied into great rivers, the mainstreams of spiritual > guidance. From thence the rivers emptied into the seas of the spirit. Men, > like fish, inhabited the seas, and their numbers were as the sands. The sea of > the spirit was sometimes a turbulent place, and men had to find refuge on > island-churches or by riding ships upon the waves. If that failed, the seas > might turn into death-blood and no escape was found. > The world built by man had its significance too. There were holy cities, > like Jerusalem, where the Law of God prevailed in pristine purity. Then there > was Babylon, morally corrupt, materialistic, like the Law of God corrupted by > a selfish and egotistical priesthood. Babylon was populated by whores, evil > purveyors of false doctrine—prostitution of the Word. But Jerusalem had > streets of golden virtues, and had gates that could be entered only by those > with the innocence of pearls. The garments worn by the inhabitants of the > cities reflected their white-purity or their opulent-corruption. And like a > holy temple, the very dimensions of the Holy City symbolized its sacred > meaning. > > * > As if "chiselled in stone!" > 11 Introduction > Besides these sources of symbol, the prophet could draw on other devices > to test the reader's spiritual acuity. A word that seemed to have a familiar > meaning might have a deeper meaning when its roots were investigated. > Diabolos (Devil) became the "Deceiver". Apollyon became the "Destroyer". > This literary device is familiar enough to modern readers, but another used > by the prophet is almost totally unfamiliar. That device is called the > gematria,6 and its importance to understanding the Apocalypse cannot be > overstated. > > Gematria > Consider the possibility of using the ordinary letters of the English > alphabet to denote numbers. This possibility would not be too remote if the > Arabic system of numerals (Q, U, Z, c, W, Y, X, S, R, V) had not been invented. > Assuming that we did so, we might assign the value Q to the letter A, the value > U to the letter B, and so on. Then a curious thing would result—all words > would also have numerical values and some numbers would spell words. > The possibility of giving a second meaning to a word or to a number would > be rather obvious. This is precisely the origin of gematria. > Since the Greeks did not have separate number symbols, they resorted to > the use of their alphabet for that purpose. By the first century CE, the > numerical equivalence of the Greek alphabet had evolved into the following: > Table ; > The Greek Gematria > Q U Z c W Y X S R > Αα Ββ Γγ Δδ Εε Ϛϛ Ζζ Ηη Θθ > 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 > Ιι Κκ Λλ Μμ Νν Ξξ Οο Ππ Ϙϙ > 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 > Ρρ Σ σ/ς Ττ Υυ Φφ Χχ Ψψ Ωω Ϡϡ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 12 > Certain symbols* for Y, 90 and 900, though still used in numerical work, > had fallen into literary disuse, and their values were formed through a > combination or modification of other symbols. Other ancient peoples > employed equivalent systems. In Arabic, it was known as the abjad. > The value of a word or a combination of words was equal to the sum of its > elements. Thus either αω or ωα had the value 801. > The letter-numbers Q (α) through R (θ) of the upper row of Table Q were > considered as archetypes, while their decadal successors in the columns > below were considered as representing those same archetypes raised to > higher degrees. Thus the archetype of 800 (ω) was S (η). > The archetype of a large number was obtained by successive addition of > its elements until the archetype was discovered. To discover the archetype > of 832 (ωλβ) for example, we first add the archetypal values of its elements > S+Z+U to obtain 13. Next, we add the resulting elements, Q+Z to obtain c. > Hence the archetype of 832 is c (δ). > The process of obtaining the archetype of a letter-number is sometimes > called cabalistic contraction or reduction.† In this book the archetype of a > letter-number will be called its archetypal value in contrast to its literal > value. For example, the literal value of Ιησουº ς Jesus is 888. The archetypal > value is six.7 > Returning to the main course of the argument, the prophet was able to > enlarge the meaning of a word or a phrase by giving it a value by gematria > equal to another word or phrase. This second word or phrase might have a > meaning that would give a profound implication to the first. The power of > this literary device will become apparent as the reader enters the > Apocalypse.8 > > * > Usually called stigma, goppa, and sampi respectively. Ref. 61, pp. .., 3Y. > † > The archetype of a number is called the digital root in the parlance of modern > mathematics. > 13 Introduction > In a similar way, the literal value of a word or number can be given a > further profound meaning with its archetypal value is investigated. To > understand the import of the archetypal value, one must be familiar with > some of the rudiments of ancient number symbolism. > > Number symbolism > There is no doubt, certain numbers such as π (Z.QcQWRUYWZW …)* and e > (U.71828 …) are important building blocks of pure mathematics. In the realm > of physics, man may have discovered many important fundamental > constants. One of these is the ratio of subatomic particle action to radiation > action. The ratio has the value 137. Then there are the so-called "magic > numbers" (U, S, 20, 50, 82, 126) of nuclear physics that define the number of > neutrons in the closed shells of stable atomic nuclei. > The imagination is excited by the meanings that might lie hidden in these > discoveries. The ancient natural philosophers, whose scientific resources > were probably less developed than our own, found similar excitement in the > possible meanings that lay hidden behind special numbers.9 Certain of these > numbers, such as π (Z.114159 …) and the Golden Number Φ (Q.61803 …) are > still considered important to an understanding of the universe.10 Other > numerological speculations of the ancient philosophers are out of vogue, at > least for the present, but we must investigate some of the meanings that the > first century philosophers may have ascribed to the special numbers of the > Apocalypse to obtain a fuller understanding of the author's intent. > The literature of ancient numerology is extensive, and the concepts > underlying the subject have been confused by centuries of speculation, > especially during the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, it is possible to reconstruct > the probable meanings originally intended by ancient philosophers and > theologians as understood in the first century.11 > > * > not to be confused with π = M4 of the gematria. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 14 > The numbers that have the greatest significance in the Apocalypse are: U, > Z, c, X, R and 12. The significance of other numbers will be explained in the > main text. To the list above we might include 22, the number of chapters in > the Apocalypse. This is also the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, > and the 22 chapters means that the book is complete and finished. > The significance of the remaining numbers is arrived at in the following > way: > The concept of God as being One leads to His symbol the Monad Q. In this > form God may also be represented by a Pillar12 or Sacred Pole. But in this > form He is alone and without His creation. Consequently, He formed the > Dyad U, the principle of opposition or duality./0 At this stage one can think of > the equivalent Chinese concept of Yang and Yin (Figure Q), the dualistic > principle of male and female, positive and negative, the container and the > contained, thesis and antithesis, life and death, etc. It was through the > principle of duality that matter was created.13 > The next phase is the reconciliation of duality to form the Triad Z, > containing an ordering or uniting principle connecting the two opposites. At > this level God is conceptualized as abstract Divinity, the Creator. In the > words of Plato,14 "First, out of the Indivisible (the Same) and the Divisible > (the Other), God made Essence. He then took the three elements of the Same, > the Other and the Essence, and mingled them into one form, compressing by > force the reluctant and unsociable nature of the Same and of the Other. > When He had mingled them with the Essence and out of the three made one, > He again divided this whole into as many portions as was fitting, each > portion being a compound of the Same, the Other, and the Essence." > The geometric symbol for the Triad is the triangle since it is formed from > three points. The ancient triangular Hindu symbol for the all-seeing Eye of > Brahma (Figure Q) persists on the Great Seal of the United States and is > printed on the reverse side of the one dollar bill. The Star of David is > composed of two triangles; the Bahá 'ı́ Star [actually, the unity star. Ed] is > composed of three. > 15 Introduction > > Figure ;a > The T'ai-Chi, or Yang-Yin symbol of China > > Figure ;b > The all-seeing eye of Brahma > The Apocalypse Unsealed 16 > Some examples of the use of the Triad Z among the ancients to symbolize > abstract divinity are: > Memphian Ptah, Sekhet, Nefer-Tem > Theban Amon-Ra, Maut, Khonsu > Abdyan Osiris, Isis, Horus > Sumerian Enki, Emlil, An > Orphic Phanes, Uranus, Chronos > Zoroastric Ormand, Mithras, Ahriman > Hindu Brahma, Vishnu, Siva > Taoist T'ien-pao, Ling-pao, Shen-pao > Cabric Axercos, Axiokersa, Axiokersos > Phoenician Ashtraroth, Milcom, Chemosh > Tyrian Belus, Venus, Thammuz > Grecian Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter > Roman Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto > Eleusinian Iacchus, Persephone, Demeter > Platonic Tagathon, Nous, Psyche > Celtic Hu, Ceridwen, Creirwy > Teutonic Fenris, Midgard, Hela > Gothic Woden, Friga, Thor > Scandinavian Odin, Vile, Ve > Mexican Vitzliputzle, Kaloc, Tescalipuca > Gilbert and Ellice Islands Nareau, Nikikitea, Nareau Te Rabakau > Buddhist Personality, Church, Law > Judaean He Who was, Who is, Who always will be; > Three Heads of the Holy Ancient > Christian15 Father, Son, Holy Ghost > Gnostic Divine triads (various) > Muslim Essence, Creator, Creatures > 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains the correct meaning of the Trinity in Some > Answered Questions (pp. 127–R) as the One God, His Holy Spirit, and His > Manifestation. > 17 Introduction > The next development is the Tetrad c. It is the "crossing" or product U×U > and represents the formation of the world of man from combinations of the > Dyad.16 One geometric symbol of the Tetrad is the square since it is formed > by c points. Another symbol of the Tetrad is the cross. c also symbolizes > solidity or volume, since c points are the minimum number required to > define a volume, that is, a tetrahedron or triangular-based pyramid. > Bahá 'u'llá h employed the Tetrad in His Tablet, The Four Valleys, in which He > describes the c types of mystical wayfarers. > The numbers Q, U, Z, c were combined in the Tetraktys of Pythagoras, a > sacred symbol of certain ancient mystery cults (Figure U). > > Figure D > The sacred tetraktys of Pythagoras > This symbol was treated as the key to understanding the whole of life. > Theou of Smyrna (first century CE) enumerated ten sets of four things that > the Tetraktys was held to symbolize.17 > Numbers: Q, U, Z, c > Magnitudes: point, line, surface, solid > Elements: fire, air, earth, water > The Apocalypse Unsealed 18 > Simple bodies: pyramid, cube, octahedron, icosahedron > Living things: seed, growth in length, growth in breadth, growth > in thickness > Societies: man, village, city, nation > Faculties: sensation, opinion, knowledge, reason > Seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter > Ages: infancy, youth, manhood, old age > Human being: body, mind, soul, spirit > The next development is the X. Being the sum of Z and c, it can represent > the union of heaven and earth. X was the number of the known planets. > Among the ancients, X was also the number of opportunity, "because in > nature the times of fulfilment with respect to birth and maturity go in sevens. > Take man, for example. He can be born in X months, cuts his teeth after > another X, reaches puberty about the end of his second period of X years, and > grows a beard at the third.—Aristotle18 > On the other hand, X was the symbol of expansion and sacrifice among the > Babylonians and ancient Hebrews. For example, animals entered Noah's ark > by sevens (Genesis X:U–Z); Jacob spent X years in servitude for Leah and X > years more for Rachel (Genesis 29); X years was the legal limit of slavery > under Mosaic law. X was also the number of trial and punishment. The Ark > of the Covenant was in the land of the Philistines for X months (I Samuel Y:Q), > and the Israelites were in bondage for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11, 29:10). > The repeated use of X in the Apocalypse can mean all of these things. The > book represents a prophecy of X progressive Revelations (training) and X > punishments of mankind through various tests and plagues. But man is also > given the opportunity (X) to recognize the Christ Returned, Bahá 'u'llá h, > symbolized by R, through Whom heaven and earth will be united (X). > Other examples of the use of the X symbol among the ancients are:19 > 19 Introduction > Chinese: H days of creation > Persian: H steps of progress toward heaven > Hindu: H mansions, abodes of created spirits > Judean: H days of fasting, sacrifice, and prayer > Roman: H planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus) > Gnostic: H Greek vowels arranged in cabalistic manner to signify the Creator > Japanese H household gods > Bahá 'u'llá h used the X in His Tablet, The Seven Valleys, describing X stages > of spiritual development. > The use of the R in the Apocalypse is indirect and hidden, which may be > considered remarkable in itself, since R was considered supremely sacred, > being the Perfected Triad or the Trinity of Trinities, that is, Z×Z. Its complete > absence as a literal number in the Apocalypse is another clue to the seeker as > to its importance. However, R appears with high frequency in the archetypal > values of various numbers and phrases as will become clear in the text. The > significance of R is that it is the number of Bahá ,20 the Greatest Name of God, > and was used as a seal by Bahá 'u'llá h, His Manifestation. The numerical > value of Bahá is derived from the Arabic equivalent of the gematria, the > abjad. > Since R equals Z×Z, it also symbolizes the union and reconciliation of all > mankind's concepts of God.21 Being the largest number less than the decad, R > also represents the highest unity.22 > A second way of combining Z and c is by taking their product 12. Thus 12 > is another symbol of the union of heaven and earth on a still higher order > than X. The number 12 became a symbol for the universe, containing both > matter and spirit. As the 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 represents the precession > of epochs.23 It was the perfect measure since it is divisible by U, Z, c and Y, > and has been handed down to us as the dozen, the 12 months of the > The Apocalypse Unsealed 20 > year, the 12 hours between sunrise and sunset, and, of course, the 12 signs of > the zodiac. By cabalistic contraction, 12 becomes Z and is, therefore, a holy > number. 12 was also the original number of significance and completion. > > Astrological symbolism > In Hamlet's Mill,* Professors de Santillana and von Dechend present an > impressive body of evidence that the ancients were not only very familiar > with the dawning places of the sun at different seasons of the year, but, more > significantly, were well aware of the phenomenon now called the Precession > of the Equinoxes. In order to appreciate the awesome effect the knowledge > of this phenomenon must have had in antiquity, we must review the model of > the cosmos as conceived by the ancient cosmologists and astrologers. > According to Professor de Santillana, the model of the cosmos resembled > the system shown in Figure Z. The extremity of the cosmos was regarded as > a great crystalline sphere, that is, the firmament, on which were placed the > milky way and the constellations of fixed stars. A band of stars, called the > zodiac or "circle of beasts", delimited the paths of the sun and the other > moving heavenly bodies, that is, the planets or "wanderers". The earth was > placed at the centre of this sphere, its axis inclined 23½ degrees with respect > to the axis of the celestial sphere. The spinning of the celestial sphere or the > earth on its own axis might account for the days and nights. The tilt of the > earth's axis with respect to the sun's journey of 365 days through the > "houses" of the zodiac accounted for the seasons.24 > Various models were proposed to account for the brilliance and motions > of the stars and planets. One model was that of Ptolemy, providing seven > concentric crystalline "heavens"† for the seven planets. In popular myth, the > planets were considered > > * > Reference YM. > † > II Corinthians .3:3 > 21 Introduction > > Figure F > The ancient cosmos > The oval zodiacal ring is the earth's equatorial plane. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 22 > to be shining gods, or perhaps lamps carried across the firmament by gods or > angels. > Regardless of the model, the regularity of planetary movements and the > spectacular panorama of the skies led men to consider the hand of the zodial > to be the "true earth". The stars and planets, the inhabitants of the true > earth, became the true lords of time and the originators of history, with man > at the heavy earthbound centre of the system taking on the role of mere > spectator to "earthshaking" cosmic events over which he had little or no > control. > Thus was born the royal science, astrology, and it became a matter of > great importance for men to know when the stars showed good or bad > aspects. The band of the zodiac was divided into twelve principal > constellations, and various names and attributes were assigned to them for > the purposes of divination. Because the stellar constellations occupied > unequal spaces along the celestial sphere, astrologers eventually found it > convenient to separate the zodiacal band into twelve "signs" of equal length > as an aid to astrological computations. The signs and constellations of the > zodiac within recent millennia have been called by the following names: > Zodiacal Precession Sign or English > order order constellation name > Q Q Aries Ram > U 12 Taurus Bull > Z 11 Gemini Twins > c 10 Cancer Crab > W R Leo Lion > Y S Virgo Virgin > X X Libra Scales > S Y Scorpio Scorpion > R W Sagittarius Archer > 10 c Capricornus Goat > 11 Z Aquarius Water Bearer > 12 U Pisces Fishes > 23 Introduction > The zodiacal order corresponds to the dawning time of the sign during > the solar year commencing with the Vernal equinox. The Precession order is > reversed from the zodiacal order since the sun appears to slowly retrogress > through the zodiacal houses. > There is a considerable disagreement among modern astrologers > concerning the starting point of the age of Aquarius and, indeed, of any of the > zodiacal ages. The disagreements stem from such questions as the historical > origin of the zodiac, whether certain specific stars, the sign or the > constellation is to be used as a reference, and when the signs were exactly > aligned with the constellations. The least trenchant view is that there are no > clear starting points, and the ages, like the earthly seasons, are gradually > transformed into one another. > Returning to the celestial sphere of Figure Z, it was recognized that the > earth's axis, being tilted with respect to the celestial system, was directed at a > northern point that was not coincident with the true axis of the celestial > sphere. It was common to consider the celestial sphere as having an open > hole or "door" at the northern end of the celestial axis, while the star > Canopus marked the terminus of the southern axis. The great circle (not > shown in Figure Z) tracing the centre of the zodiacal band is called the > celestial equator. The "dry earth" was the ideal plane passing through the > celestial equator. The plane of the earth's equator extended to the celestial > sphere also had significance. The earth's equatorial plane divided the zodiac > into "dry land" and the "waters below". "Fire" (not shown in Figure Z) was > the name of a great circle passing through the north and south poles of the > celestial sphere. > We are now in a position to understand the "square earth" and the > Precession of the Equinoxes. The equinoxes are the two days during the > calendar year when the days and nights are of equal twelve hour duration. > The solstices, also important to astrological symbolism, are the two days of > the year corresponding to the longest and shortest days. The approximate > dates of these four events are > The Apocalypse Unsealed 24 > ol March Spring or Vernal equinox, equal day and night. > ol June Summer solstice, longest day [southern hemisphere winter]. > ol September Autumnal or Fall equinox, equal day and night. > ol December Winter solstice, shortest day [southern hemisphere > summer]. > Originally among the pastoral peoples of the Middle East, the sun rising in > the triangular-shaped constellation of Aries the Ram marked the Spring > equinox. That is why, to this day, it is said that the Spring season always > appears under the sign of Aries. But it was discovered over a long period of > observation that the constellation of Aries gradually began to lag behind the > true beginning of the Spring season. Thus the Spring season is usually > ushered in by a constellation other than Aries. Indeed, the constellation that > ushers in the Spring will be different from "age to age", and it is customary to > name the "age" of historical man to agree with the zodiacal constellation at > the Spring equinox. > The gradual shifting of the constellations, which we now know is caused > by a gyroscopic precession of the earth's axis, is called the Precession of the > Equinoxes. The Precession of the Equinoxes is extremely slow, requiring 72 > years to precess only one degree along the celestial sphere, requiring 25,920 > years to complete a full cycle in which the sun returns to its original "house" > in Aries at springtime. The 25,920 year cycle is called a "Great year" or a > "Platonic year". One twelfth of the Platonic year, a period of 2160 years, is > called a "Platonic month". Some idea of the slowness and the majesty of this > phenomenon can be understood by referring to Figure c. The figure shows > the appearance of the zodiac as it is seen today and as it appeared c,500 years > ago. During all those millennia, the zodiac has shifted a mere 60 degrees! > The Precession of the Equinoxes is accompanied by another phenomenon, > the dislocation of the north pole or Precession of the Poles. The north > celestial pole, located near the star beta Ursae Minoris at the beginning of the > Christian Era, now lies near alpha Ursae Minoris. In another twelve thousand > years the north polar star will be Vega. > 25 Introduction > > Figure M > The precession of the equinoxes > The Apocalypse Unsealed 26 > In ancient times, the constellations in which the sun rises at the equinoxes > and solstices were conceived of as four "pillars" or "corners" of the "true > earth". Connecting the four "corners" with straight lines generates the > "rectangular" or "square earth". In Figure Z are shown the four corners > corresponding to the age of Aquarius, the zodiacal age into which we are now > entering. These four corners were Pisces, Sagittarius, Virgo and Gemini. > Thus we see that the Precession causes a major reorientation of the > ancient cosmic system on an average of once every U,160 years; the shifting of > the rising points of the sun in the houses of the zodiac, the dislocation of the > north polar star, the "shaking of the corners of the earth", a "twilight of the > gods". > Since the astrological theories of antiquity correlated stellar phenomena > "above" with worldly historical events "below", the Precession took on a > profound significance. The appearance of a new constellation at the Spring > equinox portended a "new heaven and a new earth", a new Message from > God, and world-wide cataclysmic physical and historical events. Old > religions and governments could be expected to topple, flood and fire > (symbolically) might be counted on to destroy the gods and records of the > dying civilization. But God "shall live as long as the sun endures, long as the > moon, age after age."—Psalms 72:W. > It is clear from a careful reading of the Holy Books that astrological > symbolism was a common literary device in antiquity. For example, consider > the correlation of the twelve sons of Jacob with the signs of the zodiac. A hint > that the twelve sons might be correlated with astrological influences is given > in Genesis 37:R where Joseph has a dream of "the sun, moon and eleven stars > bowing down to him". The dream turns out to be a prophecy that Joseph's > family, including his eleven brothers, will later bow down to him in Egypt > (42:S). The correlation becomes even more interesting when it is discovered > that it is possible to correlate all thirteen children of Jacob, including his > daughter Dinah, with the astrological signs. For later, in Genesis 49, we > 27 Introduction > find the famous blessings of Jacob on his sons that are highly suggestive of > the signs of the zodiac. > Reuben "boiling over with water", is Aquarius the Water Bearer. > Simeon & Levi "the brethren", are Gemini the Twins. > Judah "the Lion's whelp", is Leo the Lion. > Zebulon who "shall dwell at the breach of the sea", is Pisces the > Fishes. > Issachar "a strong ass crouching down between the sheep folds", > is Taurus the Bull. > Dan "a serpent in the way", is Scorpio the Scorpion. > Gad "a troop shall press upon him, but he shall press upon > their heel", is Aries the Ram, leader of the flock. (Aries, > being the first sign of the zodiac, "presses on their heel", > in the circular zodiac.) > Asher the weigher of bread, is Libra the Scales. > Nephtali "a hind let loose" is Capricornus the Goat. > Joseph whose "bow abides in strength", is Sagittarius the > Archer. > The remaining signs of the zodiac are not so readily identified. One > argument goes that Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son, corresponds to Cancer > the Crab, since it is a "young" constellation formed many years after the other > eleven. Presumably the Crab is as "ravening as a wolf, devouring his prey by > morning, dividing the spoil at night." Dinah, the only daughter, is assigned to > Virgo. > Be that as it may, the Twelve Tribes were required to carry standards or > family signs (Numbers U). The four chief tribes and their zodiacal signs were: > Judah—a lion, Reuben—a man (Aquarius), Ephriam—a bull, and Dan—a > scorpion, the sign formerly called the Eagle in very ancient times. These > particular four signs will prove to be very interesting in the fourth and fifth > chapters of the Apocalypse and are also found in Ezekiel. > In Ezekiel's vision, Chapters one and ten, we find a remarkable > description of the cosmic mechanism* resembling the > > * > These verses are often quoted by UFO buffs as evidence of flying saucer sightings > in ancient times. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 28 > mechanical models proposed by the ancient Greek Ionian and Milesian > philosophers such as Anaximander. Ezekiel's zodiac (Q:10–19) emphasizes the > same four zodiacal signs corresponding to the four chief tribes—man, lion, > ox, and eagle. The zodiac has "rims high and dreadful" and the four chief > signs have "their rims full of eyes (start) round about. And when the living > creatures (zodiacal beasts) went, the wheels went beside them, and when the > living creatures were lifted up (dawned) from the earth, the wheels were > lifted up." It will become obvious in Revelations c and W that Ezekiel's vision > parallels that of John, and that the "glory of the Lord" sitting on the throne in > Ezekiel Q:24–28 is Bahá 'u'llá h. > > Geometric symbolism > Certain geometric symbols or mandalas must be explained before we > enter the Apocalypse. We have already noted that the Tetrad c symbolizing > the world of man can be represented by a square or cross. Extending the > square into a volume results in a cube, another symbol for the world of man. > One symbol for heaven, the realm of the spirit (and hence heavenly > virtues) is the circle. The circle is the perfect figure, having neither beginning > nor end; thus it can represent eternity and infinity. A source of ambiguity > enters here. Since the perimeter of a circle is roughly Z times its diameter, Z > can sometimes represent the realm of heaven, heavenly virtues, and so on, in > addition to representing the Holy Triad. Spinning the circle about its > diameter generates the sphere, another symbol for heaven. In analogy to the > addition of Z and c to obtain X, circles, crosses, spheres and cubes can be > combined in various ways to symbolize the union of heaven and earth. The > squared circle mandala is called the quadratura circuli, examples of which > are shown in Figure W. The quadratura circuli has appeared in many forms > such as oriental mandalas, the swastika, and the Latin cross with the circle of > eternity. It is still a powerful determinant in our unconscious life. By > comparing Figures Z and W, it can be seen that the quadratura circuli is latent > in the ancient cosmological model.25 > 29 Introduction > > Figure U > Examples of the quadratura circuli > The Apocalypse Unsealed 30 > The best known of all geometric symbols is the Great Pyramid of Giza. It > apparently represents a squared circle since the perimeter of its square base > equals the altitude of the pyramid multiplied by U-times the circular π. The > sum of the diagonals of the base of the Great Pyramid is 25,827 pyramid > inches, a very close approximation to the number of years in the Great year > of the Precession. > By inference, the Great Pyramid can be considered as another model of > the cosmos and a symbol of the union of heaven and earth. However, there is > a considerable controversy concerning the purpose of the pyramids.26 > > Further literary devices > Another literary device used by the prophet that must be understood is > the reiterated prophecy. It is a further method of disguising the prophecy > and testing the seeker's spiritual acuity. In this style, the same prophecy is > repeated two or more times using different allegorical or literal expressions > to amplify its meaning in different ways. To the reader who assumes that the > account must follow a lineal sequence of events, the account will be > confusing and impossible to reconcile. A related technique is to tax the > reader's memory by scattering crucial but related bits of information > throughout the prophecy. > Nor is every event in the Apocalypse to be taken allegorically. The test of > acuity goes both ways. The events are occasionally accurate in a literal sense > and act as guideposts to the seeker to assure him that he is on the right path. > A general rule to follow is first to decide whether the passage is reasonable > when taken literally. If not, look for an allegorical meaning that is in accord > with reason and common sense. That failing, the passage may be assumed to > have a transcendental meaning. > > The time and space of the Apocalypse > From the outset the Apocalypse has staggering dimensions. The > Revelators and peoples of seven Faiths are specifically addressed, and these > are the Divinely revealed Faiths of the > 31 Introduction > region called Asia* as understood by the first century reader. But the major > portions of the Apocalypse are more limited, being primarily directed to the > early Christians and to the peoples of the future Faith of Islá m. In the closing > chapters the prophecy describes world-wide events and a message is given to > the whole of mankind warning of the Advent of the Return of Christ, > Bahá 'u'llá h. Who will come to reap the harvest of mankind at the end of the > Age of Prophecy. > The time span covered by the prophecy is also impressive, covering the > period from about CE 100 until the present time and at least a thousand years > into the future. Here, however, the major portions of the prophecy end with > the events that are happening in our own century. > It is important to understand the shifting emphasis that occurs > throughout the Apocalypse. For instance, the "whole world" may mean the > Middle East at one time but may mean the twentieth century world at > another. The changes in the dimensions of the prophecy roughly correspond > to the level of the intended reader's awareness of a humanly populated > world, that is, an oikumene, as the Greeks called it. > > Future scholarship > Some promising fields for future research appear to be in the realms of > music and psychology. Professor McClain's recent book The Myth of > Invariance (Reference 56) develops the close relationship between ancient > musical scales, cosmology and numerology, with prime emphasis on the Rig > Veda. Since much of the ancient number symbolism was common to the > whole Eurasian continent, Egypt, and possibly Middle America, it is > > * > The region of Asia extended from the Hellespont to Africa in the south and the Bay > of Bengal in the east. It included India but did not include modern Asiatic Russia > and the Far East. (See frontspiece.) The Roman Province of Asia (.3G BCE) as > distinguished from the region of Asia, corresponded roughly to modern Turkey or > Asia Minor. The name of the Province of Asia became "Asia" in much the same > way that the United States of America has become "America". > The Apocalypse Unsealed 32 > obvious that the Apocalypse is a fertile field to explore for further > correlations. In Chapter 15, Note R, will be found a reference to ancient > musical scales that tie in with certain "tones" of the "new song" of the > Apocalypse. One wonders whether the remaining tones of the scales have > meaningful correlates hidden by gematria. > The student of psychology will be struck by the many archetypal symbols > of Jungian psychology that are found throughout the Apocalypse. Examples > of these symbols and some of their psychological interpretations are listed > below: > Rock (Stone) the life force, completion, > invariance, the Eternal, God. > Precious gems the union of opposites, the > fusion of matter and spirit, the > ordering principle. > The Philosopher's Stone, the Pearl God in matter, the Eternal. > of Great Price (the White Stone) > The helpful animal (good beast) the instinctual basis for the Self. > Quadrangular mandala conscious realization of inner > wholeness. > Circular mandala the inner wholeness itself. > Temple logic, reason. > Miraculous child the Redeemer. > Priestess (Bride) the anima, the female element > in the male psyche. > Harlot the negative anima. > Gate hope. > Shepherd's hook authority. > Horse uncontrollable instinctive drive > erupting from the unconscious. > Sea the unconscious. > Cloak, robe outer mask or persona. > City completion of the Self. > Bird transcendence, intuition. > The perennial appeal of the Apocalypse can, no > 33 Introduction > doubt, be ascribed to the use of such archetypal symbols. One might wonder > whether the archetypes of the collective unconscious may not, in turn, have > been formulated to some extent by the Apocalypse itself. The investigation of > these and related questions is beyond the scope of this book. > The work of presenting a detailed and thoroughly satisfactory > explanation of the Apocalypse has only begun. The achievements contained > herein are feeble compared to that which remains to be done. We must > remember that the source of this revelation is Jesus Christ Himself, and the > subtleties and levels of meaning that are contained in the book permit man to > have but a hint of the power and sovereignty of God's Manifestation. Without > the corporal assistance of 'Abdu'l-Bahá , the work will be slow and prone to > error. > It is for that reason that the writer has chosen to include in the same > volume the unmodified King James Version (KJV) of Revelations for direct > comparison with the interpretation. Since it is an interpretation, it is not a > substitute, and it would be sacrilege to present the interpretation without > giving the reader the opportunity to challenge and to disagree. In this way > the writer hopes to avoid the accusation that he has, himself, become guilty > of the very thing the Apocalypse condemns, that is, of corrupting the Word of > God. (See Chapter 22, verses 18, 19.) > The use of the King James Version as the baseline was based upon the > following considerations: It is by far the most familiar version in the English > speaking world and at the same time is considered to be one of the most > accurate translations. However, the Revised Standard Version (980) was > used to resolve obscurities in the text of the King James Version. The careful > reader will find it instructive to compare several translations of the Sacred > Texts. Sometimes differences will arise from nuances of the individual > translators; at other times from variations in the original sources. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 34 > > Notes > After thousands of years of neglect and purposeful suppression, we can > only discern a small portion of the elaborate letter-number symbolism that > pervaded the ancient mystical texts. Letter-number symbolism lends itself to > endless speculation, and it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to deduce all of the > correctly intended meanings that may lie hidden in a number or a phrase. > The writer has avoided the temptation to introduce improbable speculations, > no matter how attractive, unless these speculations open up possibilities for > research by future scholars. It is in this spirit that many of the conjectures in > the Notes have been proffered, and it is hoped that their improbable nature > will not prejudice the reader against the more certain inferences in the main > text. > 1 See References Q, U, and 64. > 2 The allegorical method was used by the Greek philosophers, especially the > stoics, to reconcile the ancient pagan religious beliefs with enlightened > philosophy. The method was also used by Jewish, Gnostic and Christian > writers and was very popular during the first century. See Ref. Z, p. 91. > Also see, e.g., I Corinthians U:13–14, c:20, 10:Q–c, 14:15–20; Galatians c:21–26; > Mark c:10–12, 34; II Corinthians c:18; Matthew 13:10–23, 36–43, 15:S–20, > 16:11–12, 17:11–13, 22:29–32, 26:26–28. > Jewish mystics used four methods of interpreting Scripture: literally > (Peshat), allusively (Remez), allegorically (Derush), and mystically (Sod). > See Reference c, pp. 49–50. > 3 See The Hidden Words, p. iv. > 4 The importance of the Twin symbol in the history of civilization is > explained by Otto Rank in Reference X. > 5 Solar worship originating in Syria had become almost a state religion > under the Roman Caesars. The cult was characterized by a hierarchy of > the sun, moon, and stars in descending order if eminence. See Reference > Z, p. 255. > 6 Gematria, once widely used, was one of several kinds of letter-mysticism > practised by ancient mystical writers. Two others less frequently used > were notarikon and temurah. In notarikon, new words were made up of > the first and last letters of other words. In temurah, a new word was > created by transposing the letters of the original word. See Reference c, p. > 49. > 35 Introduction > > 7 Cabalistic contraction is still practised by serious cabalists and by modern > numerologists in "fortune telling". In the view of ancient mysticism, the > letter-numbers Q to R were considered as archetypes of abstract > principles. Their higher decadal successors, e.g. :Q:10:100 or U:20:200, etc., > represented those archetypes raised to higher spheres of emanation, > roughly equivalent to the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees > of comparison in the English language. > The number symbolism described herein was largely Hellenistic. A > mystical Jewish interpretation can be found in Reference S. > Cabalistic contraction can be a useful tool in simple arithmetic problems. > Consider a problem in addition: > Nos Archetypal values > 3.Q 5 > /3H / > 5.G H > .,3YG .H = M > A quick check will show that the archetypal value of Q,259 is also S, since > Q+U+W+R = 17, and Q+X = S. Analogous procedures can be used to verify the > results of problems in subtraction, multiplication and division. This > procedure is sometimes called "casting out of nines" because the same > answer will be obtained if the nines are excluded from the calculation. > 8 Entertaining and provocative discussions of gematria can be found in > References R and 46. A scholarly treatment can be found in Reference c > that also contains a good bibliography. See also Reference 47, 48, 49 and > 50. > 9 The ancients believed that the numbers had formative powers. See > Reference c, p. 47. Pythagoras is reputed to have declared "Number rules > the universe." Plato said, "God ever geometrizes." The modern > mathematician Jacoi expressed his own belief with "God ever > arithmetizes." See Reference 10, pp. xix, xxi. > 10 See References Y, 44, 61. > 11 The concepts elucidated here are based principally upon Plato's Timaeus > and upon those of Nichomachus of Gerasa (c. CE 100) as reported by > Martianus Capella (fl. CE 410–429) in his book De Naptius. The reader is > also referred to References 11 and 12. > 12 God as the Monad may be the subject of Genesis 28:18. The pillars of cloud > and fire representing the Lord in Exodus 13:21–22 may symbolize God as > the Dyad. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 36 > > 13 Indeed, modern physicists have discovered that the principle of duality is > a fundamental property of matter, e.g., electron-positron, neutrinoantineutrino, etc. Duality is also inherent in biological heredity, i.e., > dominant-recessive characteristics. Yin historical activity appears to be > related to the left cerebral hemisphere while Yang is related to the right. > See Reference 13, p. Sff. > Capra gives an intriguing treatment of yang-yin in the Tao of Physics, Ref. > 54. Arguelles in The Transformative Vision, Ref. 13, appears to have > adopted a special definition of yang-yin in order to give Western culture > an "evil" aspect. > 14 Plato, Timaeus, Ref. 29. Three-ism was intimately connected with Greek > and Roman theology. For examples, there was a triple succession of > supreme deities—Uranus, Chronos and Zeus; there were three > Hecatoncheries—Cottus, Gyges and Briareus; there were three points on > the divine Trident, the hound Cerberus had three heads, etc. > 15 The theory of the Sacred Triad was probably based upon ancient > numerological speculation. The Trinitarian doctrine, appropriately > modified, appears to have been introduced into Christian theology by > Tertullian of Carthage. (c. CE 155–222; Ref. 14, p. 78.) This same Tertullian, > who later became a leader of the heretical Montanist sect (c. CE 220), > possibly based his ideas upon the theory of the Sacred Triad that was > current in Gnostic creeds. It was a practice of later Christian cabalists and > missionary writers to refer to the fundamentally different "Trinity" of the > Hebrew Zohar (Father-Creator, Upper-Lower Mother, Creation) in support > of their own doctrine. (Ref. c, p. 118, n. 28 and ch. IX) The doctrine was > hotly disputed by the leaders of the early Church and is still a matter of > contention among Christian theologians. An infamous episode in the > history of the Church was the Theodosian Code of CE 438 that inflicted the > death penalty on those who denied the Trinity. (Ref. 14, p. 103; Ref. 11, p. 37. > Compare KJV and 980 versions of I John W:X–S. Also see Chapter U, Note > 16.) > The Hebrew mystical concept of God as "He Who was, Who is, Who always > will be" may rest upon concept of the Three as the first "complete" > number, having a beginning (Q, was), a middle (U, is), and an end (Z, will > be). The phrase signifies the timelessness of God. > 16 In the ancient Hebrew Sanctuary of the Wilderness, the c fabrics of the > sacred tent and the priestly garment may have symbolized the c elements > of fire, air, earth and water. (Ref. c, p. 14) > An important concept of modern physics is the c-dimensional Einsteinian > 37 Introduction > space comprised of length, breadth, height and time. Some modern > physicists believe that matter can be constructed of four basic particles— > the u and d quarks, the electron, and the electron-neutrino. (Scientific > American, October 75) There are four known forces in physical nature: > the weak nuclear force, the strong nuclear force, the gravitational force > and the electromagnetic force. There are four fundamental physical units > of measure: length, mass, time, and charge. DNA nucleotide groups (see > Note 22 below) are constructed from four chemical radicals. There are > four basic operations in mathematics: addition, subtraction, > multiplication and division. Four colours are necessary and sufficient to > colour a map. > 17 The Tetraktys is an example of another type of number-mysticism that > will be called the "triangular expansion" of a number. The triangular > value of a number is the sum of its components. Thus the triangular value > of c is Q+U+Z+c or 10. In general, the triangular value of a number N is > given by (N+Q) × N/U. > The number W, the literal value of the Bá b, has a triangular value of 15. The > number R, the value of Bahá , has a triangular value of 45. > Both 15 and 45 were sacred numbers to the ancients, 15 being the literal > value of "Eve" (Ḥva) and 45 being the literal value of "Adam" (AÅ dm) in > many oriental languages. (See Reference 15 and Appendix D.) Five, the > number of the Bá b, is also the number of Man, i.e., the four elements plus > ether. See Ecclesiastes 17:W. The geometric symbol for Five is a pentacle > (W-pointed star), a symbol sometimes used by the Bá b in His Tablets. > 18 Reference 16. It is believed by many modern biologists that the human > body replaces its cells once every X years. > 19 Reference 17. Essene writings were especially emphatic of the X, e.g., the X > angels of Mother Earth, the X angels of the Heavenly Father, etc. > 20 The spelling of Bahá ' (Glory) and Bahá 'u'llá h (Glory of God) in Arabic and > the abjad equivalent is as follows: > Bahá ' Bahá 'u'llá h > Letter Value Letter Value > Beh 3 Beh 3 > há ' Y há ' Y > alif . alif . > ḥ amza* . ḥ amza . > Alif† . > lá m Q4 > lá m Q4 > The Apocalypse Unsealed 38 > há ' Y > Total G HY > Mystical references to "Bahá '" can be found in Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, > and Muslim writings. e.g., see References 15 and 18; Isaiah 60:Q–U, > Hebrews U:14. > [*] The ḥ amza is a glottal stop. > [†] In phonetic usage, the second alif disappears and the spelling > > becomes Bhá 'llh as in chapter Q below. > 21 Among the ancients R was also the number of finality, judgement, and the > fulfilment of prophecy. (Reference R, p. 34) > 22 The question arises as to whether or not the decad is simply an arbitrary > radix (base for counting) of the numbering system. An argument that it > may have fundamental significance to all life as we know it is that the DNA > molecule, the primary code-carrying unit of the genetic heritage, requires > 10 nucleotide groups (building blocks to form one complete turn of its > double helix. See Reference 19. > 23 Twelve was also the number of Olympian deities, the Titans, etc. Belief in > astrology was typical during the early Christian centuries. Among the > Greek philosophers the order of the cosmos was reflected in the world of > man, and the concept of stellar influences on historical events was > considered awesome and inspirational. Among the Gnostics, on the other > hand, such influences were antipathetic to man's quest for freedom. The > Gnostics claimed to offer salvation from the X (order of the planets) and > the 12 (cycle of epochs or "generations"). See Reference Z, pp. 66, UWcff. > That the Christians also claimed to free man from cosmic imprisonment is > evidenced by Colossians U:S (980) and Galatians c:Zff. The Son of God is > sent to free man from the "elements" (physical order) and bondage to the > "law", the religious result of mechanistic cosmic influences. See Reference > 20, p. 190 and commentary on "sin", Rev. Q:Y. > 24 See Ref. 53, Appendix I. It is remarkable that many modern cosmologists > again hold the view that the universe is round, except that it is now > considered to be a hypersphere with four dimensions. The ancient > cosmologists know that the earth is spherical, and at least one, > Eratosthenes, had made some reasonably accurate estimates of its > circumference (Ref. Y). > Plato in his Timaeus ascribed a cubical shape to the "element earth". The > medieval notion that the earth is flat and rectangular can be traced to > early Church Fathers such as Saint Lactantius. The sixth century monk > Cosmas in his Topographia Christiana likened the earth to the Hebrew > 39 Introduction > Tabernacle of the Wilderness (Exodus 26, 27) except on a greatly enlarged > scale. The earth corresponded to the floor of the Tabernacle, the sky to its > walls and ceiling. Belief in a spherical earth was not re-established among > the western intelligentsia until about CE 1000, largely through the > progressive leadership of Sylvester II, the "magician Pope". > 25 The swastika was once used as a symbol by the early Christian Church. It > should not be confused with the Nazi emblem that had a counterclockwise orientation, symbolic of the intent of the Nazi leadership to > draw upon "negative occult powers" in opposition to Christian or "positive > occult powers". In early Christian art, round halos were usually reserved > for the dead while square halos were given to the living (Figure URB, > Reference 14). > 26 Besides the Great Pyramid, number and geometric symbolism appears to > have been incorporated in the dimensions of temples and other sacred > structures in ancient times. For discussion of the quadratus circuli, see > References Q, U, and R. Regarding ancient temples and the Great Pyramid, > see References Y, R, 46, 65, 66, and 67. > Part II > The Revelation of Saint John > the divine > > 41 > D > The Greatest Name > .. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his > servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it > by his angel unto his servant John: > 3. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of > all things that he saw. > Q. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and > keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. > God gave this Revelation to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is giving the > Revelation to His servant John through an angel. The Revelation is of things > that must shortly come to pass. John is recording the Revelation, the > testimony of Jesus Christ, and of the things John saw. > The angel is a celestial messenger, a purified soul1 who is sent from > heaven. Shortly come to pass means that the events will soon commence. > The duration of time may seem long to man but is short to God. > The person is blessed who reads the words with spiritual eyes and ears > and remembers the words and lives according to their true meaning. > /. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you and peace, from > him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven Spirits > which are before his throne; > > !" > The Apocalypse Unsealed 44 > John is to give the Revelation to the seven Divinely revealed Churches, > that is, the Seven Faiths of the region known as Asia in the first century. > These churches are those of the Prophetic Cycle begun by the Prophet Adam > that will have living followers at the time of the Advent of Bahá 'u'llá h. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains that the church or temple is a collective centre, a > symbol of thee real Divine Temple, the Manifestation of God.2 > The Seven Sprits before the throne will be met again in Chapter c. They > represent the Most Great Name—Ḥusayn-'Alı́, Bahá 'u'llá h. * Both > of these Names have seven letters in Arabic and Persian.† Bahá 'u'llá h was the > title conferred upon Ḥusayn-'Alı́ by the Bá b. The name Bahá 'u'llá h translates > into English as "The Glory of God". The name Ḥusayn-'Alı́ means literally > "The Good, the Exalted". > The expression "Him which is, which was, and which is to come" derives > from ancient Hebrew mysticism. It is a name for the Lord God . The > expression may also refer to God as His recurring Manifestations. > In The Book of Certitude Bahá 'u'llá h explains that God educates mankind > in phases. Each phase is approximately a thousand years long and is ushered > in by a Revelator Who holds undisputed sway during the Age or Era.3 > Before CE 1844 there were seven revealed monotheistic Faiths in the > region known as Asia in the first century.‡ They were: > Faith Revelator > Sabean Unknown > Jewish Moses > Hindu Krishna§ > > * > Numbers in angle brackets<> refer to References in Appendix G. > † > See Figure 5. > ‡ > See Part I, The Time and Space of the Apocalypse. > § > Lord Krishna is considered the Eighth Avatar of Vishnu by the Hindus and was the > last Manifestation to appear in India prior to Lord Buddha. > 45 Q. The Greatest name > Zoroastrian Zoroaster > (Zarathustra) > Buddhist Gautama Buddha > Christian Jesus Christ > Muslim Muḥ ammad > If one includes the Bá bı́ and Bahá 'ı́ Faiths revealed after CE 1844 the list > has nine members. Revelation is addressed to the Seven Churches and > reveals the Advents of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. > Since the Apocalypse is addressed to the Seven Churches of the region of > Asia, the list leaves out the religions, that may or may not have been Divinely > revealed, of the Far East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.* The list also > excludes Sikhism and Jainism, which are off-shoots of the Hindu Faith. One > can also leave out several monotheistic Faiths that may have been Divinely > revealed but which are now extinct. > The Seven Churches may possibly be represented by the seven > candlesticks of the ancient Jewish Menorah: Peace, Benevolence, Justice, > Light, Truth, Brotherly Love, and Harmony. > Y. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the > dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and > washed us from our sins in his own blood > 5. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and > dominion for ever and ever. Amen. > Jesus Christ is a faithful witness that these things will come to pass. Jesus > was the first to be raised from spiritual death during His Ministry. He is the > spiritual Prince of the kings and rulers of the earth. By sacrificing His blood > (His spiritual life-force) Jesus raised the early Christians from spiritual death. > > * > We note the possibility of a Manifestation in the Far East, e.g., Lao Tzu (Taoism) > and Confucius in China. In the Americas we note Topiltzin-Quetzacoatl in Mexico, > and Vircocha in Peru. The Succession of Manifestations is without end. See Some > Answered Questions, Chapter XLI, etc. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 46 > In the symbolism of the Bible, death means to be devoid of spiritual > awareness and to be without belief in God; sleep means the slumber of > heedlessness, to be temporarily devoid of spiritual awareness; life means to > have entered the paradise of the love of God.4 > In one sense, sin is the disobeying of God's Laws as revealed by His > Manifestation. In another sense, sin is enslavement to animal passions and > motivations. In yet another sense, sin is attachment to the contingent world > of attributes and duality.5 > H. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which > pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, > Amen. > When the spirit of Christ is re-manifested He will come with troubles and > as One hidden by a veil. Eventually, all those with spiritual eyes from every > nation and religion shall know that the Christ has been re-manifested, even > the Jews who pierced Jesus. There will be a world-wide sorrow because He > was not recognized at first. > Clouds means troubles or a veil between man and heaven.6 Because the > Prophet comes in a human body with human limitations, such things cast > doubts in men's minds and act as veils.7 Clouds can also symbolize Divine > Mercy,8 annulment of laws, abrogation of former Dispensations and the > repeal of rituals and customs. "I have come in the shadows of the clouds of > glory, and am invested by God with invincible sovereignty."9—Bahá 'u'llá h > Jesus sometimes referred to those who have eyes and yet do not see.10 > Bahá 'u'llá h explains that the sincere seeker will be rewarded with a new eye, > a new ear, a new heart, and a new mind.11 > The fact that there will be a delay between His appearance on earth and > His eventual acceptance by the peoples of the existing > 47 Q. The Greatest name > (spiritual) generation12 is made clear in Luke 17:22–25 and Isaiah 60:Q–Z. > M. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and > which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. > The expression Alpha and Omega has several meanings. > Alpha and Omega is the Eternal, the lord God; it is the Word of God, the > Perfect Man, His Manifestation. Jesus Christ bears the title as does > Bahá 'u'llá h. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek > alphabet,13 and the expression has as one of its meanings the "First and the > Last". Isaiah 44:Y explains that both God and His Redeemer, the Lord of > Hosts, are the First and the Last. Other Old Testament passages14 identify the > Latter Day Redeemer or Ransomer as the Lord of Hosts, the Holy One of > Israel, and the King of Glory (Bahá ). > Bahá 'u'llá h explains that He is both the Beginning and the End, and both > Stillness and Motion: "Behold how, in this Day, the Beginning is reflected in the > End, how out of Stillness Motion hath been engendered."15 As the Beginning > and the End, the Manifestation is the Beginning of a new Age and the End of a > former Age. Elsewhere, Bahá 'u'llá h explains that every Divine Revelator > manifests the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Seen and the > Hidden.16 Although the name of the Revelator changes from Age to Age, the > Holy Spirit manifested through Him remains the same. > His Holiness Bahá 'u'llá h bears many titles. Some of them have been given > Him by other Manifestations and prophets and are ascribed to Bahá 'u'llá h by > those Bahá 'ı́s who have entered by another faith. Examples of these titles > are: > Jewish Lord of Hosts, King of Glory, the Holy One of Israel > Hindu Tenth Avatar, Immaculate Manifestation of Krishna, Kalki, > Vishnu Yasha > The Apocalypse Unsealed 48 > Buddhist Fifth Buddha, Buddha Maitreye > Christian Spirit of Truth, Return of Christ > Zoroastrian Shá h Bahram > Muslim The Great Announcement, Return of Christ, Return of Imá m > Ḥusayn > Bá bı́ Essence of Being, Remnant of God, Omnipotent Master, > Crimson all-encompassing Light > In addition to these titles, there are many that Bahá 'u'llá h ascribed to > Himself in order to explain His Mission to mankind. Among these are: the > Ancient of Days, Voice From the Burning Bush, Well Spring of Revelation, Day > Star of Divine Revelation, Sun of Truth, Bird of the Throne, and many others > that will be presented when appropriate. > In the Tablet of all Food, Bahá 'u'llá h reveals that the spiritual worlds are > of different degrees. In one of these several worlds, the world of Jabarú t (the > All-Highest Dominion), the dwellers therein, God's Chosen Ones, are closely > identified with God, manifesting His attributes, speaking His voice, and are > identified with Him. "The essence of belief in Divine unity consisteth in > regarding Him Who is the Manifestation of God and Him Who is the invisible, > the inaccessible, the unknowable Essence as one and the same."17 In another > spiritual work, Lá hú t (the plane of Divinity, the Heavenly Court), the > Manifestations are as utter nothingness compared to God.18 > The letters Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω) have the literal value of 801 by > gematria. The archetypal value is R, the Perfected Triad.19 The number R is > the value of Bahá by the Arabic gematria (abjad) and was used as a seal by > Bahá 'u'llá h. > Verse S identifies the Alpha and Omega, Bahá ', as the Almighty; that is, > The Pantocrator.* > G. I John who also am your brother, and companion in > > * > The Pantocrator, ο Παντοκραx τορας, one of the appellations of God, means literally > The Almighty. The appellation is highly favoured by the Greek Orthodox Church. > 49 Q. The Greatest name > tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle > that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus > Christ. > .4. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a > trumpet, > ... Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest write in > a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, > and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and > unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. > The names of the Seven Churches of Asia represent seven Divinely > revealed Faiths. While the prejudiced reader of first century Rome might be > tempted to restrict the term "Asia" to include only the Roman Province of > Asia (Asia Minor), in the unprejudiced view, the entire region of Asia > extending through Palestine, Arabia, Persia, and India must be included.* 20 > The root meanings of the names of the Seven Churches are indicative of > their characteristics. While it is true that all the Faiths, when sincerely > practised, partake of all the implied characteristics to some extent, one can > make a reasonable correlation between their present-day names and their > names in the Apocalypse: > Revelation Root meaning Symbolism Faith > Ephesus Family Hearth Peace Sabean > Smyrna Myrrh21 Benevolence Jewish > Pergamos Parchment Law, Justice Hindu > Thyatira Cypress Tree† 22 Light Zoroastrian > Sardis Stone23 Truth Buddhist > Philadelphia Brotherly Love Brotherly love Christian > Laodicea Just People Harmony Muslim > > * > See Part I, The time and space of the Apocalypse. > † > Probable. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 50 > The Sabeans are mentioned three times in the Qur'á n (U:62, W:69, 22:17) > together with Jews, Christians and Muslims as "People of the Book". > Considerable confusion and controversy have surrounded the ancient > Sabaean religion. Bahá 'u'llá h spoke of two types of Sabaeans (aṣ -Ṣ á bi'ú n). > The first includes those people who were followers of John the Baptist but > who refused to accept the Prophethood of Jesus Christ. Today this group, > called Mandaeans (al-Mandá 'iyú n),24 is centred in southern 'Irá q. The second > type of Sabaeans is the remnants of an ancient, independent, Divinely > revealed Faith. It is the Divinely revealed Sabaean Faith that was prevalent > in Ur of Chaldea during the time of Abraham, and it is probable that Abraham > was originally a follower of the true Sabaean Faith. The name of the > Revelator of the ancient Sabaean Faith is unknown to us, but the remnants of > the Faith are the idolators of Africa.25 > The Jewish Faith was probably the first in history to emphasize the > benevolence of God. In contrast with the gods of their neighbours, Yahweh > was the God of righteousness and loving kindness. God lifted the Jews from > slavery through the Prophet Moses. In Ezekiel's vision, God assists the > Jewish exiles in Babylon. > The Hindu Faith places emphasis upon the lawful processes prevailing in > the world through the law of karma, roughly equivalent to a moral law of > cause and effect. By this law, justice is held to be certain and automatic. But > this noble tenet has been misused to achieve a negative result. The > Brahmans of ancient India compiled an elaborate set of manuals of > ceremonial and everyday behaviour. Among them were the "laws of Manu", > composed near the beginning of the Christian Era. Although intended to set > standards of justice and duty, these rules of conduct eventually degenerated, > with the consolation of karma, into the modern caste system in which justice > has been sublimated into a static and largely unjust social structure. > Although monotheistic in theory, it may be said that the modern Hindu Faith > as practised has many of the attributes of idolatry and polytheism. > 51 Q. The Greatest name > A distinguishing feature of the Zoroastrian Faith is its concept of the > struggle between the forces of Light (enlightenment, good) and Darkness > (ignorance, evil). Their Deity of goodness is Ormazd (Ahú rá Mazdá ), Who is > light and fragrant, dwells in light, and is the Creator of light. The > monotheistic Zoroastrian Faith degenerated into a form of polytheism > shortly after the Prophet's death. Another contamination was the > introduction of worship of the Eternal Flame, a fire kept burning in > Zoroastrian places of worship. > Lord Buddha was the Revealer of the Four Noble Truths. These are > roughly:26 > One The world is in a state of dislocation or disharmony. > Two Selfish craving is the cause of the world's dislocation. > Three The remedy of the world's dislocation is the > overcoming of selfish craving. > Four The method of overcoming selfish craving is through > the Eight-fold Path: right knowledge, right aspiration, > right speech, right behaviour, right livelihood, right > effort, right mindfulness, and right absorption. > While many scholars claim that Buddhism is a Faith that has no God, or > more correctly, that Buddhism needs no God, other modern scholars > maintain that, in fact, Lord Buddha taught the existence of God.27 > The Christian Faith is unquestionably the Faith of Brotherly Love. The > bulk of the teachings of Jesus, His parables and beatitudes, emphasized two > important facts: God loves mankind, and man must reflect God's love toward > his fellow man. > Islá m, the Faith of Muḥ ammad, is the Faith of Harmony. The very word > "Islá m" means peaceful surrender to the Will of God. But beyond the internal > harmony of the spirit, Islá m brought social harmony to the sincere > practitioners among the warlike tribes of the Arabian peninsula and a vast > array of peoples spread from Spain to India. > According to tradition, John wrote the Apocalypse while in exile on the > island of Patmos during an early persecution of the Christians. His reference > to the Lord's day (lower case) refers > The Apocalypse Unsealed 52 > to the sacred week day of the early Christians, the first day of the week on > which Jesus was reputed to have arisen from the dead.28 > .3. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven > golden candlesticks; > .Q. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed > with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. > ./. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were > as a flame of fire; > .Y. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the > sound of many waters. > Candlestick symbolizes a Faith.29 Garment to the foot symbolizes > heavenly attributes. The One like unto the Son of Man30 is Bahá 'u'llá h. "The > voice of the Son of Man is calling aloud from the sacred vale: 'Here am I, here > am I, O God my God!'"31—Bahá 'u'llá h > Golden girdle symbolizes a new Faith32 and spiritual power. His hair like > wool identifies the Manifestation as the Head of Days, that is, the Ancient of > Days. White also symbolizes purity. Because of His great tribulations, the > hair of Bahá 'u'llá h had literally become snow white.* "The Pen of Holiness … > hath writ upon my snow-white brow …."33—Bahá 'u'llá h His eyes have been > described as flames of fire. In the Apocalypse, flaming eyes symbolizes > vengeance. > Brass or bronze, because it is a strong blended metal, symbolizes > strength, understanding, and guidance for the blending and uniting of > mankind. "As if they burned in a furnace" suggests His title, the Voice from > the Burning Bush. Water means spiritual grace, knowledge, and > understanding. The sound of many waters means great spiritual knowledge > and describes Bahá 'u'llá h as the Well Spring of Revelation. > Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of God, the Ancient of Days, the First > > * > As was the custom in that region, Bahá 'u'llá h dyed His hair and beard a jet-black. > 53 Q. The Greatest name > and the Last, and the Day Star of Divine Revelation, is seen standing with > brass-like feet among the seven candlesticks, that is, the seven Faiths. > .5. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. > .H. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, > saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: > .M. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and > have the keys of hell and of death. > The seven stars are the seven Revelators of Sprits of the Seven Churches > and also represent the Greatest Name, Bahá 'u'llá h . Since the seven > stars or Spirits spell a single Word, they are actually the Manifestation of a > single Spirit, the Spirit of Bahá . > The likening of the seven Spirits to seven stars is an allusion to the seven > planets, which, according to the theories of the ancient astrologers, were the > true governors of the world of man, the executives of the Divine Will.34 > The right hand is the hand of might and power. As the Spirit of Truth, > Bahá 'u'llá h speaks with the Sword of Truth. It is two-edged because it > separates the true from the false and the good from the evil. "Aid ye your > Lord with the sword of wisdom and utterance."35—Bahá 'u'llá h > Sun symbolizes variously the Divinity, His Manifestations, or His Faith. > "From Him all the Suns (Manifestations) have been generated, and unto Him > they will all return."36—Bahá 'u'llá h > His sun-like countenance describes Bahá 'u'llá h as the Sun of Truth. Many > witnesses have testified that it was extremely difficult to gaze upon the > dazzling countenance of Bahá 'u'llá h. > The Holy Spirit as evidenced through Jesus Christ and Muḥ ammad > seemed to be dead before the Advents of the Bá b > The Apocalypse Unsealed 54 > and Bahá 'u'llá h. But God lives forever and has the power to resurrect man > from the death of unbelief and to return man from the hell of remoteness > from Him. Bahá 'u'llá h proclaims, "Paradise is on your right hand, and hath > been brought nigh unto you, while Hell hath been made to blaze."37 "Followers > of the Gospel, behold the gates of heaven are flung open."38 "No man can obtain > everlasting life, unless he embraceth the truth of this inestimable, this > wondrous, and sublime Revelation."39 > In verses 17 and 18, God is speaking through His Manifestation, > Bahá 'u'llá h. > .G. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things > which shall be hereafter; > 34. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven > golden candlesticks. > > Figure W > Hierarchy of revelations > 55 Q. The Greatest name > The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven > candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. > These verses reveal that the seven stars or Governors of the Seven > Churches are the angels; that is, the Divine Revelators Who manifest the > Spirit of Bahá . > The relationship between God, the Seven Spirits, the seven stars, and the > seven golden candlesticks is best shown by a diagram, Figure Y. Since the > seven Spirits manifest the single spirit of Bahá , they can, in one sense, be > represented by a single ray. The similarity of the Hierarchy of Revelations to > the Greatest Name Emblem of Bahá 'u'llá h now becomes clear. However, the > seven stars are now replaced by only two, representing the Bá b and > Bahá 'u'llá h, Whose missions are to unite the Seven Churches through the > single Spirit of Bahá . One possible meaning of the Greatest Name Emblem is > shown in Figure X. The numerous meanings in the Emblem have been the > subject of many studies.40 > > Notes > > 1 See The Book of Certitude [aka The Kitáb-i-Íqán], pp. 79–80. > 2 "… Therefore it is evident that the church is a collective centre for mankind. > For this reason there have been churches and temples in all the divine > religions; but the real Collective Centres are the Manifestations of God, of > Whom the church or temple is a symbol and expression. That is to say, the > Manifestation of God is the real divine temple and Collective Centre of which > the outer church is but a symbol."—'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Promulgation of > Universal Peace, p. 158. > 3 The concept of progressive revelation was also known to the ancient > Hebrew mystics. (Ref. R, p. 62 and Ref. c, p. XRff, 108.) > In their phraseology, each phase was called a Day of Creation, a Lord's > Day, an Era, or a world. That the early Christians also believed in > progressive revelation is strongly indicated in the Book of Hebrews, e.g., > Hebrews c:14, Y:20, X:12, R:15–28 (cf. I Timothy U:W; II Corinthians Z:X–11). > Jesus refers to future Ages in Matthew 12:32, 24:Z, 28:20. (980) Also see I > Corinthians 10:11; Psalm 72:W; Matthew 26:29. (All in 980.) > The Apocalypse Unsealed 56 > > Figure Y > The Greatest Name > Jesus prophesies His own Successor (re-manifestation) in numerous > passages in the New Testament, e.g., Matthew 16:27 (see Note 12 below), > 19:28, 24:Z, 30, 44; Mark 13:26; Luke R:26 (see Note 12 below), 17:24, 26, 30, > 18:S; John 14:16, 17, 26, 15:26, 16:X, S, 13. It is clear from Matthew 17:10–13 > and Revelations [U:17 and] Z:12 that the new Manifestation will have a new > name. > Jesus relates His own Revelation to that of Moses in John W:46 and to that > of Abraham in John S:58. Moses prophesies a Successor in Deuteronomy > 18:15, 18. > A very interesting prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 33:U reads as > follows: "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he > shined forth from Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints; and > from his right hand went a fiery law unto them." > One interpretation of the prophecy is as follows: Moses and Jesus came > from Sinai; Muḥ ammad and the Bá b rose up from Seir and shined forth > from Paran; the Advent of the Bá b was attended by 10,000 martyrs to His > Cause. (cf. Jude 14) Bahá 'u'llá h is He from Whose right hand went forth a > fiery law in the letters in which He addressed the crowned heads of the > earth. Also see Galatians c:24–25. > 4 See The Book of Certitude, pp. 118–19. See also Matthew S:21–22, 10:28; > Ezekiel 18:21–23; I Timothy W:Y; John 11:25, 17:Z. > 5 See Some Answered Questions, chs XXIX, 777; Genesis U:16–17. > 6 e.g., Psalm 97:U; Zephaniah Q:14–15; Isaiah 44:22, 50:Z; Ezekiel 32:X–S, 30:Q– > Z. > 7 See The Book of Certitude, pp. 71–U. > 57 Q. The Greatest name > > 8 idem, pp. 216–17. > 9 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 101. > 10 e.g., John R:39; Matthew 13:14–19, 24:15; Acts 28:26–27; Isaiah Y:R–10. We > still use the verb "see" in our own day to mean "understand". An > unambiguous usage of "see" in this sense of the word can be found in > Romans Q:20. See also Revelations U:X, 11, 17, etc., Z:18, c:S etc., W:Y. > Compare Matthew 17:10–13; II Kings U:11; Malachi c:W. > 11 The Book of Certitude, pp. 192–Y. > 12 The term "generation" genea as used in Luke 17:22–25 and elsewhere has > as some of its meanings: a period of time, race, family, offspring, historic > age, class, kind, and nation. It is clear from the context that Jesus uses the > word in its allegorical sense to mean the spiritual Age initiated by His > Advent. The allegorical usage of the word was not confined to > Christendom. See, e.g., Reference Z, pp. 54, 54 and fn, 85 fn, 87, 90. In > allegorical usage, a generation is similar to a Day of Creation of a Lord's > Day as described in Note Z above. The word may be modelled after the > Hebrew word olam, meaning an "infinity" or a "world". Also see αιωºνας, > chapter U, Note 17; Isaiah 41:c; Luke 21:X–33; Matthew 24:Z–35; Mark 13:c– > 31. > Matthew 16:28 and Luke R:27 imply that the re-manifestation of the Son of > Man should have occurred within a few decades of the Crucifixion. > Obviously this did not happen. Furthermore, these verses seem to > preclude the long span of history that must precede the re-manifestation > as prescribed by Jesus in other prophecies, notably Matthew 24:Z–44; > Mark 13:c–37; Luke 21:X–36. There are at least two possible explanations > for this seeming contradiction. One might assume that in these verses > Jesus was explaining that some of those present would be rewarded with > eternal life and, therefore, would "not taste of death" before they saw the > son of Man coming in His kingdom. Another explanation is that the > reporter quoted in Matthew 16:28 and Luke R:27 may not have understood > the allegorical meaning of the word "generation" as used by Jesus. Early > Christians derived solace from the widely held millenniarist belief that the > Christ would soon return in the flesh to establish the Kingdom of God > during their own lifetimes. It would be understandably human that > anticipation would bias the believer towards a more optimistic > interpretation of the word "generation". (See Reference 51, Chapter Q.) > It seems possible that several other seeming contradictions in the New > Testament might also be explained by the failure of listeners to > understand the allegorical meanings of the words of Jesus in spite of His > The Apocalypse Unsealed 58 > many warnings such as in Matthew 13:10–17. Consider, for example, His > claim that He would destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three > days (Matthew 26:61, 27:40; John U;19). Literal interpretations of this > statement are absurd, since the physical temple was neither destroyed > nor rebuilt in three days. > Consider also the prophecy of Jesus in Matthew 27:62 that He would rise > again after three days. Does this contradict His reassurance to the > criminal, His companion of the cross in Luke 23:43: "Truly, I say to you, > today you will be with me in Paradise?" Also, if Jesus died on Friday > (Mark 15:42) and was bodily resurrected on the following Sunday morning > (Matthew 28:Q), does this span of time accommodate the three days of > Matthew 27:62? > Literal interpretations of these and many other statements of Jesus cannot > fail to generate technical difficulties. However, if we assume that by the > word "day" Jesus meant a "Day of God", the difficulties disappear. The > "three days" then correspond to three Dispensations: that of Jesus > Himself, of Muḥ ammad, and of the Bá b. The Resurrection prophesied by > Jesus to occur "after the third day" then becomes realized through the > Advent of Bahá 'u'llá h. > It is interesting, but perhaps not significant, that if we take CE Q, the > traditional origin of the Christian calendar, and CE 622, the traditional date > of the origin of the Muslim calendar, the first "Day" had a duration of 621 > years. "Three days" then becomes Z×621 or 1863, the date of Bahá 'u'llá h's > Declaration in the Garden of Riḍ vá n. > In Some Answered Questions, chapter XXIII, 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains that the > Resurrection was viewed in the eyes of the original disciples of Jesus to be > the revival of the Reality of Jesus—that is, His teachings, bounties, > perfections and spiritual power—after three days of apparent > disappearance and concealment. > The method by which the present twenty-seven books of the New > Testament were chosen as canonical is not fully understood. One of the > oldest collections of the New Testament is the Codex Sinaiticus that was > discovered on Mount Sinai in 1844. > 13 The peculiar use of "Alpha and Omega" in the Apocalypse is highly > suggestive that its gematrical value is intended to convey an important > meaning. > 14 See Isaiah 41:c, 14, 44:Y, 47:c, 48:12, 59:19–21; Psalm 24:X–10; Job 19:25; > Jeremiah 23:W–S. See also God Passes By, pp. 93–99. > 59 Q. The Greatest name > > 15 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 168. > 16 idem, p. 54. > 17 idem, p. 167. > 18 Ref. 21, p. 58. > 19 In at least one early Greek version of the Apocalypse, "A" is spelled out > (αλφα) ("alpha"). The literal value of αλφα + ω is 1332. The archetypal > value remains R. The number 1332 is twice 666. > 20 There have been numerous attempts to explain why Jesus Christ chose > these particular Churches as the addresses for such a weighty Book as the > Apocalypse. Christian commentators have suggested, for example: (Q) > that the X Churches were those founded by Paul, or (U) that these > particular X Churches were most important to the spread of early > Christianity, or (Z) that the X Churches correspond to successive > evolutionary phases of the Christian Church. However, other Christian > commentators contend that none of these explanations have adequate > evidential support. But one explanation may deserve serious > consideration—that the geographical arrangement of the X Churches may > have symbolic significance. If we connect the Churches by straight lines > as in Figure S, we discover a figure, not only resembling an Arabic > numeral X, but also resembling a sickle. The sickle may also symbolize > Bahá 'u'llá h as the Divine Reaper of Chapter 14, verse 14. Incidentally, the > successive exiles of Bahá 'u'llá h form a sickle-shaped pattern enclosing the > sickle of Figure S with the two blades touching at Smyrna. > The sickle has been a sign of the harvest and reaping since ancient times. > Chronos, the Greek god of time and the harvest, is usually portrayed > carrying a sickle. Chronos has had a remarkable longevity, reappearing > every New Year's Eve as Old Father Time, the Grim Reaper. > 21 Smyrna <Σμυρνα<µur (myrrh/myr). The ordering of the Churches in > verse 11 corresponds to one possible chronological order of their Advents > and to the stages of the progressive spiritual education of man from > family unity to national unity. > 22 The word "thyine" is used in the original Greek version of > Revelations 18:12 as an epithet for a tree and its wood. The etymology of the > word is as follows: > "Thyine Sandarac is a relative of the cypress tree. Among the ancient Zoroastrians, > the candle flame shaped cypress was the emblem of Ormazd and Zoroaster. > In antiquity the tree was used variously as a symbol of life, death, > The Apocalypse Unsealed 60 > immortality, god, knowledge of good and evil, etc. (Reference 12, p. ZXff). > Its symbolism probably derived from its great age, awesome span, beauty, > majestic height, and its life-giving fruits. As a bearer of olives, it was also a > source of olive oil used in lamps, and hence was a source of light. > Bahá 'u'llá h uses the tree as a symbol of the Manifestation. The > Manifestation has an analogy in the Sadratu'l-Muntahá [Divine Lote Tree], > the name of a tree planted at the end of a road to serve as a guide. See > also Genesis U:R, 21;33. > > Figure Z > The sickle formed by the seven churches > 23 Compare Psalm 118:22; Genesis 28:10–22, 35:13–14; Isaiah 28:16; Daniel > U:29–45; Job 38:c–X; Matthew 16:18. ("Peter" means rock or stone.) > 24 The word "Mandaean" means "Gnostic". See Reference Z, pp. 39, cSff. > 25 See Genesis 10:X, 25:Z; Ref. 12, p. QRVff. > 61 Q. The Greatest name > > 26 Reference 23, p. QVRff. > 27 See, e.g., References 24 and 25. > 28 The name "Sunday" for the first day of the week was introduced by > Constantine. The survival of this name among the Nordic peoples is a > curious remnant of the ancient solar cult. See Reference 14, pp. 46, 94, 199. > 29 The symbol of the lampstand is also used in Zechariah c:U. > 30 The enigmatic title Son of Man was based upon the concept of a divine > prototype or primordial Man. According to this belief the true home of > man is in heaven. At each Advent, God sends a Messenger, a Son of Man, to > redeem mortal man from his prison of worldliness and to renew > humanity. The Son of Man also calls Himself the Shepherd, the Truth, the > Light, and so forth. The concept of Man was important in Hebrew and > Gnostic theology and was even incorporated in the Fourth Eclogue of > Virgil. The figures of the Messiah and Man were coalesced in the Synoptic > Gospels. See References c, p. 100; 20, pp. 86, 163, 164; 52, Part II, chapter Z; > and 14, pp. 25, 42. The modifying phrase "one like unto" in verse 13 > suggests that John realized that the concept of the Son of Man would be > largely unintelligible in the Age of the Manifestation of the Latter Day > Redeemer, Bahá 'u'llá h. > 31 The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 104. > 32 This symbol is probably borrowed from the Zoroastrian Faith. See > Reference 26, p. 21. > 33 The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 194; God Passes By, p. 169. See also > Daniel X:R–10, 13–14, Ref. 52, part U, ch. Z. > 34 In the ancient star cult, stars were considered to be living creatures, world > rulers, the lords of time. See References c, p. 18; 20, p. QcYff, 153. Also see > Job 38:X; Isaiah 14:12; Jude Q:12–13; Daniel 12:194; Numbers 14:17; Hebrews > c:14. According to the Zohar, during the "last struggles" preceding the > ultimate Kingdom of Peace, one star will swallow seven others. See > Reference c, p. 116. In referring to the time of the redemption of the Jews, > Isaiah 30:26 says, "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of > the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven > days…" In this prophecy, the light of the Bá b (the Moon) will shine as > brightly as that of Bahá 'u'llá h (the Sun). The light of the Sun of Bahá 'u'llá h > will be as bright as the seven Suns (Manifestations) of the seven previous > Dispensations (Days). > 35 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 296. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 62 > > 36 idem, p. 104. See also Malachi c:U. > 37 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 45. > 38 The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 104. > 39 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 183. > 40 See Reference 15. > 63 Q. The Greatest name > E > Letters to ancient faiths > The letters that follow are addressed to the Seven Churches of Asia as > they are characterized at the end of the Age of Prophecy. In contrast to their > original purity alluded to in Chapter Q, verse 11, each of the Churches has > become corrupted to some extent. The Author is the Spirit of God speaking > through His Manifestation. Their style suggests an equivalence between the > Manifestation and His Church. The Saviour seems to be identical to the > saved.1 The ambiguity also extends to which Manifestation is doing the > speaking. The intermingling of the Voices points out their essential unity. > Bahá 'u'llá h explains, "Inasmuch as these Birds of the Celestial Throne are all > sent down from the heaven of the Will of God, and as they all arise to proclaim > His irresistible Faith, they therefore are regarded as one soul and the same > person. … They all abide in the same tabernacle, soar in the same heaven, are > seated upon the same throne, utter the same speech, and proclaim the same > Faith …."2 The close connection between the Manifestation and His Church is > also made clear by Bahá 'u'llá h: "Nay, all else besides these Manifestations, live > by the operation of their Will, and move and have their being through the > outpourings of their grace."3 And further, "That some are near (to God) and > others are far (from God) is to be ascribed to the Manifestations themselves."4 > But there is a special role that is played by Bahá 'u'llá h. In His Tablet, The > Youth of Paradise, Bahá 'u'llá h identifies Himself as the Word upon which > depended the souls of all the Prophets of God and His Chosen Ones.5 It is > therefore necessary to consider Bahá 'u'llá h as the Speaker Who addresses > the letters to the Founders of the Churches. > > #$ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 66 > .. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth > the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden > candlesticks: > 3. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear > them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, > and are not, and hast found them liars: > Q. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured and hast > not fainted. > This letter is addressed to the Revelator of the Sabaean Faith. Apostles > are trusted messengers. To faint means to grow weary. > /. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. > Y. Remember therefor from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first > works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick > out of his place, except thou repent. > 5. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. > H. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him > that overcometh will I give to eat out of the tree of life, which is in the midst of > the paradise of God. > God, speaking through Bahá 'u'llá h, is threatening to remove their Faith > from the earth because they have strayed from their original teachings. > Nicolaitanes, followers of Nicolas, were Covenant breakers in the early > Christian Church and here symbolize Covenant breakers of any Divinely > revealed Faith. Nicolas may have been originally a convert from Antioch who > is mentioned in Acts Y:W. The doctrine of Nicholas included the theory that > acceptance of Jesus Christ placed the believer above the laws and morality of > non-Christians, and one's standard of behaviour became largely a matter of > personal inclination. > 67 U. Letters to ancient faiths > The promise that God is making is that he who overcomes the false > teachings existing within the Church will receive spiritual life, light, and > sustenance through God's Manifestation, the Tree of Life, Bahá 'u'llá h. > (Compare Genesis U.) > M. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and > the last, which was dead, and is alive; > G. I know thy works and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the > blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the > synagogue of Satan. > .4. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast > some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten > days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. > ... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that > overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. > This message is addressed to Moses and the Jewish Faith. God > distinguishes between those Jews who are materially poor but spiritually > rich, and those who are materially rich but spiritually poor. A true Jew is one > who loves God and obeys His laws. The synagogue of Satan is those who > exalt themselves before God and refuse to obey His laws. > The Jews are informed that some of them will be imprisoned by the devil > for a period of 10 days. The prophecy refers to their 10 year tribulation under > Hitler and the Nazi regime from CE 1935 to 1945.6 > In Biblical prophecy, the following time scale conversion must be used:7 > Biblical term Calendar time > Q day Q year > or > Q time (360 years) > or > The Apocalypse Unsealed 68 > Biblical term Calendar time > Q era (arbitrary period) > Q week X years > Q month 30 years > Q time 360 years* > Q year 360 years > Q hour A short time; part of a year > The length of the year is indicated by the context. The Spirit, through > Bahá 'u'llá h, promises that the Jews who persevere in true Judaism through > their tribulation will receive spiritual salvation and eternal spiritual life. The > Jews will avoid the "second death" by accepting Bahá 'u'llá h. The "first > (spiritual) death" was the result of their rejection of Jesus Christ. > Satan, the devil, and similar epithets symbolize the evil principle and do > not refer to an actual being. In this case, the devil refers to the evil principle > manifested in Hitler and the Nazi regime. > .3. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: These things saith he which > hath the sharp sword with two edges; > .Q. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou > holdest fast my name, and hast not denied by faith, even in those days wherein > Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan > dwelleth. > These words are addressed to Krishna and the Hindu Faith. "Where Satan > dwells" and "Satan's seat" refer to a degraded spiritual condition. Antipas > Anteipas8 means literally "against all" and refers to the great Reformer of the > ancient Hindu world, Lord Buddha. The martyrdom of Antipas in the place > where Satan dwells symbolizes the end of resistance to spiritual decay. > > * > Called a "deva" or "divine year" in Hindu chronology. There are H3 "times" in a > Great, i.e. a Platonic, year. See Part I, Astrological Symbolism. > 69 U. Letters to ancient faiths > The true Hindus are cited for maintaining the name of God (Brahma) even > during their period of spiritual decay. > ./. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the > doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the > children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit > fornication. > .Y. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I > hate. > Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon and the wife of > Ahab, king of Israel, introduced the idolatrous doctrine of Balaam into Israel > in the ninth century BCE. The story is recounted in Chronicles and II Kings. > Idol worship is equivalent in the doctrine of materialism.9 > To eat things sacrificed to idols means to accept idolatrous teachings. > Similarly, the consuming of the bread and the wine of the Eucharist > symbolizes the acceptance of Jesus Christ's teachings and His blood > sacrifice.10 > In the symbolism of Revelations, to commit fornication means to accept > false doctrine. > .5. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the > sword of my mouth. > .H. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him > that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a > white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth > saving he that receiveth it. > Hidden manna refers to Divine Revelation; that is, spiritual sustenance > from heaven, the Word of God and reality, hidden until revealed by > Bahá 'u'llá h.11 "… That which is pre-eminent > The Apocalypse Unsealed 70 > above all other gifts, is incorruptible in nature, and pertaineth to God Himself, > is the gift of Divine Revelation. … It is, in its essence, and will ever remain, the > Bread which cometh down from Heaven."12—Bahá 'u'llá h The > hidden manna is promised to those who overcome the false teachings within > the Hindu Faith. > In antiquity, it was a custom to present invited guests with small mosaics > or stones engraved with names or other suitable inscriptions. These stones > were called tesserae.13 They were roughly equivalent to modern engraved > invitations or passports. The colour white symbolizes purity and perfection, > the stone symbolized truth; hence white stone symbolizes perfect wisdom > and understanding. > Tesserae were also used to perpetuate a friendship and to render a union > more sacred. The privilege of friendship could be extended to others > carrying the tessera. The tessera was usually constructed of a small piece of > bone, ivory, or stone. It was broken into equal parts, and each party wrote > his own name or other suitable inscription on his piece. Mutual pledges and > an exchange were made, and, to prevent imposture, the pledge was kept > secret and no one knew the name inscribed on his piece except the > possessor. Tesserae were probably carried by the early Christians during > their travels to introduce them to fellow Christians. > The Bá b presented His followers and Bahá 'u'llá h with a scroll often called > the "White Stone" on which He inscribed a pentacle (five-pointed star) with > 360 derivatives of the word Bahá.14 This scroll represented a revelation of > the name of the new Manifestation to follow Him. Only those who accept the > Bahá 'ı́ Revelation will understand the meaning of the new name.15 > New name, καινουº οº νομα ("new name") has a literal value of 432 and an > archetypal value of R, the number of Bahá . > .M. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of > God, who hath his eyes > 71 U. Letters to ancient faiths > like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; > .G. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy > works; and the last to be more than the first. > "Son of God"16 and "god" are epithets for "one unto whom the Word of > God came". Jesus makes this clear in John 10:30–36 where He quotes from > Psalm 82:Y–S in answer to certain Jews who accused Jesus of blasphemy. The > subject is further elucidated in Romans Q:Z–c and Hebrews Q:c–Y. The Bible > contains other clear references to Manifestations, prophets, and believers > with the epithet "Son of God" or "son of God". For examples see: > I Chronicles 28:Y, 22:10, 17:11–14 (Solomon) > Psalm U:Y–S (David) > Hebrews Y:20, X:Q–Z, X:15 (Melchisedec) > Luke Z:38 (Adam) > Galatians Z:23–28, c:Zff (Christians) > John Q:12 (Christians) > I John Z:U (Christians) > Revelations 21:X (Citizens of the New Jerusalem) > Job 38:X (Various) > Malachi U:10 (Various) > Romans S:14 (Various) > Exodus c:22; Hosea 11:Q (Israel) > The term "son of God" is applied to primal men in Genesis Y:U–c. > Adam, a Son of God,17 was a Prophet and the first Manifestation of the > Adamic Cycle. Bahá 'u'llá h is the first Manifestation of the Bahá 'ı́ Cycle and is > the Son of God referred to in verse 18.18 > In the above verses, the Zoroastrians are admonished for putting > everything else before the Law and the love of God. > 34. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, > The Apocalypse Unsealed 72 > because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, > to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things > sacrificed unto idols. > 3.. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. > 33. Behold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into > great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. > 3Q. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he > which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you > according to your works. > Bed means the bed of heedlessness, misery and shame. Adultery means > to share false doctrine. The Zoroastrians are warned to avoid the practice of > idolatry. The idolatrous followers of the teachings of Jezebel will receive > spiritual death and will be rewarded in accordance with their deeds. > 3/. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this > doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will > put upon you none other burden. > 3Y. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. > 35. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him I will give > power over the nations: > 3H. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be > broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. > 3M. And I will give him the morning star. > 3G. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. > The Bá b, the forerunner of Bahá 'u'llá h, was manifested in that part of IÅrá n > where the Zoroastrian Faith is centred. The Bá b as the Herald of a new Day > of God is likened to the morning star. His Advent resulted in great upheavals > in IÅrá n (Persia) and neighbouring countries. The verses present a prophecy > of the final > 73 U. Letters to ancient faiths > dissolution of all the nations of the world and their spiritual domination by > the faithful who accept the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. > The rod of iron is a symbol of spiritual domination; it is not a sword of > conquest. "… though the revelations of My grace and bounty have permeated > every atom of the universe, yet the rod with which I chastise the wicked is > grievous …"19—Bahá 'u'llá h concerning the rod of iron, 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains, > "… certain souls guided (people) with a rod of the plant, that is, a reed where > with he shepherded the sheep, like unto the rod of Moses; others trained (the > people) with a rod of iron and drove them, as in the time of Muḥammad > …."20—<21:10–17 #Q> > > Notes > 1 The Son of Man by redeeming man, consummates Himself. This style was > also used by Gnostic writers. See Reference Z, p. XSf. > 2 The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 115. > 3 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 179. > 4 idem, p. 185. > 5 Reference 21, p. 213. > 6 The conscious reliance of Hitler and the Nazi leadership upon satanic > forces is strongly indicated by the evidence presented by Trevor > Ravenscroft in Reference 27. The "imprisonment" began with the > "Nuremberg laws on citizenship and race", 15 September 1935, and ended > with the destruction of the Third Reich in May 1945, a period of ten lunar > years. > 7 The time scale is based in part upon Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel c:Y in > which it is explained that a day of the Lord is equal to a year. It is also > probably based in analogy upon the ancient Egyptian civil calendar > containing 12 months each of 30 days duration. The use of the 360–day > calendar in biblical allegory can be inferred by comparing Genesis X:11, 24, > S:c. Concerning the "Hour", see <11:13>. > 8 There were at least three known attempts to murder Lord Buddha by a > jealous cousin named Devadatta and his henchman Ajatasatru, a decadent > monk and follower of Devadatta. Tradition tells us that all attempts to > murder Buddha were failures. However, tradition also records that Lord > Buddha was accidentally killed by a meal of poisoned mushrooms in the > home of Cunda, a smith. > Poison was one method that Devadatta and Ajatasatru had attempted to > The Apocalypse Unsealed 74 > use against Buddha. The wording of U:13 suggests that Lord Buddha's > death may not, in fact, have been accidental. Even if His death was truly > accidental, Lord Buddha may be considered a martyr in a symbolic sense, > since His teachings were first perverted, then rejected in the land of His > birth. The episodes and machinations of Devadatta and Ajatasatru are > remarkably similar to those perpetrated against Bahá 'u'llá h by > Muḥ ammad-i-Iṣ fahá nı́ and Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá . (See God Passes By.) > 9 See Exodus 32:23. > 10 See Some Answered Questions, chapter XXI and John Y:33. For early > Christians living in urban areas there arose the controversy over whether > they might eat meat that had first been sacrificed to idols and later offered > for sale in the public stalls. (Ref. 14, p. 59.) Literally "Eucharist" means a > thanksgiving. > 11 Philo gave the allegorical interpretation of manna as signifying the Reason > of God. (Ref. c, p. 41, n. 16.) > 12 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 195. See also John Q:Q–U, Z:34, > Y:ZZff, Y:50–51, 12:49, Wisdom of Solomon R:17. > 13 Ref. 12, p. 148. See Euripedes, Medea, v. 613, and Plautus, Paenulus, act v, sc. > U, ver. 85. > 14 The Dawn-Breakers, p. 505; Bahá'í World Faith, p. 221. > Note that the number 360 has an archetypal value of R and equals the > number of years in a "time". The number 360 is also the product of R and > 40, and is, therefore, a coupling of the number of Bahá (R) with another > sacred number 40. The number 40, the decadal successor of c, figures > prominently in the Bible, e.g., Exodus 24:18; Genesis X:12, S:Y, 50:Z; > Numbers 13:25, 14:33; Deuteronomy R:18–25; I Kings 19:S; Ezekiel c:Y; > Jonah Z:c; I Samuel 17:16; Matthew c:U; Acts Q:Z; Psalm 95:10. Its symbolic > significance is not clearly understood (Ref. 12, p. 112), but Micah X:15 (KJV) > prophesies that the Latter Day Redeemer will be shown "marvellous > things" for 40 years. This was the period of Bahá 'u'llá h's Ministry from > His Revelation in AH 1269 until His Ascension in AH 1309 (Ref. 28, p. 127). > The number 360 is the product of Z×c×W×Y. See also, chapter 14, Note 16. > 15 See also I Thessalonians c:16 (cf. Ephesians U:W–X); Luke 13:35; Matthew > 17:10–13, 25:31–33, 23:39, 16:27; Isaiah 62:U. > 16 "Son of God" and "Saviour" were titles current in the pre-Christian Gentile > world meaning "Redeemer" (Ref. 20, p. 176). > Deification of emperors was a part of the Roman Imperial cult, beginning > 75 U. Letters to ancient faiths > with Augustus (63 BCE–CE 14), who received the title Divi Filius (Son of > God) by decree of the Senate. The term Messiah was a Jewish regal title. > Conjoining the titles Messiah and Son of God implied that the Messiah was > not inferior in dignity to Caesar. However, it was possible among the Jews > to use the title Son of God without implying deification. The deification of > Jesus probably resulted from the early controversy between the > Messianists (Christians) and the Gnostic-Christians. The Gnostics > maintained that Jesus was actually a god Who only seemed to have "come > in the flesh". A belief in two Gods would have been the logical outcome of > such a doctrine. Monotheism was saved by the esoteric three-in-one > doctrine of the Trinity. (See Part One, Note 15; Chapter 11, Notes 10, 15; Ref. > 52, Part II, chapter Q; Ref. 11, p. 37; Ref. 12, p. 88; Galatians Z:20 (980).) > A son is a "mirror" of his father. The likening of Jesus to a Mirror can be > found in Colossians Q:15 and Hebrews Q:Z. > 17 According to the Bible, neither Adam nor Melchisedec had human parents. > The meaning of this statement is that their priesthoods were not > inherited as were the priesthoods of the surrounding peoples and the > later Aaronic priesthood under Moses. Since their priesthoods were not > inherited from their parents, their priesthoods were bestowed upon them > directly by God and would not dissolve upon their deaths. The early > Christians made this same claim for Jesus Christ (Ref. 12, p. 64). > The expression "Only-Begotten" often applied to Jesus as the Only- > Begotten Son of god, seems to contradict the frequent use of Son of God as > an epithet among the ancients. With the recent researches into Gnostic > literature, and particularly as a result of the discovery of the Gnostic > library at Nag-Hammadi, it is possible that the original meaning of the > term as used in the early Christian centuries may now be discernible. In > the ancient Gnostic writings, the term "Begotten" meant an Emanation > from the Divine Essence. In the various Gnostic systems of thought the > heavenly hierarchy of these Emanations (collectively called the > "Pleroma") was varied, but the primary or direct Emanation was referred > to as the "Only-Begotten". The remaining Emanations, up to thirty in some > systems, were secondary Emanations of a lower rank. Thus, for example, > in the system of Valentinus, the Divine Essence was sometimes called the > "Fore-Father", while the "Father" was the "Only-Begotten". Secondary > Emanations included the "Word", the "Holy Spirit", the "Christos", etc. > Jesus was considered to be the joint offspring of the Pleroma and had a > strictly human mission. > Another Gnostic system described in the Apocryphon of John more closely > resembled the orthodox Christian view. In this system, "Man" was > The Apocalypse Unsealed 76 > elevated to the rank of the Image of the First-God (as in Genesis Q:26) > while the Son of Man was considered to be the Only-Begotten. As > explained in chapter Q, note 30, the Son of Man (Redeemer) was sent > periodically into the world of man to reveal the "Light", etc. > The theory of Emanations is also found in Jewish mystical writings. (See > Reference Z, pp. 179–181, 199–200, 202–203; Reference c, pp. XRff, QVVff, 108.) > The term Only-Begotten was applied to Israel in the Apocalypse of Ezra, > Y:55. > In modern terms, the "Only-Begotten" was roughly equivalent to the > highest spiritual rank beneath the Divine Essence, but the term did not > imply that the Only-Begotten would not be a re-manifested in successive > Ages. To the contrary, Gnostic, Jewish and Christian systems all included > the theory that the Redeemer would be re-manifested. > While the term "Only-Begotten" is applied to Jesus in the King James > Version of the Holy Bible, the term "Begotten" is dropped in the 980 and > other modern translations. (Compare KJV and 980 versions of John Q:18.) > Rank implies autonomy. Autonomy or self-life is ascribed to Jesus in John > W:26–27. > Hebrews X:Z, 13:S explains that the priesthood of a Manifestation > continues "forever", but Matthew 28:20 implies that the term "forever" is > αιωºνας ("century"), that is, limited to an Age, "generation", or "world", > (Compare KJV and 980 versions of Matthew 28:20. See also I Peter Q:W, 20, > c:X; Jude 18; I Corinthians 10:11.) > 18 In a Tablet addressed to the Jewish people, Bahá 'u'llá h reveals that it is He > Who "ruleth upon the throne of David". (The Promised Day is Come, pp. > 78–79; God Passes By, p. 230.) Compare with the prophecy of II Samuel > X:12–16. See also Isaiah R:Y–X, 56:S; Matthew 10:34; John 10:16; Ephesians > c:c–Y; Ezekiel 37:24; Malachi U:10; Zephaniah Z:R. > 19 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 325. See also Isaiah 11:c. The > sword, a "rod of iron", was used by the followers of the Bá b to defend > themselves against Muslim attacks during the blood stained days of the > Bá b's Ministry. Although Bahá 'u'llá h gave encouragement, by His visit, to > the heroic defenders of Fort Shaykh Ṭ abarsı́, AD 1848–49, during His own > Ministry AD 1952–92, Bahá 'u'llá h forbade the sword in favour of the pen. > 20 Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, vol. Q, p. 93. > 77 U. Letters to ancient faiths > G. > Letters to recent faiths > .. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath > the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast > a name that thou livest, and art dead. > 3. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I > have not found thy works perfect before God. > Q. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. > If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt > not know what hour I will come upon thee. > This letter is addressed to the Buddhists who are accused of keeping alive > the name of Buddha but of being dead to the message of the spirit. God, > speaking through Bahá 'u'llá h, threatens to send His Manifestation as a "thief", > meaning One Who enters and departs "unseen".1 Furthermore, the time of > His Advent may not be announced beforehand. > /. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and > they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. > Y. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot > out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my > Father, and before his angels. > 5. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. > > %& > The Apocalypse Unsealed 80 > Raiment, garment, clothing, etc. mean character or attributes of the soul. > "Say: From My laws the sweet smelling savour of my garment can be smelled, > and by their aid the standards of victory will be planted upon the highest > peaks." "Clothe thyself with the essence of righteousness, and let thine heart be > afraid of none except God."2—Bahá 'u'llá h Verse c alludes to those Buddhists > who defile their red and yellow robes by violating their true purposes. > The Book of Life is the record of those deserving eternal life. "O thou who > art the fruit of My Tree and the leaf thereof! … Wert thou to scan the pages of > the Book of Life thou wouldst, most certainly, discover that which would > dissipate thy sorrows and dissolve thine anguish."3—Bahá 'u'llá h > H. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things say he that is > holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man > shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; > M. I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can > shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not > denied my name. > Philadelphia is the Church of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is transmitting > this letter to His Church. Therefore, verse S refers to "my word" and "my > name". > Both Jesus Christ and Bahá 'u'llá h are holy, true, and have the Key of > David. The Key of David is the power to pen and close a door of history, that > is, a new Age. Jesus Christ opened the Christian Age; the Bá b was the Door to > the Bahá 'ı́ Cycle that will consist of numerous Ages covering a period of > approximately 500 thousand years.4 > Although Christians recite the words of Jesus their inner meanings have > been largely forgotten. For that reason the Christians are weak and divided. > G. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, > 81 Z. Letters to recent faiths > which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to > come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. > .4. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the > hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that > dwell upon the earth. > The original Christians were true Jews because they had accepted the > Prophet of the new Day of the Lord.5 Jews who become Bahá 'ı́s must first > accept Jesus Christ as a Manifestation. > The "Hour" is the "time of the end", the "Hour" at which the Bá b and > Bahá 'u'llá h declare Their Mission.* It is a time of temptation because the > reluctant and negative forces of the existing social order conspire to prevent > the Revelation from performing its work of creative reconstruction. > When the Bá b declared His Mission in 1844, the bigoted among the > Muslims of Persia arose to prevent the renewed Word from becoming > manifest throughout the contingent world. The Christians were spared the > temptation to participate in this repression. Even the Christian regiment that > was commanded to execute the Bá b was unable to do so through Divine > intervention.6 Today the whole world is being tested to determine whether > it is worthy of receiving the new Revelation. > ... Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy > crown. > .3. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go > no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of > the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven > from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. > .Q. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. > > * > See Rev ..:.Q; <..:.Q>;./:H; ch. .5. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 82 > A crown is a symbol of reward and authority. "To go no more out" means > that the believer will never again separate himself from the Covenant. > "New" is repeated twice, so that we cannot look for the same name but a > new name. The new name of God is Bahá , and the new name of the > Manifestation is Bahá 'u'llá h. "O Concourse of the Son (Christians)! Are ye > hidden from Myself because of My Name?"7—Bahá 'u'llá h The "city of my God", > the new Jerusalem, is the renewed Word of God and divine civilization.* > "Once in about a thousand years shall this City be renewed and readorned. … > That City is none other than the Word of God revealed in every age and > dispensation."8—Bahá 'u'llá h > Jerusalem Ίερονσαλημ has a literal value of 864 and an archetypal value > of R, the number of Bahá . 864 is twice the literal value of new name, καινουº > οº νομα, 432, which also has an archetypal value of R. (See Revelations U:17.) > The word "Jerusalem" means literally "Sacred Peace". > ./. And unto the angel of the church of Laodiceans write; These things saith the > Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; > .Y. I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would thou were cold or > hot. > .5. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out > of my mouth. > Amen is Hebrew for faithful and true. The promise of Muḥ ammad was > that He was a true witness of the Day of God. "In the Qur'án it is said that God > addressed Muḥammad, saying, 'We made Thee a witness, a herald, and a > warner'; [Qur'á n 48:S] that is, We have established Thee as one Who bears > witness, Who imparts the glad-tidings of that which is to come, and Who warns > of the wrath of God."9—'Abdu'l-Bahá > The beginning of the creation of God is the beginning of a new > > * > Equivalent to the "Dharma of Lord Buddha's teachings. > 83 Z. Letters to recent faiths > Day of God. In these verses God is addressing the Muslim Faith through His > Manifestation Muḥ ammad.* > To be cold is to be indifferent; to be hot is to be zealous; to be lukewarm is > to be bigoted. The devotees of all Faiths have often confused bigotry for > zealotry. > .H. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of > nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and > blind, and naked: > .M. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and > white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy > nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou > mayest see. > .G. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. > Gold is purified by fire; man is purified by spiritual suffering and > repentance. God would even rebuke and chasten those He loves. He > therefore warns them to be zealous and to repent. > 34. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the > door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me. > 3.. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also > overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. > 33. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. > In these verses, Bahá 'u'llá h alludes to His Herald, the Bá b. The Bá b was > the next Manifestation following Muḥ ammad. His title means the Door or > Gate.5 To those who recognized His voice speaking through the Bá b and > followed that voice, Bahá 'u'llá h literally came to sup with them. Both the Bá b > and > > * > Muḥ ammad is one of the two Witnesses mentioned in Revelations ..:Q. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 84 > Bahá 'u'llá h proclaim that the Bá b's Revelation actually came from > Bahá 'u'llá h.10 > The words of Ezekiel confirm the close relationship between the Bá b and > Bahá 'u'llá h. "Afterward he brought me to the GATE that looketh toward the > east, and behold, THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL came from the way of the > east; and his voice was like the noise of many waters; and the earth shined > with his glory. … And the GLORY OF THE LORD came into the house by way of > the GATE whose prospect is toward the east."11 > Note in verse 21 that Bahá 'u'llá h sits with His Father on His throne. This > fact will become important in Chapter c. > > Notes > 1 The Revelator, Manifestation, Prophet, etc. usually, but not always, > appears on earth and departs without mankind being aware of the Great > Event until years, even centuries later. The realization that Jesus was a > Revelator was not generally known for several centuries. On the other > hand, Muḥ ammad was widely recognized as a Revelator during His > lifetime. Compare II Peter Z:10 and Wisdom 17:QRff, 18:Q. > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 332,323, . > 3 idem, p. 132. > 4 The idea of the "Door" that opens a new Age reminds us of Janus, the old > Roman god of doorways, to whom was ascribed the origin of all things, > particularly civilization and religion. > Legend has it that the worship of Janus and other religious institutions > was first introduced into Roman culture by the great adept of the > Etruscan mysteries, Numa Pompilius. The month of January bears his > name. See Psalm 24:R–10. > 5 The Jews were the only people exempt from emperor worship following > the assassination of Caligula, CE 41. It was, therefore, an advantage to the > early Christians to be recognized as the only "true" Jews. Reference 14, pp. > 53–54. > 6 The story of the miraculous episode is described in Nabil's Narrative, > Reference The Dawn-Breakers. > 7 From The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, quoted in Star of the West, Vol. c, No. Q, March > 1913. > 8 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 269–270; Is U:U–c, R:Y, 62:Q; > Sec 14:R. > 85 Z. Letters to recent faiths > > 9 Some Answered Questions, p. 56. > 10 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, ch. CXXXV, pp. 291–294, 244, Ref. > 21, p. 296. > 11 Ezekiel 43:Q–c. See also Hebrews U:14; Psalm 24:X, 50:U, 102:16; Isaiah 35:U, > 40:W; Matthew 16:27; Mark S:38. > I. > The invisible zodiac > In this chapter, John is permitted to see the far side of the celestial sphere, > the Upper World, the Celestial Pavilion <21:U #Q>, and to have a preview of > great secrets that will be disclosed at the end of the Age of Prophecy. > .. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice > which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come > up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. > 3. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and > one sat on the throne. > Q. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was > a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. > /. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw > four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their > heads crowns of gold. > Jesus Christ, through His angel, is still showing John the things that must > come to pass (Revelations Q:Q). He is speaking as a Herald with the voice of a > trumpet. Bahá 'u'llá h, the King of Glory and Lord of the Covenant is > seen sitting on the throne as a Manifestation of God. (Compare Isaiah Y:Q–W > and Ezekiel Q:26–28, .) > The imagery of the radiance about the throne describes a "glory", that is, a > "manifestation".* The precious stone jasper > > * > See chapter .Y, note G. > '% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 88 > can have many colours, and in particular, a clear red like the hue of the heart. > It symbolizes the fact that man may have many colours of skin but his heart is > one. The sardine stone (also called a sard or sardius) can have either a > brown or red colour depending upon how it is held. It symbolizes the > essential unity behind the spiritual and physical worlds, the apparent > disharmony being only an illusion. The rainbow is symbolic of the Covenant > of God with man: that He will always send us a Messenger provided we heed > His Message. The rainbow is also "… the Testament of the Merciful One. The > lights of the Kingdom and the heavenly illumination emanated from this > rainbow. This rainbow is the sign of the removal of the wrath of God from all > the people, and the sign of prosperity, tranquillity, universal peace, the oneness > of humanity, and the unity of the world of man."1—'Abdu'l-Bahá . > The emerald is pure green. Since green harmonizes with every other > colour it symbolizes harmony and unity.2 Gold is symbolic of excellence and > perfection. > Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of God, was manifested in the station of the Father, > that is, as a Manifestation of God the Father. Thus as Bahá 'u'llá h sits on the > throne with God He is the representative of God,* acting as a communication > link between God and man. > The twenty–four elders are guardians and holy souls of the Bahá 'ı́ > Dispensation.3 The fact that they sit on their own thrones means that they > rule eternally. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has revealed the names of only twenty of these > holy Figures.4 They are: > The Bá b > The Eighteen Letters of the Living (Disciples of the Bá b) > Ḥá jı́ Mı́rzá Muḥ ammad-Taqı́ > These pages are too few to recount their deeds and characters. > As for the remaining four elders, there are many great Figures who could > be considered as candidates. Among them are certainly His Holiness 'Abdu'l- > Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.5 Many others can be found in the Bahá 'ı́ Writings. > > * > See Revelations Q:3.. > 89 c. The invisible zodiac > The twenty–four elders are shown seated in a circle around the throne of > Bahá 'u'llá h and in correspondence with the signs of the zodiac. In former > Dispensations there were only twelve elders. For example, Jacob had twelve > sons; there were twelve chiefs of tribes under Moses. Jesus had twelve > Apostles, and there were twelve Imams* of Islá m (Some Answered Questions, > pp. 66 & 78). Now, in the Bahá 'ı́ Dispensation, there are twice–twelve† of > these holy Figures, two for each zodiacal sign. The doubling of the usual > number is necessary because of the greatness of Bahá 'u'llá h's Dispensation > and the double Manifestation, the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. > Y. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and > there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven > Spirits of God. > 5. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst > of the throne, and round about ;the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before > and behind. > H. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third > beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. > M. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of > eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord > God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. > Lightning is the anger and wrath of God. Thunder is the sound of the > violation of the Covenant. Voices are the utterings of the doubters and > hypocrites who fall into trials and temptations.6 > The seven lamps of fire before the throne, to the outward eye, represent > the seven planets, that popular myth considered to be seven lamps carried by > angels across the dome of heaven. > > * > According to the Shı́'ite tradition in the Muslim world, the Imams were the true > and rightful leaders of Islá m following the Ascension of Muḥ ammad. More will be > said about the Imams in a later chapter. > † > 3/ has an archetypal value of 5, the number of mediation. See below. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 90 > However, John learns that the seven planets are not the true governors of > the world of man, but that the world is actually controlled by the seven > Spirits of God. The seven Spirits correspond to the Divine Revelators Who > manifest the Spirit of Bahá . > To the outward eye, the far side of the crystalline celestial sphere appears > as a sea of glass. But to the inward eye, the sea of glass like unto a crystal is > firm, clear and pure—symbolic of the Ocean of Truth. "O people! I swear by > the One true God! This is the Ocean out of which all seas have proceeded, and > with which every one of them will ultimately be united."7—Bahá 'u'llá h > Bahá 'u'llá h reflects perfectly the attributes of God as from the polished > surface, and one cannot distinguish between the Light of God and His > Manifestation reflected on the throne. > To the outward eye, the four zodiacal creatures or beasts* with eyes > (stars) before and behind, represent the four signs of the zodiac > corresponding to the four chief tribes of Israel (Figure R). But to the inward > eye, the four signs correspond to the four pillars or corners that will secure > the age of Aquarius, the advent of cosmic time that will announce the > Dispensation of Bahá 'u'llá h.8 The four pillars are listed in the order of the > Precession, beginning at the Autumnal equinox.† > Creature Sign Precession Pillar (Dawning > order time in the year) > lion Leo u Autumnal equinox > calf Taurus lo Summer solstice > man Aquarius m Spring equinox > flying eagle Scorpio n Winter solstice > The four pillars have other meanings. In the world of Jabarú t > > * > In the 980, four beasts is translated as four living creatures, while calf is > translated as ox. > † > The Jewish civil calendar begins at the Autumnal equinox. The Autumnal equinox > is now entering the constellation Leo. > 91 c. The invisible zodiac > > Lion Calf, Ox > > Flying Eagle Man > Figure ] > The four pillars of the age of Aquarius > The Apocalypse Unsealed 92 > [the All-Highest Dominion]* they are earthly rulers, paragons of virtue, who > will accept Bahá 'u'llá h and thereby secure the Cause. Their eyes within > represent their great spiritual insight. Their attributes are lion—kingly > majesty and strength; calf or ox—strength and servanthood; face of man— > unity of mankind; flying eagle—majesty, victory, sharp vision.9 Like the > ancient Hebrew Messengers of God, each paragon has Z-times-U wings to > emphasize his exalted station.6 Since Six was also considered the number of > mediation (Chapter X, Note 13), in this role they mediate between the twenty– > four elders and the Y-times-24 "working arms", the 144 primal rulers alluded > to have probably not yet appeared in history. > In the world of the Lá hú t, it is God Who sits on the throne and the four > pillars are the Four Central Figures of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith, that is: lion = the Lion > of Judah, Bahá 'u'llá h; ox = the Servant of Bahá , 'Abdu'l-Bahá †; man = the Man > Child,‡ the Bá b; and flying eagle = the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.§ The creative > Word of God always has multiple meanings. In their role as Mediators, they > mediate between God and the Y-times-c elders and thenceforth to all > mankind. > G. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the > throne, who liveth for ever and ever, > .4. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and > worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the > throne, saying, > ... Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast > created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. > In many of His Tablets Bahá 'u'llá h proclaims, "I am God". > > * > See chapter ., verse M, commentary. > † > "'Abdu'l-Bahá " literally means "Servant of Bahá ". > ‡ > The Man Child will be introduced in chapter .3. > § > A flying eagle adorns the pillar above the Sepulchre of Shoghi Effendi in London. > 93 c. The invisible zodiac > This identity with God is in the realm of His attributes and not of His > essence.10 In The Book of Certitude, Bahá 'u'llá h recites the words of God to > His Manifestation. "There is no distinction whatsoever between Thee and > Them; except that they are Thy servants and are created of Thee." And, "But > for Thee, I would not have created the heavens."11 In another place Bahá 'u'llá h > says, "… He Who is the Monarch of all names is come, He at Whose bidding > every single name hath, from the beginning that hath no beginning, been > created …."12 > If one draws a diagram of the arrangement of the invisible zodiac as > described in this chapter, it is seen that it forms a mandala, the quadratura > circuli, Figure 10. As explained in Part I of this book, this particular mandala > is a symbol of the unification of heaven and earth and the realization of inner > wholeness. Thus John sees that man's feeble conception of the phenomenal > cosmos is a mere symbol of the hidden mandala, the Divine Order that is > hidden, yet implicit, in the arrangement and laws governing the universe. > > Notes > 1 Quoted in Star of the West, Vol. VIII, No. 17, p. 226, Jan. 1918. Star of the West > was an English language Bahá 'ı́ magazine published in the United States > during the years 1911–1935. See also Genesis R:13; Ezekiel Q:28; Jeremiah > 31:c, 31–34, 32:38–40; Luke Q:72; Isaiah 52:R, 54:10, 50:21; Psalm 33:11, 105:S– > R; Ezekiel 16:62, 37:26; Hosea 14:X; Amos R:11; Micah X:19; Hebrews S:S. > 2 Green is also sometimes used to symbolize immortality or humility. > 3 Some Answered Questions, p. 66, <11 #Q>. Jacob, Moses, Jesus and > Muḥ ammad each had U-times-Y holy Figures while the Bá b had Z-times-Y. > In the new Age, Bahá 'u'llá h has c-times-Y holy Figures. Many other > religions and cults had U-times-Y holy or sacred Figures, e.g., the 12 > Olympian deities, the 12 Titans, the 12 knights of King Arthur's round table > (the zodiacal wheel?), the 12 divine guardians (juni Shinsho) of Buddha > the Healer, etc. > 4 Ref. 21, p. 201 and n. . > The Apocalypse Unsealed 94 > > Figure ;^ > The invisible zodiac > or > The hidden mandala > 5 Shoghi Effendi, the young grandson of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and a relative of the > Bá b, was designated the Guardian of the Cause of God by 'Abdu'l-Bahá . He > is the One spoken of in Isaiah 11:Y as the "child who shall lead them". > 6 Some Answered Questions, p. 69, <11 #Q>. > 7 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 104. > 8 The question naturally arises as to whether there is something other than > an accidental correlation between the zodiacal age and the spiritual age. > The modern scientific view of cosmology would require us to answer no. > But there is an obvious analogy between the drawings of a zodiacal and a > spiritual age. In Promulgation of Universal Peace, 'Abdu'l-Bahá says: "… > This time of the world may be likened to the equinoctal in the annual cycle. > For verily this is the spring season of God. In the holy books a promise is > given that the springtime of God shall make itself manifest. Jerusalem the > holy city shall descend from heaven, Zion shall leap forth and dance and the > Holy Land be submerged in the ocean of divine effulgence. > At the time of the vernal equinox in the material world a wonderful vibrant > 95 c. The invisible zodiac > energy and new life-quickening is observed everywhere in the vegetable > kingdom; the animal and human kingdoms are resuscitated and move > forward with a new impulse. The whole world is born anew, resurrected… > Likewise the spiritual bounty and springtime of God quicken the world of > humanity with a new animus and vivification. All the virtues which have > been deposited and potential in human hearts are being revealed from that > Reality as flowers and blossoms from divine gardens. It is a day of joy, a > time of happiness, a period of spiritual growth …" > Similarly, in Mark 13:28–R (980) we have the words of Jesus concerning a > sign of the Day of the Return of the Son of Man: "From the fig tree learn > its lesson; as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, > you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking > place, you know that he (the Son of Man) is near, at the very gates." > It is interesting that there have been three known Universal > Manifestations Whose Advents occurred near the dawning times of the > three most recent zodiacal ages—Melchisdedc: Aries, Jesus: Pisces, and > Bahá 'u'llá h: Aquarius. A Universal Manifestation has a Message for all > mankind while other Manifestations have Messages for specific times and > peoples. It is also interesting that the last four zodiacal ages, at least in > the Middle East, may have had priesthoods and religious rites > characterized by the sign of the zodiacal age. For example, the age of > Gemini the Twins is notable for its religions of dualism (Set and Ra in > Egypt, Yang-Yin in China). Twins are the city builders of ancient myth > (Ref. X). In the Bible, the Cain and Abel allegory and the Twin Pillars of > God (Exodus 13:21–22) may correspond to this phase of religious evolution. > The age of Taurus the Bull is represented by various bull cults (Apis in > Egypt, bull-dancing in Crete). Aries is notable for the lamb sacrifice and > various cults (Amon-Ra, the ram-headed god of Egypt, Pan, the goathorned god of pasture fields in Greece). In the Bible we have Abraham's > substitution of the ram for His son in the sacrifice; Moses descends from > Mount Sinai with ram's horns but finds His people still worshipping the > golden calf (Taurus?). Pisces is, of course, the age of Jesus Christ, and it is > still common to represent His Dispensation with the Sign of Ichthys, the > Fish. The influence of the Fish can be discerned in Christian art, > architecture and literature. But astrologers claim that it is incorrect to list > only one sign for the age, and that the two signs corresponding to both > equinoxes should be listed. Thus Pisces-Virgo is more representative of > the Christian Era, with Virgo the Virgin playing an obvious role in the > Christian experience. Fá ṭima in the Muslim world plays a counterpart to > Mary. > Using this logic, the new age is either Aquarius-Leo or Leo-Aquarius. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 96 > Aquarius is the Water Bearer who brings spiritual awareness for the > unification of mankind (Ref. W). Leo has obvious characteristics of power > and kingship, but the constellation of Leo (Figure R) has interesting > attributes of its own. The sickle that is the outstanding sub-cluster in Leo > suggests a correlation with the sickle formed by the seven Churches > (Figure S) and the Divine Reaper in Revelations 14:14. The sickle in Leo > can be easily discovered because of the brilliant star Regulus in its handle. > Regulus crosses the meridian 12 degrees north of the equator at 10:00 pm > on 23 March. Regulus means literally Sovereign or Lord. > The constellation Leo was the apparent point of origin of the Great Star > Fall on the eve of 11 November 1833 that seemed to announce the sixteenth > birthday of Bahá 'u'llá h. The more literalist Christians, in accordance with > the prophecy of Jesus, considered the Great Star Fall to be the last signal > necessary to precede the "end of the world" and the Second Coming of > Christ. The prophecy in Matthew 24:U–30 (980) reads "Immediately after > the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will > not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of > heaven will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in > heaven …" The other parts of this prophecy seemed to have been fulfilled > by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 and the Dark Day of 10 May 1780. The > "sign of the Son of man in heaven", by many, was equated with the great > comet of 1843. > Leo has the number Nine, the number of Bahá ', in the Precession order, > and the number Five, the number of the Bá b, in the zodiacal order. > 9 Flying Eagle is used as the name of the sign instead of its more recent > name Scorpio. This was probably done to imply a virtuous beast, the > scorpion being a rascally little creature without obvious virtues. This > constellation should not be confused with Aquila, Eagle, another > constellation of the same name that is not a member of the zodiac (Ref. 59, > p. 254). The four signs listed in verse X are also interesting for four > brilliant stars, Alderbaran in Taurus, Antares in Scorpio or Flying Eagle, > Regulus in Leo, and Fomalhaut in Aquarius. These four stars are very > nearly at points separated by 90 degrees around the zodiacal band. > The four beasts are also used as a symbol in Ezekiel Q:W–R and again in > Daniel X:17. Some authorities suggest that the four beasts in Ezekiel may > define the attributes of Man or man (Reference c, p. 98), but it is fairly > obvious that the four beasts are intended to define four empires (Ref. c, p. > WVff.). The ancients often ascribed life to abstract entities, even to the > cosmos. (Ref. 20, p. 136; Ref. 29, ZVC.) It has been a frequent device in the > cultures of man to symbolize various attributes with a combination of > 97 c. The invisible zodiac > animals, men, sceptres, diadems, etc. Representatives of the Hindu > pantheon are modern day examples; the great sphinx of Egypt is an > ancient example. > According to ancient Hebrew mystical thought, all of the Messengers of > God had Y wings except Satan, who, before his fall, had U-times-Y wings. > They bore the title "Sons of God". (Ref. 12, p. 88.) > As one proceeds through the Apocalypse, the romance of the ancient > cosmological view should delight the reader. One can easily be > transported into an age when the night skies were pollution free, when > man felt more at home in a living cosmos, and the ages rolled on forever in > awesome cycles. In many cases the writer will choose to avoid pointing > out the many allusions to stellar constellations such as rivers, crowns, etc., > preferring to let the reader with a penchant for astronomy have the > enjoyment of discovering these for himself. > 10 Ref. 21, p. 46. Compare e.g., John 10:30. > 11 The Book of Certitude, pp. 100, 103. > 12 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 258. > K > The book of seven seals > .. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within > and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. > 3. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the > book and to loose the seals thereof? > Q. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the > book, neither to look thereon. > Y. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of > Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the > seven seals thereof. > The "book" represents the seven Holy Books of the seven Faiths. It is > sealed with seven seals because every Holy Book was sealed. The words on > the inside represent the hidden meanings while word on the backside > represent the obvious meanings. The hidden meanings of the Holy Books > were revealed by Bahá 'u'llá h. The Book of the Bá b [the Bayán, meaning > "Exposition"], actually revealed through the Spirit of Bahá 'u'llá h, was also > instrumental in unsealing the seven Books. The representation of all the > seven Books as a single Book symbolized the fact that all the Holy Books are > in essence one and the same. > The Lion of the tribe of Judah1 is Bahá 'u'llá h. The Lion of Judah alludes to > the prophecy of Jacob in Genesis 49:R–10 (KJV). In that prophecy, the Lion > symbolizes a ruler or sovereign; > > && > The Apocalypse Unsealed 100 > Shiloh means a place of rest and symbolizes the Ark of the Covenant.* 2 > As the Root of David, Bahá 'u'llá h, Who was descended from Abraham > through His third wife Katurah, is equated to Abraham, meaning that all > Prophets are in essence one and the same.† > 5. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the > midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and > seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth unto all the earth. > 980 translates verse Y as follows: > 5. And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw > a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven > eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth; > The constellation Aries, the Ram or Lamb, (Fig. 11) was originally the first > to appear at the Vernal equinox. But because of the Precession of the > Equinoxes, the Lamb is always "slain" for a new constellation at each new > zodiacal age. And so it is at a new spiritual Age, which is always accompanied > by a Sacrificial Figure, a "Lamb of God", a "leader of the flock", the Sacrifice of > the Covenant (Exodus 24:c–S).3 > In the last chapter we discovered that the greatness of Bahá 'u'llá h's > Dispensation requires an invisible zodiac of twenty–four elders. Thus there > are two of every type of elder (Holy Figure), and, in particular, there are two > Lambs in this new Age. The two Lambs are the Bá b and 'Abdu'l-Bahá .4 > The Lamb may, in some Sacrifices, such as that of Jesus > > * > "Shiloh come" equals QYM by the Hebrew gematria, identical to "Messiah". > † > See Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. MM–G4. > 101 W. The book of seven seals > > Figure ;; > Aries the Ram or Lamb > (Note the similarity of Aries and Triangulum) > Christ and the Bá b, be the Manifestation Himself, and the Lamb may > actually climb the "lofty summit of great martyrdom". In others, such as that > of Moses and 'Abdu'l-Bahá , the Lamb's spiritual Sacrifice, while not including > physical martyrdom, will transcend our abilities to recount or to > comprehend. But the Lamb is always meek, innocent, spotless in purity., > Who becomes the victim of slander and persecution, Whose Sacrifice is > required to cleanse civilization of destructive forces, to renew the Ages, and > to permit a higher reality to become manifest. > Although Bahá 'u'llá h is also a Sacrificial Figure, in these verses He is > represented as the Lion, symbolic of His role as the Sovereign or Lord of the > Covenant. In verse Y, horn symbolizes a name. The Lamb has > seven horns representing the seven names by which the Lamb had been > known in the seven former Dispensations. The seven eyes are the > The Apocalypse Unsealed 102 > seven Prophetic Spirits through which the Lamb had been manifested.5 > H. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the > throne. > M. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell > down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full > of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. > G. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open > the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy > blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; > .4. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. > ... And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the > beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten > thousand, and thousands of thousands; > .3. Saying with a loud voice, worth is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and > riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. > .Q. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and > such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and > honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto > the Lamb for ever and ever. > ./. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and > worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. > In verse Y the Lamb stands (seemingly) as though it had been slain. In > verse R we learn that the Lamb has actually been slain. The possible > contradiction is resolved, of course, by the fact that there are two Lambs in > Bahá 'u'llá h's Dispensation. The first Lamb, the Bá b, was literally slain in the > public square of Tabrı́z. The second Lamb, 'Abdu'l-Bahá , was not slain in a > literal sense, > 103 W. The book of seven seals > and remains alive and well, to reappear as the Lamb of the new Jerusalem in > a later chapter. > Since the Lamb that was slain is the One worthy to "take the book", the > Bá b will help to unseal the Book of seven seals. <11:13 #U> > The Bá b helped to unseal the Holy Books through the spiritual power of > Bahá 'u'llá h. Thus in verse X He takes the Book from Bahá 'u'llá h to open the > seals. Bahá 'u'llá h explains, "… whatsoever My Previous Manifestation and > Harbinger of My Beauty (the Bá b) hath revealed hath been My Revelation and > the proclamation of My Cause."6 > The new song is the message of the new Manifestation. "… the divines and > doctors … have … refused to incline their ears unto the divine Melody."7— > Bahá 'u'llá h > > Notes > 1 980 translates verse W as "… the Lion of the tribes of Judah, the Root of > David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." > 2 The prophecy of Genesis 49:R–10 (KJV) is correlated with others and is > discussed in detail by Marsella, Reference 12, pp. 149–252. > 3 See, e.g., Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 75–Y, 85, 88–90, > 135, 265; The Reality of Man, pp. 47–53. The emphasis placed on the Lamb > symbol in the Apocalypse, written in the first century AD, may have > resulted from an unusual astrological event. About 300 years earlier, the > constellations and zodiacal signs were once again synchronous for the > first time in about 25,000 years. This auspicious event had not gone > unnoticed, the Precession apparently being rediscovered by the > astronomer Hipparchus in 127 BCE, who also produced an estimate of the > precession rate—one degree per century, with an error of about 40%. As > explained in Astrological Symbolism, Part One of this book, there was > supposed to be a mystical correlation between the Twelve Tribes of Israel > and the zodiacal signs. Since Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, the Lamb > is a symbol of the "leader of the flock". Gad was the leader of the ancient > tribal system whose symbol was Aries, but his tribe was one of the Ten > Lost Tribes. (See Chapter X, Note 11; I Chronicles 12:S, 14.) > The astrological formula "as above, so below", required that heavenly > events would have their counterparts on earth. Thus there must have > been an unknown Figure among the "remnant of Israel" Who was the > invisible leader of the tribe of Gad, and, hence, of Israel. Since the sign of > Aries was once more in synchronism with the constellation, it seems > likely that this rare event must have boded well for the ascension of Israel > The Apocalypse Unsealed 104 > and her release from foreign domination, a hope that, alas, was not to be > realized. > In the first century BCE, the fact that the constellation of Aries would once > again lag behind the sign or Aries must have been widely anticipated, and > speculation as to the significance of this event must have been rampant. > By the "law of correspondences" there should, of course, be a similar > "sacrifice" on the earthly plane. The believer in astrology would be > expecting the appearance of the mystical "Lamb of God", which would > account for the reported exclamation of John the Baptist in John Q:29, 36. > This theory would also account for the reported journey of the wise men > (astrologers), Matthew U:Q–U, who may have dated the end of the age of > Aries at Y BCE to coincide with a "big conjunction" of Saturn and Jupiter. > (See Reference 58, pp. 399–401.) > A remarkable episode is retold by de Santillana and von Dechend in > Hamlet's Mill, Chapter 21, lifted from Plutarch's dialogue On why oracles > came to fail. The narrative, presumably historical, describes how, during > the reign of Tiberius (AD 14–37) a rumour was started that the "great Pan > is dead". Pan, the goat-horned god of the pasture fields, was clearly an > Aries-type figure. His presumed death was considered important enough > for Caesar to cause an investigation into the matter. It is ironic that Pan > gradually suffered the ignominy of being transformed from a benevolent > god into the stereotype of the "devil" of medieval Christendom. > The symbols Lion and Lamb suggest a dualistic, Yang-Yin relationship. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá (God Passes By, p. 99) likens the Revelation of the Bá b to the > sun, its station corresponding to the first sign of the zodiac—the sign > Aries (the Ram)—that the sun enters at the Vernal equinox. The station of > Bahá 'u'llá h's Revelation, on the other hand, is represented by the sign Leo > the Lion, the sun's midsummer and highest station. > The blood sacrifice (ox, bull, sheep, ram or goat) was practised by the > ancient Hebrews as a sin offering (e.g., Numbers Y:17, 28:R; Leviticus c:32– > 35, 16:11) and as a symbol of the Covenant (Exodus 24:U–S). In a variation > of the sacrifice, a goat was symbolically caused to bear the sins of the > community and then suffered to escape into the wilderness (Leviticus > 16:10). This is the origin of the term "scapegoat". > In the Genesis story (22:13–14) of Abraham and His son, God allows > Abraham to substitute a ram for His son in the sacrifice. The ram thereby > became a surrogate, and the story may symbolize the end of or the nonexistence of human sacrifice in the ancient Hebrew world (Reference 14, p. > R), and entrance into the age of Aries. > 105 W. The book of seven seals > > A connection between the blood sacrifice and Christianity is given in I > Peter Q:19 and Hebrews R:12–14, 10:c, 11, 12. The author of Hebrews denies > that the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats or bulls by > priests is capable of removing sin while the blood of Christ is capable of > doing so. > Early Christian theologians set forth the theory that Jesus Christ was a > scapegoat for the original sin of Adam, giving an esoteric meaning to the > title "Lamb of God". > The future Sacrifice of Jesus may have been the theme of Isaiah 53:c–W, but > some, in view of Isaiah 40:U, regard the passage as referring to Israel. > (Reference 14, p. Qcf. Also see John Q:29, 36; I Peter Q:19; I Corinthians 15:22; > Romans 12:Q; I Peter U:W.) For a further history of the blood sacrifice, see > Reference c, p. Qcff. > The symbolism of the ram has great antiquity. The cult of the ram > flourished in the Middle East beginning about 2000 BCE. For example, the > chief god of Upper Egypt was Amon, a highly spiritual deity whose name > means "occult" or "hidden". (cf. Acts 17:23.) He was originally represented > as having the head of a ram and was worshipped in Roman times as > Jupiter Ammon. > The "good shepherd" symbol was mirrored in ancient culture in the > religion of Orpheus. Orpheus was probably a real man, a singer, a > prophet, and a teacher, who was martyred, and whose tomb became a > shrine. The early Christian Church saw in Orpheus the prototype of > Christ. See Orpheus and the Son of Man, by Joseph L. Henderson in > Reference Q. > 4 The Sacrificial qualities of these two Figures can be found in several Bahá 'ı́ > Writings, e.g., God Passes By and The Dawn-Breakers. Regarding the Bá b, > we may consult, e.g., the writings of the French historian A. L. M. Nicolas, > Siyyid 'Alí-Muḥammad dit le Báb, pp. 203–c, 376: "Christians believe that if > Jesus had wished to come down from the cross He could have done so > easily; He died of His own free will because it was written that He should > and in order that the prophecies might be fulfilled. The same is true of the > Bá b so (His followers) say … He likewise died voluntarily because His > death was to be the salvation of humanity. Who will ever tell us the words > that the Bá b uttered in the midst of the unprecedented turmoil which > broke out…; who will ever know the memories which stirred in His noble > soul?" > 'Abdu'l-Bahá , called the Mystery of God by Bahá 'u'llá h, was born on the > same evening as the Declaration of the Bá b, 23 May 1844. On page 290 of > The Apocalypse Unsealed 106 > God Passes By we find this quote by Shoghi Effendi: "When 'Abdu'l-Bahá > visited this country (the United States of America) for the first time in > 1912", a commentator on His American travels has written, "He found a > large and sympathetic audience waiting to greet Him personally and to > receive from His own lips His loving and spiritual message… Beyond the > words spoken there was something indescribable in His personality that > impressed profoundly all who came into His presence. The dome-like > head, the patriarchal beard, the eyes that seemed to have looked beyond > the reach of time and space, the soft yet clearly penetrating voice, the > translucent humility, the never failing love—but above all, the sense of > power mingled with gentleness that invested His whole being with a rare > majesty of spiritual exaltation that both set Him apart, and yet that > brought Him near to the lowliest soul—it was all this, and much more that > can never be defined, that have left with His many…friends, memories that > are ineffaceable and unspeakably precious." > 5 See Zechariah Z:R–10, c:10 (KJV). In c:10, "Zerubabbel" means "Begotten in > Babylon", "Scattered in Babylon", "Banished in Babylon", or "Stranger in > Babylon". (Reference 28, p. 116.) The word is a descriptor of Bahá 'u'llá h > Who fits each of the appellations. See commentary, Rev 16:10–11 & 14:S. In > Haggai U:23 the Lord of Hosts promises to make Zerubabbel His signet. > 6 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 244–245. > 7 The Book of Certitude, p. 164. Also see Isaiah 42:R–10, 43:19. > L > The Book is opened > After having witnessed the hidden forces of the Upper World that will > become manifest in the Last Day, John is now permitted to see the hidden > forces that will rule the Lower World until the end of the Prophetic Age. The > seven seals will be opened by the Bá b. The openings of the first five of these > seals present an overview of the tribulation of mankind leading up to the > Manifestations of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. The opening of the sixth seal > describes the world-wide cataclysmic events attending their Manifestations. > In opposition to the four paragons of the Upper World, four mischief > makers will dominate the Lower World. The four mischief makers ride four > horses representing the hidden forces of the Under-World.1 The four > paragons of the invisible zodiac invite John to "come and see" what is > destined to happen as the zodiacal wheel rolls onward. > The seventh seal, to be opened in Chapter S, will reveal a detailed future > history of the spiritual life of mankind, beginning with the coming of > Bahá 'u'llá h and the new Jerusalem. The future will be revealed in seven > stages by seven angels. The relationship between the opening of the seals > and the various angels is shown in Figures 12 and 18. > .. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the > noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. > 3. And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him had a > > ()% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 108 > > Figure ;D > Prophecies to the Christians > Chapters W to ;^ > 109 Y. The Book is opened > bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to > conquer. > Q. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and > see. > /. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that > sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: > and there was given unto him a great sword. > The thunder from the opening of the first seal is the noise of the violation > of the Covenant. The white horse is Corrupted Theology, disguised with the > colour of purity but bent upon conquering the minds of men. Its rider is the > Worldly Church, who holds in his hands the bow of propaganda. The crown > given him is spiritual authority. > The red horse is War and has the colour of blood. The rider is National > Greed and he holds in his hand the sword of conquest. > Y. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. > And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of > balances in his hand. > 5. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a > penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil > and the wine. > H. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, > Come and see. > M. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, > and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth > part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with > the beasts of the earth. > The black horse is Economic Injustice and has the colour of impure > motive. His rider is Personal Greed. The balance he > The Apocalypse Unsealed 110 > carries is the power to distribute wealth. The measure* of wheat and three > measures of barley for a penny are unjustly traded for about one-eighth their > fair value. The victim of the transaction is warned not to consume oil and > wine, the commodities of luxury. > The pale horse is Ungodliness and has the colour of indifference. His > rider is Spiritual Death and his followers are those who are remote from God. > Their weapons include the sword of evil practices, the starvation of spiritual > destitution, the death of unbelief, and ungodly leadership (beasts of the > earth). > G. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that > were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they help: > .4. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost > thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? > ... And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, > that they should rest yet for a little season, until their follow servants also and > their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. > These verses prophesy the future martyrs of Islá m, the Bá bı́, and Bahá 'ı́ > Faiths, numbering in the tens of thousands. It has been estimated that > several thousand martyrs sacrificed their lives to the Causes of Jesus Christ > and Muḥ ammad. About twenty to thirty thousands more were martyred for > the Causes of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. > .3. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great > earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon > became as blood; > .Q. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely > figs, > > * > 980 translates the measure as a quart and the penny as a denarius. > 111 Y. The Book is opened > when she is shaken of a mighty wind. > ./. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every > mountain and island were moved out of their places. > .Y. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the right men, and the chief > captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid > themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. > .5. And said to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of > him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: > .H. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? > These verses contain several symbols used by the prophets:2 > Earthquake—Disturbance of the worldly order.3 (Heaven quake— > Disturbance of the heavenly order.) > Sun, moon, stars—The hierarchy of prophets, church leaders, saints, > priests, elders, etc.4 > Sun becomes black, etc.—Fall of the hierarchy. > Heavens rolled up like a scroll—Removal of the heavenly order.5 > Mountains, valleys—Peoples, nations, religions, institutions.6 > Dens, islands, rocks—Strongholds, places of safety.7 > When the divines of a former Dispensation accept the new Manifestation, > they will become illumined; otherwise they will become "darkened", and > their teachings will turn from water into blood. In The Book of Certitude, > Bahá 'u'llá h reveals, "In another sense, by the terms 'sun', 'moon', and 'stars' are > meant such laws and teachings as have been established in every Dispensation, > such as the laws of prayer and fasting. … Hence, it is clear and manifest that by > the words 'the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and > the stars shall fall from > The Apocalypse Unsealed 112 > heaven' is intended the waywardness of the divines, and the annulment of laws > firmly established by divine Revelation …."8 > Verses 12–17 reveal that after the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h are manifested, the > world hierarchy of church potentates, leaders, and clergy will lose their > power. Nations, religions, and institutions will disappear. "Speed out of your > sepulchres. How long will ye sleep? … The earth has quaked with a great > quaking, and cast forth her burdens. … the mountains have become like flocks > of wool … the people are sore vexed at the awful majesty of the Cause of God. > Witness how their houses are empty ruins, and they themselves a drowned host. > … The All-Merciful hath come down in the clouds of knowledge, clothed with > manifest sovereignty. … The heaven of every religion hath been rent, and the > earth of human understanding been cleft asunder, and the angels of God are > seen descending. … The mountains have passed away, and the heavens have > been folded together, and the whole earth is help within His grasp …."— > Bahá 'u'llá h > > Notes > 1 Hades-Pluto, the Graeco-Roman god of the Underworld, also drive four > horses. The horses also appear in Zechariah Y:U–Z where they appear > benevolent and may correspond to the four winds of prophecy > (Revelations X:Q). > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 44–45. The opening of the > six seals in Chapter Six may have other meanings, for instance, the six > plagues may represent in microcosm the disasters that accompanied the > six centuries of the Christian Dispensation, the six years of the Bá b's > Ministry, etc. > The events earthquake, darkening of the sun and moon, and falling of the > stars are in the same order as the prophecy of Jesus in Matthew 24:29–30. > See chapter c, note S. > 3 e.g., Psalm 114:X; I Chronicles 16:29–34; Joel Z:16; Amos S:S; Isaiah 13:13, > 14:16; Haggai U:Y–X; Hebrews 12:26–27. > 4 e.g., Amos S:R; Isaiah 13:10, 60:19–20, 14:12; Ezekiel 32:X–S; Job 38:X; > Numbers 24:17; Joel U:31, Z:15; Acts U:20; Jude Q:13; Matthew 24:29; Obadiah > Q:c. See also Genesis 37:R–10. An important Tablet of the Bá b, the > Qayyúmu'l-Asmá' [The Book of Names], reveals that the story of Joseph is a > prophecy of the coming of Bahá 'u'llá h, His imprisonments, treachery by > relatives, etc. > 5 e.g., Isaiah 34:c. > 6 e.g., Psalm 114:c; Isaiah 14:25–26, U:U–Z, 40:c, 65:23–W; Jeremiah 48:S; Micah > 113 Y. The Book is opened > Q:Z–c; Luke 23:30, Z:c–W; Daniel U. Ancient Sumerian literature states that > the "divine laws" were revealed on the X holy mountains of the Zagros > Range. (Ref. 12, p. 32.) In the more recent traditions of the Middle East, > certain mountains remain associated with a Faith, e.g., Sinai and Zion with > Judaism, Calvary and Olivet with Christianity, Pá rá n and Hira with Islá m, > Má h-Kú and Carmel with Bá bı́, Sar-Galú and Carmel with Bahá 'ı́. See John > U:21. > 7 e.g., Psalm 18:U. > 8 The Book of Certitude, pp. 33–34, 36, 37, 38, 41. > N > God's servants are sealed > .. And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, > holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the > earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. > 3. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: > and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whim it was given to hurt > the earth and the sea, > Q. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, not the trees, till we have sealed the > servants of our God in their foreheads. > These verses portend the holding back for a period of time the Breath of > God from the world of man. Wind symbolizes the holy Breath of God that is > wafted over the worlds of matter and spirit.1 "Out of thee* hath gone the > Breath of the All-Glorious, a breath that hath breathed over all created things, > and filled with joy the breasts of the devout that dwell in the mansions of > Paradise."2—Bahá 'u'llá h > Earth or soil is the world of man. "… the clouds of truth will continue to the > end that hath no end to rain on the soil of human capacity, reality and > personality their favours and bounties."3—Bahá 'u'llá h > The Tetrad of four angels are those who will control the corners of the > square earth during the Dispensation of Jesus Christ.4 They correspond to > the four trumpets in Chapter S. > > * > Baghdá d House, the scene of many of Bahá 'u'llá h's Revelations. > (($ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 116 > The angel of the East is Muḥ ammad, the Seal of the Prophets, not yet > manifested in the first century, Who, as we shall see in Chapter R, will > command His followers not to hurt the righteous. > Here the sea symbolizes the spiritual existence of man and the sources of > inspiration.5 "The seas of Divine wisdom and divine utterance have risen under > the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful."6—Bahá 'u'llá h > A tree represents a source of spiritual guidance. A tree can also represent > a nation.7 "Advance, O people, with snow-white faces and radiant hearts, unto > the blest and crimson Spot, wherein the Sadratu'l-Muntahá (Tree of Guidance > [Divine Lote-Tree]) is calling: 'Verily there is none other God beside Me, the > Omnipotent Protector, the Self-Subsisting.'" "Ye are the fruits of one tree, and > the leaves of one branch."8—Bahá 'u'llá h > /. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an > hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. > "Israel" means literally "he that strives with God". In the context of this > and the next four verses, Israel is a symbol, a microcosm of humanity.9 > Israel's history of spiritual struggle is representative of all mankind. In > astrological works, the 12 parts of the human organism were correlated with > the 12 signs of the zodiac. In a similar way, the 12 tribes of Israel were > considered to be mystically correlated with the zodiac and the stellar > influences over the world of man. Thus the 12 loaves of the shewbread* and > the 12 precious stones of the breastplate of the High Priest were > representative of both the 12 signs of the zodiac and the 12 Tribes. > According to the Hebrew theory of the "Chosen People", the redemption > of humanity depended upon the attainment by Israel of perfect obedience to > the Will of God. The Theocracy of Israel, once achieved, would set the > example for a World > > * > The twelve loaves of unleavened bread placed at the altar in the ancient Jewiah > Temple as a token offering every Sabbath by the priests. > 117 X. God's servants are sealed > Theocracy, thereby leading to the Universal Brotherhood of Man under the > One True God, the Father of all men. Some advocates of the theory were > more realistic, believing that the same end would be achieved if a "remnant of > Israel" were to reach the required state of righteousness.6 The prophecy of > verses c–R asserts the ultimate redemption of a symbolic "remnant of Israel" > and hence the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. > The number of the sealed, "144 χιλιαδες" ("144 thousands"), can be > translated as either 144 thousand or 144 groups of Q,000. 144 is twice 72. In > past Dispensations, 72 represented the number of specially endowed and > confirmed souls who formed the "working arms", that is, the primal points or > "mustard seeds" that were cast over the soil of mankind to generate the > Heavenly Garden. For example, Noah had 72 followers, there were 72 elders > under Moses endowed with prophetic ecstasy, some versions of Luke 10:Q > give 72 as the number of disciples of Jesus, and, by the Pledge of 'Aqabah, 72 > heroes of Medina fought for Muḥ ammad.10 > The mustard seed in the parable of Jesus11 is the primal point of creation > whose attributes as a seed are sacrificed to the attributes of the tree. It is > only through the sacrifice of the self and submission to the Covenant that the > Divine civilization can be brought into existence. The Dispensation of > Bahá 'u'llá h requires twice 72 of these primal mustard seeds, just as it > required twice 12 elders in the invisible zodiac. (Rev c:c) Each of these 144 > sanctified souls is to be the "gate" through which a "thousand", that is, a > "large number",12 of souls will enter the Kingdom. > The number 144,000 had an archetypal value of R, that is Q+c+c+V+V+V = > R. Verse c also explains that those who have the seal of Bahá ' (R) on their > foreheads will be blessed and saved. "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 Bahá. Through > The Apocalypse Unsealed 118 > them* have been shed the splendours of the light of guidance.'"13 "… Seek thou > the shore of the Most Great Ocean, and enter, then, the Crimson Ark which God > hath ordained in the Qayyum-i-Asmᆠfor the people‡ of Bahá."14—Bahá 'u'llá h > Y. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were > sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. > 5. Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were > sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve > thousand. > H. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were > sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. > M. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were > sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve > thousand. > It will be revealed in verse 21:12 that the gates of the Holy City, the new > Jerusalem, are correlated with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. These gates > correspond to the 12 signs of the zodiac in the manner defined in Genesis 49 > [discussed on page 27]. But, whereas in former Dispensations there were > only Y "thousand" entering each gate, there will be twice Y "thousand" > entering each gate of the new Jerusalem during the Day of God. Amongst the > ancient numerologists, Y was the symbolic number of mediation, beauty and > harmony.15 > The ordering of the names of the Tribes is suggestive of the uniting of > man during the Day of God. Judah and Reuben correspond to the future age > of Leo-Aquarius,16 Gad and Asher > > * > The Bahá 'ı́ Universal House of Justice. > † > [The Book of Names, the] explanation of the Súrih of Joseph, the first work written > by the Bá b. > ‡ > The followers of Bahá 'u'llá h. > 119 X. God's servants are sealed > to the past age of Aries-Libra. The remaining names circulate through the > ages, past, present, and future.17 Thus the Tribes of verses W–S are the > spiritual generations of the age to come (after Pisces-Virgo), the past age > (before Pisces-Virgo), and all ages, future, past, and present. All those who > have been sealed since the foundation of the world are written in the Lamb's > book of Life and will be permitted to enter the Holy city. > Verses W–S list "remnants" from all Twelve Tribes. Ten of these Tribes, all > except Judah and Benjamin, had been "lost" since they had been carried away > in captivity by Sargon II in 722 BCE. The fate of the Lost Tribes, numbering > about 27 thousand persons, has been one of the great questions of history. > 12,000 has an archetypal value of Z. The number Z, the Sacred Triad, > stands for the Seal of God, regardless of the Name by which He may be called. > The number Z has stood for holiness and Divinity since very ancient times.18 > G. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all > nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and > before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; > .4. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the > throne, and unto the Lamb. > ... And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the > four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, > .3. Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, > and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. > These verses witness the multitudes of all nations and races who will > advance towards the Kingdom following in the footsteps of the first fruits,* > that is, the first 144 "thousand". The > > * > The first fruits will be introduced again in Rev ./:/. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 120 > fact there is a "great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, > kindreds, people, and tongues … before the throne" indicates that the > numbers 144,000 and 12,000 are not to be taken literally but have hidden > meanings. Nor do the verses mean that only the tribes of the children of > Israel will be saved. Palms symbolizes glad tidings and victory. > .Q. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are > arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? > ./. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which > came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them > white in the blood of the Lamb. > .Y. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his > temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. > .5. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on > them, nor any heat. > .H. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead > them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from > their eyes. > In this instance sun and heat symbolize the ubiquitous tribulation > experienced by the martyrs.19 Here, water symbolizes spiritual grace and > knowledge.20 "O My servants! Whoso hath tasted of this Fountain hath > attained unto everlasting Life, and whoso hath refused to drink therefrom is > even as the dead."21 In another place Bahá 'u'llá h proclaims, "Say, O ye who are > as dead! The Hand of Divine bounty proffereth unto you the Water of Life. > Hasten and drink your fill. Whoso hath been reborn in this Day, shall never die; > whoso remaineth dead, shall never live."22 > The symbolism of hunger is made clear in another passage from His > Writings: "Glorified be He, Who is the Creator of all > 121 X. God's servants are sealed > names and attributes! Cast into the fire the tree that hath rot and dried up, and > abide under the shadow of the green and goodly Tree, and partake of the fruit > thereof."23 > The great tribulation began with the persecution of the Christians and > ends with the persecution of the Bahá 'ı́s. The greater number of the martyrs > have been followers of the Bá b. > > Notes > 1 See chapter Y, note Q; Ezekiel 47:R, Psalm 104:Z–c. > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 113. > 3 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 68. See commentary, > Revelations Y:12, "… the earth of human understanding …" > 4 The four angels may also correspond to the four elements—earth, air, fire > (or sun), and water. > 5 e.g., Luke 21:25. > 6 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 331. > 7 Genesis U:17; Psalm Q:Z; Proverbs Z:18; Daniel c:10, 20–22; Matthew Z:10, > X:19, 12:33. > 8 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 198, 218. > 9 Reference c, pp. 14, QVRf, 118 nQZ. The pervasive power of astrologers in > ancient times is attested by Isaiah 47:13–15. Jesus correlates the 12 > Apostles with the 12 Tribes in Matthew 19:28. At one time, Christian > theologians attempted to replace the pagan names of the 12 zodiacal signs > and some of the older constellations with the names of the Apostles and > other New Testament Figures. (Ref. 59, p. 277) > Sadducees, Pharisees and Essenes were among those movements > dedicated to the objective of attaining perfect obedience to the Will of > God. (Ref. 52, Part One, Chapter Q) > Mı́rzá Abu'l-Faḍ l, in The Bahá'í Proofs, Zrd edition, 1929, p. 249, suggests > that the "144,000 of all the tribes of Israel" may have a literal meaning, > numbering those Jews who will ultimately accept Bahá 'u'llá h. In this > writer's opinion, his view is highly pessimistic and ignores the ancient > number symbolism that obviously permeates the Revelation. Another > ancient literary device is ignored by his theory—the macrocosm: > microcosm analogy. > 10 The Book of Certitude, p. S; Numbers 25:26; Ref. 37, pp. 44, 57, 66. Jewish > The Apocalypse Unsealed 122 > legend says that 72 angels from heaven chopped off the Serpent's hands > and feet. (Ref. 12, p. 59) According to a Hadı́th of Muḥ ammad, there would > be 72 sects of Islá m. 72 is the traditional number of Jewish scholars who > translated the Septuagint. The followers of Zoroaster were commanded > to wear girdles made of 72 threads. There are 72 stupas, each containing a > sculptured Buddha, atop the great temple of Siva at Borobudur, Java. > Confucius had 3000 disciples when he died, 72 of whom had mastered the > Y arts. 72 Muslim companions fell with Imá m Ḥusayn on the Plain of > Karbila in AH 61, and, in fulfilment of a prophecy, 72 Bá bı́ companions fell > with Mullá Ḥusayn at Fort Shaykh Ṭ abarsı́ about 12 lunar centuries [later] > (The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 326, 382). 72 was the number of Bahá 'ı́s exiled to > 'Akká . (The Chosen Highway, p. 63) > In ancient Hebrew mysticism, there were 72 hidden Names of Yahwah > (YHWH). These Names were derived from the Book of Exodus, Chapter 14, > verses 19, 20 and 21. Each of these verses in Hebrew has 72 letters. > Writing these three verses one above the other, verse 19 right to left, verse > 20 left to right, and verse 21 right to left, generates 72 three-letter Names > of God. In total, they are called the Schemhamphoras or Divided Name. > These 72 Names can be divided into c groups of 18 Names, each under the > aegis of one of the letters of the Tetragrammaton, YHVH. > Another cabalistic derivation of 72 is by the method of "klima", an esoteric > form of number expansion. (Ref. c, p. 60) Using the Hebrew gematria > (Appendix D), the value 72 is derived in the following manner: > Y = 10 > YH = 15 > YHW = 21 > YHWH = 26 > Total = 72 > 72 appears to be related to the Great or Platonic year, since the Platonic > year consists of 72 "times" and there are 72 solar years in a Platonic day. > The remarkable golden triangle, also called the sublime or pentalpha > triangle, has apex angles of 72 degrees, 72 degrees, and 36 degrees. > 123 X. God's servants are sealed > > Figure ;F > The golden triangle > Using unity for the base side, the other sides become the Golden Number, > Φ (Q.6180 …). The golden triangle is a most remarkable "gnomon". A > gnomon is a figure that exhibits repeatable patterns by addition or > subtraction of like figures, thus permitting an open-ended "harmonic" > growth pattern. Figure 14 shows examples of harmonic figures generated > through the repeated use of the golden triangle. (Further examples can be > found in References 44 and 61. See also Chapter 15, Note R.) The golden > triangle is intimately related to biological growth. For example, each turn > of the DNA helix is composed of twice W golden triangles. (Part Q, note 22) > 11 The grain of mustard seed is mentioned in all three synoptic Gospels, but > the reference to the mustard seed in Mark c:30–34 is particularly > interesting since it seems to imply an esoteric significance to the term: > "And he (Jesus) said, 'Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or > with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard > seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be > in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater > than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air > may lodge under the shadow of it.' And with many such parables spake he > the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable > spake he not unto them; and when they were alone, he expounded all > things to his disciples." > The Apocalypse Unsealed 124 > > Figure ;M > Harmonic patterns using > the golden triangle > "A grain of mustard seed" κοº κκον σιναº πεως ("mustard grain") has a literal > value of 1746. 1746 is the sum of the solar 666 (Yang) and the lunar 1080 > (Yin), and was considered the "number of fusion". Creation was supposed > to issue from the fusion of these two forces. > Each of the numbers 666 and 1080 that comprise the number of fusion > also played major roles in ancient cosmogony. The solar 666 will be > discussed in Chapter 13. Among the ancients, it applied to material > activity in analogy to the spiritual. The number 1080 (Z-times-360), on the > 125 X. God's servants are sealed > other hand, symbolized spiritual activity. There were many remarkable > examples of the use of 1080 in antiquity. For example, there are 108 beads > in a Buddhist rosary, while the Rigveda has 10,800 stanzas of 40 syllables. > 108 appears in the dimensions of the temples at Angkor, in Babylon, in the > works of Heraclitus, and in the Norse Valhalla. (Ref. 58, p.lS) > 108° is what the Egyptians called the "Neter" (see chapter 21, note S), that > is, the harmonizing Principle or Platonic Idea that generates the regular W- > sided figure called the pentagon. > > Figure ;U > Pentagon Dodecahedron Pentagram > The pentagon was held in high esteem by the ancient numerologists. 12 > pentagons generate a regular 12–sided solid called the dodecahedron. > Plato in the Timaeus, following Pythagoras (Ref. 61, p. 114), chooses the > dodecahedron as the sphere of the Universe, the guiding scheme or Neter > underlying the harmony of the Cosmos. Astrologers considered the 12 > pentagons of the dodecahedron as corresponding to the 12 signs of the > zodiac. > The pentagon encloses the W–pointed star-pentagon or Pentagram, also > called the pentacle or pentalpha, composed of Z interwoven golden > triangles. The "holy and mysterious Pentagram" has been called the "star > of the Magians", the sign of the "Word made flesh", the "blessed Lamb of > Ormazd and of Saint John", etc. It was employed all over the East as a > talisman to resist evil spirits, and has been associated with various Middle > Eastern and European cults and religions. The Druids wore it on their > sandals as a symbol of the Deity, from whence the Germans called it the > Drettenfuss, Druid's Foot, and is still used to this day among the common > people of Germany to ward off witches and elves. The early Christians > considered the Pentagram as representing the W wounds of the Saviour. > The ancient Pythagoreans considered it to be a talisman of health and a > symbol of Man, the microcosm. The number of Man being the W > corresponded to its W points, etc., while the macrocosm or World had the > number 10. The "flaming star" of the Freemasons still retains the sacred > attributes of the Pentagram. "G", the Latin transcription of the Hebrew > The Apocalypse Unsealed 126 > Yod contained within the symbol, has the value of 10 by the Hebrew > gematria, signifying a unification between Man (W) and the World (10), > that is, the consummation of Man. The Pentagram has been used as the > outline of special Tablets by both the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h, and appears > twice in the Greatest Name Emblem, Figure X, where it represents the > double Manifestation. > Geometrically, the Pentagram contains the angles 36°, 72°, and 108°, all of > which were numbers held in high regard by the ancient numerologists. > Huntley, (Ref. 44), has identified no less than 20 manifestations of the > Golden Number implicit within the Pentagram. > Both 666 and 1080 have archetypal values of R. 1746, the number of fusion, > being the sum of the two, can be considered a symbol of the Manifestation > since He is the unique connection between the material and spiritual > realms. (See Revelations 10:U.) > Ezekiel refers to Bahá 'u'llá h by the name "Glory of God" and also by the > phrase "The Glory of God of Israel" (Ezekiel 43:Q–c). The Glory of God of > Israel (Η Δοº ξα του Θεουº Ισραηº λ) has the literal value 1746 and an > archetypal value of R. > 12 See, e.g., Matthew 13. If the numerical progression of sealed souls follows > the mediation number Y, each of the 144 primal seeds will generate > Y×Y×Y×Y = 1296 new "seeds" after c "generations". We might expect about > 296 of these seeds to fall on "rocky soil". > 13 Prayers and Meditations, pp. 83–c > 14 Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 139. > 15 In Hebrew mysticism, the Sixth Sephirah (Emanation) is Tiphereth, i.e., > Justice, Balance, etc. The Y is symbolized by the Y–pointed Star of David. > Much ancient cosmology, numerology and music appear to be mediated > by the Y. For example, Y "mediates" between the Y "double gates" of the > invisible zodiac to produce the Y×12 = 72 primal mustard seeds of spiritual > generation. Y mediates again to generate Y×72 = 432, the value of "new > name" καινουº οº νομα, etc. Y mediates between the basic Hindu-Greek > musical scale and the Greek Phrygian mode (Chapter 15, Note R). Y > mediates between the "time" and the Platonic month, that is, Y×360 = > 2160. Y is the archetypal value of Cosmos = Order = Κοº σμος ("world") = > 600→Y. > In geometry, Y mediates between the radius of a circle and its > circumference, since Y radii exactly generate the inscribed hexagon. Many > crystalline structures, such as snowflakes, are Y–sided and grow in > 127 X. God's servants are sealed > harmonic relations to the Y. Stable, balanced Y–based crystalline > structures contrast to biological organisms which are often "pentalphic", > that is, W–based structures. Indeed, the Golden Number F is exactly (ÖW + > Q)/U. (See Ref. 44, 61) > 16 Leo, corresponding to the Fall equinox, is listed before Aquarius, > emphasizing the dominance of Bahá 'u'llá h's Dispensation in future ages. > The remaining list of the Tribal names has no discernible order unless this > fact is recognized. Using the Correspondences listed in Part One, > Astrological Symbolism, the sequence of Figure 16 is discoverable in their > listing. > 17 With the recognition that Gemini the Twins, like the Roman Janus, looks > to both the past and the future, the signs occur in their correct > precessional or counter-precessional order. Virgo, as in Genesis 49, is > "veiled" and does not appear explicitly in the listing. > 18 Reference 12, p. QVVff. > 19 e.g., Ecclesiastes Z:16, c:Q–16; Isaiah 49:10. > 20 e.g., Isaiah 12:Z; Jeremiah U:13, 17:13; Ezekiel 36:25; John c:11; Zechariah 14:S. > In ancient Sumer the god Enki was lord of both water and knowledge. > > Figure ;W > 21 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 160. > 22 idem, p. 213. > 23 idem, p. 189; Amos S:11–12. > P > The fate of the early church > .. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the > space on half an hour. > 3. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven > trumpets. > Q. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there > was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of > all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. > /. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended > up before God out of the angel's hand. > The silence of half an hour indicates that it will be a very short time until > the tests to follow. > At the great Temple in Jerusalem, the altar of burnt-offering was located > in the court of the children of Israel. However, only the Jewish priests were > allowed to enter the court and to perform the oblations and sacrifices. Now > in the heavenly realm, it is Jesus Christ, the altar angel, Who controls the > acceptance or rejection of the burnt-offering. > Golden censer symbolizes perfect piety. Incense or perfume symbolizes > the fragrance of communion with God. "Thus counselleth you the All- > Knowing, the Faithful. We shall always be with you; if We inhale the perfume of > your fellowship, Our heart will assuredly rejoice, for naught else can satisfy Us. > To this beareth witness every man of true understanding."1—Bahá 'u'llá h > Y. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire > > (*& > The Apocalypse Unsealed 130 > of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, > and lightnings, and an earthquake. > 5. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to > sound. > Fire in this instance symbolizes sacrifice and purification. Fire can also > symbolize the rebuke of God, destruction or torment.2 The voices are of > those who fall into trials and temptations; the thunder is the sound of the > violation of the Covenant; the lightning flashes are the anger and wrath of > God.3 These are accompanied by the earthquake of doubts.4 > H. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and > they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and > all green grass was burnt up. > M. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire > was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea become blood; > G. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and > the third part of the ships were destroyed.5 > This prophecy concerns the impending series of persecutions of the > Christians by Rome from CE 110 until 311. It was during an earlier persecution > that John was banished to Patmos where he wrote the Apocalypse. > The persecutions of the early Christians can be divided into three series.6 > A minor persecution began under the Emperor Nero in CE 64 as a result of > Nero blaming the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome. The first great > persecution began in CE 110 as a result of the Roman State stigmatizing > Christianity as a crime. This anti-Christian campaign lasted sporadically until > CE 238. In the last phase of this persecution, attempts were made to destroy > the clergy as propagators of the Faith. > The second great persecution began under the Emperor Decius in CE 249 > and was continued with increased vigour under > 131 S. The fate of the early church > the Emperor Diocletian. This last and most severe of the anti-Christian > campaigns resulted in executions, torture, church burnings, and book > burnings on a large scale.7 > In the prophecy, hail and fire mingled with blood symbolize tests from > heaven and wrath accompanied by death. Grass symbolizes the common > people who inhabit the earth; green grass symbolizes righteous people.8 > Verse X says that one-third of the spiritual leaders (trees) and all the > righteous people will be destroyed. This was the great persecution of CE > 249–311. > .4. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it > were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the > fountains of waters; > ... And the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters > became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were > made bitter. > Constantine the Great (a great star) ended the persecutions and made > Christianity the official Faith of Rome. But in attempting to unify his empire, > Constantine, at the Council of Nicea in CE 325, enforced the theories of certain > theologians upon the Christians in the form of creed and dogma. The > spontaneity of the early Church was destroyed, and the Church, formerly the > oppressed, now became the oppressor. Constantine's policy was continued > by later Emperors and resulted in bitter quarrels, heresies, and finally the > great schism between the Eastern and Western branches of the Church in CE > 1054. Constantine became a "fallen star" and "Wormwood".9 > The Apocalypse Unsealed 132 > Constantine's influence was greatest over the churches that eventually > became the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church constituted a > third of Christendom, another third eventually formed the Western or > Roman Church, and the last third was constituted by the schismatic Asian > and African churches. > Rivers and fountains symbolize the mainstreams of spiritual guidance. > "From time immemorial even unto this day, all the kindreds and peoples of the > earth have clung to … fanciful and unseemly thoughts, and thus have deprived > themselves of the clear waters streaming from the springs of purity and > holiness." "They drink of the tainted water, and know it not."10—Bahá 'u'llá h > .3. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the > third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of > them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night > likewise. > .Q. And I beheld and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a > loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhibitors of the earth by reason of the other > voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! > This prophecy concerns the invasion of Western Rome beginning with the > Visigoths under Alaric the Bold in CE 408. This was a prelude to further > invasions of the West by Vandals, Huns, etc. It was the beginning of the Dark > Age in Europe. > The smiting of the West resulted in a third part of the Christian hierarchy > (sun, moon, and stars) being separated from the mainstream of Christianity. > The Church became darkened for a third part of a Lord's Day and for a third > part of the ensuing night. > The Lord's Day commenced with the Advent of Jesus Christ (circa CE Q) > and ended with the Advent of Muḥ ammad (circa > 133 S. The fate of the early church > CE 622), a period of about six centuries. Thus the Day was darkened for about > one-third of the Lord's Day or the two centuries from CE 408 to 622. A "Night" > is the period between two Divine Revelations when the Sun of Truth is not > manifest among men.* It began soon after the Ascension of Muḥ ammad† and > ended with the Declaration of the Bá b in CE 1844, a period of about twelve > centuries. Verse 12 also says that the Day did not shine for one-third of the > "Night", that is, the period from the middle of the seventh century until the > middle of the eleventh century CE, the end of the Dark Age of Europe. > The three woes to come are the dawnings of the Lord's Days of > Muḥ ammad, the Bá b, and Bahá 'u'llá h. That a "woe" signals a Day of the Lord > is made clear by Ezekiel.11 'Abdu'l-Bahá says, "Therefore it is certain that the > day of woe is the Day of the Lord; for in that day woe is for the neglectful, woe is > for the sinners, woe is for the ignorant."12 > In astrological symbolism, the three woes correspond to what astrologers > call the "fiery triplicity", that is, Sagittarius, Aries and Leo. Sagittarius the > Archer, to be introduced in Chapter R, represents the fiery wrath of God that > will attend the Manifestation of Muḥ ammad. The wrath of Aries the Lamb, > corresponding to that of the Bá b's Manifestation, was previewed in > [Revelations] Y:16. The wrath of Leo the Lion corresponds to that of the > Manifestation of Bahá 'u'llá h. This will be the subject of the last R chapters. > In each new age, "wrath" attends the judgement of the mischief-makers of > the dying civilization. Following His role as a "bringer of the wrath of God", > the Manifestation assumes His role as one of the Pillars of the Age. This is > why the signs of Jesus are both a Lamb and a Fish, and the signs of the Bá b > are both a Lamb and a Man. > > * > Selected Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. .3G fn. > † > Beginning with the advent of the "beast" circa 555. The beast is the Umayyad > dynasty, to be introduced in Chapter G. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 134 > > Notes > 1 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 316. > 2 e.g., Isaiah Q:25, 10:17, 30:27–33, 33:11, 66:15–16; Amos U:W; Psalm 29:X–S, > 83:14–15; Malachi Z:U–Z; Jeremiah 13:R; Hebrews 12:29. > 3 See Revelations c:W. > 4 Some Answered Questions, p. 70. > 5 The ark or ship was a prominent symbol for the early Christian Church. > See Reference 14, pp. 79, 80, 82, 88; The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 84–85. > 6 See, e.g., Ref. 30. Compare the events of Chapters S through 13 with The > Secret of Divine Civilization, pp. 85–91. Three was the number associated > with creative acts. Thus the thirds denote dismemberment and > destruction. > 7 Reference 14, p. 89. > 8 e.g., Isaiah 40:Y–X; I Peter Q:24; Psalm 72:Y. > 9 Reference 14, chapter Y. Constantine did not introduce contention among > the Christians. For many centuries, hot philosophical debate seems to > have been a characteristic of the people of that region. However, the > quarrels between the various schools of thought were embittered beyond > reconciliation by the insistence of the totalitarian Constantine and his > successors that there be only one tolerated opinion and that all others > must be suppressed. > 10 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 21, 41. > 11 Ezekiel 30:U–Z. > 12 Some Answered Questions, p. 63. <11 #Q> The X trumpets announce events > meaningful to the history of Christendom. The last Z trumpets also > announce the Z woes but are not necessarily synchronous with them. The > Wth trumpet v. R:Q announces the woe experienced by the Christians > attending the Advent of Muḥ ammad. The Qst woe ends at [Revelations] v. > R:12. The Yth trumpet v. R:13–15 announces the "Hour", i.e., the Und woe, > but gives its date as 391 years after the fall of Constantinople. The Und > woe actually begins at v. 11:11 and ends at 11:14. The Xth trumpet v. 11:15 > announces the Zrd woe and the new Jerusalem. > Q > The fall of Christendom > .. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and > to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. > 3. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the > smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of > the smoke of the pit. > Q. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was > given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. > /. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, > neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not > the seal of God in their foreheads. > This prophecy concerns the Muslim invasions of Asian and African > Christendom that began about CE 633. At first, Muslim warriors were noted > for their justice and tolerance of other Faiths, notably Sabaeanism, > Christianity and Judaism.1 Muslim warriors were, however, ferocious > fighters against idol worshippers and other enemies of monotheism. It is > important to understand that the aggressive invasions of Islá m were not > instigated by Muḥ ammad but by the Successors (Caliphs) following the death > of the Prophet. > The question of the Successorship was the historical origin of the Shı́'ah > and Sunni divisions of Islá m.2 The first four Caliphs, often called the Rightly- > Guided, generally followed the policy laid down by Muḥ ammad. However, > according to Shı́'ah > > ("$ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 136 > belief, Muḥ ammad had actually chosen His son-in-law, 'Alı́, as His Caliph. > Although 'Alı́ later arose to His appointed station, He was assassinated before > He could consolidate His power. The caliphate fell to the Umayyad pretender, > Mu'á wiya, whose father, Abú -Sufyá n, was the arch-enemy of Muḥ ammad and > His Revelation. The course of political intrigue set in motion by Abú -Sufyá n > eventually achieved success, and, by beclouding the principles of Islá m, Abú - > Sufyá n became a "fallen star". > The bottomless pit is the pit of error.3 The smoke arising from the pit > symbolizes obscurement.* The sun of spiritual truth was obscured, and the > atmosphere of nearness to God was stifled by the smoke. "As for them who > have disbelieved in Him, they shall be in the shadow of a black smoke."4— > Bahá 'u'llá h > The scorpion was a quick-firer that permitted rapid discharge of arrows.5 > John describes the plague of mounted warriors as "locusts". The magnificent > horses of the Arabian warriors are commemorated in fable. > Grass, green things and trees are the commoners, the righteous people > and their spiritual leaders.6 The command not to hurt the righteous was > given by Muḥ ammad.7 > Y. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be > tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, > when he striketh a man. > 5. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to > die, and death shall flee from them. > H. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on > their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces > of men. > M. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. > G. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their > wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running > > * > Smoke can also mean grave dissensions, abrogation of recognized standards, and > the destruction of their narrow minded exponents. See The Book of Certitude, p. > H5. > 137 R. The fall of Christendom > to battle. > .4. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and > their power was to hurt men five months. > A "month" is 30 years.8 Hence, W months is 150 years. The Muslim Empire > was carved out in a space of about 150 years, from the initial invasions of CE > 633 until the peak of the Empire under Caliph Há rú n ar-Rashı́d in CE 786. > Verses X to 10 describe the appearance of the mounted Arabian warriors > (locusts), their quick-firers (scorpions), and the sound of their chariots > (wings). John's metaphor for the Arabian warriors draws upon the > constellation Sagittarius the Archer, Figure 17, which is adjacent to Scorpio > the Scorpion and the Southern Crown. Sagittarius was one of the four pillars > or corners during the age of Pisces, and also belongs to the "fiery triplicity". > verse S:13. > > Figure ;Y > Sagittarius-Scorpio > ... And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose > name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his > The Apocalypse Unsealed 138 > name Apollyon. > .3. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. > Abaddon and Apollyon mean "The Destroyer" and refer to the Umayyad > dynasty personified by Abú -Sufyá n. > The woe that is past is the Advent of Muḥ ammad. The two remaining > woes are to be the Advents of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. <11 #Q; R:12 #Q; G #Y> > .Q. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden > altar which is before God. > .Q. Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are > bound in the great river Euphrates. > .Y. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and > a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. > The four horns9 symbolize the Four Winds of prophecy that blow over the > world of man. The symbolism of the four angels bound in the Euphrates > River is that Islá m, bound together by the Euphrates, will be the origin of the > punishments and tests to follow. The new Tetrad of four angels (see X:Q) will > control the corners of the square earth during the Dispensation of > Muḥ ammad.10 These angels are to "slay" a third part of men for a period of > 391 years. > The prophecy refers to the fall of Constantinople (Byzantium) and > Eastern Christendom11 to the Turks under Sultan Mehmet II on 30 May 1453. > The period of time from 30 May 1453 to 23 May 1844, the date of the second > woe and the beginning of the Bahá 'ı́ Era, was 391 Roman years. This is the > period of time that the third part of Christendom would be cut off or > deprived (slain), beginning with the collapse of the Christian East and lasting > for the duration of the Dispensation of Muḥ ammad. Mehmet's victory was > said to have cut off one-third of Christendom. By the year 1453, Christendom > had become divided into > 139 R. The fall of Christendom > these three major parts: the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, and the > anti-papist Christians who would soon form the Protestant branch.12 > The computation of time is as follows: > According to verse 15 the span of time is > biblical term calendar time > Q "hour" an "hour" > Q "day" Q year > Q "month" 30 years > Q "year" 360 years > Total 391 years and an "hour" > Old Roman calendar years are meant because the prophecy is addressed > to the early Christians. The Roman year was 365 days long with an extra day > added every fourth or leap year. There were 97 leap years between CE 1453 > and 1844. But by the Papal Bull of CE 1582, 10 days were removed from the > calendar in 1582 and one more day was removed in 1600. Thus the number of > days by the Roman calendar between 30 May 1453 and 23 May 1844 was > (391)×(365)+97–10–Q–X = 142,794 days, a span of time almost exactly 391 old > Roman years of 365¼ days. The "hour" refers to "the time of the end" and the > second woe. (Revelations Z:10, 11:13, 14:X, <11:13>) It will commence with the > fulfilment of the 391 years. > .5. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand > thousand: and I heard the number of them. > .H. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having > breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the houses > were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and > brimstone. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 140 > Two hundred thousand thousand (200,000,000)* has an archetypal value > of U. Mehmet's army consisted of his own Muslim regulars and an > independent army of Christians called Janissaries. John "heard" the number > of the army. In his vision he "sees" the army that stormed Constantinople, > describing early flared cannons as "horses" with heads that roar like lions. > The description of the sulphurous (brimstone) smoke that issues from their > mouths is remarkably accurate. In the imagery of the first century he > describes the colourful armour and equipment of the fifteenth century.13 > .M. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and > by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. > .G. For their power is in their mouths, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto > serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. > Mehmet employed the Hungarian engineer, Urban, to construct the > cannons for the assault. The largest of these was 26 feet long and fired a ball > weighing Q,200 pounds. John explains that the tails (breeches) of the houses > (cannons) contain heads (projectiles) with which they do damage. > 34. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not > of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of > gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor > hear, nor walk; > 3.. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their > fornication, nor of their thefts. > John describes the state of affairs in Christendom and the Church > following 1453. The result was further disintegration of > > * > The size of the army was about M4.444. > 141 R. The fall of Christendom > the Church, religious wars, and the formation of the Protestant and Catholic > branches, and eventually hundreds of sects. > > Notes > 1 See References 31 and 32. > 2 The Sunni position is that the Successorship should be a matter of > election of the person most qualified to fill the position. One can see > parallels to this controversy among the Christian churches; that is, was > Peter the true Successor of Jesus, and how valid is the claim of the Roman > Catholic Church that the papacy is descended from Peter? > 3 Some Answered Questions, p. 59. > 4 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 43. > 5 Reference 12, p. 228. > 6 See Revelations S:X. > 7 Reference 31, pp. 176, 268; Reference 32, p. 57; The Qur'án 73:15, 46:11, 42:11. > 8 See the Table in chapter U. > 9 The Jewish altar of burnt-offerings had a horn extending from each of its > four corners. In antiquity, an oath was contracted by seizing a horn of the > altar with the right hand. See Psalm 18:U; Leviticus c:34; Ezekiel 43:20. > 10 See Revelations X:Q. > 11 The Eastern Roman Empire centred at Constantinople was technically an > extension of the old Roman Empire centred at Rome. After the collapse of > the Western Roman Empire following the invasions of Alaric, etc., the > eastern part of the Empire maintained the name of Rome. However, the > eastern culture became so different from that of the conquered West that > most historians classify the eastern part as a new empire and call it > Byzantium. Byzantium was originally the name of a small town at the > entrance to the Bosporus where Constantine set up the eastern capital of > the Roman Empire. > The Holy Roman Empire, a third entity, was an amorphous political > grouping created by Pope Leo III in CE 800 as an attempt to resuscitate the > Western Roman Empire. Its first "Emperor" was Charlemagne. The > attempt to revive Western Rome was a failure. In the words of Voltaire, > the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy, Roman, nor an Empire. It was > officially terminated in CE 1806. > 12 The first definitive breach in the Western Church occurred in 1431 at the > The Apocalypse Unsealed 142 > Council of Basel by which Hussitism was to be tolerated in Bohemia. (Ref. > 14, p. 241.) The ninety–five theses were nailed to the door of the castle > church in Wittenberg by Martin Luther in 1517. > 13 See Reference 33. The term "horse" is applied to various mechanical > contrivances in the modern lexicons. > DR > Interlude > .. And I saw another mighty angel come down from the heaven, clothed with a > cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, > and his feet as pillars of fire: > 3. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, > and his left foot on the earth, > Q. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven > thunders uttered their voices. > /. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I > heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the > seven thunders uttered, and write them not. > The mighty angel is the spirit of Bahá 'u'llá h, clothed with a cloud of glory,1 > the rainbow of the Covenant upon His head,2 His countenance shining as the > sun in its median splendor,3 and His feet of brass as if they were pillars of > fire.4 The little book is the Word of God. His right foot is upon the sea of the > spirit, and His left foot is upon the world of matter. His voice is as the Lion of > Judah.5 The seven thunders are the voices of the seven Revelators of the > seven Faiths. > Y. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his > hand to heaven, > 5. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the > things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the > sea, > > (!" > The Apocalypse Unsealed 144 > and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: > H. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the > mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the > prophets. > The mighty angel reveals that the hidden mysteries of God; that is, His > precepts and commands, will be revealed at the end of the Age of Prophecy > when the Age of Fulfilment will begin. The End of the Age will coincide with > the blast of the seventh angel. > M. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and > take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth > upon the sea and upon the earth. > G. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said > unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be > in thy mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was > bitter. > ... And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and > nations, and tongues, and kings. > John is commanded to accept (eat) the Word of God. He discovers that > the words are easy (sweet) when they are merely spoken (in the mouth) but > are difficult (bitter) when they are actually lived. > The prophecies of the first six angels beginning with Chapter S verse X > were directed primarily to the Christians. John is now commanded to > prophesy again, this time to many peoples and nations: Islá m.6 > 145 10. Interlude > > Notes > 1 See Revelations Q:X. > 2 idem, c:Z. > 3 idem, Q:16. > 4 idem, Q:15. Compare with the pillars of fire and cloud in Exodus 13:21–22. > In an Epistle addressed to the Czar of Russia (Bahá'í World Faith, p. 51) > Bahá 'u'llá h explains that His Voice spoke from the burning bush. See also > Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 16, 24, 96, 199, 269, 271. > 5 See Revelations W:W. > 6 See part Q, The time and space of the Apocalypse. > DD > The course of Islám > The next three chapters are directed specifically to Islá m. Chapter 11 and > part of Chapter 12 have been interpreted by His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá 1 and > have been paraphrased by the writer of this book. The events alluded to are > unfamiliar to most western readers, and it is recommended that the > references be consulted. The events in the prophecies are correlated in > Figure 18 [p. 148]. > .. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, > and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. > 3. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is > given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and > two months. > The Perfect Man is likened to a flute (hollow reed) from which come > beautiful melodies played by the Divine Flute Player, God. The rod is the rod > of the Divine Shepherd, used to guide the weak. Using the Perfect Man as his > cubit,* John is asked to discover the conditions, perfections, behaviour, and > attributes of those who dwell inside the Holy of Holies. But he is told that the > court of the temple, that is, the physical temple, will be overrun by the > Gentiles for 42 "months" or 1260 lunar years.† 2 Lunar years are meant > because the Muslims use the lunar calendar. > > * > See verse 3.:.H. > † > A "month" is Q4 years. See Table, Chapter 3. > (!% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 148 > > Figure ;Z > Prophecies to Islám > Chapters ;; to ;F > 149 11. The course of Islá m > This is the span of time covered by the dispensation of Muḥ ammad, > ending in AH 1260.* (AH 1260 coincides with CE 1844 of the Christian > calendar.) Thus John is being told that the Holy City, Jerusalem, will be given > over to the Gentiles for the duration of the Dispensation of Muḥ ammad. > When Jerusalem was conquered by the Muslims early in the seventh > century CE, the Christian Bishop Sophronius placed a condition upon the > bloodless surrender of Jerusalem—that the Jews would be strictly excluded > from the Holy Land.3 During the next twelve hundred years, Palestine > gradually became a land of desolation. In the year AH 1260 the Edict of > Toleration was promulgated by the Turks4 allowing the Jews to re-enter the > Holy Land, ending the "time of the Gentiles" and the "abomination that makes > desolate".5 (These events were prophesied by Jesus.)6 Throughout this > period the Holy of Holies, that is, the spiritual Law of God, was respected and > left inviolate. > Q. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand > two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. > /. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of > the earth. > Y. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth > their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. > The angel says that God will give power to His two Witnesses, Muḥ ammad > and 'Alı́, <11:Z #Q, 11:Z #U> whose prophecies clothed in sackcloth will prevail > for Q,260 years.† They are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks > (sources of spiritual illumination) standing in the service of God. If anyone > will hurt them, the power of the > > * > "AH" means "After the Hijrah", the beginning point of the Muslim calendar. > † > A "day" is a year. See Table, chapter 3. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 150 > Law will come from their mouths and their enemies will be exterminated. > Clothed in sackcloth or in old raiment means that, in the beginning, their > cause will not appear new. Muḥ ammad's spiritual law (love, humility, > detachment, moderation, justice, reverence, etc.) corresponds to that of the > Gospel, while most of the laws relating to the material world of man (fasting, > forms of worship and prayer, business transactions, indemnities, marriage, > divorce, slavery, etc.) correspond to the Pentateuch. > Olive trees7 refers to the fact that lamps were fuelled by olive oil in the > first century and are, therefore, like candlesticks, sources of spiritual > illumination. > The enemies of Muḥ ammad and 'Alı́ were vanquished and put to flight by > the power of their words. > 5. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: > and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with > all plagues, as often as they will. > H. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of > the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and > kill them. > M. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is > called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. > The verses say that They will have the power to cut off the bounties of > heaven (rain) and will have the same Prophethood as Moses; that is, to turn > the waters into blood8 and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they > will.9 And after they have performed that which they were commanded, the > beast (the Banú Umayyad dynasty)10 that ascends out of the pit of error will > arise against the religion of Muḥ ammad and the reality of 'Alı́ and gain the > victory, so that the virtues and perfections diffused by the power of these > two Witnesses will be entirely dispelled. The religion of God will lie as a > body without spirit in the region > 151 11. The course of Islá m > of the Middle East* that is under the control of the Banú Umayyad.11 > Turning waters into blood means that that which was the cause of their > life, through their ignorance and pride, became the cause of their death. To > smite the earth with plagues means that they have the power to chastise, > correct, and educate the tyrannical and bloodthirsty. Rain in this case means > bounty from heaven. To kill them means to destroy the spiritual reality of > their teachings. > G. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead > bodies three days and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put > in graves. > .4. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and > shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them > that dwelt on the earth. > ... And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and > they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. > > A "day" is also a "time" or 360 years.† Therefore three days and a half are > Q,260 years. The prophecy says that the nations, tribes, and peoples of Islá m > will make a spectacle of the Religion of God, only clinging to it in an outward > appearance and not allowing the "body" of observances to be destroyed. > This they will do for Q,260 years, the duration of the Dispensation of > Muḥ ammad. The other nations of the earth will rejoice to see the corruption > of morals that will infect the people of Islá m, and they will assist each other > (give gifts) because the two Prophets had been a torment to them. > But after Q,260 years the Divine teachings, heavenly virtues, perfections, > and spiritual bounties of Muḥ ammad and 'Alı́ will again be renewed by the > appearance of the Bá b and Janá b-i- > > * > 980 translates the word "spiritually" in verse M as "allegorically". > † > . "day" = . "year" = Q54 years = . "time". See Table, chapter 3. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 152 > Quddú s.12 <11:Z #Q, 11:11–14> Great fear will seize the populace. > The Religion of God was renewed by the Bá b with the help of Quddú s and > the Bá b's other disciples during His six-year ministry beginning 23 May CE > 1844. The Bá b's Declaration that He was the One foretold in numerous > prophecies of Islá m and other Faiths, and that He was the Forerunner of the > Promised One of All Ages (Bahá 'u'llá h) caused great fear among the Muslims, > leading to armed attacks, confiscation of property, torture and martyrdom of > the followers of the Bá b. > As 'Alı́ was to Muḥ ammad, Quddú s was to the Bá b. He was the Bá b's > promoter and most devoted disciple, second only to the Bá b in spiritual rank > among His disciples. The disciples of the Bá b were called the Eighteen > Letters of the Living. > .3. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And > they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. > .Q. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, > and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant > were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. > ./. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. > The voice is from the invisible heaven. They heard the voice of God > saying, "You have delivered My message to the people, raised the call of Truth, > and fulfilled your every obligation. Now, even as Christ, you must lay down your > lives in the path of the Beloved and suffer a martyr's death."13—'Abdu'l-Bahá > <11 #Q> > The Bá b and Quddú s ascended to heaven on a "cloud of glory". The Bá b > was publicly executed by a firing squad of 750 soldiers on R July 1850, the QWth > of Sha'bá n AH 1266. The body of Quddú s was destroyed by fire. Many of their > enemies "beheld them", that is, they testified to their greatness and > perfection. > 153 11. The course of Islá m > The earthquake prophesied in verse 13 occurred in Shı́rá z, the birthplace > of the Bá b, in the year AH 1268.14 Those who were not killed were frightened, > lamenting, praying, and glorifying God. > The second woe, the Advent of the Bá b, is past. The third woe, the Advent > of Bahá 'u'llá h, will follow shortly.* <11:Z #Q, G #Y, 11:14 #Q, R:12 #Q> > .Y. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, > The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his > Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. > .5. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon > their faces, and worshipped god, > .H. Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to > come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. > The word "Christ" comes from the Greek Christos, meaning Messiah, King, > or Anointed One.15 All of God's Manifestations are Anointed Ones. It is in this > sense of the word that Bahá 'u'llá h asks of God: "Make this known unto them > (the servants of God), that nothing whatsoever may shut them out from Thy > Beauty, in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: 'All dominion is Thine O > Thou Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus) …'."16 > Verse 15 reasserts that the Kingdom of God on earth will follow the blast > of the seventh angel.17 > .M. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that > they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants > the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; > and shouldest destroy > > * > The third woe appeared in the year Nine of the Bá bı́ Dispensation, AH .35G. The > "hour" is the "time of the end". See <..:.Q> > The Apocalypse Unsealed 154 > them which destroy the earth. > .G. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple > the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and > thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. > The prophecy says that with the seventh blast, the nations will be angry > because God's teachings oppose the passions of the other peoples, and all > who do not follow His precepts will be deprived of His everlasting bounty, > and veiled from the light of the Sun of Reality. At that time, those who are > deprived of the spirit of the love of God and do not have a share of the > sanctified eternal life will arise and receive that which they deserve. The > righteous18 will be distinguished by endless bounty, making them shine on > the horizon of eternal honour. At that time the neglectful will be deprived, > making manifest the blindness of the blind and the ignorance of the people of > error. > The temple of God in heaven will be opened and the Divine teachings will > be diffused in all directions. The Book of His Testament and the Epistle of the > Covenant19 <11:13 #Q, 11:13 #U> will be established. There will be a great storm > of the spirit. There will flash the lightnings of the anger and the wrath of God, > the thunder of the violation of the Covenant, and even those who professed > belief will fall into trials and temptations. > (The Covenant was broken by the archbreaker of the Covenant, Mı́rzá > Muḥ ammad-'Alı́, a half-brother of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . God Passes By, p. 246.) > > Notes > 1 Some Answered Questions, chapters XI and XIII. <11 #Q; 12 #Q> > 2 The year 1260 also figures prominently in the history of the Christian > Church. The twelfth century Calabrian abbot, Joachim of Flora, deduced > that the Q,260 days meant that the end of the papacy would occur in AD > 1260. This interpretation had serious repercussion on the Church and > influenced the arguments of early Protestants. (Reference 14, pp. 217, 233, > 241.) > 3 See Reference 12, p. 127. > 4 The exact date of the Edict of Toleration was 21 March CE 1844. In the > Jewish calendar this date is the first of Nı́sá n. It was exactly U,300 years > from the first of Nı́sá n, 457 BCE, the day on which Ezra left Babylon in > compliance with the decree given in the seventh year of Artaxerxes. This > date figures prominently in the Book of Daniel. (See Appendix B of this > book.) The number of days from the fall of Constantinople until the Edict > of Toleration was 142,731. > 155 11. The course of Islá m > > The date of the second woe was the Declaration of the Bá b, 13 May CE > 1844, the Wth day of Jamá dı́yu'l-Avval, AH 1260. This date also corresponds > with the birth of 'Abdu'l-Bahá , designated by Bahá 'u'llá h as the Centre of > the Covenant and the Mystery of God. > 5 See Daniel S:14 and Luke 21:20. Israel's call to return will be given by the > Lord of Hosts, Bahá 'u'llá h. (Isaiah W:24–26) > 6 Matthew 24:15, 29, 30; Mark 13:10, 14, 24–27; Luke 21:20, 24–28. > 7 The dyad of olive trees is a symbol also used in Zechariah c:Z, 11–14 to > represent the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. > 8 Exodus c:R. See also Psalm 72:Y. > 9 Exodus c:21. > 10 Many Biblical scholars equate the "beast" with the so-called "Antichrist". > (See II Thessalonians U:Q–c.) The doctrine of the Antichrist rests upon > questionable premises, especially in view of I John U:18, 22, c:Z. Although > the Banú Umayyad dynasty can be considered as an Antichrist in the > sense of I John U:22, it was composed of a group of rulers instead of a > single individual. If there ever was such an individual it was Ḥá jı́ Siyyid > Muḥ ammad-i-Iṣ fahá nı́ who is often called the "Antichrist of the Bahá 'ı́ > Revelation" because of his actions against Bahá 'u'llá h and His Revelation. > (Reference 21, p. 233.) The "antichrists" of II John, verse [Q:X] were the > Gnostics who believed that Jesus was actually a god and only seemed to > have come in the flesh. (Reference 14, p. 65.) > 11 In the allegory of the Zohar, Egypt is the home of spiritual darkness. > (Reference c, p. 108.) In Gnostic writings, Egypt symbolizes the material > world. (Reference Z, p. 118.) > 12 See The Dawn-Breakers. > 13 Some Answered Questions, p. 63. > 14 The earthquake of AH 1268 was accompanied by cholera, famine, and > havoc. God Passes By, p. 53; Some Answered Questions, p. 64. In addition to > the earthquake described in Revelation 11:13, an earthquake shook > Constantinople (Istanbul), the seat of the caliphate, on the day following > the martyrdom of the Bá b. > "Juillet.—Le 10, Zh. 10 m. du matin, à Udine, forte secousse ondulatoire de > quelque duré e. Entre Z et c heures du matin, à Trieste and Goritz, > tremblement ondulatoire. Dans le courant du jour, deux nouvelles > secousses lé gè res à Goritz. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 156 > > "Le mê me jour, un peu avant W heures du matin, à Constantinople, une > secousse du N. au S., sans dommages. > "Il y a-t-il là plus d'un fait? C'est peu probable. La diffé rence des > longitudes et l'inexactitude des heures indiqué es peuvent laisser > supposer l'identité . > "Je lis encoure dans la lettre de M. Meister: 'nuit du au 15 (sic) entre 11 > heures du soir et S heures du matin, Y secousses, dont la plus forte à U h. > cWm.' S'agit-il du 11 au 12, et de Goritz, Trieste ou Constantinople?"— > Reference 34. > 15 Originally "messiah" or "anointed one" was simply a king. For example, > Cyrus is called an anointed one in Isaiah 45:Q. The term gradually became > identified with the Messiah of the Age of Redemption. The Greek > rendering, Christos, became simply a proper name in early Christendom. > The title "Kyrios" was the most popular designation of Jesus, > characterizing Him as a mystery deity. (Reference 20, pp. 81, 86, 90, 93, > 176, and 216 n. 38.) > 16 Prayers and Meditations of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 68. > 17 See Revelations 10:X. > 18 In the early Church the term "prophet" meant a preacher. (Reference 14, p. > 56.) > 19 God Passes By, p. 239, 249. Shoghi Effendi names 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the "Ark > of His (God's) Testament". > DE > The travail of the word > In the verses that follow <12#Q>, John discovers the fate of the Law of God > during the Dispensation of Muḥ ammad. The Law is likened to a Bride. Her > unborn child is the Bá b, Who is destined to renew the Law. > .. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun and > the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: > 3. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth and pained to be delivered. > The Bride is clothed with the emblem of Persia (the sun) and has the > emblem of Turkey (the moon) beneath her feet. Her crown of twelve stars > represents the twelve Holy Imams of Islá m. > (The Shı́'ah position is that the Twelve Imams* were the rightful leaders > of Islá m, beginning with 'Alı́. All of the Imams are known to have been > martyred except the last, Who mysteriously disappeared while still a child in > the year AH 260.) > Q. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, > having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. > /. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did > > * > See Genesis .H:34. Muḥ ammad and the Twelve Imams were descended from > Abraham through Ishmael. (Reference .3, p. ..H.) > ($% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 158 > cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was > ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. > The red dragon represents the devil, with the colour of war, manifested as > the Banı́-Umayyad dynasty. The seven heads* are the dominions that were > ruled by the Banú Umayyad. The ten horns† are the names of the Banı́- > Umayyad rulers [see below]. The tail of the dragon is the last ruler of the > Banú Umayyad, Marwá n II, who destroyed one-third of the saintly lineage > (stars) of Muḥ ammad. The Banı́-Umayyad were ever watchful to prevent the > recurrence of the Law of God. > The seven countries and dominions over which the Banı́-Umayyad had > power were (Q) the Romans (Byzantine) dominion around Damascus (Syria, > Palestine), (U) the dominion of Persia (Sasanid dominion: IÅrá n, Mesopotamia, > Syria), (Z) the dominion of Egypt, (c) the dominion of Africa (Tunis, Morocco, > Algeria), (W) the dominion of Arabia, (Y) the dominion of Andalusia (Spain), > and (X) the dominion of Turkestan-Transoxiana (Sogdiana). > There were fifteen commanders and chiefs of the Banı́-Umayyad, > beginning with Abú -Sufyá n and ending with Marwá n II. They were: Abú - > Sufyá n, Mu'á wı́yah I, Yazı́d I, Mu'á wı́yah II, Marwá n I, 'Abdu'l-Malik, al-Walı́d > I, Sulaymá n, 'Umar II, Yazı́d II, Hishá m, al-Walı́d II, Yazı́d III, Ibrá hı́m, and > Marwá n II. But several of these names were repeated. These were > Mu'á wı́yah, Yazı́d, Marwá n, and al-Walı́d. Thus there were only ten different > names of rulers. > Draco the Dragon is the name of a constellation near the north celestial > pole. Another constellation, Hydra the Water Snake or Leviathan, is near Leo > the Lion. (Figure 19) > Y. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: > and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. > 5. And the > > * > A "head" is that upon which a crown is placed. > † > Compare Daniel H:3/. > 159 12. The travail of the word > > Figure ;] > Wonders in the heaven > woman fled unto the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that > they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. > Verse W prophesies that the Bride's man-child, the Bá b, is destined to have > spiritual dominion over all nations. It also reveals that the Bá b will > be martyred (caught up unto God). (The youthful Bá b was also the Qá 'im, > that is, the "Return" of the Twelfth Imá m. In fulfilment of various prophecies, > the Qá 'im appeared exactly Q,000 lunar years after the disappearance of the > Twelfth Imá m while still a child. Thus the Twelfth Imá m was "caught up unto > God" in AH 260, later to "return" in AH 1260. The Bá b was also destined to be > "caught up unto God" from the public square of Tabrı́z.1 > In verse Y, the Bride, the Law of God, flees into the vast desert2 of Ḥijá z > and the Arabian Peninsula (the wilderness), where the Law of God will be > kept safe for Q,260 years. (The period of the Bride's gestation has an > archetypal value of R.) > H. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; > and the dragon > The Apocalypse Unsealed 160 > fought and his angels. > M. And prevailed not, neither was the place found any more in heaven. > G. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, > which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his > angels were cast out with him. > .4. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, > and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of > our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. > These verses tell of the spiritual struggle between the diabolical forces of > the dragon3 (the Devil) and the Divine forces of the Spirit of Bahá 'u'llá h > (Michael). "Michael"4 means "One like god", a synonym for Bahá 'u'llá h. > "Devil" (Diabolos) means the "Deceiver" or "accuser", with the implication of > a false accuser or slanderer. > Angels are the spiritual leaders and forces involved in the struggle. The > prophecy says that the forces of truth will eventually triumph over the forces > of deception, and the Kingdom of God will prevail. To be cast out of heaven > means to lose heavenly virtues. > Hercules the Kneeler is a constellation with his right foot on the head of > Draco the Dragon. Another constellation, Ophiucus-Serpens, is a man in > conflict with a serpent (Figure 20). > When the Great Pyramid was built about 2500 BCE, Thuban in Draco was > the north star. Now, two astrological ages later, the Precession of the Poles > had caused Draco to lose its eminence in the northern sky to be replaced by > Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. > ... And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their > testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. > .3. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of > the earth and the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, > because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. > 161 12. The travail of the word > G > e > m > ma > i > nCo > r > o > naB > o > r > ea > l > i > s He > ad > o > f > Dr > ac > o > O > p > h > i > uc > hu > s C > l > us > te > r > > ns > rpe > Al > t > ai > r Veg > a G > e > m > mai > n > > Se > i > nAqu > il > a i > nLy > r > a C > o > r > on > a > A > n > t > ar > es B > o > r > ea > l > i > s > H > e > r > c > ul > e > s > i > n > S > c > o > rp > io > > M > a > n > wi > t > hth > e > Se > r > p > en > t T > h > eK > n > ee > l > e > r > Figure D^ > War in heaven > The Deceiver is to be overcome through the Sacrifice of the Bá b, and by > the testimony and martyrdom of His followers. Because the Deceiver has but > a short time to prevail, his wrath will be great. The inhabitants of the earth > are warned. > .Q. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the > woman which brought forth the man child. > ./. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into > the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, > and half a time, from the face of the serpent. > After the digression of the past several verses, it is again explained that > the honoured Bride of verse W will be persecuted and driven into the > wilderness, where she will be kept safe for Q,260 years (three times and half a > time),* 5 the period of her pregnancy. (See verse c.) > > * > A "time" is Q54 years. See Table, chapter 3. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 162 > The two wings6 are 'Alı́ and Fá ṭima, the progenitors of the Imams, Fá ṭima > was the daughter of Muḥ ammad; 'Alı́ was His son-in-law. The Great Eagle is, > of course, Muḥ ammad. > The constellation Virgo the Virgin or Maiden of the Harvest is usually > depicted with wings and holding in her left hand a head of wheat. (Figure 21) > > Figure D; > The woman in heaven > .Y. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he > might cause her to be carried away by the flood. > .5. And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed > up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. > .H. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the > remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the > testimony of Jesus Christ. > The Banú Umayyad as the Deceiver pours out a flood of words > 163 12. The travail of the word > (tainted water) in an attempt to destroy the Bride. But the vast desert and its > hardy peoples prevent the Law of God from being destroyed. The Banú > Umayyad then attempt to destroy the righteous descendants of Muḥ ammad > who keep the commandments of God and testify to the Reality of Jesus Christ. > A true Muslim believes in God and His Prophets. In Sú rah W of the Qur'á n > God says, "And when I revealed unto the Apostles (of Jesus), 'Believe on Me > and my Sent One (Jesus),' they said, 'We believe; and bear thou witness that > we are Muslims." > In astrological terms, Virgo was on "dry land" during the age of Aries. The > Precession threatened to cause her to descend to the "waters below". > However, she safely became the pillar at the Fall equinox during the Age of > Pisces. > > Notes > 1 The Dawn-Breakers, pp. xxx, lii.) > 2 In the symbolism of the Zohar "wilderness" (Hebrew Midbar) is given a > special meaning through its etymological connection with Dabar, the > "word" that comes to life in the wilderness. (Reference c, p. 109). > 3 The equation dragon = serpent = Devil = Satan identifies all of these > concepts as being in essence the same. The dragon of Isaiah 51:R is > probably the Leviathan of Isaiah 27:Q. The serpent is introduced in > Genesis Z:Q. "Satan" is from the Hebrew word for Adversary, and evolved > from an abstract principle into a personification. (Compare I Chronicles > 21:Q and II Samuel 24:Q. See also Job Q:Yff and Zechariah Z:Qff.) > The dragon may have been introduced in Revelations 12:Z to amplify the > meaning of an old Canaanite myth of the tyrant Leviathan, a sea-dragon > with seven heads. (Reference 35.) In the Second Labour of Hercules, > Hercules was forced to battle with the seven-headed Hydra of Lerna while > the crab pinched his heels. The constellation Hydra, Figure 19, requires > about seven hours to cross the meridian. > The serpent has been used symbolically to convey several meanings: sin, > (Genesis Z), wisdom and cunning (Matthew 10:16), healing (Numbers 21:R), > eternal life (John Z:14–15). Also, it has been used to symbolize kingship, > majesty, and domination (Reference 12, Chapter Y). Its symbolism as the > Deceiver probably derives from the fact that it manoeuvres cunningly > among the grass (humanity) and trees (spiritual leaders). > 4 See Exodus 23:20–21; Daniel 12:Q–c. "My angel" equals "Michael" by > temurah. According to Jewish mysticism, Michael was the archangel of > The Apocalypse Unsealed 164 > Hod (Glory, Reverberation), one of the primary Emanations from God. > 5 Compare Daniel 12:X. > 6 See Exodus 19:c–Y. > DG > The rise of the caliphate > .. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having > seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his > heads the name of blasphemy. > The sand of the sea is the peoples and nations that comprised the land of > the beast, the Banú Umayyad dynasty. The seven heads are the seven > dominions,; the ten horns are the ten names of rulers enumerated in Chapter > 12. The beast has on his heads the name of blasphemy: The Caliph, 'O > Kalleif. > "The Caliph" means literally "The Successor" and refers to the > Successorship to Muḥ ammad. The title of Caliph was blasphemously > usurped by the Bani-Umayyad. The office combined both the temporal and > "spiritual" authority in early Islá m. > 3. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of > a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his > power, and his seat, and great authority. > The terms leopard, bear, and lion refer to the prophecy in Daniel, Chapter > X. In that prophecy the leopard represents the Empire of Alexander the > great; the bear represents the Empire of Media-Persia; the lion represents > the Empire of Babylonia.1 > The Banú Umayyad dynasty ruled an Empire reminiscent of the Empire of > Alexander (the leopard) in its extent and prosperity, the strength (feet) of the > beast was situated in Media-Persia > > (#$ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 166 > (the bear), but it had its throne (mouth) within the confines of ancient > Babylonia (the lion). > Q. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound > was headed: and all the world wondered after the beast. > /. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they > worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make > war with him? > The Banú Umayyad were overthrown by the 'Abbasids in CE 749. The > destruction of the Banú Umayyad seemed total. However, one of the Banú > Umayyad, 'Abdu'r-Raḥ má n, known as "The Falcon of the Quraysh", managed > to escape to Andalusia (Spain) where he set up another Umayyad dynasty > that lasted for 300 years. Thus Andalusia was the wounded head that healed. > Y. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; > and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. > 5. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and > his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. > H. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: > and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. > M. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written > in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. > The Banú Umayyad were noted for their hypocrisy, economic and social > injustice, and their luxurious lives dedicated to the pleasures of the flesh. > Although the Banú Umayyad were overthrown by the 'Abbasids in CE 749, the > empire founded by the Banú Umayyad persisted under the 'Abbasids and > later under the > 167 13. The rise of the caliphate > Turks for the entire Dispensation of Muḥ ammad, Q,260 years (42 months). > The Banú Umayyad suppressed the descendants of Muḥ ammad and the > Imams (saints) and dominated a vast assemblage of peoples covering most of > the civilized world known to the resident of the Middle East. > The "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" symbolizes the > principle of Sacrifice that has existed since the beginning of time, necessary > for the renewal of the Ages and the manifestation of a higher reality. There is > also an astrological analogy. Because of the Precession of the Equinoxes, the > constellation of Aries the ram or Lamb always lags behind the sign of Aries. > Thus, symbolically, the Lamb has always been "sacrificed" or "slain" to > permit a new constellation to appear at the Vernal equinox. > In the Bahá 'ı́ Dispensation, the names of the Book of Life are written by > the Centre of the Covenant, 'Abdu'l-Bahá , the "Most Great Branch" from the > "pre-existent root". > G. If any man have an ear, let him hear. > .4. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword > must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. > In these verses John learns the Law of Divine retribution that will cause > the destruction of the beast. Because of their iniquity, the Banú Umayyad > decayed in spirituality and power and eventually met the same fate that they > had meted out to others. Except for 'Abdu'r-Raḥ má n, the Banú Umayyad > were hunted down and destroyed. Even the corpses of the dead Banú > Umayyad Caliphs, except for the pious 'Umar II, were exhumed and > desecrated. > ... And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like > a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. > .3. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the > earth and them > The Apocalypse Unsealed 168 > which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was > healed. > .Q. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on > the earth in the sight of men. > ./. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which > he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the > earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by > the sword, and did live. > The second beast was the 'Abbá sid dynasty. The 'Abbá sid dynasty came > to power by conquest on the ruins (earth) of the Banú Umayyad Empire. Its > rulers gradually became Turkish beginning about CE 840. The second beast* > had two names (horns) of leadership—"The Caliph" and "The Sultan".2 > At its apex, the second beast exercised all the power of the Banú Umayyad > and revived the dying Empire that had been "mortally wounded" yet had > lived on in Spain. Again the nations of Europe, Africa and the Middle East > admired the Muslim State. The second beast also displayed remarkable > technical and scientific skills. Very early they learned the use of gunpowder > and Greek fire.3 Strange devices were used in war, such as burning javelins > and globes that were propelled over long distances.4 > .Y. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the > beast should both speak, > > * > The term "beast is more correctly translated as "living creature". The term in > Greek does not necessarily imply a malevolent entity. Thus, for example, the four > beasts of Chapter / are paragons of virtue. The caliphate, like the papacy and > other religious hierarchies, has had its full share of both good and bad masters. > 169 13. The rise of the caliphate > and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be > killed. > .5. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a > mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: > .H. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the > beast, or the number of his name. > The second beast, the 'Abbá sid dynasty, was able to revive the image of > the first beast, the Banú Umayyad Empire, so that it seemed to be alive again. > The second beast enforced the new regime with great severity, ruthlessly > murdering even those who had helped the 'Abbasids to gain power. > The marks5 or stigmata were: "right hand"*—the land and business tax > (kharáj), and "forehead"—the head tax (jizyah) paid by non-Muslims, > marking them as inferior and symbolizing in concrete form their subjection > to the Muslim State. Many non-Muslims fled to avoid these taxes. Trading > was forbidden unless one had paid the tax (had the mark) or was "Muslim" > (name of the beast), or was a member of the ruling class (number of his > name). > .M. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: > for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and > six. > In the sense that 666 symbolizes blasphemy, deception or hypocrisy, the > number can be applied to many personages in history. But 'Abdu'l-Bahá has > explained <13:18 #Q, #U; 21:15 #Q> that 666 applies to the first Umayyad Caliph > who came to power in the year 666 of the Christian era. > Mu'á wiya, the first Umayyad Caliph, came to power during the year CE > 661–662. But most authorities, in agreement with the Gospel of Matthew, > place the birth of Jesus sometime prior > > * > The right hand is the "working" hand. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 170 > to the death of Herod the Great, who died during the year c–W BCE. It is > reasonable to believe, therefore, that the span of time from the Birth of Jesus > until the first Umayyad Caliph was very close to 666 solar years. > Most serious attempts to discover the name of the beast of the Apocalypse > have started from the premise that 666 is the gematrical value of the name. > Since Mu'á wı́yah committed an act of blasphemy by assuming the title of > Caliph, it should not be surprising if his assumed title The Caliph has the > value 666.6 > > Notes > 1 Reference 12, Chapter 18. The history of Islá m can be found in numerous > references, e.g., References 36 and 37. > 2 "Sulṭán" means "Sovereign". The sultanate was introduced by the Turks. > The last 'Abbá sid Caliph was assassinated in AD 1258. He had nominal > successors in Egypt who were overcome by the Turks in the sixteenth > century. The title of "Caliph" was retained by the Sultans until Z March > 1924. The Apocalypse says that the second beast was spiritually > terminated with the Advent of the Bá b. Three years after the martyrdom > of the Bá b, the Turkish Empire became known as the "Sick Man of the > East". The last of the Turkish dynasties, the Ottoman, was terminated > twenty–seven days before the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . > In the Qur'á n 3H:M3 is found this remarkable prophecy of Muḥ ammad: > We will bring forth to them a beast from the earth. It will speak to them, > for mankind would not be convinced of our signs. > 3 The secret of Greek fire is now lost. > 4 See the writings of Ebn Fadhi and Ben Abdalla. The material brilliance of > the 'Abbá sid period is commemorated in the fable Arabian Nights. > 5 See Ezekiel R:c; Deuteronomy 11:18. > 6 This is probably the most famous riddle in history. Countless attempts > have been made to assign the number 666 to favoured villains over the > past nineteen centuries. One early attempt was to give the number to > "Nero Caesar", but the literal value of his name (in Hebrew!) is only 616, > fifty short of the required value. > Other attempts have been made to equate 666 to the gematrical value of > the nations of the Pope, Luther, Napoleon, the Kaiser, and Hitler. > Most of these attempted solutions are too contrived to be considered > seriously, since they employ such strategies as incorrect spelling, > 171 13. The rise of the caliphate > abbreviations, and obscure notarikon. (See Note Y of Part Q.) As an > example of past efforts, the cabalists of the Vatican (Ref. R, p. 161) have > pointed out that Μαομεº της "Maometis" has the value 666. This is a > possible, though somewhat contrived spelling of Mahomet, a corrupted > form of Muḥ ammad derived from the Turkish spelling. > 'A satisfactory and a very ingenious solution is given by John Michell > (Reference R), who points out that the last sentence in verse 18—Και > 'oαριθμος αυτου χξς'—"And 'his number is Six hundred threescore and > six'"—has the value U,368. This is identical to the value of Ιησουº ς Χριστοº ς, > Jesus Christ. Although it is valid in gematria to compute the value of a > phrase or sentence, its significance is dubious unless the phrase is a name, > a title, or expresses some important concept. But Michell offers further > evidence for his solution by pointing out that the phrase 'η εικονα του > θηριου "the image of the beast", has the same value as 'Ο Υιοº ς του > Ανθρωºπου, "The Son of Man", U,260. > It is because gematria is so flexible that it is often possible to devise some > ingenious method of attaching 666 to a person's name. The equivalence of > "Jesus Christ" with the last sentence of Chapter 13 is probably a warning to > the cabalists of all ages to disregard gematria in the solution of the riddle. > Michel's solution also suggests a profound sense of humour in Jesus, a > humour that tests our wisdom at several points in the Apocalypse. > Nevertheless, the confirmed cabalist may ask us to offer a gematrical > solution to the riddle as a reassurance of the correctness of 'Abdu'l-Bahá 's > explanation. > In order to solve the riddle, it is worthwhile to consider the number 666 > from the viewpoint of the ancient numerologist. In spite of the historical > prejudice that has grown up around the number, the number 666, the > "trinity of sixes", was a number held in high esteem among the ancients. > The number Y of which it is composed, was the symbolic number of > beauty, harmony and mediation. Six is not only the triangular value of the > Triad (Q+U+Z), but was considered to be the first perfect number. A perfect > number is one that is the product of its divisors (i.e., Q×U×Z) as well as the > sum of its divisors (i.e., Q+U+Z). > Furthermore: > 5 was considered the number of the cosmos ("world") (κοσμος = 544 → 5). > 5 is the archetypal value of Jesus ('Ιησουx ς = MMM → 5). > The Messengers of God each had 5 wings (chapter /, note G). > The archetypal value of 555 is G, the "Trinity of Trinities". > The Apocalypse Unsealed 172 > > 555 is just one-half the literal value of "Alpha and Omega" (αλφα + ω = .113). > (See Chapter ., Note .G.) > 555 is the triangular value of Q5 (See Part One, Note .H and Chapter .Y, Note G.) > 55 is the literal value of 'Allá h by the abjad (Arabic gematria). > God created the world in 5 "days". (Genesis .:Q.). > The sum 5+5+5 is .M, the number of Names of YHWH in each division of the > Schemhamphoras. (Chapter H, Note .4) > The product of 5×5×5 is 3.5 (one-tenth of a Platonic month), one-half of /Q3 > (the literal value of "new name"), one fourth of M5/ (the literal value of > "Jerusalem"), etc. > It is also interesting that the Babylonians reckoned in units of Y, 60, and > 600. Remnants of this system survive in the letters of the Roman numeral > system: I, V, X, L, C, and D. The sum of these numerals is 666. More > significantly, 666 has a special meaning, being the number of the sun. > Ancient numerologists had discovered several magic squares. A magic > square is a square array of numbers, the sum of all columns, rows, and > diagonals being equal. The ancients assigned the names of planets to > seven of these squares. The sun was assigned to the magic square in > Figure 22. (Ref. 46, p. QQVff; Chapter 15, Note R) > The reader can determine for himself that every row, column, and > diagonal has the sum 111, and that the sum of all its numbers has the value > 666. The interested reader will also see that the square contains the first > 36 numbers (Q to 36) and that the dimensions of the square are Y by Y. > Early Christians were well aware (Ref. R, Chapter 13) of the solar property > of 666, and anti-papists often equated 666 with the Roman Church, since > the sun is a symbol of authority, and the Church represented the authority > within Christendom. > The fallacy in these and similar attempts is clear from the words in > Revelations 13:18 where we are told that it is the number of a man. > Nevertheless, the sacred nature of 666 is a clue as to the name itself. From > the fact that 13:Q explains that the beast committed blasphemy by > assuming the name or title, we can narrow down the list of names or titles > that are sacred and are blasphemous if falsely assumed. One place to look > for such names is in the Apocalypse itself. > 173 13. The rise of the caliphate > n mo m mr ms l > t ll ot oq q mp > lu lr ln ls om or > lq op lp u on lo > mn s mm r o ml > ll ot ll ot ll ot > Figure DD > 555, the magic square of the sun > There are possibly twenty–nine names and titles in the Apocalypse. None > of them have the value 666. Quite obviously the solution must be sought > elsewhere. > A powerful clue is in the form of the number 666 itself. Its form is highly > suggestive of the successorship, since 600 is the decadal successor of 60, > and 60 is the decadal successor of Y. > The suggested solution, The Successor, will be investigated to see if its > gematrical value might be made equal to 666. > From the outset we are confronted by the usual difficulties in > transliteration. It is often impossible to transliterate a word between two > languages as different as Arabic, a Semitic language, and Koine Greek, an > Indo-European language. Indeed, this may be the implication of verse R:11 > in which "Destroyer" is translated into both the Hebrew and the Greek. > Furthermore, direct transliterations, even if possible, would probably > result in words that would be unrecognizable to the literate Greek of the > first century. The Hebrew Yĕ -rū shalā im becomes transcribed as > Hierousalem in Greek and as Jĕ -rū sá -lem in English. The Hebrew Yē shū 'a, > a contraction of Yehō shu'a, becomes Iē sous in Greek, Iesus in Latin, and > Jē 'sus in English. > Transliterations form Koine into Arabic also receive mutations. The Greek > word ευαγγεº λιον euangelion, the "evangel" or "gospel", becomes Injı́l in > the Arabic of Muḥ ammad's time. Indeed, there appears to be no known > translation of the Apocalypse into Arabic until late medieval times. > About the best that can be hoped for is to derive a spelling of "The Caliph" > that is recognizable to a modern Greek who is literate in Koine. Both 'Ο > Κελλαιφ, The Cä lleff, and 'O Kellaif, The Cā llif meet this requirement. > Both spellings also produce the value 666. > The solution 'Ο Καλλαιφ is certainly no less plausible than the other > known solutions, such as, for example, Muḥ ammad (Arabic) → Mahomet > (Turkish) → Μαομετις Maometis. The solution meets the other > The Apocalypse Unsealed 174 > requirements. It is not ambiguous or contrived. Besides having the value > 666, it is the number of a man, is sacred, and shares a solar property as > the Commander of the Faithful. Furthermore, its assumption by the best > of the Apocalypse was an act of blasphemy. The fact that Y is the number > of mediation is also consistent with the solution, since it could signify the > act of mediation; that is, 666 could symbolize the Mediator (Six) to 'Allá h > (Sixty–Six). Thus the sacred number 666 can only be conferred upon the > Prophet by 'Allá h, or by Muḥ ammad upon His true Successor. > There are other curious coincidences that are worth noting. Muslim > writings sometimes refer to "the beast" as "the spy" or "the sensual". > These expressions may have been produced by attempts to vocalize the > Greek number χξϚ* 666 into Arabic. (Ref. 63) The appellations are > descriptive of the 'Abbá sid and Umayyad dynasties. Furthermore, we > recall that Y was also the number of beauty. The Greek word for beauty > was καλλονηº , highly suggestive of καλλειφ. > [*] Ϛ is used here (used in last position instead of σ) to indicate the Greek > number value sigma (see Part ., page .3). This is based on the ancient > Greek numerals rather than the modern Arabic numerals now used in > Greece. > The solution 'Ο Καλλειφ will now be investigated to see if it is simply a > fortuitous combination of letters. Anyone who has attempted to discover > the name will attest to the difficulty of the task. A little mathematics > shows why. The odds against a properly spelled name or title in Greek > having the value 666 are about 2000 to Q. (The values of the names and > titles in the Apocalypse are normally distributed with a mean of 998 and a > standard deviation of 708.) Even considering alternative spellings of the > same word, the odds are changed only slightly. (Alternative spellings can > occur for borrowed words such as Jesus, Moses, Abaddon, Caliph, etc.) > [For example, if a name has two alternate spellings, then the odds would > increase from only from 2000 to Q up to 2000 to Z.] Of those names and > titles with the value 666, certainly no more than a small percentage, say 10 > or 15%, could be considered blasphemous. This implies that only one > name or title in about 20,000 will have valid spelling, will have the value > 666 and could be considered blasphemous. > These words constitute a very small percentage of the total Greek lexicon, > and alternate legitimate spellings of the same word will not alter > significantly the odds of finding such a name. > But there are other specifications given for the beast, for example: (See > Chapter 17) > H heads > . wounded, yet heals > 175 13. The rise of the caliphate > Y are conquered > . is (sovereign) > . is not yet (in existence) > .4 horns > And so on. > In the past Q,900 years of history there have been perhaps a dozen entities > that have had the villainous roles and stature to qualify as candidates for > the beast. It is obvious that the odds against any of those candidates, > except the correct one, meeting all of the specifications, and having a > name or title with the value 666 are astronomical. > DI > The world-stage is set > In this chapter, six mediating angels prepare the world for the Advent of > Bahá 'u'llá h. These angels may represent Manifestations of Asia Whose > Utterances warned of the coming of Bahá 'u'llá h at the Last Day.* But first, > those with the seal of God are introduced. > .. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred > forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá in shown alive on Zion1 with those who have the seal of His > Father, Bahá ', Nine. The archetypal value of 144,000 equals R. Zion or Sion is > symbolic of the theocracy directly administered by God, the World Order of > Bahá 'u'llá h. "Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and > the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation."2— > Bahá 'u'llá h > Bahá 'u'llá h, Who came as the Manifestation of the Father3 is also the > spiritual Father of Jesus Christ, Muḥ ammad, the Bá b, and the other > Manifestations of the past. Bahá 'u'llá h reveals, "In this most mighty > Revelation, all the Dispensations of the past have attained their highest, their > final consummation." "He it is", referring to Himself, "Who in the Old > Testament hath been named Jehovah, Who in the Gospel hath been designated > as the > > * > See God Passes By, pp. G/–G5. > (%% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 178 > Spirit of Truth, and in the Qur'án acclaimed the Great Announcement." "But for > Him no Divine Messenger would have been invested with the robe of > prophethood, nor would any of the sacred scriptures have been revealed." "Be > fair, ye peoples of the world," He thus appeals to mankind, "is it meet or seemly > for you to question the authority of one Whose presence 'He Who conversed > with God' (Moses) hath longed to attain, the beauty of Whose countenance > 'God's Well-beloved' (Muḥammad) had yearned to behold, through the potency > of Whose love the 'spirit of God' (Jesus) ascended to heaven, for Whose sake the > 'Primal Point' (the Báb) offered up His life?"4 > Concerning the relation of Bahá 'u'llá h to future Revelations, 'Abdu'l-Bahá > explains, "Concerning the Manifestations that will come down in the future 'in > the shadows of the clouds,' know verily that in so far as their relation to the > source of their inspiration is concerned they are under the shadow of the > Ancient Beauty (Bahá'u'lláh). In their relation, however, to the age in which > they appear, each and every one of them 'doeth whatsoever He willeth'."5 > 3. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a > great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: > Q. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, > and the elders, and no man could hear that song but the hundred and forth > and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. > /. These are they which are not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are > they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed > from among man, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. > Y. And in their mouth was found no guild: for they are without fault before the > throne of God. > The voice of many waters is the voice of great knowledge, > 179 14. The world-stage is set > Bahá 'u'llá h. The new song6 is the new Message, but only those with the seal > of Bahá ' (R) can understand the Message. > To become defiled by harlots means to become seduced by a counterfeit > of the true Word of God. > In one Age the Lamb is Jesus. In another He is the Bá b or 'Abdu'l-Bahá . > The undefiled will follow Him in every Age. The first fruits are the first to > follow the new Revelation. Their mouths will not spread false doctrine. > 5. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel > to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, > and tongue, and people. > H. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his > judgement is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the > sea, and the fountains of waters. > Gospel means glad tidings. The gospel is everlasting because it is the > same in every Age and Dispensation and is given to all nations and all > peoples. > The fountains of waters are the Day-Springs of Divine Revelation. > M. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great > city, because she made all nations drink of the wind of the wrath of her > fornication. > "Babylon" means literally "Gate of God". The "Holy City Jerusalem" means > literally "The Holy City of Sacred Peace". Thus they are both sacred names > and symbolize the Word of God. Jerusalem is transformed into Babylon and > vice versa as the Sacred City decays and is renewed in successive > Dispensations. The Word of God, though originally the Holy City, through > corruption, becomes Babylon, the wicked city. "How is the faithful city > become an harlot!"—Isaiah Q:21 > The Apocalypse Unsealed 180 > The use of Babylon as a symbol of the corrupted word is based upon the > story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:R. It was at this place that the > confusion of words was supposed to have originated. It requires the addition > of only a single letter to convert the word Bab-el, Gate of God, into bal-bel, > confusion. > Bahá 'u'llá h explains* that the corruption of the Word of God does not > mean the literal falsification or forgery of the Sacred Texts, but comes about > as a result of misinterpretation in accordance with idle imaginings and vain > desires. Old Testament prophecies7 foretell that in the last days the Word > will be renewed at Babylon. But the site of old Babylon will be a ruin as > explained by Jeremiah.8 Bahá 'u'llá h revealed His mission and renewed the > Word in the new Babylon, modern Baghdá d, in CE 1863. "Baghdá d" means > literally "Gift of God". > G. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship > the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, > .4. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without > mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire > and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the > Lamb. > ... And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no > rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever > receiveth the mark of his name. > These verses promise punishment for those who admire the Muslim State > (worship the beast and his image), who willingly pay the taxes that keep the > beast alive (receive the mark in his forehead or in his hand), or to those who > pretend to be Muslim (receive the mark of his name). Fire and brimstone > symbolizes the unquenchable torment of remoteness from God. "Separa- > > * > The Book of Certitude, pp. M/–G4. > 181 14. The world-stage is set > tion from Thee, O Source of everlasting life, hath will nigh consumed me, and > my remoteness from Thy presence hath burned my soul." "Some have made > haste to attain the court of the God of Mercy, others have fallen down on their > faces in the fire of Hell, while still others are lost in bewilderment." "They > hasten forward to Hell fire, and mistake it for light."9—Bahá 'u'llá h > Smoke is a visible sign of spiritual torment. "The moon of idle fancy hath > been cleft, and the heaven hath given out a palpable smoke." "What smoke > more dense and overpowering than the one which hath now enshrouded all the > peoples of the world, which hath become a torment unto them, and from which > they hopelessly fail to deliver themselves, however much they strive?"10— > Bahá 'u'llá h > .3. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of > God, and the faith of Jesus. > .Q. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead > which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest > from their labours; and their works do follow them. > These verses explain that the martyrs of the last days will be instrumental > in bringing forth the Revelation of Bahá 'u'llá h. > "To die in the Lord" also means to die from self in order to live in God. > This is the final stage of man's journey "from the abode of dust to the > heavenly homeland." Bahá 'u'llá h explains, "Whoso hath attained this station > is sanctified from all that pertaineth to the world. … This is the station wherein > the multiplicity of all things perisheth in the wayfarer; and the divine > Countenance, dawning above the horizon of eternity, riseth out of the darkness; > and the meaning of "All on the earth shall pass away, but the face of thy Lord" > is made manifest."11 > ./. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon > The Apocalypse Unsealed 182 > the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, > and in his hand a sharp sickle. > .Y. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat > on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to > reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. > .5. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was > reaped. > .H. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a > sharp sickle. > .M. And another angel came out from the altar, which had the power over fire; and > cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy > sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are > fully ripe. > .G. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, > and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. > The One like unto the Son of Man is Bahá 'u'llá h, Who is shown coming on > a cloud of glory. His crown symbolizes spiritual dominion. The sickle > symbolizes His power to reap the harvest of the Ages. Mankind is likened to > a vineyard as in the parable of Jesus Christ.12 In the harvesting, Bahá 'u'llá h, > the Lord of the Vineyard, is assisted by the forces of heaven. The first angel > may represent Muḥ ammad; the angel with the sickle represents the Bá b > <21:15 #Q>, and the altar angel may represent Jesus Christ.13 > 34. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the > winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six > hundred furlongs. > A horse's bridle is X spans14 (about 60 inches or 152 cm) high. A furlong15 > is an earthly measure. 1600* has an archetypal value of X. > > * > .544 is "/4-times-/4". See Note .5. > 183 14. The world-stage is set > The riddle says that the earth outside the Holy City of the Law of God will > be the scene of great tests, trials, and torments "for a space of X-times-X".16 > The prophecy can have two meanings. Remembering that X is the number > of trial and punishment, the prophecy can be considered as emphasizing the > great spiritual turmoil that will beset the world is a consequence of the > Advents of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. But the prophecy also specifically > predicts the duration of the period of Divine Revelation, beginning with the > Declaration of the Bá b in the year AH 1260 and ending with the Ascension of > Bahá 'u'llá h in the year AH 1309, a space of X-times-X, or 49 lunar years./8 > Pegasus the Flying Horse is a constellation near Aquarius (Figure 23). > Early star maps show only half of the horse and that upside down. There are > about X spaces or spans of stars between its hoof and its jaw. > Alpheratz in > Andromedia > Delphinus > Pegasus > > Western The Water Jar > Fish of Aquarius > > The Flying Horse > Figure DF > The horse in heaven > The Apocalypse Unsealed 184 > > Notes > 1 See John c:21; Isaiah U:Z–c, 59:19–21; Zechariah U:10–11. > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 13. > 3 See Luke R:26, Matthew 16:27. One meaning of "glory" is "manifestation". > See chapter 15, note R. > 4 The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 103–107. > 5 The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 111 > 6 See Isaiah 42:10, 43:19. > 7 See Micah c:10; Ezekiel Q:Q, 28, 43:Q–c; Zechariah c. In these prophecies, > the river Chebar or Kabar empties into the Euphrates at Babylon. > "Zerubbabel" means Begotten, Scattered, Banished, or Stranger in > Babylon. See chapter W, note W. (cf. Ezra W:U and Zechariah c:R.) > 8 See Jeremiah 51, e.g., verses 58, 64. Also see Isaiah 47 in which the > daughter of Babylon becomes the harlot and is overcome by the Lord of > Hosts. > 9 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 14, 41–42. > 10 idem, p. 40; The Book of Certitude pp. 76–77. > 11 The Seven Valleys, Call of the Divine Beloved, p. 14. > 12 Matthew 21:33–41. In the parable, Jesus is the Son of verse 37; Bahá 'u'llá h > is the Lord of the vineyard, verse 40. See also Mark 12:Q–R; Luke 20:R–16. > 13 See Revelations S:W. > 14 The span (from Greek σπαν, "to draw out"; spithame (Greek σπιθαμηº , > "span") was an ancient measure equal to half a cubit, about R inches or > 230 mm. As a scale for measuring a horse it has been largely superseded > by the hand of c inches (100 mm). > 15 Translated as "stadia" in 980. The stadium was also a unit of earth > measure widely used in the classical world. > 16 "X-times-X" years is also a period of time specified in Leviticus 25:S–12. > The span of time from the Declaration of the Bá b until the Ascension of > 'Abdu'l-Bahá was "70-and-X" solar (Bahá 'ı́) years, the period of history > styled as the Heroic Age of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith by Shoghi Effendi. See God > Passes By pp. XIII, 309; Reference 45, p. 439; Matthew 18:21–22. > The earthly dimension of "40-times-40" or Q,600 furlongs, may signify > 185 14. The world-stage is set > extreme trials of the flesh, or extreme testing of the spirit by the flesh as a > process of purification. See Ref. 12, p. 112; Chapter U, Note 14. Forty lunar > years was the period of the Ministry of Bahá 'u'llá h. > DK > His name revealed > .. And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the > seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. > 3. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the > victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the > number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. > The seven angels symbolize trials and punishments from heaven. The sea > of glass is the Ocean of Truth.1 It is mingled with fire to symbolize the wrath > and indignation of God. > Verse U extols those who have overcome the false doctrine of the > Umayyad and 'Abbá sid dynasties (the beast and his image), have not falsely > assumed the name (mark) of Muslim, and have rejected the blasphemous > deception of wrongly-guided Caliphs (number of his name). > Bahá 'u'llá h, speaking to His persecutors in the Muslim world said, "Thou > hast known how grievously the Prophets of God, His Messengers and Chosen > Ones, have been afflicted. Meditate a while on the motive and reason that have > been responsible for such a persecution. At no time, in no Dispensation, have > the Prophets of God escaped the blasphemy of their enemies, the cruelty of their > oppressors, the denunciation of the learned of their age, who appeared in the > guise of uprightness and piety. Day and night they passed through such > agonies as none can measure, except the knowledge of the one true God, exalted > by His glory. Consider this wronged one. Though the clearest > > ('% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 188 > proofs attest the truth of His Cause; though the prophecies He, in an > unmistakable language, hath made have been fulfilled … He hath rained upon > men the showers of His manifold and Divinely-inspired knowledge; yet, behold > how this generation hath rejected His authority, and rebelled against Him!"2 > Christians are not excluded from His denunciations. In a Tablet to the > rulers of Christendom He said, "O kings of Christendom! Heard ye not the > saying of Jesus, the Spirit of God, …. 'When He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He > will guide you unto all truth.' And yet, behold how, when He did bring the truth, > ye refused to turn your faces towards Him, and persisted in disporting > yourselves with your pastimes and fancies."3 > Q. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, > saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true > are thy ways, thou King of saints. > /. Who shall not fear thee, O lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for > all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgements are made > manifest. > The song of Moses and the Lamb is the eternal Message, renewed and readorned in every Dispensation. Speaking of the Word of God, Bahá 'u'llá h > says, "In the days of Moses it was the Pentateuch; in the days of Jesus, the > Gospel; in the days of Muḥammad, the Messenger of God, the Qur'án; in this day, > the Bayán (Book of the Báb [literally, "Exposition"]); and in the Dispensation of > Him Whom God will make manifest (Bahá'u'lláh), His own Book—the Book > unto which all the Books of former Dispensations must needs be referred, the > Book that standeth amongst them all transcendent and supreme."4 > Y. And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony > in heaven was opened: > 5. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in > pure and white linen > 189 15. His name revealed > and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. > H. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the > wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. > The temple of the testimony is the Revelation of God descended upon > man in the Temple of the Manifestation. "These Tabernacles of Holiness, these > Primal Mirrors which reflect the light of unfading glory, are but expressions of > Him Who is the Invisible of the Invisibles."5—Bahá 'u'llá h Elsewhere, > Bahá 'u'llá h asks of God, "Aid me, O my Lord, to surrender myself wholly to Thy > Will, and to arise and serve Thee, for I cherish this earthly life for no other > purpose than to compass the Tabernacle of Thy Revelation and the Seat of Thy > Glory."6 > M. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; > and no man was able to enter in to the temple, till the seven plagues of the > seven angels were fulfilled. > > In The Book of Certitude,* Bahá 'u'llá h explains: "The symbolic term 'smoke' > denotes grave dissensions, the abrogation and demolition of recognized > standards, and the utter destruction of their narrow-minded exponents." > In this verse the name of Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of God,7 is revealed for the > first time in the Apocalypse.8 The verse also reveals that no man's testimony > will be complete until the seven last plagues are finished. > Glory of God Δοº ξα του Θεουº has a literal value of Q,389 and an archetypal > value of Z. The name Bahá 'u'llá h, by the abjad has a literal value of 75, > which also has an archetypal value of Z. The word Glory Δοº ξα has a > literal value of 135 and an archetypal value of R, identical to the literal value of > Bahá ' in the abjad.9 > > * > The Book of Certitude, p. H5. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 190 > > Notes > 1 See Revelations c:Y. > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 57, 58; Luke 17:22–25. > 3 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 246. See Luke 17:25; John > 16:12–15; Matthew 23:29–39; Acts X:51–53. > 4 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 270. > 5 idem, p. 47. > 6 idem, p. 311. > 7 See Part Q, note 20. > 8 The names and titles of the Prophets are often revealing. Bahá 'u'llá h was > the title bestowed upon Ḥusayn-'Alı́ by the Bá b. Thus Bahá 'u'llá h is > analogous to the title "Christos" appended to the name Jesus. Ḥusayn-'Alı́, > the name bestowed upon Bahá 'u'llá h at birth, literally means "The Good, > The Exalted". Jesus means "Help of Jehovah". Muḥ ammad means > "Praised". Sidharta, the given name of Gautama Buddha, means literally > "The Righteous One". > 9 The Greek word Δοº ξα is translated as Glory in English translations of the > New Testament. In the Persian translation of the New Testament, δοº ξα > has been translated into the word Jalá l, another form of the word "Glory". > The inevitable ambiguity that accompanies translation would permit Δοº ξα > to be read as either Bahá ' or Jalá l. There are similar difficulties in > translating from Hebrew into Greek. V. O. Goldberg (Reference c, p. 19) > explains that Δοº ξα is a Greek rendering of the Hebrew Kabod, which can > designate a primary materialization (i.e., a "Manifestation") of the Divine > Essence. For example, in Exodus 33:18, Moses desires to see the Kabod of > Yahwah. (See also Psalm 73:24; Ref. c, p. 79.) > The correspondences are not exhausted. The number 135 equals Z×45, > R×15, and 801 – 666. The number Z is sacred to many faiths while 45 is the > triangular value of R. The number 15 is the triangular value of W. (See Part > Q, note 17.) > The numerals Q, Z, W are used in John 21:11 where "Simon Peter went up and > drew the net to land full of great fishes, one hundred fifty and three." (153 > is the triangular value of 17. The fact that the exact number of fishes was > specified has puzzled many biblical scholars and commentators. It is > interesting that The Hidden Words of Bahá 'u'llá h is composed of 153 > stanzas. (The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh, p. ii. This precious work has > 191 15. His name revealed > been identified with the "Hidden Book of Fatimih". idem, p. i.) > A summary of these and other correspondences is given in the following > Table: > Expression Literal Archetypal Components Triangular > value value value [N?] > Glory of God ;<=> < > (Greek) > Bahá 'u'llá h GH < H×;H > (Arabic) > Glory, "Kabod" ; =N;-PPP > (Greek) =N;+PPP-;< >×;H > <×SH > Bahá ' (Arabic) > > <×< SH > RP (by "klima") > Alpha (and) Omega ;< R×PPP > αλφα + ω Alpha (and) Omega =N; > > α+ω > Bá b (Arabic) H H ;H > Adam (various) SH > H×> > > Eve (various) ;H P H×< > P+> > New Name (Greek) S P×GR > ;<NN > Jerusalem (Greek) =PS > P×;88 > The Caliph PPP > ;=× (Greek, possible) > The Glory of the God ;GSP > ;N=N+PPP > of Israel (Greek) > A grain of mustard ;GSP > ;N=N+PPP > seed (Greek) > (Yang, sun, etc.) (PPP) > > (Yin, moon, etc.) (;N=N) > <× (Fishes in the net) (;H<) > > (Stanzas in The (;H<) > > Hidden Words) > Bahá 'u'llá h ;88 > See "numbers" > (Greek, possible) below. > Nine (Greek) ;;; < <× Jesus (Greek) === P 98× Christ (Greek) ;S=N S SN× Jesus Christ R YHWH RP = GR > (Jehovah, Hebrew) (by "klima") > Messiah (Hebrew) "Shiloh Come" (Hebrew) > The Apocalypse Unsealed 192 > Sum of centre square o×mt > Sum of middle square n×mt > Sum of outer square lp×mt > Sum of any four symmetrical nos. o×mt > Sum of any row, column, or diagonal Z×37 > Sum of all numbers 18×37 > Figure DD > In the magic square of the sun > Numbers Archetypal value Components Triangular value [N?] > ; ; ; > R R < > < < P > S S ;N > H H ;H > P P R; > G G S+< R= > = =

> > <×< SH > P+< > PPP-=N;+;88 > ;N ; HH > ;; R PP > ;R < <×S G= > ;G = >+= ;H< >

P×P PPP > ;P+RN > ;H+R; > GR > R×

P×;R > ;< ;88 > P×98 ;N,SSN > ; > R×GR > HH+=> > G=+PP > PPP > S,S G×;=N > >×;SN > > 144 is the eleventh member of the Fibonacci series (Q, U, Z, W, S, 13, 21, 34, 55, > 89, 144, …) in which each term is the sum of the two previous terms. The > ratio of any two consecutive terms in the series approximates the Golden > Number: Q.61803 …, the approximation becoming more precise the higher > the order of the terms. Thus, 89/55 equals Q.61818 …. Certain living > organisms, art, and ancient megalithic structures embody Fibonacci > numbers. For example, in the Great Pyramid of Giza, the ratio of the slope > 193 15. His name revealed > height (apothem) to its half base is 89.55. The pharaonic Egyptians > considered the Golden Number to be a symbol of the creative function, > that is, the Logos or "Word". See Reference Y, p. QRVff; Reference 29; John > Q:Q; 144 is found in [Revelation] verses X:c; 14:Q, Z, and 21:17. > Multiplying the Fibonacci series by R results in another Fibonacci type > sequence containing several sacred numbers (R, 18, 45, 72, 801), that is, (R, > 18, 27, 45, 72, 117, 189, 306, 495, 801, 1296, …). The numbers (18, 72, 666, > 1080, 1746) are contained in another Fibonacci type sequence, the first > nine members being (18, 72, 90, 162, 252, 414, 666, 1080, 1746). > The ratio 1080/666 equals Q.622, a good approximation of the Golden > Number Q.618. It follows that 1746/1080 also approximates the Golden > Number and that 1746/666 approximates its square (Q.618)0. For a > summary of some of the more interesting properties of the Golden > Number, see References 44 & 61. > The numbers 666 and 1080 may carry other secrets. Using these numbers > as the sides of a right triangle, as was the penchant among the ancient > Egyptians, we obtain an hypotenuse equal to 1269, the date of the third > woe. The triangle is geometrically similar to that of the halfface of the Great Pyramid. Figure 24 shows some of the possible meanings > of this particular triangle. > 1260 is, of course, the date of the second woe, mentioned in Revelations > 11:U, 11:Z, 11:R, 11:11, 12:Y, 12:14, and 13:W and in Daniel 12:X. > In the Pythagorean system of number symbolism, 36 symbolizes the union > of the male and female powers of nature, being the sum of 16 and 20. The > number 16 is the sum of the first four odd (male) numbers (Q+Z+W+X), > while 20 is the sum of the first four even (female) numbers (U+c+Y+S). > Plato considered 36 to be the number of the World Soul. > 72 is the value of YHWH by "klima", a kind of mystical number expansion > (Reference c, pp. 55, 60) and corresponds to a highly sacred Name of God. > See also chapter X, note 10. Twenty–six, the literal value of YHWH, is also > the value of Bahá by klima. > Perfect squares of whole numbers, e.g., R, 36, 144 are always composed of > the sum of two triangular numbers. Thus R = Y + Z, 36 = 21 + 15, 144 = 78 + > 66. > 111 is the literal value of the word "nine" ennea and is also the sum of the > numbers of any row, column or diagonal in the magic square of the sun. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 194 > > Figure DM > A mystic triangle > Multiples of 37 generate the triads. That is, X×37 equals 333, etc. > The numbers (72, 90, 108, 135, 144) are represented as least-integer string > length ratios in the basic Hindu-Greek musical scale (Ref. 57): > Length Ratios H3 M4 G4 G5 .4M .34 .16 .// > D c b-flat A G f e-flat D > The tones e-flat (135) and b-flat (90) form a Perfect Fifth. > Least-integer string length ratios 432 and 864 bound the ancient Greek > Phrygian mode, later adapted as the "Modus Primus" by Christian > orthodoxy: > Length Ratios /Q3 /M5 Y.3 YH5 5/M H3G H5M M5/ > D C B A G F E D > 2160, the number of years in a Platonic month, is an unusually prolific > number. Besides having an archetypal value of R, it is divisible by one-half > the numbers from Q to 26. Some interesting divisors of 2160 are: > .4M×3 Š‹‹×ŠŒ •Ž×Ž• > /Q3×Y Š•Œ×ŠŽ •‹×••׌ (cf. Ref. ‹Ž, p. ••ff) > Q54×5 '•ו• Š••Œ× Φ > 1335 is the date of the "blissful consummation" in the prophecy of Daniel. > (See Appendix B.) U,160 equals the product of Q,335 and the Golden > Number Φ (Q.618). > A rectangular prism with sides 666, 1080, and 1746 had a diagonal of, very > nearly, 2160. That is, > 195 15. His name revealed > > !"""! + $%&%! + $()"! = 2158.35 ≈ 2160. > DL > The end of the age > This chapter reveals the events that attended the Revelations of the Bá b > and Bahá 'u'llá h. The setting is QRth century Persia, 'Irá q and the Ottoman > Empire. > A modern traveller to those regions would find it difficult to visualize the > conditions that prevailed there only a century ago. Observers* have > described the region as technologically backward, and often with despotic > governments and corrupted priesthoods. Modern progressive leaders have > succeeded in revolutionizing the political, economic and religious life in > those countries, and the conditions alluded to in the following verses of the > Apocalypse no longer prevail. > .. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your > ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. > The Temple is the Manifestation.1 The great voice out of the Temple is > that of Bahá 'u'llá h. > 3. And the first went, and poured his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome > and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon > them which worshipped his image. > The noisome and grievous sore caused by the first angel is the > > * > See, e.g., Lord Curzon, Persia and the Persian Question. > (&% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 198 > clamour of religious controversy and the sore of spiritual distress that beset > the Muslim world during the earthly sojourns of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. > Q. And the second angel poured his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a > dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. > The second angel pours his vial upon the sea of the spirit. > Bahá 'u'llá h explains that immediately prior to His Advent the former > world passed away: "Consider the hour at which the supreme Manifestation of > God (Bahá 'u'llá h) revealeth Himself unto men. … at the very moment > preceding His Revelation, each and every created thing shall be made to yield > up its soul to God. This is indeed the Day of which it hath been written: 'Whose > shall be the Kingdom this Day?' And none can be found to Answer!"2 But > following His Advent, a new world was formed: "Verily, We have caused every > soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We > have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. > I am, verily, the All-bountiful, the Ancient of Days."3 In a prayer He says, > "Praise be unto Thee, O my God! Thou are He Who by a word of His mouth hath > revolutionized the entire creation, and by a stroke of His pen hath divided Thy > servants one from another. I bear witness, O my God, that through a word > spoken by Thee in this Revelation all created things were made to expire, and > through yet another word all such as Thou didst wish were, by Thy grace and > bounty, endued with a new life."4 > /. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; > and they became blood. > Y. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou are righteous, O lord, which art, and > wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. > 5. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them > blood to drink; for they are worthy. > 199 16. The end of the age > H. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and > righteous are thy judgements. > These verses explain that the mainstreams of spiritual grace and > knowledge (rivers and fountains) will lose their life-giving power. The > corrupted spiritual leaders and divines are condemned, and they are made to > taste the blood of spiritual death. > > The prophecies of the next seven verses describe the impact of the > Revelations of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h upon the lands of Persia, Turkey, and > the region of the Euphrates River.5 > > M. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto > him to scorch men with fire. > G. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which > hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. > The fourth angel pours his vial upon the land of Persia whose emblem is > the sun. The bigoted and corrupt among the Persians are made to feel the > fire of spiritual torment. The last word of verse R refers to their failure to > accept the new name of God, glory (Bahá ). (See Chapter Z, verse 12.) > The Bá bı́ Revelation was born on 23 May 1844 in Shı́rá z, Persia (IÅrá n). The > claims of the Bá b, the excitement caused in the Muslim world, and the > rapidity with which the new Faith gained followers, caused the corrupt > Muslim clergy to react violently. The help of the shá h was enlisted in an > attempt to destroy the new Faith. The results were armed attacks upon the > followers of the Bá b and popular uprisings in Má zindará n, Nayrı́z, and > The Apocalypse Unsealed 200 > Zanjá n. Mass persecutions, torture and martyring were involved. Ultimately, > the Bá b was martyred in the public square of Tabrı́z, on R July 1850. > .4. And the fifth angel poured his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was > full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. > ... And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and > repented not of their deeds. > The fifth angel pours his vial on Constantinople (Istanbul) in the land of > Anatolia, the capital (seat) of the beast.6 The kingdom is filled with spiritual > darkness and torment. As a consequence of the martyrdom of the Bá b and > the severe persecutions inflicted on the Bá bı́s, on 15 August 1852, two obscure > and demented Bahá 'ı́s made a despairing and futile attempt on the life of the > shá h. The results were renewed persecutions and the imprisonment of > leading Bá bı́s, including Bahá 'u'llá h. It was during this imprisonment 1852– > 1853 that Bahá 'u'llá h received the Holy Spirit and became the Promised One > of All Ages. > On His release from the Black Pit of Ṭ ihrá n (Teheran), He was exiled to > Baghdá d, 'Irá q,7 where He arrived S April 1853. 'Irá q was then an Ottoman > province. Shortly thereafter, the Ottoman Sultan and his ministers, as well as > the sunnı́ sacerdotal order, joined hands with the shá h and the shı́'ah clerics > of Persia and 'Irá q in an endeavour to stamp out, once and for all, the Faith > and all it stood for. The result was a further wave of repressive measures. > .3. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the > water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be > prepared. > The sixth angel pours his vial on the region of the Euphrates River, 'Irá q > and the surrounding regions. The water of spirituality is dried up and the > way is made clear for the kings of the East. > 201 16. The end of the age > Following His exile to Baghdá d, 'Irá q, in the region of the Euphrates River, > the Bá bı́ Faith lost its spirituality. Because of internal conflicts and bickering, > Bahá 'u'llá h left the Bá bı́ community and spent exactly two lunar years, the > QUth of Rajab AH 1270 (10 April 1854) until the QUth of Rajab AH 1272 (19 March > 1856) wandering in the mountain wilderness of Kurdistan. The way was > being prepared for the kings of the East, Bahá 'u'llá h and His Successors. > .Q. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, > and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. > ./. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings > of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great > day of God Almighty. > Unclean spirits like frogs are evil principles and false teachings. > Although several would-be "Prophets" arose to proclaim themselves to > the One foretold by the Bá b, "the One Whom God will make manifest", the > most notorious was the nominal head of the Bá bı́ Faith, Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá (Ṣ ubḥ -i- > Azal). Through the influence and intrigues of the crafty and diabolical Siyyid > Muḥ ammad-i-Iṣ fahá nı́, Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá succeeded in causing a serious breach in > the ranks of the Bá bı́s-in-exile and prevented many of the very elect from > recognizing the new Manifestation, Bahá 'u'llá h. Reminiscent of the Sú rih of > Joseph as interpreted by the Bá b, Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá was a half-brother of > Bahá 'u'llá h, and, as prophesied, the plots of Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá and Muḥ ammad-i- > Iṣ fahá nı́ ended in ignominious failure. > The Great Day of God Almighty is the Day of God, the Dispensation of > Bahá 'u'llá h. Miracles are wonders; here they are not of Divine origin. > .Y. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that > The Apocalypse Unsealed 202 > watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. > In this verse, the Declaration of Bahá 'u'llá h is announced. He comes as a > "thief", entering and departing "unseen". Blessed is he who watches, and > wears garments of purity and righteousness in order that he not be > spiritually naked. (See Revelations Z:17.) > The Bá bı́ community left behind in Baghdá d continued to decline in > spirituality and prestige. Finally, at the pleading of the Bá bı́s, Bahá 'u'llá h was > induced to return. Following His return from the wilderness of Kurdistan, > Bahá 'u'llá h was able to renew the Faith of God through His teachings and > spiritual power. Hatred, fear, and jealousy of the renewed vigour of the Bá bı́ > community by the corrupt Muslim clergy resulted in further persecutions > and banishments of Bahá 'u'llá h, first to Constantinople, thence to Adrianople, > and finally to 'Akká , near Mount Carmel, in the Holy Land, thereby fulfilling > many prophecies.8 (Carmel means literally "Vineyard of God".) > However, before Bahá 'u'llá h began the arduous journey to > Constantinople, He revealed His Mission as the "One Whom God will make > manifest", prophesied by the Bá b. His Declaration took place at the Festival > of Riḍ vá n (Paradise) 21 April to U May CE 1863. > It is an interesting fact that He departed from the "land of the Euphrates" > immediately thereafter, going into exile and virtual invisibility. Even His > incredibly direct and powerful Tablets to the kings and rulers of the earth > revealing His Mission went unnoticed. Truly Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of God, > like a thief, entered and departed unseen. > .5. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue > Armageddon. > The unclean spirits (evil principles and false teachings) are to be the > cause of the final conflict in the place called "Armageddon". > 203 16. The end of the age > Armageddon is composed of the two Hebrew words har (mountain) and > Magedon. Magedon is a poetic adaptation of the vale of Megiddo or > Megidon.9 This valley was the scene of great suffering by the Hebrews > during the reign of Josiah. Hence, "mountain-of-Megiddo" means a piling up > of sorrow like that which befell the Hebrews in the valley of Megiddo. > The conflict of Armageddon is symbolic of the world-wide distress that > will result from false teachings and evil principles. The conflict follows the > Declaration, the "hour"* of Bahá 'u'llá h and the third woe. > Since His Declaration in CE 1863, the world has indeed witnessed a great > piling up of sorrow. Among the more notable sorrows have been > imperialism and economic exploitation, two world wars of unprecedented > ferocity and suffering, numerous smaller but deadly wars, the Great > Depression, the rise of communism and the suffering brought by class > struggle, racial struggle, genocide on a massive scale, and world-wide > pollution of the air, soil, and the oceans. These sorrows are by no means > finished and the testimony of the righteous is not yet complete. > .H. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great > voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. > .M. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great > earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an > earthquake, and so great. > The seventh angel pours his vial into the air, meaning that the afflictions > to follow will not be localized but will be world-wide. There follow the > voices of those who fall into trials and temptations, the thunder of the > violation of the Covenant, and the lightning of the anger and wrath of God. > There will be a great earthquake10 of doubts and disturbances in the world of > man. > > * > See <..:.Q @3> <.5:.5> > The Apocalypse Unsealed 204 > .G. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: > and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup > of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. > 34. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. > 3.. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight > of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the > plague thereof was exceeding great. > The great city is the civilization of the corrupted Word of God, that is, > Babylon. It will be divided into three parts personified as the "three false > gods", Nationalism, Racialism, and Communism. (The Promised Day is Come, > p. 117) Cities are institutions; islands are places of refuge, that is, churches; > mountains are the great religions of the world. "So blind hath become the > human heart that neither the disruption of the city, nor the reduction of the > mountain in dust, nor even the cleaving of the earth, can shake off its > torpor."11—Bahá 'u'llá h > The great hail is a rain of spiritual tests. Talent comes from the Greek > talanton—a balance, or a thing to be weighed. Hence it is a symbol of > testing.12 Man will be tested by the Book of God revealed by the Balance, the > new Manifestation of God: "In this most perfect balance (the Book of God) > whatsoever the peoples and kindreds of the earth possess must be weighed." > "The All-Merciful is come invested with undoubted sovereignty. The Balance > hath been appointed, and all them that dwell on earth have been gathered > together." "Say: This is the infallible Balance which the Hand of God is holding, > in which all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth are weighed, > and their fate determined, if ye be of them that believe and recognize this > truth."13—Bahá 'u'llá h > > Notes > 1 See Revelations 15:W. > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 151. > 3 idem, p. 29. > 4 Prayers and Meditations of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 42; The Qur'á n 39:65–70. > 5 A detailed history of these events can be found in God Passes By. > 6 The caliphate and sultanate were both located at Constantinople. > 7 See chapter W, Note Y. > 8 See, e.g., Isaiah 35:U, 41:U, 65:R–10; Micah X:12 (KJV); Matthew 24:27; > Jeremiah 49:38; Ezekiel 42:U, c; Hosea U:15. In these prophecies, Assyria > included old Babylonia, etc.; Elam was a region now in modern IÅrá n. > 205 16. The end of the age > "Achor" literally means "trouble", a hidden name for modern 'Akká . > 9 See II Kings 23:29; Zechariah 12:11. > 10 The "earthquake" can, of course, be accompanied by a physical > earthquake as it was in Revelations 11:13. > 11 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 39. > 12 See Matthew 25:14–30. > 13 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 198, 40, 136. > DN > Mysteries revealed > .. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with > me, saying unto me, come hither; I will show unto thee the judgement of the > great whore that sitteth upon many waters: > 3. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants > of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. > The great whore is the corrupted Word of God. She sits on the sea of > humanity.* To commit fornication with the harlot means to make use of her > services: false doctrine. > Q. Se he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit > upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads > and ten horns. > Scarlet is the colour of spiritual beauty among the Muslims. The seven > heads and ten horns identify the beast as the Banú Umayyad dynasty and its > image, the 'Abbá sid dynasty. The harlot lives in the wilderness of spiritual > desolation. "… such souls as tread the valley of arrogance and pride, are lost in > the wilds of remoteness, walk in the ways of their idle fancy, and follow the > dictates of the leaders of their faith."1—Bahá 'u'llá h > > * > See Revelations .H:.Y below. > *)% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 208 > /. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold > and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of > abominations and filthiness of her fornication. > The harlot is blasphemously arrayed in the purple of royalty and the > scarlet of spiritual beauty. She is bedecked with precious gifts bestowed > upon her by her clientele, the corrupt priesthood and temporal rulers. > Y. And upon her forehead was a name written, mystery, babylon the great, the > mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. > This verse explains that the harlot, Babylon, the corrupted Word of God, is > the secret source of all the world's abominations. > The harlot in the wilderness of spiritual desolation is contrasted with the > Bride who flees into the desert wilderness of Ḥijá z for her survival in Chapter > 12. The Bride is the undefiled Word of God. In her pure role she is THE HOLY > CITY JERUSALEM. In her corrupted role she is BABYLON.2 > 5. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of > the martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. > H. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the > mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven > heads and ten horns. > M. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless > pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, > whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the > world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. > 209 17. Mysteries revealed > The angel explains that the beast "was" (existed as the Empire of > Alexander), "is not" (did not exist in the first century CE), but will ascend out > of the pit of error and will ultimately be destroyed. Those whose names > were not written in the Book of Life will marvel when they behold the > Empire of Alexander come into existence a second time. > It was the dream of ancient rulers and conquerors to re-establish the > Empire of Alexander. The dominions ruled by both Alexander and the Bani- > Umayyad rulers included large areas of the three continents of Asia, Africa, > and Europe, and united East and West.3 The eastern borders of the two > Empires were virtually identical. > G. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, > on which the woman sitteth. > .4. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet > come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. > ... And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and > goeth into perdition. > The riddle explains that the harlot sits on an Empire of seven dominions > or nations (mountains). Of the seven dominions symbolized by seven kings, > five will be fallen, that is, under the control of foreign powers before their > conquest by the beast.4 These five were the Roman (Byzantine) dominion > around Damascus (Syria, Palestine), the dominions of Arabia, Egypt, Africa > (Libya), and Andalusia (Spain). One dominion "is", meaning that it will > remain sovereign until the "hour" of the beast. This was Persia. The > dominion that "is not come" was Turkestan-Transoxiana. > In the first century, the region now known as Turkestan was occupied by > nomadic pastoralists and sedentary cultivators. The region became Turkish > in the sixth century CE, about 500 years after the writing of the Apocalypse. It > was conquered in the late seventh and early eighth centuries by the Banú > Umayyad who gave the region the name of Má Wará ' an-Nahr, "the land > The Apocalypse Unsealed 210 > beyond the Oxus" or "Transoxiana".5 Verse 10 explains that the dominion will > continue a short space. The prophecy means that Turkestan-Transoxiana > will cease to exist with the invasion of Genghis Khan CE 1218–1220. > Verse 11 explains that the beast will have an eighth ruler, who is one of the > seven, and who will ultimately be destroyed. This refers to The Caliph. The > caliphate was abolished by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on U March > 1924, less than three years after the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá .5 > .3. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no > kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. > Verse 12 explains that the ten horns are the names of kings who did not > have a kingdom in the first century CE. They will receive power for only an > hour with the Banú Umayyad dynasty. An "hour" is a part of a "day", and is > therefore, a part of a "year" of 360 years. The Banú Umayyad had sovereignty > for 89 years, about one-fourth of a "day". > .Q. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. > ./. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he > is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and > chosen, and faithful. > Verse 13 explains that the dominions and rulers of Islá m will give power > to the beast, personified in The Caliph. Verse 14 prophesies that the Muslim > state will make war on the Bá b and His followers, but that the Bá b will gain > the spiritual victory, because He is a Manifestation of God, that is, Lord of > lords and King of kings.6 "Verily He (the Bá b) is the King of the Messengers > and His Book is the Mother Book, did ye but know."7 "… the Ancient Beauty > appeared, in the year sixty (AH 1260), in the person of 'Alí-Muḥammad, the > Báb." "Thy Lord, the Most > 211 17. Mysteries revealed > High (the Bá b), addresseth thee, from His realm of glory …." "… this, the Lord of > days, … the Day in which the Beauty of the All-Glorious shone forth in the > exalted person of 'Alí-Muḥammad, the Báb."8—Bahá 'u'llá h > .Y. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are > peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. > Verse 15 explains the symbol of the sea of humanity in verse Q. > .5. 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. > .H. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their > kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. > These verses explain that the rulers of the Banú Umayyad will hate the > harlot, the corrupted Word of God, destroy her beauty, and will condemn her > with the fire of their words. God has put it into their hearts that they should > satisfy His Will and agree with each other, giving their dominions to the beast > until the words of the prophecy have been fulfilled. > .M. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the > kings of the earth. > This verse explains that the harlot is Babylon, the corrupted Word of God, > that has dominion over the rulers of the earth. > > Notes > 1 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 18. > 2 The symbol of the corrupted bride who is once more united with her > husband is used in Isaiah 54. See also the harlot in Isaiah 47. > 3 A good discussion of the aspiration, successes, and failures of Alexander > can be found in Reference Z, chapter Q. > 4 From the first century to the beginning of Muḥ ammad's Dispensation, > Andalusia was dominated by Romans, Vandals, Visigoths and Byzantines. > Syria was dominated by Romans, Persians and Byzantines. Egypt was > dominated by Romans and Byzantines. Africa (Libya) was dominated by > Romans, Vandals and Byzantines. Arabia was dominated by Romans, > Byzantines, Abyssinians and Persians. West Turkestan, later to become > Transoxiana, remained an amorphous region dominated in turn by > various invaders. (See Reference 38.) Only Persia, under the Seleucids, > Parthians and Sasanids remained sovereign. > By CE 632, the date of the Ascension of Muḥ ammad, most of the Arabian > peninsula had become united under the banner of Islá m. Arabia became > The Apocalypse Unsealed 212 > the platform from which the Caliphs launched their campaign of > territorial expansion and unification. > 5 Both the caliphate and the sultanate were abolished. The Arabic alphabet > was outlawed, making it impossible to read the Qur'á n in its original > language. Muslim dress and Islamic law were abolished, and Friday was > no longer an official day of prayer. > 6 The Book of Certitude, pp. 123–124. > 7 Bahá 'u'llá h in Bahá'í Prayers, p. 209. > 8 The Tablet of Aḥ mad, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 77, > 292, 145. > DP > Encomium of victory > .. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great > power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. > 3. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is > fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, > and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. > Q. For all nations have drunk the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings > of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the > earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. > Devils are deceptions and vices. In this instance, birds1 are impure souls > or spirits. "… We have warned the faithful to anticipate the appearance of the > Birds of Darkness. There can be no doubt whatever that the croaking of the > Raven shall be raised in certain lands, as it hath been heard in recent years." > "Like the bats of darkness, they lift not their heads from the couch except to > pursue the transient things of the world, and find no rest by night except as > they labour to advance the aims of their sordid life."2—Bahá 'u'llá h > But birds can also represent clean souls or spirits. "Bursting through his > cage, he will, even as the bird of the spirit, wing his flight to his holy and > everlasting nest."3—Bahá 'u'llá h In Luke, in answer to the question, "'Where > Lord (shall be the kingdom of God)?' and he said unto them, 'Wheresoever > the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.'"4 > > *(" > The Apocalypse Unsealed 214 > /. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that > ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. > Y. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. > 5. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to > her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. > (980 translates verse Y as "Render to her as she herself has rendered, and > repay her double for her deeds; mix a double draught for her in the cup she > mixed.") > These verses and those to follow anathematize the whore, the corrupted > Word of God and her city (institutions), Babylon. > H. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and > sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, > and shall see no sorrow. > The whore pretends that she is the Bride, the undefiled Word of God, and > that she is married to the Lamb, that is, the living Covenant. That the Lamb > has been slain is explained in Revelations W:12. In 19:X the Lamb, remanifested and alive, is to be married to the Bride, the renewed and purified > Word of God. > M. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; > and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who > judgeth her. > The whore will be destroyed in the Last Day, and she will be burned with > the fire of spiritual torment. > 215 18. Encomium of victory > G. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously > with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her > burning. > .4. Standing afar off for fear of her torment saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, > that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgement come. > ... And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man > buyeth their merchandise any more: > .3. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine > linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner > vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, > and iron, and marble, > .Q. And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, > and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and > slaves, and souls of men. > ./. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things > which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find > them no more at all. > .Y. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off > for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, > .5. And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and > scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! > These verses remind us that the kings and merchants of the earth have > become rich by making use of false doctrine, the services of the whore. Verse > 10 informs us that her judgement will come at the "Hour", the time of the end. > Verses 12 to 14 describe the commodities of luxury that have been made > possible through her activities and warn us that these things will be taken > away. > .H. For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 216 > And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many > as trade by sea, stood afar off. > .M. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto > this great city! > .G. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, > alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by > reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. > 34. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath > avenged you on her. > Smoke is the visible or tangible evidence of spiritual torment. The > destruction of Babylon will be apparent to everyone. > 3.. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, > saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and > shall be found no more at all. > > The zodiacal band is likened to a great millstone* (Figure c).5 The > inexorable Precession of the Equinoxes will cause the Age of Prophecy to > come to an end, and the Age of Fulfilment will begin. The verse promises us > that the Word of God will never again be corrupted. > 33. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be > heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsmen, of whatsoever craft he be, shall > be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no > more at all in thee; > 3Q. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the > bridegroom and of the bride shall > > * > The "fabled mill of Amiodhi", etc. styled as"Hamlet's Mill" by de Santillana and von > Dechend, Reference YM. See Note Y. > 217 18. Encomium of victory > be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the > earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. > These verses tell us that the music played in glorification of the whore > will no longer be heard. Nor will the machinery of commerce be dependent > upon her. The Candle of Guidance that she blasphemously carried will be > snuffed out. Marriages will no longer be performed under her laws. > 3/. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were > slain upon the earth. > The whore, the corrupted Word of God, is the cause of war, the > martyrdom of the prophets and saints and of all others who have been > murdered for the Cause of God. > > Notes > 1 The Bird can also be a Manifestation of God, e.g., "Bird of the Celestial > Throne", or "Bird of the Realm of Utterance". The ancient Egyptians > represented the ba (soul) by a bird. The ba or soul was supposed to > contain the animating principles or attributes of the person and was > contrasted with the knu or spirit. Ezekiel used the bird to describe a freed > soul. (Ezekiel 13:20; cf. Psalm 24:X.) In antiquity, birds were often used to > symbolize special attributes and principles. > The phoenix Immorality (Egypt) > The phoenix Prosperity (Persia) > The hawk Keen vision (Egypt) > The raven Messenger (Assyria) > The owl Wisdom (Greece) > The swan Beauty (Greece) > The dove Constancy (Greece) > For examples: > 2 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 339–340, 181. > 3 idem, p. 321. > 4 Luke 17:20, 37. > 5 In Islamic legend, Amlodhi was the Lord of the Golden Age. He owned a > fabled mill that, in the Golden Age, ground out peace, plenty, happiness, > etc. As times worsened the mill ground out salt. Finally the mill ends up > at the bottom of the sea where it creates a vast whirlpool, the Maelstrom, > and grinds out rock and sand. The thesis of Hamlet's Mill is that this myth > has roots in extreme antiquity and derives from the Precession. > *(' > DQ > The triumph of Bahá'u'lláh > In this chapter, the nineteenth, Bahá 'u'llá h triumphs over the beast and > the false prophet.1 > .. And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, > Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: > 3. For true and righteous are his judgements: for he hath judged the great whore, > which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood > of his servants at her hand. > Q. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. > /. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped > God, that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. > Y. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and > he that fear him, both small and great. > The voice out of the throne is that of Bahá 'u'llá h, the Bird of the Celestial > Throne. > 5. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many > waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord > God Omnipotent reigneth. > The voice of many waters and of mighty thunderings is that of the > Prophets. > > *(& > The Apocalypse Unsealed 220 > H. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is > come, and his wife hath made herself ready. > M. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: > for the fine linen is the righeousness of the saints. > G. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage > supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. > .4. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am > thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: > worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. > The marriage supper of the Lamb is the reunion of the Covenant with the > Word of God, the Holy City. > (980 translates "and he saith unto me …" in verse R as "And the angel said > to me …") > ... And I say heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was > called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. > > Bahá 'u'llá h, the Lord of Hosts, that is, the Lord of the heavenly armies,* is > shown riding a white horse. In Chapter Y the white horse was corrupted > theology. Here, ridden by Faithful and True, it represents correct theology. > By righteousness, He judges the spirituality dead and makes spiritual war > upon the wicked. > Faithful and True Πιστοº ς και Αληθινοº ς has a literal value of Q,269 and an > archetypal value of R, the number of Bahá '. > Some of the titles of Bahá 'u'llá h that can be considered as synonyms for > the expression "Faithful and True" are: Bearer of the Trust of God, Fountain > of the Root of Knowledge, Well > > * > See The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, p. HY. > 221 19. The triumph of Bahá 'u'llá h > Spring of Revelation, Bird of the Throne, Word of Truth, Sun of Truth, Day > Star of Divine Revelation. > .3. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a > name written that no man knew, but he himself. > His eyes of flame have been described in Chapter Q, verse 14. The many > crowns He wears are His titles and His dominion over all the Divinely > revealed Faiths. The name written that no man knew but He Himself refers > to His name Bahá ' given Him by the Bá b on the White Stone, Chapter U, verse > 17. The Covenant is always transmitted through the Ages by the White Stone. > Although false prophets will always attempt to claim the White Stone as their > own, only the True Prophet, the Manifestation of God, is capable of revealing > its hidden contents and through the power of His Utterance prove that its > concealed Name refers only to Himself.* > .Q. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The > Word of God. > His vesture dipped in blood2 symbolizes the great suffering and > persecutions of Bahá 'u'llá h and His followers. "By the righteousness of god! > The tribulations We have sustained are such that any pen that recounteth them > cannot but be overwhelmed with anguish. No one of them that truly believe > and uphold the unity of God can bear the burden of their recital. So great have > been our sufferings that even the eyes of Our enemies have wept over Us, and > beyond them those of every discerning person."3—Bahá 'u'llá h > Indeed, the sufferings of Bahá 'u'llá h are monumental. Though born into a > wealthy and powerful family (as was Lord Buddha), His property was > confiscated, He was imprisoned in > > * > See, for example, Reference 3., Chapter .M. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 222 > dungeons and jails, bound by massive chains, banished from place to place > over a period of forty years, was the victim of numerous conspiracies and > attempts on His life, was poisoned twice, and underwent the torture of the > bastinado. Throughout all His sufferings, Bahá 'u'llá h displayed nothing but > the highest patience, forgiveness, forbearance, and mercy toward His > persecutors. > The reason Bahá 'u'llá h accepted these tribulations He explains: "The > Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be > released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this > most mighty Stronghold* that the whole world may attain unto true liberty." > "The Lord Himself beareth witness to the truth of My words. We have sustained > the weight of all calamities to sanctify you from all earthly corruption, and ye > are yet indifferent." "Fix your gaze upon Him Who is the Temple of God > amongst men. He, in truth, has offered up His life as a ransom for the > redemption of the world."4 In a deeper sense, Bahá 'u'llá h, as the Father of the > Prophets, sustained the manifold sufferings heaped upon those Holy > Personages of other Ages.5 > The Word of God Ο Λοº γος του Θεουº has a literal value of 927 and an > archetypal value of R, the number of Bahá '. Some of the titles of Bahá 'u'llá h > that are synonyms for this phrase are: "Pen of the Most High", "Voice of the > Ancient of Days", "the Mystic Herald", "Voice From the Burning Bush", > "Fountain of Wisdom", "Tongue of Eternity", "Spirit of God", "Pen of the Most > Great Name". > ./. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in > fine linen, white and clean. > .Y. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the > nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the > winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. > .5. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a > > * > The walled prison-fortress of 'Akká . > 223 19. The triumph of Bahá 'u'llá h > name written, king of kings and lord of lords. > The heavenly armies (hosts) are the sanctified and angelic followers of > Bahá 'u'llá h, the Lord of Hosts.* He, with the Sword of Truth and the Rod of > Spiritual dominion, is the Lord of the vineyard and a Manifestation of God, > that is, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. <19:16> > .H. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all > the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together > unto the supper of the great God; > .M. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captives, and the flesh of mighty > men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all > men, both free and bond, both small and great. > .G. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered > together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. > 34. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles > before him, with which he deceived them that worshipped his image. These > both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. > 3.. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which > sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their > flesh. > The angel stands against the Sun of Divine Guidance. The fowls in the > midst of heaven are the souls with heavenly attributes. They will overcome > the tyranny of the corrupt rulers, > > * > See The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, p. HY. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 224 > military leaders, the four horses of the Apocalypse (Corrupted Theology, War, > Economic Injustice, and Ungodliness), the corrupt Muslim priesthood and the > false prophet. These last two will be cast into the lake of spiritual torment. > > Notes > 1 The triumph of Bahá 'u'llá h in the QRth chapter may symbolize the fact that > Bahá 'u'llá h's Declaration occurred immediately following the QRth year of > the Bahá 'ı́ Era. See God Passes By, p. 151. > 2 It is remarkable that, as a result of His exile to 'Irá q and the confiscation of > His property in Persia, Bahá 'u'llá h was left without even a cloak to wear. > His loved ones pieced together remnants of apparel to make a cloak for > Him. This cloak was dyed red. Compare with the story of Joseph in > Genesis 37:31–33. Also see Isaiah 61:Q–Z in which Bozrah (Bashrah), 'Irá q > and Edom are mentioned. Edom literally means "red". (Reference 12, p. > 251.) > 3 Bahá 'u'llá h in Bahá'í World Faith, p. 47. > 4 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 99, 307, 315. > 5 See, e.g., Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 88–90. > ER > Satan bound > .. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit > and a great chain in his hand. > 3. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and > bound him a thousand years. > Q. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, > that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be > fulfilled: and after that he must be released a little season. > /. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: > and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and > for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his > image, neither had received the mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; > and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. > These verses prophesy that the nations will not be deceived by false > doctrine for a thousand years. Those who were martyred for the reality of > Jesus Christ and for the Word of God, those who did not worship the beast or > its image, nor had paid the taxes that kept the beast alive, will be > "resurrected", and live again with Bahá 'u'llá h, the Christos (Anointed One) for > the duration of the millennium. Those sitting upon the thrones in verse c are > the members of the Bahá 'ı́ Universal House of Justice who will have the > power of spiritual dominion and judgement during the millennium. <20:Z, > 20:c> <21:Q–U #U, Z> Bahá 'u'llá h > > **$ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 226 > assures us that another Manifestation will appear in no less than a thousand > years. The Manifestation will be accompanied by another time of troubles. > <20:c> > In The Book of Certitude,1 Bahá 'u'llá h explains the meaning of the term > "resurrection". The Day of Resurrection is ushered in by a Manifestation of > God: "Such things have come to pass in the days of every Manifestation of God. > Even as Jesus said: 'Ye must be born again.'2 Again He saith, 'Except a man be > born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That > which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the 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. In all scriptures, the books and chronicles, the sentence of > death, of fire, of blindness, of want of understanding and hearing, hath been > pronounced against those whose lips have tasted not the ethereal cup of true > knowledge, and whose hearts have been deprived of the grace of the holy Spirit > in their day. Even as it hath been previously recorded: 'Hearts have they with > which they understand not.'"3 > In a talk regarding "the Mystery of Sacrifice" [The Promulgation of > Universal Peace, pp. 449–452], 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains the meaning of other > words used by Jesus: "He (Jesus) said, 'If any man eat of this bread, he shall > live forever.' That is to say whosoever assimilates these divine perfections > which are within Me will never die; whosoever has a share and partakes of > these heavenly bounties I embody will find eternal life; he who takes unto > himself these divine lights shall find life everlasting. How manifest the meaning > is! How evident! For the soul which acquires divine perfections and seeks > heavenly illumination from the teachings of Christ will undoubtedly live > eternally. This is one of the mysteries of sacrifice."4 > In the Gospel of John5 we read: "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my > blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." From these > words of Jesus Christ, Bahá 'u'llá h, and > 227 20. Satan bound > 'Abdu'l-Bahá , it is clear that whosoever assimilates the Divine Perfections of > Jesus will have eternal life and will recognize Him in the last days when He is > re-manifested. Those Christians who fail to understand the true meanings of > the words of Jesus and to become as one with Him, shall be condemned to the > fire of unbelief. > The words of verse c mean that the heavenly attributes and virtues of the > saintly and righteous of former Dispensations will become re-manifested > among those reigning with the Anointed One during the millennium. > Y. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. > This is the first resurrection. > 5. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second > death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall > reign with him a thousand years. > The first spiritual death befell those who rejected the Manifestation of > Jesus Christ. The second spiritual death will befall those who reject the > Manifestation of the Christ Returned, Bahá 'u'llá h.6 > H. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. > M. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, > Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as > the sand of the sea. > G. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the > saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of > heaven, and devoured them. > .4. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, > where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and > night for ever and ever. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 228 > These verses prophesy another time of troubles following the millennium > of peace. <20:c> "Gog and Magog" symbolize the rulers and peoples who are > ruled by satanic forces. That these are not literal names can be inferred by > comparing this use of the terms with their use by Ezekiel.7 In Ezekiel, Gog is > the prince of the Rosh*,8 Mesehech, and Tubal in the land of Magog. These > people, along with others from Pharas, Cush, Put, Togarmah, Gomer,9 and > elsewhere, are to make war on Israel in the latter days following their return > to the Holy Land. Clearly the Jews have returned already, and the conflict > alluded to by Ezekiel is either underway or will happen in the near future. > However, in Revelations 20:X it is stated that a thousand years will expire > during which Satan has been chained before Gog and Magog are gathered for > battle. It is clear that the events referred to are different events, and "Gog > and Magog" are used in Revelations in the same way as "Har-Magedon" and > other symbols. > In a deeper sense, the use of symbolism illustrates the fact that the > principles and forces underlying historical events transcend time and place, > and are, in essence, the same, independently of the actors and the stage. > In verse R, the "fire from God" may prophesy the next Manifestation Who > will follow Bahá 'u'llá h. > ... And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth > and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. > .3. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were > opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead > were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to > their works. > .Q. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the > dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their > works. > > * > The KJV translates "Rosh" as "chief". > 229 20. Satan bound > ./. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. > .Y. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of > fire. > These verses revert to the First Resurrection and the Second Death. The > sequence of events is as follows: > Rejection of Jesus Christ = First Death > Acceptance of Bahá 'u'llá h = First Resurrection > Judgement of the dead > Rejection of Bahá 'u'llá h = Second Death > Satan bound a thousand years > Satan released > Gog and Magog wage war on the saints > Another Manifestation (fire from God?) = Second Resurrection > Satan bound a second time > In verse 11, no place is found for the dragon, the beast, and the false > prophet. "Heaven and earth" refer to the Law of God.9 > The former Law disappears with the Advent of Bahá 'u'llá h. The Law of > God is both spiritual (heaven) and material (earth). The new Law, the new > Jerusalem, will be the subject of Chapter 21. > In verse 12, the Holy Books of the world are unsealed. In verse 13, the sea > of humanity, the spiritually dead, and those that are in the hell of remoteness > from God are judged according to their actions. Verses 14–15 prophesy that > the spiritually dead and those remote from God will be thrown in to the lake > of spiritual torment and unbelief. > > Notes > 1 The Book of Certitude pp. 47, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 143, 144, 158, 159, 170. > 2 John Z:X. See also I Corinthians 15:35–50; Luke 23:43; Ephesians U:c–X; > Daniel 12:U–Z, 13. > 3 The Book of Certitude, p. 118; The Qur'á n, X:178. > 4 'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 450–Q. See also > John Y:27, 33–37, 48–50, 52–58. > 5 John Y:54. > 6 Bahá 'u'llá h states in The Dawn-Breakers, p. 586: "Be thankful to God for > having enabled you to recognize His Cause. Whoever has received this > blessing must, prior to his acceptance, have performed some deed which, > though he himself was unaware of its character, was ordained by God as a > The Apocalypse Unsealed 230 > means whereby he was guided to find and embrace the Truth. As to those > who have remained deprived of such a blessing, their acts alone have > hindered them from recognizing the truth of this Revelation. We cherish the > hope that you, who have attained to this light, will exert your utmost to > banish the darkness of superstition and unbelief from the midst of the > people. May your deeds proclaim your faith and enable you to lead the > erring into the paths of eternal salvation. The memory of this night will > never be forgotten. May it never be effaced by the passage of time, and may > its mention linger for ever on the lips of men." > 7 Ezekiel 38:Q–c > 8 Possible meanings of the terms as used by Ezekiel are discoverable from > the writings of ancient historians and writers such as Herodotus, > Josephus and Pliny. From these sources it appears that the Rosh, > Meshech, and Tubal may be early names for the people now known as > Russians and Muscovites. Other sources suggest that Cush may be > Ethiopia or the Black African nations. Gomer may be the Iron Curtain > countries. Togarmah may be southern Russia and the Cossacks. > (Reference 39) > 9 See commentary on 11:Z. As explained in Part I, Astrological Symbolism, > the new heaven and earth also has an astrological meaning. At each new > age, the Precession causes a dislocation of the four pillars of the square > earth, a new pole star, etc. > ED > The Holy City > .. And I was a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth > were passed away; and there was no more sea. > 3. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, prepared > as a bride adorned for her husband. > Q. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is > with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God > himself shall be with them, and be their God.. > /. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more > death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there by any more pain: for > the former things are passed away. > The new heaven and the new earth are the new spiritual and material > Laws. There is no longer the sea of doubt and disbelief. In verse U, new > Jerusalem,* the Bride, is contrasted with Babylon, the harlot. In verse Z, the > Tabernacle of God is the new Revelation descended upon man through the > human Temple, Bahá 'u'llá h. God will dwell with men through the Universal > House of Justice, giving them unerring spiritual guidance. "O ye beloved of > God! O ye children of the Kingdom! Verily, verily the new heaven and the new > earth are come. The holy City, new Jerusalem, hath come down from heaven on > high in the form of a maid of heaven, veiled, beauteous, and unique, and > prepared > > * > The new Jerusalem also has a literal confirmation. See <3.:.–3 #M> > *"( > The Apocalypse Unsealed 232 > for reunion with her lovers on earth."1—'Abdu'l-Bahá <21:Q–X #Q>. > Verse c promises the end of spiritual death and pain to those who live by > the new Law.2 > Y. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said > unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. > 5. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. > I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. > H. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my > son. > > In verse Y,* the Manifestation identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega > (R), Bahá '. Verse X explains that those who accept the new Revelation and > overcome false teachings will be sons of God. They will inherit the Kingdom. > M. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and > whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part > in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. > In this verse are listed those who will be condemned to "death" and > "deprivation". Among them are those who are afraid to accept the new > Manifestation even though they may believe in the truth of His words. > G. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of > the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show > thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. > .4. And he carried me > > * > See chapter 33, Note /. > 233 21. The Holy City > away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, > the holy Jerusalem, descending out of the heaven from God, > ... Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even > like a jasper stone, clear as a crystal. > The Bride, the renewed Word of God, is to be married to the Lamb, the > Covenant, in the Person of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . The Bride is not a widow. > In verse 11, the name of Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of God, is given for the > second time. The jasper stone, already mentioned in c:Z, symbolizes the > oneness of humanity, being many colours but especially having the hue of the > heart. Bahá 'u'llá h's Mission includes especially the uniting of mankind. It > was a common device in antiquity to symbolize principles and attributes > through the use of precious stones that have analogous characteristics.3 > .3. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve > angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes > of the children of Israel: > .Q. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on > the west three gates. > ./. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the > twelve apostles of the Lamb. > We recall the zodiacal signs also bear the names of the Twelve Tribes. A > Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá * clarifies the meaning of these verses. The purport of > that Tablet is briefly summarized below: > There are twelve zodiacal constellations. According to the theories of the > astrologers,† the world of physical possibilities is > > * > <3.:.4–.H #.> > † > The theories of the astrologers are not to be taken literally. See Some Answered > Questions, pp. Q3G–11.. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 234 > determined by the dawning place of the phenomenal sun shining through > those constellations. Similarly "the Sun of Truth manifests and pours forth His > bounty in twelve constellations of holiness."4 The twelve constellations of > holiness have been manifested in different Ages as the twelve sons of Jacob, > the twelve chiefs of tribes with Moses, the twelve Apostles of Jesus, and the > twelve Imams of Islá m. (Some Answered Questions, p. 66 <11 #Q>.) > The Heavenly Jerusalem, the sacred Law of God, therefore has Twelve > Gates or Stars of Guidance through which advancing souls enter into the City > of God. The angels at the gates stand for the power of the confirmation of > God. Therefore, each one of the holy souls in the twelve constellations of > holiness has received the power of Divine confirmations. Since, symbolically, > the Twelve Gates surround the whole universe, all existence is under the > shadow of those souls, and these Gates are the foundation of the City of God, > the Divine Jerusalem. > Verse 14 explains that the names of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus are > written upon the foundations of the Holy City. This means that the > "perfections, glad-tidings, virtues and high attributes" of those holy souls will > be manifested in the new Jerusalem.* > Ezekiel5 gives further meaning to the twelve gates and the implications of > the design. The twelve gates, three for each of the four cardinal directions, > are intended as a reminder to the children of Israel of their iniquities; for > through the grace of God, the Holy City, new Jerusalem, the renewed Word of > God, is to be broadcast from the Holy Land to which they will be returned > from every quarter of the earth. > .Y. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates > thereof, and the wall thereof. > "In this Greatest day the rod of the plant [reed] and the rod of iron > > * > See Joshua /; Matthew .G:3M. > 235 21. The Holy City > [sword of Muḥ ammad] are changed into a rod which is of pure gold and is > from the endless treasuries of the Kingdom of God."6—'Abdu'l-Bahá <21:10–17 > #Q> > .5. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he > measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the > breadth and the height of it are equal. > Although many geometrical structures can have equal length, breadth and > height, 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains <21:15 #Q> that a pyramidal shape is intended > for the Holy City. The shape and dimensions of the Holy City reflect the > attributes of the new Law of God. The pyramid is the firmest and most > enduring figure found in nature. Like the pyramids of Egypt, a figure of this > shape will abide through the Ages. And so it is with the pure Word of God. A > civilization based upon Divine Principles will be prosperous and secure, > creating endless blessings for its inhabitants. > Although it is not clear from the Text exactly how the Holy City is > measured, since the City is correlated with the twelve signs of the invisible > zodiac, we infer that the 12 thousand furlongs* measure the perimeter of the > City. The only dimension other than the perimeter that can be readily > measured with a rod is the slant edge. We therefore infer that the slant edge > of the pyramid is taken as the height of the City. > The geometry of the Holy City takes the shape of Figure 25. This > particular pyramid fits perfectly into a hemisphere representing the Celestial > Pavilion, that is, the new "heaven", the new Law of the spiritual realm. Since > the furlong is an earthly measure, the pyramid itself represents the new > "earth", that is, the new Law of the material realm. The base of the pyramid > corresponds to the square earth (Figure Z) with its four corners > > * > Stadia in 980. .3,444 years is the duration of the present "Kappa", the "Age of > Divine Enlightenment" in Hindu chronology. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 236 > representing the four "pillars". Since the twelve gates in the wall surrounding > the City represent the invisible zodiac, that is, the twelve constellations of > holiness that are the entranceways into the Kingdom, the apex of the pyramid > represents the Apex of the world <21:Q–U #U> and points the way to the open > door in heaven. The Z gates in each wall not only correspond to the c annual > seasons, but also to zodiacal seasons. The last season, beginning at the age of > Taurus (calf or ox) and ending at the start of Aquarius (man), covered a > period of about Y,500 years, roughly equal to the traditional duration of the > Adamic Cycle. > > Figure DU > Geometry of the Holy City, the new Jerusalem > Archetypal values > Area of the base R Perimeter of each triangular face R > Area of each triangular R Total area of the four triangular R > face faces > Total area of the pyramid R Volume of the pyramid R > Since each edge of the pyramid is Z,000 furlongs it can be > 237 21. The Holy City > shown that each of the following parameters of the pyramid has an > archetypal value of R:7, 11 > The area of the base > The perimeter of each triangular face > The area of each triangular face > The total area of the four triangular faces > The total area of the pyramid > The volume of the pyramid > Thus the pyramid contains the number R, the number of Bahá ', six times. > A seventh clue is given in verse 17 in which the archetypal value of the wall is > given as 144 cubits,8 which also has an archetypal value of R. It should be > understood that the true perimeter of the wall is 13,331 furlongs (or stadia), > which is thousands of times greater than 144 cubits, giving the seeker a hint > that the units of measure are not to be taken literally. > That the dimension of the Holy City contains hidden meanings is made > clear by the emphasis placed upon them in Ezekiel and Zechariah.9 Ezekiel10 > gives the dimensions of the Holy City as c,500 measures on each side and > 18,000 measures around the perimeter. Both of these numbers have > archetypal values of R. The dimensions of the altar11 are given as 12 cubits on > each side, which give archetypal values of Z for each side and R for its area. > The altar is purified for seven days.12 The seven days symbolize the seven > Days of the Lord that precede the Advents of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h.13 > .H. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, > according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. > This verse alludes to the "royal gift of the cubit", a custom of antiquity in > which the forearm of the priest-king was designated as the cubit, that is, the > unit of length that would prevail as the harmonizing Principle or "Neter". > (see Note S) The Manifestation, as both man and angel, is the Perfect Man > and the Only Son of God > The Apocalypse Unsealed 238 > during His Dispensation. All things are to be measured by comparison to > Him or His Exemplar. > The number 144 has many meanings, (see Note S) among them being its > archetypal value Nine, the Seal of Bahá '. The "cubit" being an "arm", the 144 > also represents the twice-72 "working arms", the primal points or guardians > who will nurture and protect the Celestial Garden, the new Jerusalem. (Verse > X:c) > Since the cubit is a "spiritual measure", its use is appropriate as a measure > of the new heaven. In astrological symbolism, the 144 cubits measure the > spiritual attributes emanating from the heavenly realm that will enrich, guide > and protect the inhabitants of the Holy City. In past Ages, each gate of the > invisible zodiac emanated about six attributes.14 In the new Age, twice-six > attributes are to emanate from each gate. > The dimensions of the Holy City are suggestive of the Bahá 'ı́ place of > worship, the Mashriqu'l-Adhká r,* the essential features being prescribed by > Bahá 'u'llá h as having a dome, nine sides and nine doors. (See Figure 26.) It > can be shown with a little mathematics15 that, if we allow one measure for > each of the nine sides, then the following seven dimensions will each have > archetypal values of R: > The perimeter of the wall > The area of the wall > The area of the dome > The volume of the dome > The area of the floor > The total area of the exterior > The total enclosed volume > In the Mashriqu'l-Adhká r, the R symbolizes the highest unity, > being the greatest single digit number [in the conventional decimal > numbering system]. The R doors represent the unity of man and the > essential unity of the Divinely revealed Faiths, notably the seven listed in > Chapter Q and the Bá bı́ and Bahá 'ı́ Faiths. > > * > Pronounced Mash-Reck-ol-Az-car, meaning "Dawning Place of God's Praise". > 239 21. The Holy City > > Plan view Perspective view > Figure DW > Geometry of the Bahá'í Mashriqu'l-Adhkár > Archetypal values > The perimeter of the wall The area of the wall R > The area of the dome R The volume of the dome R > The area of the floor R The total area of the exterior R > The total enclosed volume R > .M. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like > unto clear glass. > .G. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of > precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the > third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; > 34. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; > the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the > twelfth, an amethyst. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 240 > The material of the wall is jasper, symbolizing the Oneness of the World > of Humanity, since it comes in all hues but especially the hue of the human > heart. The City is pure gold, clear as glass, meaning that only purity and > heavenly virtues are to be found inside, and that the knowledge of god will be > as clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the City are garnished with > many different precious stones, symbolic of the Twelve Basic Principles_/12 > of the City of Bahá ', the World Order of Bahá 'u'llá h. <21:19–20> > [This description of the meanings of the twelve stones is a pilgrim's note; > its provenance is given at the end of <21:19–20 #Q>.] > The first foundation stone is jasper. Jasper means the principle of the > Oneness of the World of Humanity. > The second foundation stone is sapphire.16 It is true blue, the blue of the > dome of heaven. The sapphire is the colour of faith, inspiration, loyalty, and > truth and means the principle of the Independent Investigation of Truth. > The third foundation stone is chalcedony./8 It is white, the colour of > purity, reflecting all seven colours (seven Faiths) equally well. The > chalcedony means the principle that The Foundation of All Religions is One, > since the origin of all religions is pure, and a brother to every other religion, > and all truth is one. > The fourth foundation stone is emerald. It is green, the colour of harmony > and unity, since it harmonizes with every other colour. It is also the colour of > immortality and humility. The emerald means the principle that Religion > Must be the Source of Unity. > The fifth foundation stone is sardonyx./8 It is a stone of two layers, one > white and one red. The sardonyx symbolizes the two in one, and means the > principle of The Equality of Man and Woman.17 > The sixth foundation stone is sardius./8 It is red or brown according to the > way it is held; and so it is with science and religion. The sardius means the > principle of the Agreement of Science and Religion. > The seventh foundation stone is chrysolite. It is exquisitely clear green > and is the material of the Chrysolyte Tablet. It > 241 21. The Holy City > symbolizes absolute sincerity and truthfulness, purity and selflessness. Only > when our hearts are pure and free from every form of prejudice and > superstition can they become the Chrysolite Tablet whereon may be > engraved our thoughts of our brother man. The chrysolite stands for the > principle of the Elimination of All Prejudice. > The eighth foundation stone is beryl. It is a bluish-green. The blue > symbolizes the blue of faith and loyalty to our brother man. The green > symbolizes humility and unity. The colour of the beryl symbolizes the > harmonious blending into one symmetrical whole of these attributes. These > attributes established in the hearts of men will lead to universal peace. The > beryl stands for the principle of Universal Peace. > The ninth foundation stone is topaz.* It is a golden yellow, the colour of > the sun, and symbolizes the light of knowledge and the glory of wisdom that > will follow when universal education is established in the world. The topaz > means the principle of Universal Education. > The tenth foundation stone is chrysoprasus. It is a clear green that > embodies truthfulness, justice, sincerity and purity. These are the > prerequisites necessary for the Spiritual Solution of the Economic Problem. > The eleventh foundation stone is jacinth. Like one form of the jasper, it is > a clear red, the universal colour, the hue of the heart. The heart of one race > can understand the heart of another only when it can speak the same > language. The jacinth means the principle of an Auxiliary Universal > Language. > The twelfth foundation stone is amethyst. It is violet and symbolizes > spiritual light, reverence, healing, serenity and poise. The tribunal of all > nations must be as the ultra-violet rays of the sun for the healing of the > nations, and it must seek spiritual light in all reverence that it may fulfil its > high calling, imparting a sense of security, poise and serenity to the hearts of > all humanity. > > * > The oriental topaz (Greek: topazos, τοπάζι) is intended. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 242 > The amethyst means the principle of a World Tribunal or Parliament of Man. > 3.. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and > the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. > 33. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the > temple of it. > No temple means that no churches or synagogues are needed in the City.18 > <21:22–23 #Q> > 3Q. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the > glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. > 3/. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings > of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. > 3Y. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. > 35. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. > 3H. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever > worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the > Lamb's book of life. > No sun or moon means that no priestly hierarchy will be needed in the > City.* The reason is that Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of > > * > Compare Isaiah 54:.., .G–34. > 243 21. The Holy City > God, and the Lord of the Covenant, will lighten the City, while 'Abdu'l-Bahá , > the Centre of the Covenant, will be its light. <22:Z> No night means that there > will no longer be spiritual darkness or ignorance. > In verse 23, the name of the new Manifestation, Bahá 'u'llá h, the Glory of > God, is revealed for the third and last time in the Apocalypse. <21:23 #U> John > follows the ancient formula of repeating the name thrice to emphasize its > superlative nature. The notion that "three" represents the best or greatest > has extremely ancient roots. The Greek word trismegistos means thricegreatest or superlatively great. The Latin word ter felix means thrice-happy > or happiest. The Pantocrator is thrice-holy. (Verse c:S) The concept was > probably based on Z being the first "complete" number, having a beginning > (Q), a middle (U), and an ending (Z). > The practice of repeating Z-times was, and still is, used to emphasize a > prayer or sacred ritual.19 The formula was adapted by practitioners of the > occult arts in carrying out their rituals and incantations. (Third time's a > charm!) Samuel Taylor Coleridge used it in his masterpiece Kubla Khan, the > closing lines of which might best be applied to Bahá 'u'llá h: > "And all should cry, Beware! Beware! > His flashing eyes, his floating hair! > Weave a circle round him thrice, > And close your eyes with holy dread, > For he on honey-dew hath fed, > And drunk the milk of Paradise." > > Notes > 1 Bahá'í World Faith, p. 350. See also Isaiah 54:15, 65:17–19; Galatians c:27. > 2 The explanation of the elimination of spiritual "death" and "sorrow" in the > new Jerusalem is best left to professional psychiatry. Drawing on the > experience and theories of the Jungian school (Ref. U, 64), it would seem > that many practitioners of the established religions suffer from the > absence of meaningful symbols. A "dead" religion is one in which "living" > inner meaning has been replaced by "dead" outward formalism. The > decay of a religion from meaning to formalism is probably inevitable as > the pure Truths of the Manifestation's Utterance become increasingly > confused and obscured by successive overlays of theological speculation. > Also, the "idle imaginings" of well-meaning but humanly limited > theologians are often the cause of spiritual suffering. In the specific case > of Christianity, for example, the evolutionary development of the theory of > the "original sin" by early theologians ranging from Paul to Augustine has > resulted in especially painful consequences for the Christian psyche. In > The Apocalypse Unsealed 244 > this connection we refer to the "sick soul" as defined by William James in > The Varieties of Religious Experience. James cites the example of the > morbid melancholy of John Bunyon: "… my original and inward pollution, > this was my plague and my affliction. By reason of that, I was more > loathsome in my own eyes than was a toad; and I thought I was so in > God's eyes too." > 3 Ref. Q, pp. 205, 207, 208–211, 217, 232–235; Ref. 17. > 4 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Bahá'í Scriptures, p. 489. > 5 Ezekiel 48:30–35, 43:10–11. > 6 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Bahá'í Scriptures, p. 490. > 7 Let L be the length of each edge of the pyramid. Then: > The area of the base = L! > The perimeter of each triangular face = ZL > The area of each triangular face = √, /c > The total area of the triangular faces = √, L! > The total area of the pyramid = ($ + √,) L! > The volume of the pyramid = L" //,√01 > These parameters will have an archetypal value of R if L! and ZL have an > archetypal value of R. One third of all integers meet this requirement. For > a discussion of the computational methods in antiquity, see References 53, > 56. > Many authorities believe that each edge of the Holy City is intended to be > 12,000 furlongs. Regardless of which assumptions are used, most of the > parameters of the Holy City will have an archetypal value of R. > The cube 12,000 furlongs on each edge is also interesting. Its dimensions > that have archetypal values of R are: the area of each wall, 144 million > square furlongs; the combined area of all six walls, 864 million square > furlongs; the volume enclosed by the cube, Q,720,000 million cubic > furlongs; the length of the twelve edges of the cube, 144,000 furlongs. The > Hebrew Holy of Holies was a cube (I Kings Y:20) as is the Muslim sacred > Kaaba. "Kaaba" comes from the Arabic Ka'b (cube). > Three of the dimensions of the cube are suggestive of the divisions of the > Yugas, ages of the world, a sacred Hindu chronological system. Some > authorities define the Yugas as follows: > 432,000 years Kali Yuga > 864,000 years Dvapara Yuga > Q,296,000 years Treta Yuga > 245 21. The Holy City > Q,728,000 years Krta Yuga. > The sum of these numbers is c,320,000 years, the Mahā Yuga, the period in > which a new type of man is born. S,640,000,000 years, the longest period > of time reckoned in the ancient East, is known as "one day and night of > Brahma". Furthermore, there are 86,400 seconds in a 24 hour day. > 432 and 864 bound the Greek Phrygian mode (Chapter 15, Note R). 432 is > the literal value of "new name" καινουº οº νομα, while 864 is the literal value > of "Jerusalem" Ιερουσαληº μ. New name 432 is three-times 144; Jerusalem > 864 is six-times 144. > Michell (Reference R) points out that a sphere with a perimeter of 14,400 > cubits is a model of the earth with a scale of Q foot per hundred miles. In > his calculations he lets a cubit equal Q,728 feet, the approximate length of > the royal cubit of Memphis, Egypt. That the ancient priests of the Middle > East had a precise knowledge of the dimensions and shape of the earth > has been suggested by various scholars. (Ref. Y, 40, 62) There is also > evidence to suggest that the modern English system of measurement > (inch, foot, acre, barrel, etc.) derives from ancient Egyptian systems of > measure. > The pyramid of the new Jerusalem and its enclosing hemisphere suggest a > possible meaning of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Although the Great > Pyramid is not enclosed in a physical hemisphere, its dimensions and > orientation are highly suggestive of the harmonization of the spiritual and > material Laws. Since the perimeter of its base is Up times its altitude, the > base effectively "squares the circle", symbolic of the marriage of the > material Law (the square) and the spiritual Law (the circle). There are > other curious facts about the Great Pyramid worth noting: > Its faces are oriented exactly North, South, East, and West, corresponding > to the four zodiacal seasons. > Since most authorities agree that the Great Pyramid was built about 2500 > BCE, it was probably built about two Platonic months prior to CE 1844, the > beginning of the Bahá 'ı́ Era. > It is located at very nearly 30° E longitude and 30° N latitude. Thus if one > extends the southern slant edges of the Pyramid along their great circles, > they will intersect the equator near the Greenwich prime meridian and > near the meridian at 60° East longitude. In the two Platonic months since > the Pyramid was built, the equinoxes have precessed the same amount, > that is, U/12 × 360° = 60°. > The sum of the diagonals of the base of the Great Pyramid in pyramid > The Apocalypse Unsealed 246 > inches is very nearly equal to the number of years in a Platonic year. > According to the so-called "Pyramid prophecies" (Ref. 65, 66, 67) two very > important dates built into the Great Pyramid are CE 1844 , corresponding > to the "great step", and CE 1953, corresponding to the far wall of the king's > chamber. The importance of 1844 has already been noted. 1953 is > important in Bahá 'ı́ history as the launching point of the Bahá 'ı́ Ten-year > Crusade and to what 'Abdu'l-Bahá announced and the "Inception of the > Kingdom of God on Earth." (God Passes By, p. 351) > Many authorities (e.g., Ref. Y, p. 190) give the apothem of the Great > Pyramid as 89 units and its half-base as 55 units. The sum of these > numbers is 144 while their ratio is the Golden Number Φ. We recall that > the base is related to the altitude through π (see above). Thus it is > possible to show that the Pyramid's dimensions imply that > Y × Φ! ≅ W × π > The error in this astonishing approximation is only about one part in > 65,000. Besides the sheer mathematical beauty of this unexpected > relationship, viewed numerologically, one possible interpretation of the > equation is that the crossing of the mediation number Y and Φ! (the > Perfected Logos) results in the marriage (crossing) of Man W and the > harmonized Law π. > The square of a number is its "perfection". Thus Φ! is the perfected form > of the Golden Number. Among many other interesting properties of Φ, > Φ! ≅ Φ + Q > that is, the perfection of Φ results from the fusion (+) of Φ with the Monad > (Q). > 8 See also chapter X, Note 11; chapter 15, Note R. The 144 cubits of verse 17 is > measured relative to the Perfect Man as was the Temple in Revelations > 11:Q. 144 is the first number in the Fibonacci series to have an archetypal > value of R. > The wording of the verse suggests that 144 contains the name of the > Manifestation. Indeed it does, since it is the fusion of 135 and R, that it, it > contains both Glory (Kabod) and Bahá '. > The writer also investigated the possibility that 144 is the literal value of > Bahá 'u'llá h in Koine Greek. For this purpose, e.g., the possible spelling > Βηααολλα, [another is Μπαχαολλα] which has the value 144, was > considered. Without divulging the full nature of the problem, suffice it to > say that there are serious difficulties in attempting to transliterate this > 247 21. The Holy City > particular Arabic word into Koine. As far as this writer is concerned, the > question remains unsettled. > 144 is the harmonizing Principle of Neter (see below) of the regular 10- > sided figure called the decagon. (See Figure 27.) > > Decagon Star-decagon or decagram > Figure DY > The decagram contains the angles FW°, YD°, ;^Z° and ;MM°. > Like the Pentagram, the Decagram is highly prolific in the Golden Number. > It will be remembered that the decagon is the primary recurrent pattern > of the DNA helix. (Part I, note 22; chapter X, note 10.) Among the ancient > Pythagoreans, the decagon symbolized the World, the macrocosm, the > perfection and consummation of all things. (Ref. 61, p. 115) The inscribed > 10-pointed star-decagon may symbolize the double Manifestation, the Bá b > and Bahá 'u'llá h, their individual Pentagrams (ch X, note 11) being > interwoven in perfect harmony throughout the ages. > The "Neter", explained with great profundity by Schwaller de Lubicz in > Reference 62, is intimately connected with the cubit. > Indeed, the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs for Neter (Principle), cubit and > arm are closely related. (See Figure 28.) The Neter can be considered as > the seed that summarizes all the harmonic possibilities of a particular > "rhythm". It is the "Principle", the "Platonic Idea" from which emanate the > particular manifestations latent in the Principle. > > Neter Arm Cubit > Figure DZ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 248 > > Extrapolating from the logic of Schwaller de Lubicz, the number Five > (especially through its derivative the Golden Number Φ), is the Neter that > summarizes biological growth, etc. Six is the Neter that summarizes the > balanced, stable growth of a crystal, a new Faith, etc. Nine is the Neter > that summarizes finality, judgement, the unification of man, etc. The > Golden Number Φ is the Neter that summarizes the Logos, the creative > Word, etc. The number 144 is the Neter that summarizes the structure of > the new Jerusalem, etc. π (Z.14159) is the Neter that summarizes the > squaring of the circle, the harmonization of the material and spiritual > Laws, etc. > The concept of the Neter suggests connections between the various > realms of the ancient cosmogony. For example, the Neters of certain > primary polygons correlate with tones of the basic Hindu-Greek musical > scale (ch 15, Note R), that is: > Neter Polygon No. of sides Musical tone > 72 golden triangle Z D > 90 square c b-flat > 108 pentagon W G > 120 Hexagon Y f > 135 octagon S e-flat > 144 decagon 10 D > Since the 144 cubits of verse 17 is radically inconsistent with the other > dimensions of the Holy City, some have suggested that the 144 cubits is the > thickness and/or height of the wall surrounding the City. Even if one > chooses this hypothesis, the number R is nonetheless indicated by this > dimension and remains a redundant clue. > Since the number 144 = 12×12, the mediation number in the new Age will > be 12 instead of Y. Curiously enough, 12 seems to be the mediation number > appropriate to the modern world. On the "flat earth" of the Piscean Age, it > requires Y circles to fit perfectly around the perimeter of a central circle of > the same radius. > Analogously, on the modern spherical earth of Z dimensions, it requires 12 > spheres to fit perfectly around the surface of a central sphere of the same > radius. > 9 Zechariah U:Q–W; Ezekiel 43. > 10 Ezekiel 48:33–35. > 11 idem 43:16. > 249 21. The Holy City > > 12 idem 43:26. > 13 idem 43:27. > 14 Astrologers describe the attributes of a sign of the phenomenal or visible > zodiac in such terms as masculine or feminine > diurnal or nocturnal > commanding, melancholy, phlegmatic or sanguine > earth, airy, fiery or watery > hot or cold > dry or wet > We recall that there were 72 Names in the Divided Name of YHWH. (See > chapter X, Note 10.) One wonders if these Names were intended to > correspond to Y-times-12 attributes emanating from the spiritual or > invisible zodiac. This theory would also explain why the 72 Names were > subdivided into c groups of 18; that is, to correspond to the c cardinal > directions of the zodiac. > 15 These results follow from the "circular" property of R, viz., that the > product of any number multiplied by R will have an archetypal value of R. > 16 This interpretation of the twelve foundations stones was given to Shahná z > Waite by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and should be considered a "pilgrim's note". The > listing of the Twelve Principles of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith is not wholly arbitrary. > Roughly speaking, twelve Principles have been used to expound the Faith > by Bahá 'u'llá h and His Successors. However, the number can be varied > slightly by elaborating, combining or sub-dividing some of the Principles. > (See and compare God Passes By, pp. ix, 216–R, 281–U; Paris Talks, pp. 135– > 166; The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 449–50. The Twelve Basic > Principles corresponding to the twelve stones in Rev. 21:20 can be found in > several issues of Star of the West beginning with the March 20, 1920 issue, > Volume 10, pp. 358–R. <21:19–30> > In the Apocalypse, as in many ancient writings, Twelve is a sacred number. > The modern reader of the West usually finds ancient number symbolism > laboured and of doubtful validity. Nevertheless, the Jungian school of > psychiatry claims that number symbolism still persists as a numinous > component of our collective unconscious. (References Q, U) > The 980 and KJV differ slightly in their translations of some of the twelve > foundation stones. The KJV is a precise and literal translation of the > original Greek. > The sapphire is also found in Exodus 24:10 and Ezekiel Q:26. The chief > The Apocalypse Unsealed 250 > priests of ancient Egypt wore necklaces of the image of truth and justice > made of sapphire. > 17 Ancient Egyptian paintings sometimes show the woman as white and the > man as red. > 18 The Jewish word for temple was either "beth Jehovah" or "hecal Jehovah", > meaning a residence or palace of Jehovah. (See I Kings Y:11–19.) In the > history of Palestine, the Temple was periodically rebuilt in times of peace > and destroyed in times of war. For example, Solomon's Temple was > destroyed by Nubuchadnezzar; Zerubabbel's Temple was profaned by > Syrians and Romans; Herod's Temple was destroyed by Titus. Thus the > Temple became a symbol of man's alienation from God. "No temple" as > used in 21:22 symbolizes the fact that in the City of Bahá , man's closeness > to God will no longer be dependent upon the turns of capricious fortune. > (See Reference 12, p. 107.) > Because a destruction of Jerusalem and the physical Temple had occurred > in CE 70, the tragic event was fresh in the minds of John and the early > Christians when the Apocalypse was written. > What could be more comforting than a "new Jerusalem" that is not > physical and therefore needs no physical Temple? > The ancient notion that God's home could be constructed by man at some > prominent spot overlooking one's own city was a comforting and > reassuring thought. Among primitive and uneducated peoples, safety, > harmony, and successful crops depended primarily upon careful attention > to ritual, sacrifice, and a virtuous priesthood. The occasional destruction > of the physical temple and the priesthood by capricious and irrational > forces was a deeply traumatic experience. The modern dream of the > Jewish people to rebuild their Temple is exemplary of their ancient quest > for identity and closeness to God. > In another sense, the Temple symbolizes the human tendency to indulge > in fantasy. The "temple" need not be a physical structure, (See, e.g., > Malachi U:S; Mark X:W–S.) and the modern world is filled with inhabitants > whose fantasy-temples are flimsy intellectual constructions that are > poorly suited to withstand the onslaughts of scientific, historical, and > sociological advances. Nor will the narrow prejudicial views that formed > the foundations of the ancient intellectual temples be firm enough in a > modern technological world that is no longer flat. "No temple" from this > viewpoint therefore means that the inhabitants of the new Jerusalem will > not be required to build intellectual structures that are not in harmony > with physical, intellectual, and spiritual realities. The progression of > 251 21. The Holy City > mankind away from temple worship, whether the temple be physical or > intellectual, represents an evolutionary advance as profound as that > symbolized by Adam's partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and > evil. > The English word "temple" comes from the Latin templus, meaning a place > "cut off". The concept of the ancient temple, and, indeed, of most temples > down to the present day, was borrowed from the ancient Egyptians, and > consisted of a holy place or sanctuary where the great body of worshipers > assembled, and the cell of Holy of Holies, into which only the priests were > allowed to enter. Thus the word "temple" as used in 21:22, to some extent, > implies a cutting off of direct communion with God and the requirement > of a priest as intermediary between man and his Creator. In the World > Order of Bahá 'u'llá h, this concept has been replaced by the institution of > the Mashriqu'l-Adhká r, meaning a "Dawning Place of God's Praise". This > structure, (sometimes inaccurately called a temple) is without a > priesthood, without separated chambers of "degrees of holiness", without > even a pulpit, and is a place in which God is worshipped without > ceremony or ritual. In due time, the Mashriqu'l-Adhká r is to be > supplemented by accessory institutions of social service in its vicinity, > such as "an orphanage, a hospital, a dispensary for the poor, a home for > the incapacitated, a hostel for travellers and a college for the study of arts > and sciences."—(God Passes By, p. 350) Although, ultimately, these > structures will be built in each Bahá 'ı́ community, the most sacred of the > Bahá 'ı́ institutions is the Nineteen-Day Feast, observed on the first day of > each Bahá 'ı́ month, and usually held in private homes. The Feast provides > for community prayer and reading from the Sacred Writings, consultation > on Bahá 'ı́ affairs, and social association of the friends. <21:22–23 #Q> > 19 Ref. 12, p. 102. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 252 > 253 21. The Holy City > EE > Epilogue > There are several voices in this chapter. Following the closed quotes of > the Revised Standard Version (980), the probable voices are as follows: > Verses Voice > Q–W John > Y–X An angel speaking for God and His > Manifestations. John speaks the last sentence > of verse X. > S John > R The angel > 10–13 The angel speaking for Bahá 'u'llá h > 14–15 John > 16 The angel speaking for Jesus > 17–21 John > Spoken by John: > .. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as a crystal, proceeding out > of the throne of God and of the Lamb. > 3. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of > life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: > and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. > Q. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be > in it; and his servants shall serve him: > /. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. > Y. And there shall be no night there; and they need no > > *$$ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 256 > candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they > shall reign for ever and ever. > John recites the blessings of those living in the Holy City, safely gathered > beneath the Covenant, the companions of the Crimson Ark. [22:Z] The Twin > Holy Trees are the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h.1 The twelve kinds of fruit are the > blessings flowing from the Laws and Principles that are the twelve > foundation stones upon which the City is founded. "Seeing His face"2 means > that the inhabitants of the City will behold the countenance of God in His > Manifestation. No night means no spiritual darkness. No candle nor light of > the sun means no formal church with a priestly hierarchy. > 5. And he said unto me, > Spoken by the Angel:3 > These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets > sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be > done. > H. Behold, I come quickly: > Spoken by John: > blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. > Spoken by John: > M. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I > fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these > things. > Spoken by John. > G. Then saith he unto me, > Spoken by Angel: > See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the > prophets, > 257 22. Epilogue > and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. > Spoken by the angel: > .4. And he saith unto me, > Spoken by the Angel for Bahá 'u'llá h: > Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. > ... He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy > still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let > him be holy still. > .3. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man > according as his work shall be. > .Q. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. > Spoken by John: > ./. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree > of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. > .Y. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and > idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. > Spoken by the Angel for Jesus: > .5. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am > the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. > Jesus is the Root of David, being the Spirit of Abraham and descended > from Abraham. He is also the offspring of David, being the Spirit of David and > descended from David. As a bright morning star, He is the Herald of a new > Day of God. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 258 > Spoken by John: > .H. And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And > let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life > freely. > .M. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If > any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that > are written in this book: > .G. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God > shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and > from the things which are written in this book. > 34. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, > come, Lord Jesus. > 3.. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. > the end > In verse 17, John explains that salvation is attainable without cost.4 In > verse 18 and 19, John warns those who hear or read the Apocalypse against > falsifying the text. In the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá , "What deviation can be > greater than breaking the Covenant of God? What deviation can be greater > than interpolating and falsifying the words and verses of the Sacred Test?"5 > Such practices are also condemned by Bahá 'u'llá h: "Corrupt not the holy, the > all-embracing, and primal Word of God, and seek not to profane its sanctity or > to debase its exalted character."6 > Misinterpretations and accidental perversion of the Sacred Text have > been the cause of much confusion and schism among the world's religions.* > In spite of the warning in verses 18 and 19, there is evidence that some early > Christians may have unwittingly modified some versions of the text of the > Apocalypse in Chapter 13, verse 18, to change the number of the beast to 616 > to conform with the literal value of "Nero Caesar". Probably > > * > e.g., compare KJV and 980 versions of I John Y:H. > 259 22. Epilogue > because of its highly allegorical style, the Apocalypse appears to have been > kept relatively free of such distortions, whether by accident, by friend, or by > foe, and it has been possible in these, the last days, for the Lion of Judah to > "open the book and loose its seven seals". > Babylon, the corrupted Word of God, "has been thrown down and shall be > found no more." In the City of Bahá , distortions of the Sacred Text are no > longer possible. The Tablets of Bahá 'u'llá h bear His own seal and are > protected in vaults in the sacred mountain of Carmel in the Holy Land. > Although every inhabitant of the City of Bahá has translations of many of > these Tablets and is enjoined to study and meditate upon their meanings, > access to the original Sacred Texts and their official application is entrusted > to the Universal House of Justice, democratically elected and re-enfranchised > by the City every five years. "They who are its appointed interpreters, they > whose hearts are the repositories of its secrets, are, however, the only ones who > can comprehend its manifold wisdom."7—Bahá 'u'llá h > A question often asked is: "Why have the Holy Books been sealed? Would > it not have been better if their meanings had been made apparent to > everyone?" The answer may lie in the wide diversity of temperaments and > capacities of understanding of the sea of humanity. The Holy books, through > the use of allegory and symbol, contain meanings and life-giving sustenance > for every sincere seeker, whether he be a poor unlettered serf on a medieval > manor or a polished philosopher on a university campus. "Even as it hath > been said: 'Not everything that a man knoweth can be discussed, nor can > everything that he can discuss be regarded as timely, nor can every timely > utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it.'"8— > Bahá 'u'llá h > > Notes > 1 980 translates verses Q and U as: > Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing > from the throne of God and of the lamb through the middle of the street of > the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve > kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were > for the healing of the nations. > See also The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. Q; Genesis U:R; > Zechariah c:Z, 12–14 (KJV); Qur'á n 79:Y–X, 13. > 2 In Exodus 33:17–21, Moses was unable to see the countenance of God. See > Chapter 15, Note S. > 3 For an explanation of angels, see The Book of Certitude, pp. 25, 78–80. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 260 > > 4 Verse 17 probably alludes to a practice among the Mystery cults of the > time. Initiation rites in those cults required the payment of a fee, thereby > denying the poorer people access to salvation through those media. > 5 The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. Y. > 6 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 325. > 7 idem, p. 175. > 8 idem, p. 176. > Appendices > Appendix A > The number of Bahá in the Apocalypse > There can be little doubt that the name of the Manifestation of the last > days is Bahá 'u'llá h. Besides revealing His name three times in 15:S, 21:11 and > 21:23, there are many expressions and numbers that refer to Him, His City, > His Law, or His Seal that have the archetypal value of R, the number of Bahá . > These are: > Expressions and numbers Freq. of ] Chapter and verse > Alpha (and) Omega c Q:S, 11; 21:Y; 22:13 > Jerusalem Z Z:12; 21:U, 10 > New name U U:17; Z:12 > 144,000 (Seal of God) Z X:c; 14:Q, Z > Faithful and True (Name) Q 19:11 > The Word of God (Name) Q 19:13 > Dimensions of the Holy City Y 21:16 > 144 cubits (Wall of the City) Q 21:17 > Besides these clearly significant occurrences of R, there are other > occurrences that are probably significant. These are the references to Glory > as a name of God in 14:X, 16:R, and possibly in c:R, c:11, 15:c, and 19:Q. The > Greek word for Glory has an archetypal value of R, identical to the value of > Bahá (Glory) in Arabic. The Q,260 years, given seven times in 11:U, 11:Z, 11:R, > 11:11, 12:Y, 12:14, and 13:W, also has an archetypal value of R. The Almighty > "Pantocrator" appears R times in the Apocalypse, verses Q:S, c:S, 11:17, 15:Z, > 16:X, 16:14, 19:Y, 19:15 and 21:22. This appellation occurs only once elsewhere > in the New Testament, II Corinthians Y:18. > > *#( > The Apocalypse Unsealed 262 > There are still other uses of the number R that are possibly significant. > For example, the number 666 in 13:18 has an archetypal value of R. > Furthermore, there are R chapters (14–22) that are devoted to the last days > and the Advents of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. The 142,794 days* of R:15 have an > archetypal value of R. The Greek word "Apocalypse" Αποκαº λυψη, which > means "Revelation", has a literal value of Q,512 and an archetypal value of R. > We now consider the possibility that the occurrence of nines is entirely a > matter of random chance. Fortunately, it is a simple matter to estimate the > probability that the nines result from chance. > For each number and verbal expression, the probability that the > archetypal values will be R is about Q/R. The probability that the dimensions > of the Holy City will contain nines is Q/Z (ch. 21, Note X.) Considering only > those expressions and numbers that are given by the Table, the probability > that all eight expressions and numbers will have archetypal values of R by > random chance is about: > Q/R × Q/R × Q/R × Q/R × Q/R × Q/R × Q/R × Q/Z ≈ V.VVVVVVVYRYR. > To appreciate how small the probability is, its reciprocal 14,348,907 is > equal to the number of seconds in W months and U weeks. > > * > Or the ./3,HQ. days. See chapter .., Note /. > Appendix B > Correlation of some dates in the Book of Daniel > The Book of Daniel is, of course another Sacred Text that may be as > difficult to interpret as the Apocalypse. However, His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá > (Some Answered Questions, Chapter 10) has left us several clues that should > eventually permit the complete decoding of the book and its correlation with > the Apocalypse. > In Daniel R:24–25, seventy weeks are given from the decree to rebuild > Jerusalem to the martyrdom of Jesus Christ. Since each "week" is X years (see > Table, Chapter U of this book), 70 "weeks" are 490 years. There were four > decrees to rebuild Jerusalem. > These were: > Q. The decree of Cyrus in 534 BCE, recorded in the first chapter of Ezra [Q:Q– > c]. This decree was unfulfilled. > U. The decree of Darius in 519 BCE, recorded in the sixth chapter of Ezra > [Y:Q–12]. This decree was also unfulfilled. > Z. The decree of Artaxerxes in 457 BCE [Ezra X:Q–28]. This decree was > fulfilled by the fourth decree. > c. The decree of the same Artaxerxes in 444 BCE, a continuation of the third > decree, recorded in the second chapter of Nehemiah [U:Q–S]. > The 70 weeks or 490 years begins at the third degree in 457 BCE. > Remember that since the Birth date of Jesus is taken at CE Q instead of Zero, > there is one year missing in the Christian calendar. Consequently, the > prophecy places the date of the Crucifixion at: > 490 – 457 + Q = CE 34 > In R:25, Daniel gives a second way of reckoning the martyrdom of Jesus as > X weeks and 62 weeks. The explanation of this date is given in R:26 in which > it is indicated that the second > > *#" > The Apocalypse Unsealed 264 > date begins after the termination of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The X weeks > (49 years) are the duration of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The additional 62 > weeks (434 years) brings us to the year CE 27, and it was during the last week > "after 62 weeks" (CE 28–34) that Jesus, the Messiah, was martyred. > The daily sacrifice was taken away during the Dispensation of > Muḥ ammad. (See .) The end of "the abomination that makes > desolate" is given in S:14 as U,300 days. Using the same origin as for the > calculation of the Crucifixion (457 BCE), the result is: > 2300 – 457 + Q = CE 1844 > This was, of course, the date of the Edict of Toleration that permitted the > Jews to resettle the Holy Land. The same date coincides with the Declaration > of the Bá b and the Birth of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . Jesus gives the end of the > abomination as the date immediately preceding the re-manifestation of the > Son of Man (Matthew 24:15, 29–30). > The date of the Manifestation of Bahá 'u'llá h is calculated as follows: > In Daniel 12:X, the "time, times, and half a time" is Q,260 lunar years, dated > from the Hijrah. This date coincides with CE 1844 and the Declaration of the > Bá b. However, in 12:11, Daniel gives another method of calculation as Q,290 > days. The origin of this date is the first public Declaration of Muḥ ammad of > His Prophethood in Ḥijá z. This even was 10 lunar years before the Hijrah. > The Q,290 days thus becomes AH 1280 or CE 1863–1864, the date of the first > public Declaration of Bahá 'u'llá h in the Garden of Riḍ vá n (Paradise). > Later in 12:12, we read, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the > thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." This is the period in solar > (Bahá 'ı́) years from the firm foundation of the Faith of Muḥ ammad until the > firm foundation of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith. > 265 B. Correlation of some dates in the Book of Daniel > (The Bahá 'ı́ Writings indicate that the firm foundation of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith > was fulfilled by the completion of the Ten Year Crusade and the foundation of > the Universal House of Justice in CE 1963. It can be inferred, therefore, that > the Q,335 "days" must be counted from CE 628. It was in that year that > Muḥ ammad concluded the Truce of al-Ḥudaybiyyah with the idolaters of > Mecca. History has shown that this Truce had profound consequences for > the future success of Islá m, establishing the legitimacy of Islá m and resulting > in many important converts to the Faith. The interested reader may consult > the Qur'á n 48:19; Ref. 37, Chapter 12; Ref. 41, p. 250; God Passes By, p. 151; and > the following issues of Bahá'í News: No. 202, p. Z; No. 261, p. c; No. 313, p. X.) > (The prophecy in Daniel c:13–23 concerning the "X times" probably dates > from 604–602 BCE when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. "Seven > times" is X × 360 or U,520 years. In the lunar calendar of 'Irá q, this is the span > of time between 602 BCE and CE 1844. See Reference 28, p. 27.) > Appendix C > Origins of gematriot and number symbolism > The origins of gematriot and number symbolism are lost in antiquity. > Carl Jung (Ref. U, p. 71) contends that the roots of number mysticism are > prehistoric. Neugebauer (Ref. 53, p. R) suggests that number mysticism may > have originated among primitive civilizations when counting was considered > a difficult and "magical" task comparable to spelling the name of a god. > It is generally believed that numbers preceded letters. It seems likely that > numbers were first associated with the fingers. Dr Barry Fell in his > fascinating book America B.C. (Ref. 55) describes an early alphabet also based > upon the fingers. Could not the same finger represent both a number and a > sound? The origin of an early gematria becomes obvious. > Some suggest that the origins of the historical gematriot lie in ancient > Egyptian and Babylonian cosmology. In the history of the Western use of > number symbolism, Pythagoras of Samos (circa 582–500 BCE) is probably the > most noteworthy. He is supposed to have travelled and studied in Egypt, > Babylonia and India. While in Babylon, he may have studied under the neo- > Zoroastrian Nazaratas. (Ref. c, p. 62) His sojourn there almost coincided > with the Jewish Babylonian Captivity. On his return, he originated a school of > philosophy in Crotona, a Greek colony in southern Italy. Pythagoras is > reputed to have discovered the numerical ratios governing musical harmony, > the famous theorem regarding the hypotenuse of a right triangle that bears > his name (probably erroneously; see Ref. 53, pp. ZWff, 148, 149), and many > other things that have influenced other philosophers, scientists, and > mathematicians down to the present day. He is sometimes called "the father > of numerology". > Plato (circa 427–347 BCE) discusses the rudiments of gematria in his > Cratylos, in which he claims that the force of a name > > *#% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 268 > is to be found in its numerical value, while words and phrases of the same > value may be substituted without loss of meaning. > The Hebrew cabala, the mystical system of philosophy that includes the > Hebrew gematria, has been used for thousands of years as a method of > interpreting the Sacred Text. The Old Testament apparently contains hidden > meanings in the literal and archetypal values of expressions and numbers, > possibly encoded by the prophets. The authoritative documents of the cabala > are the Book of Formation (the Sefer Yezirah) and the Book of Brightness (the > Zohar). The origins of these books are ancient and uncertain. > Plilo Judaeus, a Jew of Alexandria (circa 30 BCE–CE 50) (Reference 42) > attempted to reconcile Hellenistic and Jewish thought through number > symbolism. Saint Augustine (CE 354–430) in his book The City of God and > elsewhere (Reference 43) also attempted such a reconciliation. > Most pertinent to the discussion of the Apocalypse, perhaps, was the use > of gematria by the ancient Gnostics, a religious movement in competition > with early orthodox Christianity. Before their period of decadence, they > appear to have had many worthy leaders and may have had a considerable > influence on Christian doctrine. (See Reference 14, p. 70 and Reference R.) > The Church was so effective in suppressing overt Gnosticism that, until the > recent discovery of a Gnostic library at Nag-Hammadi, our principal > knowledge of them came through their critics and enemies, notably Saint > Irenaeus, the second century Bishop of Lyons, who reveals many prejudicial, > though informative, details concerning the Gnostics in his book Against > Heresies. As an example, he discusses the fact that the Gnostics saw in the > name of Jesus 'IhsouV a numerological connection with both the S and the Y, > since His name has a literal value of 888 and an archetypal value of Y. Other > details quoted by Saint Irenaeus indicate that the Gnostics probably built > their system of gematria on more ancient sources. It is interesting that the > Gnostics claimed to have esoteric knowledge from Jesus privately > transmitted by Him to His Disciples. (Reference 14, p. 70) > 269 C. Origins of gematriot and number symbolism > Occultists find the gematria and number symbolism a rich source of > material for speculation because of its mysterious and esoteric nature. The > fascination of numerology is not limited to the West and the Middle East. > The Chinese book of divination, the I Ching, one of the six Chinese Classics > and probably the oldest book in existence, has as its premise that all human > destiny can be reduced to a limited set of numbers based upon combinations > of Yang and Yin symbols. Many reliable people have attested to the value of > the I Ching. However, all forms of divination and other occult practices are > forbidden to Bahá 'ı́s, not because they are necessarily inoperative, but > because such practices are disruptive to human development, both in the > realm of earth and in the realm of heaven. > Both the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h have employed the abjad, the Arabic > gematria, as a means of concealing meanings, and, at other times, to reveal > extended meanings in certain words and phrases. This is certain to revive > interest in number symbolism and gematria. Let us hope that the occultists > of the first Bahá 'ı́ millennium will use number symbolism more wisely than > they have in the last. > Appendix D > The Arabic and Hebrew gematriot > Arabic Hebrew > Q (á , a) Alif, Hamza Aleph > U (b) Beh Beth > Z (j) Jı́m Ghimel > c (d) Dal Dallet > W (h) Ha Hay > Y (w, v, ú ) Waw Waw > X (z) Ze Zayn > S (h) He Hhayt > R (t) Tá Tayt > 10 Ye Yod (y, ı́) > 20 Kef Khaf (k) > 30 Lá m Lammed (l) > 40 Mı́m Mem (m) > 50 Nú n Noun (n) > 60 Sı́n Sammekh (s) > 70 Ain Ayn (') > 80 Fe Phay (f) > 90 Sá d Tsadde (s) > 100 (q) Qá f Qof > 200 (r) Re Raysh > 300 (sh) Shı́n Sheen > 400 (t) Te Tay > 500 (th) Se final Khaf > 600 (kh) Khe final Mem > 700 (dh) Zá l final Noun > 800 (d) Dá d final Phay > 900 (z) Zá final Tsadde > 1000 (gh) Ghain large Aleph > > *%( > Appendix E > Glossary of symbols > ABADDON, APOLLYON—lit. The Destroyer, Abú -Sufyá n > ADULTERY—to share false doctrine > ADVENT—the Coming of a new Manifestation of God > AIR—Q. spirituality, nearness to God; U unlocalized (16:17) > ALPHA (and) OMEGA—Q. lit. Nine, the number of Bahá ; U. the Lord God; Z. > Bahá 'u'llá h; c. Jesus Christ; W. the Word of God; Y. the > Manifestation > ALTAR—a place of offering to God > AMEN—Q. lit. Faithful and True, Muḥ ammad; U so be it, etc. > ANGEL—Q. a purified soul; U. a celestial (spiritual) messenger; Z. a Revelator; > c. a spiritual leader; W. fallen angel—a spiritual leader fallen > from grace; Y. angel of light (12:X)—good spiritual principle; X. > angel of darkness (12:X)—evil spiritual principle (see Four > Angels, Mighty Angel, Seven Angels) > ANTIPAS—lit. Against All, Lord Buddha > APOSTLE—trusted messenger > APOLLYON—lit. The Destroyer, Abú -Sufyá n > ARK OF THE TESTAMENT—Q. Book of God's Testament and the Epistle of the > Covenant; U. 'Abdu'l-Bahá , the Centre of the Covenant > ARMAGEDDON—Heb., lit. mountain of conflict, hence: piling up of sorrow > ARMIES—Q. (in heaven) spiritual forces; U. (hosts) sanctified followers of > Bahá 'u'llá h (19:14) > BABYLON—(from Bab-el, Gate of God and bal-bel confusion), the city of the > corrupted Word of God > BAGHDA" D—lit. Gift of God > BALAAM, DOCTRINE OF—Q. idol worship; U. materialism > BALANCE—Q. power of judgement; U. Book of God; Z. new Manifestation > BATTLE—conflict > > *%" > The Apocalypse Unsealed 274 > BEAR—Media-Persia > BEASTS—Q. rulers; U. Empires; (also see Four Beasts, First Beast, Second > Beast) > BEAST THAT WAS AND IS NOT—Empire of Alexander the Great > BED—bed of heedlessness, misery and shame > BELOVED CITY—probably Jerusalem > BIRD—Q. soul; U. animating principle; Z. attributes > BLACK—loss of spiritual light (illumination) > BLASPHEMY—see Name of Blasphemy > BLOOD—Q. life-force; U. sacrifice; Z. opposite of water: "turn water into > blood" means to convert source of spiritual life into a source of > spiritual death; c. suffering (14:20); W. shed blood—kill (16:Y) > BOOK OF LIFE—the Book containing the names of those who deserve > salvation and are firm in the Covenant of God > BOOK OF SEVEN SEALS—the Holy Books of the seven Faiths of Asia > BOTTOMLESS PIT—pit of theological error > BOW—false propaganda > BRASS—or BRONZE blended metal, hence the blending of mankind > BRIDE—the renewed Word of God > BRIDLE—see horse's bridle > BRONZE—blended metal, hence the blending of mankind > BURN—condemn > CALF—see ox > CAMP OF SAINTS—possibly the Bahá 'ı́ Universal House of Justice > CANDLE—formal Church > CANDLESTICK—Q. source of spiritual light (guidance); U. a Faith; Z. a Prophet; > c. a formal Church > CARMEL—lit. Vineyard of God > CENSER—piety > CHILD (man-child)—Q. the Bá b; U. the Twelfth Imá m > CHRIST—lit. from Gr. Christos, The Anointed One > CHURCH—Q. a Divinely revealed Faith; U. Church of Jesus Christ; Z. earthly > Church imperfectly representing the Divine Church (see also > Seven Churches) > CITY—Q. institutions, civilization; U. inhabitants; Z. the abode of > 275 E. Glossary of symbols > the soul; c. the Holy City Jerusalem of the true Word of God > (14:20); W. the great city Babylon of the corrupted Word of God > (16:19) > CLOUD—Q. a veil between man and heaven; U. trouble; Z. cloud of glory > CLOTHING—see Garment > COLD—spiritual indifference > COLOURS: > WHITE—purity > BLACK—Q. injustice; U. unspiritual > RED—war > PALE—indifference > SCARLET—spiritual beauty (Muslim) > PURPLE—royalty > COUNTENANCE—spiritual aspect or appearance > CREATURES— people with various attributes > CROWN—Q. authority; U. reward; Z. rulership > CUBIT—a sacred measure, usually equal to the forearm of the reigning priestking; two spans > CUP—see drink > DARKNESS—lack of spiritual understanding > DAY—Q. a year; U. a "time" of 360 years; Z. an era of arbitrary duration; c. a > Day of God or a Lord's Day, i.e., a Dispensation > DAY OF GOD—the Dispensation of a Manifestation of God > DEAD BODY—outward appearance without spiritual reality > DEATH—Q. spiritual unawareness; U. First Death—failure to accept Jesus > Christ; Z. Second Death—failure to accept Bahá 'u'llá h > DESOLATION—spiritually destitute > DESTROY—see kill > DEVIL (from Gr. Diabolos)—Q. The Deceiver, the principle of deception > whereby the Word of God becomes corrupted; U. evil principle > DEVOUR—destroy > DIE IN THE LORD—Q. to die in one's self to live in God; U. to sacrifice one's life > for the Cause of God > DISPENSATION—a Day of God, the calendrical period during > The Apocalypse Unsealed 276 > which a Manifestation is predominant in the contingent world > DOOR—Q. a test; U. the Bá b; Z. the opening into a new Age > DRAGON—Q. the Serpent (Devil); U. evil ruler > DRINK—to experience > DRY UP—to remove the source of spiritual grace and knowledge > EAGLE—Q. majesty, authority, victory; U. sharp vision; Z. Great Eagle— > Muḥ ammad; c. the ancient name for the zodiacal sign Scorpio; > W. Flying Eagle—Shoghi Effendi [c:X] (see also Two Wings of a > Great Eagle) > EARS—capacity for understanding spiritual teachings > EARTH—Q. the world of man; U. the Law of God concerning the contingent > world; Z. the world of matter; c. earthly grave (12:c); W. ruins > (13:11) > EARTHQUAKE—Q. a shaking of the world of man; U. a literal earthquake (11:13) > EAST—land to the east of Israel: Persia, 'Irá q, etc. > EAT—Q. accept; U. eat flesh—see devour > ELDERS—see Twenty-four Elders > END OF THE AGE—the end of the Age of Prophecy. The Age of Prophecy began > with the Prophet Adam and ended with the Bá b. > EPHESUS, CHURCH OF—lit. family hearth, the Sabean Faith > EYES—Q. capacity for spiritual vision; U. eyes within—spiritual insight > EYES OF FLAME—Q. the eyes of Bahá 'u'llá h; U. vengeance > FACE OF GOD—the attributes of God reflected in His Manifestation (22:c) > FACE OF MAN—unity of mankind > FAITHFUL AND TRUE (name)—The Bird of the Celestial Throne, Bahá 'u'llá h > (19:11 > FALSE PROPHET—Q. a pretender to Divine Revelation; U. Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá > FAMINE—to be without spiritual sustenance > FATHER—Q. God; U. Station of the Father-the spiritual rank of Bahá 'u'llá h > FEARFUL—afraid to accept the new Manifestation > FEED—sustain > 277 E. Glossary of symbols > FEET—source of worldly strength > FIRE OR HEAT—Q. suffering; U. wrath; Z. purification; c. tribulation; W. > rebuke; Y. fire and brimstone—severe spiritual torment that > cannot be distinguished; X. fiery speech; S. Greek fire (13:13) > FIRST BEAST—the Banı́-Umayyad dynasty, personified by Abú -Sufyá n > FIRST BEGOTTEN OF THE DEAD—Jesus Christ, the first to be raised from > spiritual death during His Ministry > FLEE—to disappear, pass away (20:11) > FLOOD—flood of deceptive words (12:15) > FLYING EAGLE—see eagle [(c:X)] > FOREHEAD—Q.head, as in "head tax"; U. brow, as in "seal on his brow" > FORNICATION—false doctrine > FOUNTAINS OF WATER—sources of spiritual grace and knowledge > FOUR ANGELS—power of the world of man > FOUR BEASTS—Q. four paragons of virtue, rulers who are destined to accept > Bahá 'u'llá h; U. the Four Pillars of the age of Aquarius-Leo; Z. the > four Central Figures of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith > FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH—Q. the celestial directions corresponding to > the equinoxes and solstices; U. the constellations corresponding > to the equinoxes and solstices > FOUR HORNS—voices of the Four Winds > FOUR HORSEMEN, FOUR HORSES—see colours, horse] > FOUR QUARTERS OF THE EARTH—Q. the four hemispheres: Northern, > Southern, Eastern, Western; U. the four cardinal directions, > North, South, East, West > FOUR WINDS OF THE EARTH—the winds of prophecy > FOWL—see bird > FROGS—unclean principles and false teachings > FRUITS—Q. blessings; U. consequential outcomes > FURLONG—an earthly measure > GAIN THE VICTORY—to overcome > GARMENT, RAIMENT, ROBE—Q. attributes of the soul; U. garment to the foot— > heavenly attributes > GATE—see Twelve Gates > The Apocalypse Unsealed 278 > GEMS—see precious stones > GLASS—clearly understood (see also sea of glass) > GLORY OF GOD—lit. Bahá 'u'llá h > GOG AND MAGOG—rulers and peoples motivated by satanic forces > GOLD—Q. excellence and perfection; U. Divine > GOLDEN GIRDLE—Q. spiritual power; U. a new Faith > GOSPEL—lit. glad tidings > GRASS—Q. people of the earth; U. green grass—righteous people > GRAVE—a place for (see) dead bodies (11:R) > GREAT TRIBULATION—persecutions of righteous peoples > GREAT WHORE—Q. false theology, the corrupter of the Word of God (see > woman) > GREEN GRASS—righteous people > HAIL—missiles of Divine punishment > HARLOT—theologies or priest who prostitutes the Word of God (see woman) > HARPS—contemplation > HARVEST—mankind in its various degrees of spiritual growth > HEAD—Q. a projectile (R:19); U. a dominion (12:Z) (see Seven Heads) > HEAR—to understand the true meanings of spiritual teachings > HEAT—see fire > HEAVEN—Q. the realm of the spirit; U. closeness to God; Z. the realm of > Divine principles reflected imperfectly in the world of man; c. > the Law of God concerning eternal verities; W. the source of > Divine prophecy > HELL—remoteness from God > HIDDEN MANNA—Q. spiritual sustenance from heaven; U. Divine Revelation > HIM WHICH IS, AND WHICH WAS, AND IS TO COME—Q. the Lord God; U. the > Hebrew Trinity, Yahweh; Z. God's recurring Manifestations > HOLY CITY—Q. Jerusalem; U. the Law of God > HORN—Q. a name of a ruler (12:Z); U. the name of an office (13:11); Z. a name > of authority (W:Y) (see also ten horns, two horns) > HORSE—Q. a potent force; U. White Horse—theology (corrupted, Y:U; true, > 19:11); Z. Red Horse—war; c. Black Horse—economic > 279 E. Glossary of symbols > injustice; W. Pale Horse—ungodliness, spiritual indifference; Y. > cannons (R:17); (also see white horse , colour) > HORSE'S BRIDLE, HEIGHT OF—seven spans > HOT—religious zeal > HOUR—Q. a short time; U. a part of a year; Z. (cap.) the person of the > Manifestation of God; c. (cap.) the time when the Manifestation > declares His Mission; W. The "Hour"—the "Time of the end" > HOUR OF TEMPTATION—Q. the temptation to deny or martyr the Bá b; U. the > "Hour" > HUNGER—to need spiritual sustenance > HUSBAND—Q. the Centre of the Covenant; U. 'Abdu'l-Bahá > IMAGE OF THE BEAST—the Second Beast, the 'Abbá sid dynasty, a revived > replica of the First Beast > ISLAND—Q. a place of refuge on the sea of the spirit; U. a place of refuge on > the sea of humanity; Z. a church > JERUSALEM—lit. Sacred Peace; U. the City of the renewed and purified Word > of God > JEW—Q. a lover of righteousness; U. one who accepts the Manifestation > JEZEBEL—daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon, who introduced the > doctrine of Balaam into Israel. She symbolizes idol worship, > false priesthood, etc. > KEY—power to open and close > KEY OF DAVID—the power to open a new Age > KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH—the power to bring people back to God and to > resurrect the spiritually dead > KILL—Q. to overcome or vanquish; U. to destroy spiritual reality (11:X) > KING—see Seven Kings, ten horns > KING OF LOCUSTS—Abú -Sufyá n (also king of the First Beast) > KING OF THE FIRST BEAST—Abú -Sufyá n > KINGDOM OF GOD—the World Order of Bahá 'u'llá h > KINGS OF THE EAST—Bahá 'u'llá h and His Successors > LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE—extreme spiritual torment > LAMB—Q. "Leader of the flock;" U. Holy Figure sacrificed for the Covenant; Z. > the Centre of the Covenant; c. Jesus Christ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 280 > W. The Bá b; Y. 'Abdu'l-Bahá ; X. meekness (13:11); S. Aries, the > first sign of the zodiac > LAMP—see Seven Lamps > LAODICEA, CHURCH OF—lit. just people, the Muslim Faith > LEAVES OF THE TREE—teachings > LEOPARD—Empire of Alexander > LIAR—corrupter of the Word of God > LIFE—to be spiritually aware > LIGHTNING—anger and wrath of God > LINEN—see white linen > LION—Q. kingly majesty and strength; U. Babylonia; Z. Leo, the sign of the > zodiac; c. the Lion of Judah, Bahá 'u'llá h > LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH—Bahá 'u'llá h > LITTLE BOOK—the Word of God > LOCUSTS, PLAGUE OF—mounted warriors > LORD'S DAY—Q. the duration of the Dispensation of a Manifestation of God; U. > Lord's day (lower case)—Sunday > LUKEWARM—bigoted > MAN—Q. unity of man; U. Aquarius, the sign of the zodiac; Z. the Bá b > MAN-CHILD—Q. the Bá b; U. the Twelfth Imá m > MANNA—see Hidden Manna > MARK—Q. stigma; U. name; Z. mark on the right (working) hand—land and > business tax (kharaj); c. mark on the forehead—head tax > (jizyah) > MARRIAGE—reunion of the Word of God with man > MICHAEL—lit. One Like God, the Spirit of Bahá 'u'llá h > MIGHTY ANGEL—the Spirit of Bahá 'u'llá h (10:Q) > MIRACLE—a wonder, not necessarily supernatural > MONTH—thirty years > MOON—Q. a reflector of the light of heaven; U. a prophet or a Manifestation; > Z. leaders of the worldly Church; c. emblem of Turkey (12:Q) > MOUNTAIN—Q. a nation; U. a religion; Z. a people; c. a place of refuge > MOUTH—Q. the opening of a cannon (R:19); U. speech (10:R); Z. a devourer > (12:16); c. centre of command (Capital or throne) (13:U) > MYSTERY OF GOD—Q. hidden meanings of prophecy (10:X); > 281 E. Glossary of symbols > U. 'Abdu'l-Bahá > NAKED—lacking in spiritual attributes (raiment) > NAME OF BLASPHEMY—The Caliph (The Successor), 666 > NAME WRITTEN—see White Stone > NEW JERUSALEM—the City of the renewed Word of God, the City of Bahá > NEW NAME—Q. Bahá ; U. Bahá 'u'llá h > NEW SONG—the new Message > NICOLAITANES–followers of Nicolas, i.e., Covenant breakers > NIGHT—the period between two Divine Revelations when the Sun of Truth is > not manifest among men > NUMBERS: > Z—Divinity; holiness, heaven; Yahweh > c—world of man > X—union of heaven and earth; opportunity; expiation and sacrifice, > trial and punishment, the union of Divinity and the world of > man (Z + c) > R—Bahá , the Greatest Name of God; Bahá 'u'llá h; the Trinity of > Trinities; the Completed Triad; the unity of religions and > mankind > 12 = Z—(cabalistic contraction); the Twelve Tribes of Israel; the > Twelve Apostles of Jesus; the Twelve Basic Principles of the > Bahá 'ı́ Faith; the signs of the zodiac; the unity of heaven and > earth (Z×c); the Twelve Imams of Islá m; etc. > 144 = R—(cabalistic contraction); the twice-72 primal points of the > Bahá 'ı́ Dispensation; (possibly) Bahá 'u'llá h Μπαχαολλαº * > 666 = R—(cabalistic contraction); The Caliph; Yang; the sun; the > source of Divine inspiration (uncorrupted); the worldly Church > (corrupted) > Q,600 = X—(cabalistic contraction); "40-times-40" > 12,000 = Z—(cabalistic contraction) > 144,000 = R—(cabalistic contraction); the "first fruits" > 200,000,000 = U—(cabalistic contraction) > ODOURS—(perfumes)—prayers > OFFSPRING OF DAVID—Q. a descendant of David; U. the Spirit of David; Z. > Jesus Christ > > * > Original was Βηααολλα. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 282 > 283 E. Glossary of symbols > OVERCOME—to resist and overcome false doctrine > OX (calf in KJV)—Q. strength and servitude; U. Taurus, the sign of the zodiac; > Z. the Servant of Bahá , 'Abdu'l-Bahá > PAIN—spiritual suffering > PALMS—glad tidings, victory > PARADISE—Q. heaven; U. closeness to God; Z. Riḍ vá n > PASS AWAY—see flee (21:Q) > PERGAMOS, CHURCH OF—lit. parchment, the Hindu Faith > PHILADELPHIA, CHURCH OF—lit. brotherly love, the Christian Faith > PRECIOUS STONES—(see Chapter 21): > AMETHYST—Q. spiritual light; U. reverence, healing, serenity, poise; Z. > world tribunal or parliament of man > BERYL—Q. faith, loyalty, humility, unity; U. universal peace > CHALCEDONY—Q. purity; U. all religions are one > CHRYSOLITE—Q. the Chrysolite Tablet; U. sincerity, truthfulness, > purity, selflessness; Z. elimination of prejudice > CHRYSOPRASUS—Q. truthfulness, sincerity, justice, purity; U. spiritual > solution of the economic problem > EMERALD—Q. harmony and unity; U. religion must be source of unity > JACINTH—Q. universal colour; U. hue of the heart; Z. auxiliary > universal language > JASPER—Q. unification of man; U. red of the heart > PEARL—innocence > SAPPHIRE—Q. truth, faith, inspiration, loyalty; U. independent > investigation of truth > SARDINE—unity of material and spiritual worlds > SARDIUS—science and religion agree > SARDONYX—Q. two in one; U equality of man and woman > TOPAZ—Q. light of knowledge, glory of wisdom; U. universal education > PROPHETS—see Two Prophets > QUEEN—married to the Lamb (Compare widow) > RAIMENT—see garment > RAIN—bounty from heaven > RAINBOW—the Covenant between God and man that He will > The Apocalypse Unsealed 284 > always send man a Manifestation provided we will follow His > Laws > REED—a flute played by the Divine Flute Player > RESURRECTION—Q. renewal of spiritual life (awareness); U. First > Resurrection—to become spiritually revived through the > acceptance of Bahá 'u'llá h > RICH—to have spiritual assets > RIGHT HAND—Q. hand of might and power; U. working hand > RIVERS—streams of spiritual grace and knowledge > ROBE—see Garment > ROCKS—strongholds, places of refuge (also see stone) > ROD—shepherd's tool held by the Divine Shepherd > ROD OF IRON—symbol of power and authority > ROOT OF DAVID—Q. Abraham; U. descendant of Abraham; Z. the Spirit of > Abraham; c. Jesus Christ; W. Bahá 'u'llá h > SACKCLOTH—old attributes > SAINTS—holy and righteous people who follow the Manifestation > SAND OF THE SEA—people of all nations > SARDIS, CHURCH OF—lit. stone, the Buddhist Faith > SATAN—from Heb., lit. The Adversary, the principle of resistance to the Law > of God > SATAN'S SEAT—degraded spiritual condition > SCORPION—Q. a quick firer of arrows; U. Scorpio, the sign of the zodiac > SEA—Q. movement, uncertainty, fluidity; U. sea of the spirit; Z. sea of > humanity; c. sea of tribulation; W. sea of doubt and disbelief > (21:Q); Y. sea of death > SEA OF GLASS—the Ocean of Truth, the Wellspring of all knowledge and > wisdom > SEAL OF GOD—Q. chosen for eternal spiritual life; U. the number Three > (Yahweh); the number Nine (Bahá ) > SEASON—a part of an Era > SEAT—Q. throne of power and authority; U. Capital; Z. seat of the beast: > Constantinople, Turkey > SECOND BEAST—the 'Abbá sid dynasty > SECOND DEATH—failure to accept Bahá 'u'llá h > 285 E. Glossary of symbols > SEE—Q. to understand; U. to have spiritual vision > SEED—spiritual descendants > SEVEN ANGELS—Q. the seven Prophets of the seven Faiths of Asia; U. > messengers of trial and punishment > SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA—Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islá m, Judaism, > Zoroastrianism, Sabaeanism > SEVEN HEADS—the seven dominions ruled by the Banú Umayyad: the > Roman-Byzantine dominion around Damascus, Persia, Arabia, > Egypt, Africa, Andalusia, Turkestan-Transoxiana > SEVEN KINGS—the seven dominions (ruled by kings) of the Banú Umayyad > dynasty; five are fallen—the five dominions that had been > conquered; one is (sovereign)—Persia; not yet come— > Turkestan-Transoxiana > SEVEN LAMPS—seven Spirits (Manifestations of God) > SEVEN SPIRITS—Q. Revelators of the Seven Churches: Jesus Christ, Moses, > Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Muḥ ammad, Zoroaster, and possibly > Adam, Noah, or Enoch; U. the seven letters in the names HYSYN > 'ALY (Ḥusayn 'Alı́) or BHA'LLH (Bahá 'u'llá h) > SEVEN THUNDERS—voices of the seven Spirits > SHIPS—Q. places of refuge on the sea of tribulation; U. churches > SICKLE—power to reap the harvest of mankind > SIN—disobeying God's Laws; U. Enslavement to animal passions; Z. > attachment to the contingent world of attributes and duality > SION OR ZION—theocracy directly administered by God, the World Order of > Bahá 'u'llá h > SMITE THE EARTH WITH PLAGUES—to chastise, correct, and educate the > wicked > SMOKE—Q. obscuring to truth; U. torment; Z. visible evidence; c. grave > dissensions, abrogations of recognized standards, the > destruction of their narrow-minded exponents, etc. > SMYRNA, CHURCH OF—lit. myrrh, the Jewish Faith > SODOM AND EGYPT—the Near East (11:S) > SON OF MAN—Q. Jesus Christ; U. One Like the Son of Man—Bahá 'u'llá h > The Apocalypse Unsealed 286 > SON OF GOD—Q. (capitals) a Manifestation of God; U. (lower case) one who > receives the Word of God > SORCERIES—deceptions > SORE—spiritual distress > SPIRIT—Q. an energizing principle emanating from God; U. a Manifestation; Z. > the prophetic attitude; c. unclean spirits—evil principles and > teachings (see also SEVEN SPIRITS) > STAND UP—to become spiritually re-manifested (11:11) > STARS—Q. spiritual leaders; U. Revelators; Z. fallen star—leader fallen from > grace; c. morning star—Herald of a new Day of God (Jesus > Christ, the Bá b); W. twelve stars—the Twelve Imams of Islá m; Y. > third of the stars of heaven—descendants of Muḥ ammad; X. > Seven Stars—the seven Revelators of the seven Churches of > Asia; S. the seven letters in the names HSYN'ALY (Ḥusayn 'Alı́) > or BHA'LLH (Bahá 'u'llá h) > STONE—Q. truth; U. concept; Z. hailstone—spiritual test (16:21) (see also > WHITE STONE) > STREET—place of activity > SUN—Q. God; U. God's Manifestation; Z. God's Faith; c. ubiquitous tribulation > (heat); W. emblem of Persia (12:Q); Y. source of the light of God > (19:17); X. Reality > SUN, MOON, AND STARS—Q. the hierarchy; U. the laws and teachings of the > hierarchy > SWALLOW—to devour (12:16) > SWORD—Q. weaponry; U. the Sword of Truth > TABERNACLE OF GOD—Q. see Sion; U. a Manifestation; Z. the Universal House > of Justice > TAIL—Q. breech of a cannon (R:19); U. last ruler of the Banı́-Umayyad > dynasty, Marwá n II (12:c); Z. a quiver (R:10) > TALENT—a spiritual test > TEMPLE OF GOD—Q. see Tabernacle of God; U. the Holy of Holies, the spiritual > Law of God > TEN HORNS—the ten (unrepeated) names of the rulers of the Banı́-Umayyad > dynasty: Abú -Sufyá n, Mu'á wı́yah, Yazı́d, Marwá n, 'Abdu'l-Malik, > al-Walı́d, Sulaymá n, 'Umar, Hishá m, Ibrá hı́m > TEN KINGS—see ten horns > THIEF—one who enters and departs unseen > 287 E. Glossary of symbols > THIRST—to crave spiritual knowledge > THRONE—seat of power > THUNDER—Q. violation of the Covenant; U. powerful utterance (see also > Seven thunders) > THYATRIA, CHURCH OF—lit. (prob.) cypress tree, the Zoroastrian Faith > THYINE WOOD—a scented wood used for perfume > TIME, A—360 years > TIME OF THE END—the time between the Hour of the Bá b and the Hour of > Bahá 'u'llá h > TREE—Q. source of spiritual guidance; U. Tree of Life; Z. everlasting spirit > (see also Twin Holy Trees, Two Olive Trees) > TREE OF LIFE—Q. source of spiritual sustenance, light, and life; U. a > Manifestation of God; Z. Bahá 'u'llá h > TRUMPET—a herald > TWELVE GATES—hold Figures of the invisible zodiac; (also see door) > TWELVE STARS—the twelve Imams of Islá m > TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS—the twenty-four leading Figures of the Bahá 'ı́ Faith > (except Bahá 'u'llá h, Who sits on the throne) > TWIN HOLY TREES—the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h > TWO EDGED SWORD—the Sword of Truth > TWO HORNS—the caliphate and sultanate > TWO OLIVE TREES—two sources of spiritual light, Muḥ ammad and 'Alı́ > TWO PROPHETS—Muḥ ammad and 'Alı́ > TWO WINGS OF A GREAT EAGLE—'Alı́ and Fá ṭima > TWO WITNESSES—Muḥ ammad and 'Alı́ > UNCLEAN SPIRITS—evil principles and teachings > VINE OF THE EARTH—mankind likened to a vineyard > VOICES—Q. utterings of doubters and hypocrites; U. utterings of angels > WAR IN HEAVEN—conflict of principles > WATER—Q. spiritual grace and knowledge; U. words (12:15); > The Apocalypse Unsealed 288 > Z. waters—the sea of humanity; c. many waters—great > spiritual knowledge > WATER OF LIFE—heavenly grace and knowledge that revives spiritual life > WEEK—seven years > WHITE—purity > WHITE HORSE—(ridden by Faithful and True) correct theology > WHITE LINEN—attributes of purity and cleanliness of soul > WHITE STONE—Q. a scroll addressed by the Bá b to His followers and > Bahá 'u'llá h revealing the name of the next Manifestation, > Bahá 'u'llá h; U. a sealed prophecy revealing the name of the next > Manifestation > WHORE—the corrupted Word of God > WIDOW—opposite of queen > WIFE—see Bride > WILDERNESS—Q. desert of Ḥijá z, place of the Word; U. spiritual desolation > (17:Z) > WIND—message from God > WINE—Q. wine of wrath—consequential punishment; U. deception; Z. > intoxication (17:U) > WINGS—spiritual flight > WITNESSES—see Two Witnesses > WOE—the dawning of a Day of God, a new Revelation > WOMAN—Q. (Bride) the Law of God descended upon mankind; U. "woman"— > see harlot > WORD OF GOD, THE (name)—The Pen of the Most High, Bahá 'u'llá h (19:13) > WORMWOOD—Q. bitterness; U. Constantine the Great > WOUND—calamity > WOUNDED HEAD THAT HEALED—Andalusia (Spain) > YEAR—360 years > ZION see SION > Appendix F > Chronological table > Q solar year 365.242 days > Q lunar year 354.367 days > Q solar year Q.03069 lunar years > Q Platonic month 2160 solar years 2226.Z lunar years > > Biblical term Calendar time > Q "day" Q year > or Q "time" (360 years) > or Q era (arbitrary period) > A "day" a Dispensation > Q "week" X years > Q "month" 30 years > Q "time" 360 years > Q "year" 360 years > Q "hour" a short time, a part of a > year > The "Hour" the "Time of the end" > > *'& > The Apocalypse Unsealed 290 > To determine the span of time between a date BCE and a date CE, recall > that one year is missing in the Christian calendar, since, by the ancient > Roman reckoning, Jesus was born at One CE instead of Zero. Thus, for > example, the span of time in solar years from 602 BC until CE 1844 is about > 1844 + 602 – Q = 2445 solar years. > The same time span in lunar years is about > 2445 × Q.03069 = 2520 lunar years or X "times" > To convert a date in the Christian solar calendar to its approximate > Muslim lunar equivalent, recall that the Ḥijá z occurred in CE 622. Thus CE > 1844 is about > (1844 – 622) × (Q.03069) = AH 1259.W > Because of leap years, different starting points in the seasons of the > different calendars, and other irregularities, the conversion between > calendar dates as derived in the above manner may be in error by a year or > so. > Many ancient dates are disputed by various authorities. > 291 F. Chronological table > > Christian solar Muslim lunar > reckoning Event reckoning > BC BH > c.2500 The Great Pyramid of Giza is built > > 602 Nebuchadnezzar conquers 1260 > Jerusalem > c.1 Platonic month > c.2 Platonic months to Bahá'í Era > > 457 1st decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild > 7 'wks' > > Jerusalem > > 7 'times' to Edict of Toleration > c.408 Rebuilding of Jerusalem is > 2,300 'days' to Edict of Toleration > > 3.5 'times' to Hegira > completed > > c.300 Astrological signs and > constellations are synchronous > 62 'weeks' > > 127 Hipparchus rediscovers the > Precession of the Equinoxes > 70 'weeks' > > 6 Big conjunction of Saturn and > Jupiter > > c.4-5 Probable date of Birth of Jesus > > 1 Traditional date of Birth of Jesus > 666 yrs to 'first beast' > > AD > 27 End of "62 weeks" of Daniel 9:25 > > 28-34 "Last week" of Daniel 9:26 > > c.31 First Public Declaration of Jesus > > 34 Traditional date of Crucifixion > The Apocalypse Unsealed 292 > 70 Rome sacks Jerusalem, destroys > the Temple > > c.79 John writes the Apocalypse > > 110-238 1st Great Persecution of Christians > > 249-311 2nd Great Persecution of > Christians > > 325 Constantine's Council of Nicea > > 408 Alaric initiates fall of Christendom > > 610 Muhammad receives His > c.1/3 of a 'day' > > Revelation > > 613 First Public Declaration of 10-11 > Muhammad > > 622 The Hijrah 0 > > 628 Truce of al-Hudaybíyyah AH > 'Time, times and half a time', 1,260 'days', > 632 Beginning of Muslim invasions of or 42 'months' to Declaration of the Báb > Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh > 1335 'days' to Universal House of Justice > > 1,290 'days' to 1st public > > Asian and African Christendom > > 633 Fall of Jerusalem to Islám. > > 637 Jews expelled from Holy Land > > 661-2 Beginning of the Umayyad > 5 'months' > > dynasty, the first beast > c.1/3 of 'night' > > 749 Rise of 'Abbásid dynasty, the > to 1054 > > second beast > > 786 Peak of Muslim Empire under > Caliph Harún ar-Rashíd > 293 F. Chronological table > Ascension of Twelfth Imám 260 > > 1054 Great Schism of Christian Church. > Supernova in Crab Nebula. Circa > end of Dark Age of Europe > > 1218-20 Invasion of Islám by Genghis Khan > > 1,000 years to Declaration of the Báb > 1431-1517 Beginning of Protestant > Reformation > > 1453 Fall of Constantinople and eastern > Christendom to Islám > > 1755 The Lisbon Earthquake > 'Year, month,day' to the 'Hour' > > 1,260 'days' to the Hegira > 1780 The Dark Day > > 1817 Birth of Bahá'u'lláh 1233 > > 1819 Birth of the Báb 1235 > > 1833 The Great Star Fall > > 1843 The Great Comet > > 1844 Declaration of the Báb. Edict of 1260 > Toleration. Birth of 'Abdu'l-Bahá > The 'Heroic Age' - 70 & 7 yrs to 1921 > > 1845-6 Biela's Twin Comet > The 'Hour' - 19 years > 'Year' nine > > 1850 Martyrdom of the Báb. Earthquake 1268 > 7 times 7 years > > at Shíráz > > 1852 First imprisonment of Bahá'u'lláh > > 1852-3 Bahá'u'lláh receives His Revelation 1269 > 40 years > > 1863 First public declaration of 1279 > Bahá'u'lláh > > 1892 Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh 1309 > The Apocalypse Unsealed 294 > 1897 Birth of Shoghi Effendi > > 1910-3 Journeys of 'Abdu'l-Bahá > > 'Year, month,day' to the 'Hour' > 1914 World War I, beginning of 1332 > Armageddon > > 1921 Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá > 100 yrs to the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh > > 1924 Caliphate abolished > 1,335 'days' to Truce of al-Hudaybíyyah > > 1935-45 Ten year Jewish "imprisonment" > under Hitler > > 1948 Founding of modern Israel > > 1953 Beginning of 10-year Bahá'í > Crusade. Completion of [first] > Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West. > Inception of the "Kingdom of God > on Earth" (God Passes By, p. 351) > > 1957 Completion of the Bahá'í Ministry. > Ascension of Shoghi Effendi. > Midpoint of the 10-year Bahá'í > Crusade > > Completion of the "lunar century" 1379 > (God Passes By, p. 151) > > 1963 Foundation of the Universal House > of Justice > Appendix G > Some Bahá'í Apocalyptic Writings > General > G#Q 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Bahá'í Scriptures, Section 92. > Explains that there are many meanings to each word of the > Apocalypse. > G#U 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. II, pp. 285–Y. > Advises us to peruse Saint John's Revelation since many signs > spoken of in that vision will soon be revealed. > G#Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. II, p. 294. > Cites an individual believer's knowledge of the significances of > the Revelation of Saint John. > G#c 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. III, pp. 678–81. > Analyzes the vision of an individual believer in which many > apocalyptic symbols appear, including birds, the Heavenly > Table, manna, white garments, the Throne, the Bride, the > Lamb's Book of Life, the white horse. > G#W Star of the West, VIII:13, p. 180. > This Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá contains the meanings of many > apocalyptic symbols, including the Throne, clouds, the invisible > zodiac, the new song, birds. > G#Y Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 57–S. > Explains the "Prophetic Cycle" and the "Cycle of Fulfilment", the > relationship of the Bá b and the Covenant, the "Second Woe", the > two "Witnesses", the "Man Child", and several apocalyptic > symbols. > G#X Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 93–100. > Lists some of the Titles of Bahá 'u'llá h, His ancestry, and > references made to Him by other Manifestations and prophets. > He explains that John referred to Bahá 'u'llá h as the "Alpha and > Omega" and the "third > > *&$ > The Apocalypse Unsealed 296 > woe". The Law of Bahá 'u'llá h was described by John a "a new > heaven and a new earth". The Tabernacle of God, the "Holy > City" and the "New Jerusalem". Shoghi Effendi quotes 'Abdu'l- > Bahá Who compares the Revelations of the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h > in zodiacal imagery. > G#S Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 48–R, 238–40. > Describes the role of 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the Centre of the > Covenant, and explains that John referred to 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the > "Ark of God's Testament". The reference describes episodes > surrounding the violation of the Covenant by Mı́rzá Yaḥ yá and > Mı́rzá Muḥ ammad-'Alı́, and explains the "lightnings", "thunders" > and "earthquake" attending the violation of the Covenant. > G#R Star of the West, II:Q, pp. Z–c. > Mı́rzá Asadu'llá h asserts the belief that the prophecies of the > Holy Scriptures have become (largely) fulfilled by the events of > the mid-nineteenth century. > G#10 Mı́rzá Asadu'llá h-i-Nú r, Sacred Mysteries, pp. 112–R. > Explains gematria, the numerological significance of the > number Nine, and several other numerological mysteries. > G#11 Bahá'í Scriptures, Section 804. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains the significance of the number Nine and > several other numerological mysteries. > Specific > Q:c#Q Bahá'í News, No. 77, Sept. 1933. > Shoghi Effendi refers to certain statements of Mı́rzá Abu'l-Faḍ l > about the Seven Religions of the past, explains that only the > words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá are truly authoritative, but that if His > statements cannot be discovered, we are free to tentatively > accept the opinions of scholars. > Q:c#U 16, 20. "You have asked about the meaning of the > 297 G. Some Bahá 'ı́ Apocalyptic Writings > 'seven churches' mentioned in the Book of Revelation. In a > Tablet 'Abdu'l-Bahá has explained that the seven spirits and the > seven stars mentioned in the Apocalypse refer to the seven > letters of the alphabet that constitute the Most Great Name (in > Arabic and Persian the names of 'Bahá 'u'llá h' as well as > 'Ḥusayn-'Alı́' consist of seven letters each). In the same Tablet > He points out that the seven churches refer to the 'holy souls > who were ignited with the fire of the love of their Lord.'" (From > a letter of behalf of the Universal House of Justice dated X > August 1978, to an individual believer.) > Q:c#Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Some Answered Questions, pp. 205–Y. > Explains the meaning of "was, is, and shall be". > Q:X Bahá 'u'llá h, The Book of Certitude, pp. 71–U, 216–X. > Explains the symbolism of "clouds". > Q:S#Q 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Paris Talks, p. 51. > Explains that one meaning of the "Alpha and Omega, the First > and the Last" is Jesus Christ. > Q:S#U Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 95. > Explains that Bahá 'u'llá h is the "Alpha and Omega" of the > Apocalypse. > Q:S#Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Some Answered Questions, p. 294. > Elaborates on the meaning of the "Alpha and Omega" in > reference to Jesus Christ. > Q:S#c Bahá 'u'llá h, Tablet to the Jews. > Explains the meaning of the "Alpha and Omega" as the Word of > God. > Q:S#W 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 13. > Gives a meaning of the "Alpha and Omega" as the Lord God > Omnipotent. > U:17#Q Bahá 'u'llá h, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 195. > Explains that the "Bread which cometh down from Heaven" is > Divine Revelation. > U:17#U Star of the West, XI:16, p. 275. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 298 > 'Abdu'l-Bahá expounds on the "manna that came down from > heaven". > U:17#Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. III, p. 677. > Expounds on the "Heavenly Table" and the "Bread". > c:c#Q Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. X–S. > Places the Eighteen Letters of the Living among the Twentyfour Elders of the Apocalypse. > c:c#U 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Some Answered Questions, pp. 96–X. > Describes the Succession of Prophets in zodiacal imagery. > c:c#Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 39. > Mentions the invisible zodiac. > W:Y Mı́rzá Asadu'llá h-i-Nú r, Sacred Mysteries, pp. 52–71. > Explains the removal of the daily (physical) sacrifice of the > killing of lambs and cattle under the Dispensation of > Muḥ ammad and its replacement by a spiritual sacrifice. The > reference gives AH 1260 as the end of Muḥ ammad's > Dispensation, and explains the number Five as applied to the > Bá b. The sacrifice becomes increasingly spiritual under the > Dispensation of Bahá 'u'llá h, requiring the "chanting of the > Verses of God and being firm in the Covenant of God." > Y:12–13 Bahá 'u'llá h, The Book of Certitude, pp. 33–c, 36–41. > Explains the symbolism of "sun, moon and stars". > R:12 Shoghi Effendi, This Decisive Hour, pp. 124–W. > Discusses the "Year Nine" and gives it as the date of the "Third > Woe". > 11#Q 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Some Answered Questions, pp. 61–81. > The complete explanation of Chapter 11 of the Apocalypse. > 11;11–14 Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 49–50. > Discusses Quddú s and his role as one of the two "Witnesses". > 11:13#Q Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, pp. 53–54. > Describes the Shı́rá z earthquake of AH 1268. > 299 G. Some Bahá 'ı́ Apocalyptic Writings > 11:13#U Mı́rzá Asadu'llá h-i-Nú r, Sacred Mysteries, pp. 16–X. > Explains the "Hour" as (Q) the person of the Manifestation, (U) > the "time of the end", (Z) the time when the Manifestation > declares His Mission, and (c) the time between the Declaration > of the Bá b and the Declaration of Bahá 'u'llá h. > 12#Q 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Some Answered Questions, pp. 87–90. > Explains the new Jerusalem, the "new heaven and the new > earth", and verses one to six of Chapter 12 of the Apocalypse. > 13:S Star of the West, Vol. Z, No. 14, p. 14. > Louis Gregory and Mı́rzá Abu'l-Faḍ l in A Heavenly Vista explain > that the "Lamb" of the "Book of Life" is 'Abdu'l-Bahá . > 13:18#Q "Regarding the Apocalypse of St. John, the beast the numerical > value of whose name is 666: the intent is the year, inasmuch as > that beast who is the Umayyad king, appeared in the year 666 of > the Christian era. This prophecy relates to the Holy Land."— > 'Abdu'l-Bahá , a Tablet to an individual believer. > 13:18#U "As to the beast referred to in the Apocalypse, he was a soul > who sought with his utmost power to destroy the Cause of God. > He was the King of Persia, that is one of the early kings."— > 'Abdu'l-Bahá , a Tablet to an individual believer. > 16:16#Q Star of the West, Vol. X:Z, p. 33. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá prophesies the beginning of "Armageddon" in AD > 1914. > 16:16#U H. M. Balyuzi, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 259 > Another war, World War II, is prophesied by 'Abdu'l-Bahá . > 16:16#Z H. M. Balyuzi, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 259. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá expresses His disappointment with the Treaty of > Versailles. > 16:16#c H. M. Balyuzi, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p.438. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá expresses His disappointment with the > The Apocalypse Unsealed 300 > League of Nations and explains that the Supreme Tribunal > described by Bahá 'u'llá h will bring Universal Peace. > 16:16#c Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. c–X. > Quotes dire prophecies by Bahá 'u'llá h and 'Abdu'l-Bahá of > future catastrophes. > 19:16 Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 206. > Quotes Bahá 'u'llá h as declaring Himself to be "the King of > Kings". > 20:Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. III, pp. 659–60. > Explains the millennium as the beginning of this Manifestation > until the end of its predominance throughout the contingent > world. > 20:c#Q 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. II, pp. 396–X. > Uses several terms such as "Resurrection", "Day of Judgement", > "sun", "stars", "balance", "fire", "paradise". > 20:c#U 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. II, pp. 429–30. > Explains that the "Promised Christ" of the "Second Coming" is > Bahá 'u'llá h and the Bá b. > 20:c#Z 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. III, pp. 643–c. > Explains the "Return" as the return of qualities, virtues, > perfections, etc., not the literal return of persons and souls. > 20:X Bahá'í News, No. 89, Jan. 1935, p. Q. > Shoghi Effendi explains that a Manifestation is to follow > Bahá 'u'llá h after a thousand years or more Who will be > subjected to persecutions but will ultimately triumph. > 21:Q–U#Q Star of the West, Vol. 18, p. 197. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains that the new Jerusalem is divine > civilization. > 21:Q–U#U 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. III, pp. 538–40. > Describes the new Jerusalem and explains that "Emanuel" was > the forerunner of the "Second Coming of Christ". > 301 G. Some Bahá 'ı́ Apocalyptic Writings > 21:Q–U#Z Bahá'í News, No. 134, Mar. 1940, p. U. > Shoghi Effendi explains that "His Holiness Emanuel" in the > above Tablet refers to the Bá b. > 21:Q–U#c 'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 17–S. > 'Abdu'l-Bahá mentions the "divine Jerusalem" and the "bride of > Zion". > 21:Q–U#W 'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 97–S. > The new Jerusalem is the divine civilization. > 21:Q–U#Y 'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 35–Y. > Likens a new Dispensation to the Vernal equinox. > 21:Q–U#X Mı́rzá Asadu'llá h-i-Nú r, Sacred Mysteries, pp. 37–40. > "… the Words are sealed until the time of the end." The new > Jerusalem has both a literal and an allegorical interpretation. > 21:Q–U#S Bahá 'u'llá h, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 144–W. > Gives the literal meaning of the new Jerusalem as the renewed > vigour of Zion, Palestine, 'Akká and Jerusalem. > 21:Q–U#R Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 213. > Explains that the new Law is the "new heaven" and the "new > earth", the Tabernacle of God, the Holy City, the "Bride", and the > "New Jerusalem". > 21:Q–U#10 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 204–Y. > Alludes to the new Jerusalem and the "coming of age of the > human race". > 21:Q–U#11 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Paris Talks, p. 84. > The new Jerusalem is "not built of material stones and mortar". > 21:Q–X 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 350–Q, and Selections from > the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 12–Z. > The new Jerusalem is the Bride. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 302 > 21:U#Q Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 64–X. > Describes the Day of Bahá 'u'llá h. > 21:U#U 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Bahá'í World Faith, pp. 380–Q. > The new Jerusalem is the heavenly religion. > 21:10–17 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. I, pp. 92–c, and > Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 164–X. > Describes the twelve doors of the Heavenly Jerusalem, the > "golden rod", "angels", etc. > 21:15#Q 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains that the new Jerusalem is a pyramid > because it is a natural, enduring shape, etc. The Two Reapers > are the Bá b and Bahá 'u'llá h. In one sense, 666 refers to > Napoleon. Bahá 'u'llá h is the Prince of Peace—(From a pilgrim's > note. The answers were purportedly given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in > response to questions by Mr. E. T. Hall of Manchester, England > on 28 February 1920 and translated by Dr Luṭfu'llá h Ḥakı́m of Z > April 1920. > 21:19–20#Q The new Jerusalem and its twelve foundation stones > The first Bahá 'ı́ Principle, THE ONENESS OF THE WORLD OF HUMANITY. > Hands may be black, white, brown or yellow, but the hue of the > heart is one. The first foundation stone is jasper. It is a clear > red like the hue of the heart. > The second Bahá 'ı́ principle, THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF > TRUTH. The second foundation stone, the sapphire, is a clear > blue, 'true blue', and is the colour of faith, inspiration, loyalty > and truth. Man must be free to soar in this 'dome of heaven's > blue' and loyal to a truth when he finds it. > The third Bahá 'ı́ Principle, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELIGIONS IS ONE. > The third foundation stone, the chalcedony, is pure white. > 'While white > 303 G. Some Bahá 'ı́ Apocalyptic Writings > is apparent, yet in it are hidden and concealed the seven > colours.' White is the symbol of purity, and in its origin each > religion is pure and a brother to every other religion, for all > truth is one. > The fourth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, RELIGION MUST BE THE SOURCE OF UNITY. > The fourth foundation stone, the emerald, is green. Green is the > colour of harmony and unity. There is no colour known with > which green will not harmonize, just as the green foliage blends > with every hued flower. Green is he colour of immortality and > humility. > The fifth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, SCIENCE AND RELIGION MUST AGREE; > NEITHER MUST DENY THE OTHER. [Out of order: see note on p. 305.] > The fifth foundation stone, the sardonyx (see footnote [Chapter > 21, Note 16]) is red or brown according to the way it is held. And > so it is with science and religion; they are essentially one, but > different in colour or manifestation. The virtues of man are > many, but science is the most noble of them all. … It is the > bestowal of God; it is not material; it is Divine. Science is an > effulgence … the power of investigating the means by which > man finds a pathway to God. > The sixth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, THE EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN; THEY > MUST BE AS TWO WINGS OF THE SOUL, EACH EQUALLY DEVELOPED. [Out > of order: see note on p. 305.] The sixth foundation stone, the > sardius (see footnote [Chapter 21, Note 16]) is a stone of two > layers, one white and one red, symbolic of the two in one. > The seventh Bahá 'ı́ Principle, REMOVAL OF ALL PREJUDICE, RELIGIOUS, > RACIAL, ETC. The seventh foundation stone, the pure chrysolite, is > an exquisitely clear green. We read in the ancient philosophies > of the Chrysolite Tablet. It is a symbol of absolute sincerity and > truthfulness, of purity, of selflessness. Only when our hearts > are free and pure > The Apocalypse Unsealed 304 > from every form of prejudice and superstition can they become > the Chrysolite Tablet whereon may be engraved our thoughts of > our fellow man. > The eighth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, UNIVERSAL PEACE. The eighth > foundation stone, the beryl, is a bluish green, the blue of faith > and loyalty to our brother man, and the green of humility and > unity. These are harmoniously blended into one symmetrical > whole, like a beautiful bouquet of flowers. These established in > the hearts of men will establish UNIVERSAL PEACE. > The ninth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, UNIVERSAL EDUCATION. The ninth > foundation stone, the topaz, resembles the [golden yellow] > glory of the sun. It is symbolic of the light of knowledge and the > glory of wisdom that will result when UNIVERSAL EDUCATION is > established in the world, and when the light of the teachings of > Bahá 'u'llá h are understood and lived. > The tenth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, SOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM. > The tenth foundation stone, the chrysoprasus, is, like a > chrysolite, a clear green which embodies truthfulness, justice, > sincerity and purity. These are the requisites necessary for the > SOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM. The stone represents the > golden rule put into practice, 'Do unto others as you would have > them do unto you.' > The eleventh Bahá 'u'llá h Principle, A UNIVERSAL AUXILIARY > LANGUAGE. The eleventh foundation stone, the jacinth, is, like > jasper, a clear red, the universal colour and the hue of the heart. > The heart of a race can understand the heart of another only > when it can speak the same language. > The twelfth Bahá 'ı́ Principle, A WORLD TRIBUNAL OR PARLIAMENT OF > MAN. The twelfth > 305 G. Some Bahá 'ı́ Apocalyptic Writings > foundation stone, the amethyst, is violet. It symbolizes spiritual > light, reverence, healing, serenity and poise. The Tribunal of All > Nations must be as the ultraviolet rays of the sun for the > 'healing of the nations'. It must seek spiritual light in all > reverence, that it may fulfil its high calling, imparting a sense of > security, poise and serenity to the hearts of all humanity. > [NOTE:] (The above explanation of the twelve foundation stones was > purportedly given to Shahná z Waite by 'Abdu'l-Bahá . It should > be considered a "pilgrim's note" and therefore, not an authentic > Writing. This version of the pilgrim's note was obtained from > Flora Brooks, a Bahá 'ı́ of Staunton, Virginia, who obtained it > from Ruth Moffett. It is not clear from the text of the note which > words are direct quotes from 'Abdu'l-Bahá and which are > interpretations of interpolations by Shahná z Waite or later > transcribers. > (The writer of the present book has taken certain minor > liberties with the text to make it more readable, and also has > reversed the order of the fifth and sixth Principles in the main > text of Chapter 21. It is clear that the characteristics of the > sardonyx and sardius have somehow gotten interchanged in the > above version.) > 21:19–20#U Star of the West, Vol. XI:Q, pp. c–W. > Lists of the Twelve Basic Bahá 'ı́ Principles as they appear in the > Apocalypse. > 21:22–33 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Vol. I, pp. 10–11. > Explains that the Bahá 'ı́ spiritual meetings are inspired by God. > 21:23 Bahá'í Scriptures, Section 47, p. 117. > Bahá 'u'llá h explains that He is the Glory of God in Revelations > 21:23. > 22:Z Star of the West, II:14, pp. 12–14. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 306 > In the article In Praise of the Greatest Branch, Mı́rzá Abu'l-Faḍ l > identifies 'Abdu'l-Bahá , the Centre of the Covenant, as > illuminating the new Jerusalem, and says that the Book of Life > in under the dominion of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . > Appendix H > Late changes and errata > 'Abdu'l-Bahá's explanation of the ;,FFU days (copied from I, Daniel) > From reference 20, p. WQff: > 'Abdu'l-Bahá explains that the Q,335 years are counted in solar rather than > lunar years, because a century must elapse between the Proclamation of > Bahá 'u'llá h and the firm establishment of "the teachings of God … upon the > earth". Apparently, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was referring to some prophecy in sacred > writings. > Also, Shoghi Effendi explains that the Q,335 years end at the year CE 1963, > the date of the Foundation of the Universal House of Justice. Unfortunately, > neither 'Abdu'l-Bahá nor Shoghi Effendi shed enough light in their brief > explanations for this writer to determine the exact method of computation. > In The Apocalypse Unsealed, Appendix B, it was suggested that the beginning > point for the Q,335 years could be the Truce of al-Ḥudaybiyyah in CE 628. This > would result in the year CE 1963 as the end date of the Q,335 solar years. > It is interesting that different methods of reckoning have little effect on > the result. Regardless of what assumptions are made, it is certainly true that > the man would be happy who waited and lived to see the completion of one > thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. > The Two Lambs of the Bahá'í Dispensation > In The Apocalypse Unsealed, (ref. 19) (see Chapter W, Note c), this writer > named the two Lambs of the Bahá 'ı́ Dispensation as the Bá b and 'Abdu'l- > Bahá . At that time, Volume Z of Adib Taherzadeh's magnificent work, The > Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, was not available. It is now clear that Bahá 'u'llá h > considered Mı́rzá Mihdı́, The Purest Branch, to be a Lamb of the Bahá 'ı́ > Dispensation. This can be inferred by referring to Taherzadeh's book (Ref. > 19), Chapter 10, in which we read that the "death of the Purest Branch must > be viewed as Bahá 'u'llá h's own sacrifice, a sacrifice on the same level as the > crucifixion of Christ and the martyrdom of the Bá b." > Since Bahá 'u'llá h's Dispensation has two Lambs instead of the usual one, > this writer has now concluded that the two Lambs are probably Mı́rzá Mihdı́ > and 'Abdu'l-Bahá . The Bá b would then be the Lamb of His own Dispensation. > > ")% > The Apocalypse Unsealed 308 > The beast that was, is not, yet is > In Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse, there is a riddle concerning a "beast that > was, is not, yet is". In The Apocalypse Unsealed, this writer gave the answer to > the riddle as the empire of Alexander, since it seemed to come into existence > a second time under the Umayyad dynasty. > In researching for I, Daniel, this writer studied some of the work of great > historian Arnold J. Toynbee. Professor Toynbee points out that the empire of > Alexander did not produce a permanent change in the civilization introduced > to the region under the Persian empire. When Islá m reconquered the region, > the civilization introduced under Islá m more closely resembled the former > Persian civilization rather than the more recent Hellenistic civilization. > That being so, the answer to the riddle is probably as follows: > The beast that was: the Medeo-Persian empire; > is not: the empire of Alexander; > yet is: the Umayyad dynasty. > The One who stands at the door and knocks > Riggs originally stated that this Personage, in Revelation Z:20, referred to > Bahá 'u'llá h. He now indicates that this verse most probably refers to > Muḥ ammad, as this is His letter to the Muslim Faith. > References > Sacred writings and texts > CB—Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá 'ı́ Publishing Trust, > London > CDB—Bahá 'u'llá h, Call of the Divine Beloved, Bahá 'ı́ World Centre, Haifa, 2019. > KJV—the King James Version of the Holy Bible > 980—the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible > WAB—Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá 'ı́ World Centre > 129'A" N—(Koran), the Holy Book of Islá m > PT—'Abdu'l-Bahá , Paris Talks, Bahá 'ı́ Publishing Trust, London > SAQ—'Abdu'l-Bahá , Some Answered Questions, Und edn, 2014. > SWB—Selections from the Writings of the Bá b, Bahá 'ı́ World Centre, Haifa > > Sacred texts published by the Bahá'í Publishing > Trust, Wilmette, Illinois > PUP—'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Promulgation of Universal Peace > SDC—'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Secret of Divine Civilization > BOC—Bahá 'u'llá h, The Book of Certitude (The Kitáb-i-Íqán) > BWF—Bahá 'u'llá h and 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Bahá'í World Faith > ESW—Bahá 'u'llá h, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf > PMB—Bahá 'u'llá h, Prayers and Meditations > ROM—Bahá 'u'llá h and 'Abdu'l-Bahá , The Reality of Man > GWB—Bahá 'u'llá h, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh > THW—Bahá 'u'llá h, The Hidden Words > GPB—Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By > WOB—Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh > > ")& > The Apocalypse Unsealed 310 > TDB—Nabil's Narrative, The Dawn-Breakers, tr. and ed. by Shoghi Effendi > TCH—Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway > WAT—The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá > ADJ—Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice > PDIC—Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come > TDH—This Decisive Hour: Messages from Shoghi Effendi to the North > American Bahá'ís jklm–jkop > > Sacred writings that are out of print > TAB—'Abdu'l-Bahá , Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas, Bahá 'ı́ Publishing > Committee, N.Y., 1940 (in three volumes) > SM—Mı́rzá Asadu'llá h, Sacred Mysteries, Bahá 'ı́ Supply and Publishing Board, > Chicago, 1902. > BS—Bahá 'u'llá h and 'Abdu'l-Bahá , Bahá'í Scriptures, edited by Horace Holley, > Bahá 'ı́ Publishing Committee, N.Y., (Brantanos, 1923) > > Secular references > Q. Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols, Doubleday and Company, > Garden City, NY. > U. Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion, Yale University Press, New > Haven, Conn., 1971. > Z. Hans Jonas, The Gnostic Religion, Und edition, revised, Beacon > Press, Boston, 1963. > c. Ernst Muller, History of Jewish Mysticism, Oxford, 1946. > 311 References > W. Alan Oken, As Above, So Below, Bantam Books, N.Y., 1973. > Y. Peter Tompkins, Secrets of the Great Pyramid, Harper and Row, > N.Y., 1971. > X. Otto Rank, Beyond Psychology, Dover Publications, N.Y., 1958. > S. Carlo Suares, The Cipher of Genesis, Shambhala Publications, > Berkeley, Calif., 1970. > R. John Michell, City of Revelation, Garnstone Press, London, 1972; > republished by Ballantine Books, N.Y., 1973. > 10. E. T. Bell, Men of Mathematics, Dover Publications, N.Y., 1977. > 11. Christopher Butler, Number symbolism, Barnes and Noble, N.Y., > 1970. > 12. Elena Maria Marsella, The Quest for Eden, Philosophical Library, > N.Y., 1966. > 13. Jose A. Arguelles, The Transformative Vision, Shambhala > Publications, Berkeley, Calif., 1975. > 14. Roland H. Bainton, Christendom, Vol. Q, Harper and Row, N.Y., > 1966. > 15. Abu'l-Qá sim Faizi, Explanation of the Emblem of the Greatest > Name, Bahá 'ı́ News, Wilmette, Ill., October 1968. > 16. Aristotle, De Caelo. > 17. Adelaide S. Hall, A Glossary of Important Symbols, Bates and > Guild, Boston, 1912. > 18. Dhikru'llá h Ká dem, Bahá'u'lláh and His Most Holy Shrine, Bahá 'ı́ > News, Wilmette, Ill., March 1976, No. 540. > 19. James D. Watson, The Double Helix, Atheneum, N.Y., 1968. > 20. Rudolf Bultmann, Primitive Christianity in its Contemporary > Setting, tr. Reverend R. H. Fuller, Meridian Books, World > Publishing Co., Cleveland and N.Y., 1956. > 21. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Vol. Q, George > Ronald, Oxford, 1974. > 22. Not used. > 23. Huston Smith, The Religions of Man, Harper and Brothers, N.Y., > 1958. > The Apocalypse Unsealed 312 > 24. Jamshed K. Fozdar, The God of Buddha, Asia Publishing House, > N.Y., 1973. > 25. Edward Conze, Buddhism: Its Essence and Development, > Philosophical Library, N.Y., 1951. > 26. Jacques Duchesne-Guillemin, Symbols and Values in > Zoroastrianism, Harper and Row, N.Y., 1966. > 27. Trevor Ravenscroft, The Spear of Destiny, Neville Spearman > Publishers, U.K.; G. P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y., 1973. > 28. William Sears, Thief in the Night, George Ronald, Oxford, 1974. > 29. Plato, Timaeus, in The Dialogues of Plato, Liveright Publishing > Corp., N.Y., 1927. > 30. Simeon L. Guterman, Religious Toleration and Persecution in > Ancient Rome, London, 1961. > 31. Syed Aeer Ali, The Spirit of Islám, W. H. Allen Co., London, 1891; > New Ed., Christophers, 1935. > 32. T. W. Arnold, The Preaching of Islám, Scribners, N.Y., 1913. > 33. S. Runciman, The Fall of Constantinople joql, Cambridge > University Press, 1965. > 34. Alexis Perrey, Note sur les tremblements de terre, Academie > Royale des Sciences des lettres et des Beaux Artes de Belgique, > Bulletin, Vol. 18, No. c, pp. 291–308 of the First Series, 1855. > 35. G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, Clark, Edinburgh, > 1956. > 36. E. J. Brill, The Encyclopedia of Islám, Vols. I–IV, Qst ed. Leiden, > 1913–1942; Vols. I, II, new ed., Leiden, 1960–1966. > 37. H. M. Balyuzi, Muḥammad and the Course of Islám, George > Ronald, Publisher, Oxford, 1976. > 38. V. V. Barthold, Turkestan down to the Mongol Invasion, Und ed. > 1958. > 39. Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, Zondervan Publishing > House, 1970. > 40. Not used. > 313 References > 41. J. E. Esslemont, Bahá'u'lláh, and the New Era, Bahá 'ı́ Publishing > Trust, Wilmette, Ill., 1970. > 42. F. H. Colson, G. H. Whitaker, Philo, Vol. I, London, 1929. > 43. P. Brown, Augustine of Hippo, London, 1967. > 44. H. E. Huntley, The Divine Proportion, Dover Publications, N.Y., > 1970. > 45. Rú hı́yyih Rabbani, The Priceless Pearl, Bahá 'ı́ Publishing Trust, > 27 Rutland Gate, London 857. > 46. John Michell, The View Over Atlantis, Revised ed., Garnstone > Press, London, 1972. > 47. Anonymous (W. Stirline), The Canon, Elkin Matthews, London, > 1897. > 48. F. B. Bone and Dr. T. S. Lea, Gematria, Basil Blackwell, Oxford. > 49. F. B. Bond and Dr. T. S. Lea, The Cabala, Basil Blackwell, Oxford, > 1917. > 50. F. B. Bond, The Gate of Remembrance, Basil Blackwell, Oxford, > 1921. > 51. Christopher Dawson, et al, St. Augustine, His Age, Life, and > Thought, Meridian Books, The World Publishing Company, > Cleveland, Ohio, 1969. > 52. Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield, The Passover Plot, Bernard Geis > Associates, N.Y., 1966; Bantam Books, N.Y., 1975. > 53. O. Neugebauer, The Exact Sciences in Antiquity, second edition, > Dover Publications, N.Y., 1969. > 54. Fritjob Capra, The Tao of Physics, Shambhala Publications, > Berkeley, 1975. > 55. Barry Fell, America B.C., Demeter Press, N.Y., 1977. > 56. Ernest G. McClain, The Myth of Invariance, Shambhala, Boulder > and London, 1978. > 57. Star of the West, republished by George Ronald, Publisher, > Oxford, 1978. > 58. Giorgio de Santillana and Hertha von Dechend, Hamlet's > The Apocalypse Unsealed 314 > Mill, Gambit, Boston, 1969; David R. Godine, Boston, 1977. > 59. Arthur M. Harding, PhD., Astronomy, Garden City Publishing Co., > Inc., Garden City, N.Y., 1935. > 60. H. M. Balyuzi, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, George Ronald, Publisher, Oxford, > 1973. > 61. Matila Ghyka, The Geometry of Art and Life, Dover Publications, > N.Y., 1977. > 62. R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz, The Temple in Man, The Autumn > Press, Brookline, Mass., 1977. > 63. David Brady, The Book of Revelation and the Qur'á n: Is There a > Possible Literary Relationship?, Journal of Semitic Studies, Vol. > XXIII, #U, Autumn, 1978. > 64. Carl Jung, Psychology and Alchemy, Collected Works, Bollingen > Series 77, N.Y., 1953. > 65. Morton Edgar, The Great Pyramid—Its Scientific Features, > MacLure and MacDonald, Glasgow, 1924. > 66. Morton Edgar, The Great Pyramid: Its Spiritual Symbolism, Bone > and Hulley, Glasgow, 1924. > 67. Morton Edgar, The Great Pyramid and Its Time Features, Bone > and Hulley, Glasgow, 1924. > > — *Apocalypse Unsealed (Used by permission of the curator)*