THE APOCALYPSE
An Exegesis
by
Robert F. Riggs
December 1, 1997
DISCLAIMER
The opinions and interpretations expressed in this book are
strictly those of the author, and do not represent official
opinions or interpretations of any agency of the Baha'i
Administrative Order.
FOREWORD
The original exegesis of the Apocalypse, written by the
author, was reviewed by the Baha'i Universal House of Justice and
was approved by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
States. It was published and copyrighted by Philosophical Library
of New York in 1981 under the title THE APOCALYPSE UNSEALED.
Since its publication, the publisher has gone out of business and
the work is out of print. There have been many requests for
copies of THE APOCALYPSE UNSEALED that could not be satisfied.
This present work represents an attempt to overcome some of
the errors and valid criticisms of the original work and to
incorporate new knowledge that the author has acquired over the
past fifteen years. It includes several additions and
modifications that, in the author's opinion, do not violate the
spirit of the original work. However, the present work has not
been presented for review to the National Spiritual Assembly of
the United States. The reader is therefore advised to be critical
of the opinions and interpretations expressed herein and to
reject any that seem at variance with his own beliefs as a
Baha'i. The author has made an attempt to point out all
significant divergences between the original work and this new
work.
Every reasonable attempt has been made to make the new
exegesis free of copyright entanglements by alterations in the
original wording, by the deletion of major portions of the
original work, and by the introduction of new material. As far as
the author is concerned, the reader is permitted to make
duplicate copies and to distribute them, provided (1) that he/she
makes no attempt to obtain a copyright, and (2) that he/she does
not realize a monetary profit, and (3) that the ENTIRE work,
including this FOREWORD, is reproduced and distributed, and (4)
that no alterations and/or additions to the text are to be
made without the author's approval. Sections of the text of this
work up to 1,000 words in length may be quoted and/or reprinted
for the purposes of criticism or commentary without the express
permission of the author, provided the source(s) of the quote(s)
is/are given.
In BAHA'I NEWS, No. 77, September 1933, Shoghi Effendi tells
us that only the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha [regarding biblical
exegesis] are truly authoritative, but that if his statements
cannot be discovered, we are free to tentatively accept the
opinions of scholars.
INTRODUCTION
PREFACE
'Abdu'l-Baha has told us that there are many meanings to
every word of the Apocalypse. {1} It is, therefore, axiomatic
that this effort does not reveal all the meanings and nuances
latent in this astonishing Book. Nor do I make apologies for my
first effort, THE APOCALYPSE UNSEALED, published over fifteen
years ago. At that time, it was the best that I could achieve.
Since then, hopefully, I have gained some added knowledge and
new insights. This new effort may remedy some of the weaknesses
of my earlier work.
It is my hope and wish, as it was fifteen years ago, that
this work will inspire other Baha'i commentators and scholars to
continue the work of exegesis, not only of the Apocalypse, but of
other Sacred Writings. The Books are unsealed- it is simply a
matter of applying one's mind to uncovering the precious jewels
that once lay hidden beneath the dross that millennia of 'idle
fancies and vain imaginings' have placed over them.
The discussion, for the most part, will be informal. Unless
otherwise noted, the King James Version (KJV) will be used, but
with occasional references to the REVISED ENGLISH BIBLE (REB),
the REVISED STANDARD VERSION (RSV), and the NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION (NIV). Actually, there are no irreconcilable
disagreements between these versions, but certain nuances may
affect the interpretation.
To avoid cluttering up the text, most biblical and other
references will be appended at the end of the book. Notes will be
identified by braces around the number; for example {3} means
Note number 3. Also I have made an effort, in many cases, to
distinguish my own comments with square brackets: [comment].
Hopefully, this will reduce some of the confusion between
commentary and text, but the reader is always invited to study
the biblical text for himself to see if he agrees.
The letters 'BH' will stand for 'Baha'u'llah,' the letters
'AB' will stand for ''Abdu'l-Baha,' the letters 'SE' will stand
for 'Shoghi Effendi.' For example, the claim of Baha'u'llah that
He manifests the 'Beginning and the End...,' etc. will be
identified as '-BH: GWB, pp 54, 168', meaning that the words are
attributed to Baha'u'llah, and can be found in GLEANINGS FROM THE
WRITINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH, pages 54 and 168.
AN OPTION FOR THE READER
Baha'is are neither numerologists nor astrologers; nor do
they indulge in any occult practices, unless prayer and
meditation be considered 'occult.' However, Baha'is do recognize
that the Manifestations have employed number and astrological
symbolism in the Sacred Writings, sometimes to conceal, at other
times to reveal, spiritual realities.
Ancient esoterica is not everyone's strong suit. The
paragraphs that follow may require some careful study by the
uninitiated. Unless one has a penchant for it, I suggest that
the reader move on to Chapter 1 and return to this Introduction
as he/she deems necessary.
ASTROLOGICAL SYMBOLISM
This is probably the most difficult subject for the casual
reader to understand. The perplexed are invited to read HAMLET'S
MILL, a classic exposition of the subject co-authored by the
great de Santillana, a professor of philosophy at MIT when I took
his course in the forties. Also, if one is fortunate enough to
find a copy, I recommend ASTRONOMY by Dr. Arthur M. Harding. This
book was the first to open my eyes to the inescapable conclusion
that the Bible is adorned with astrological symbolism. But only
'Abdu'l-Baha seems to have recognized that astrological symbolism
is absolutely essential for an understanding of the Apocalypse.
Because it is essential, I am forced to present a brief
introduction to the subject, knowing full well that the serious
reader will have to pursue the subject elsewhere.
According to ancient astrological theory, the fixed stars
were located on an enormous crystalline 'celestial sphere.' A
band of stars demarcated the region on the celestial sphere
through which travelled the sun and the other six known planets
('wanderers'). This band was called the zodiac ('circle of
beasts'), and consisted of 12 constellations of fixed stars. The
names of the twelve constellations or 'signs' were and are still
called:
ZODIACAL ORDER; SIGN OR CONSTELLATION; ENGLISH NAME
1; Aries; Ram
2; Taurus; Bull
3; Gemini; Twins
4; Cancer; Crab
5; Leo; Lion
6; Virgo; Virgin
7; Libra; Scales
8; Scorpio; Scorpion
9; Sagittarius; Archer
10; Capricornus; Goat
11; Aquarius; Water Bearer
12; Pisces; Fishes
The zodiac was considered to be the 'true earth.' The stars
and planets that inhabited the true earth were called the 'lords
of time,' the originators of history, with earthbound man playing
the role of mere spectators to 'earthshaking' cosmic events.
Since the earth is tilted on its axis, we have the four
seasons of the year, caused by the angle at which the sunlight
reaches the earth. The more nearly overhead the sun appears at
noon, the hotter the day. During the summertime, the sunlight
reaches the earth at a steep angle; during wintertime, the
sunlight reaches the earth at a shallow angle.
The four seasons are related to the four 'corners' or
'pillars' of the sky. These 'pillars' are the constellations in
the zodiac where the sun is located at the equinoxes and
solstices. The equinoxes are the two events during the year when
the days and nights are of equal duration, roughly March 21, the
Spring equinox, and September 21, the Fall equinox. The two
solstices are the events when the day is longest and shortest,
roughly June 21, the Summer solstice, and December 21, the Winter
solstice.
If one connects the 'four corners' of the zodiac with
imaginary straight lines, one obtains the 'square earth.'
At first thought, it would seem that the four corners of the
square earth should remain fixed throughout all eternity. Alas,
this is an error. Actually, since the earth rotates on its axis,
it is subject to what is called the 'gyroscopic precession
effect.' Everyone who has spun a toy top has witnessed the
gyroscopic precession effect that causes a tilted top to
'precess' about its vertical axis at a relatively slow rate.
Since the earth is tilted on its axis, it too precesses. The rate
is very slow, one complete cycle of precession requiring roughly
25-thousand years.
A little reflection should convince the reader that the
gyroscopic precession effect will cause the equinoxes and
solstices to precess also, with the dawning place of the sun at,
say, the Spring equinox, to move along the zodiac. This movement
is called the Precession of the Equinoxes.
The 12 signs of the zodiac are envisioned as 12 'doors' or
'houses.' Because of the Precession, the sun enters a different
'house' at springtime about once per 2-thousand years and causes
us to enter a new astrological 'Age.' The phenomenon was well
known to the ancient astrologers, and it was used as a title of
the Age of human history in which one lived. If the sun rose in
Aries at the Spring equinox, it was called the Age of ARIES. If
the Spring equinox was in Pisces, it was called the Age of
PISCES, etc. Actually, every astrological Age had a double name,
e.g. ARIES-Libra, PISCES-Virgo, etc. The double name comes from
the names of the constellations or 'signs' where the sun rises at
both the SPRING and Fall seasons of the year. Modern astrologers
say that we are now entering the Age of AQUARIUS-Leo.
This isn't quite the whole story, since the Precession will
cause the sun to complete the whole 'circle of beasts' and to
reappear in Aries at Springtime after a 'time circle' of about
25-thousand years. Accustomed as we are in the post-Newtonian
world to open-ended 'linear time,' the ancient concept of circles
('infinities') of time is difficult to grasp. However,
mind-boggling Baha'i Era concepts such as the relativity of time,
black holes, and oscillating universes, are forcing us to accept
the validity of such paradoxes, at least in the physical realm.
Apparently, the ancient astrologers held analogous concepts
applicable to the realm of the spirit.
The numerical order of the Precession is opposite to the
zodiacal order. That is, the constellation seems to gradually lag
behind the equinoxes. For example, during the Age of Pisces, the
Spring equinox was in Pisces, the twelfth sign in the zodiacal
order. Now the Spring equinox occurs in Aquarius, the eleventh
sign in the zodiacal order. This fact will become significant in
later chapters.
Next, we consider some astrological symbolism in the Book of
Genesis. Genesis 49 is a word picture describing the signs of
the zodiac and are correlated with the names of the 12 tribes:
Reuben, 'boiling over with water,' is Aquarius (the Water Bearer)
Simeon and Levi, 'the brethren,' are Gemini (the Twins)
Judah,'the lion's whelp,' is Leo (the Lion)
Zebulon, 'who shall dwell at the beach of the sea,' is Pisces
(the Fishes)
Issachar, 'a gelded donkey lying down in the cattle pens (REB),'
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). [Aries, being the first sign of
the zodiac, 'presses upon their heel' in the circular
zodiac.]
Asher, 'the weigher of bread,' is Libra (the Scales)
Nephtali, 'a hind let loose,' is Capricorn (the Goat)
Joseph, 'whose bow abides in strength,' is Sagittarius (the
Archer)
Benjamin, 'ravening as a wolf, devouring his prey by morning,
dividing the spoil at night,' is Cancer (the Crab)
The 12 sons have been named but one sign remains- Virgo (the
Virgin). This sign is 'veiled,' and is correlated with Dinah,
Jacob's daughter (Gen 30:21).
In addition to the names 'Pisces,' etc., the ancient Jewish
astrologers named the signs of the zodiac after the twelve tribes
in the manner suggested in Genesis. Thus the name of the first
sign was 'Gad/Aries'; the second sign was 'Issachar/Taurus', etc.
It is hoped that this brief discussion will permit the
reader to move on. An effort will be made to elaborate on the
subject as the Apocalypse unfolds.
LETTER-NUMBER MYSTICISM
Gematria
Gematria is the name given to one form of letter-number
mysticism that was extensively used in ancient mystical
literature. It flows naturally from the fact that ordinary
letters were used BOTH as letters and as numbers. The result was
that some numbers would spell significant words, and some words
had significant numerical values. Gematria was used in the Greek,
Hebrew, and Arabic languages. The letters with their numerical
equivalents are given in the following Table:
Numbers 1 through 9:
1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9:
Greek:
alpha; beta; gamma; delta; epsilon; stigma*; zeta; eta;
theta
Hebrew:
aleph; beth; ghimmel; dallet; hay; waw; zayn; hayt; tayt
Arabic:
alif, hamza; beh; jim; dal; ha; waw; ze; he; ta
Numbers 10 through 90:
10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60; 70; 80; 90:
Greek:
iota; kappa; lambda; mu; nu; xi; omicron; pi; goppa*
Hebrew:
yod; khaf; lammed; mem; noun; sammekh; ayn; phay; tsadde
Arabic:
ye; kef; lam; mim; nun; sin; ain; fe; sad
Numbers 100 through 900:
100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600; 700; 800; 900:
Greek:
rho; sigma; tau; upsilon; phi; chi; psi; omega; sampi*
Hebrew:
qof; raysh; sheen; tay; final khaf; final mem; final noun;
final phay; final tsadde
Arabic:
qaf; re; shin; te; se; khe; zai; dad; za
Number 1000:
Greek:
(none)
Hebrew:
large aleph
Arabic:
ghain
* The Greek letters stigma, goppa and sampi were used only in
numerical work. In literary works, the numerical values 6, 90,
and 900 were generated by a combination of other letters.
By 'literal value' I mean the gematrical value. It is
obtained by totaling the numerical values of the letters in the
word or phrase. For example, the Greek letter 'Alpha' has the
value 1. The Greek letter 'Omega' has the value 800. Therefore
'the Alpha and the Omega' has the literal value of 801.
An important case is the name Baha'. In Arabic it is spelled
'Beh, alif, ha, hamza.' Its literal value is (2 + 1 + 5 + 1) = 9.
The fundamental idea of gematria is explained by Plato in
his CRATYLOS: the force of a name is to found in its numerical
value, while words and phrases of the same value may be
substituted without loss of meaning.
By 'archetypal value' I mean the value obtained by
'cabalistic contraction.' It is obtained by successively adding
the numerical components of a number until a single digit is
obtained. For example, the archetypal value of 801 is (8 + 0 + 1)
= 9. Another example: the archetypal value of 7,637 is obtained
by first adding (7 + 6 + 3 + 7) to obtain 23. Then add the
resulting numerical components (2 + 3) to obtain 5. Thus the
archetypal value of 7,637 is 5.
SOME NUMEROLOGY
The significance of the numbers Four and Seven should be
discussed very briefly to better understand why these two numbers
were used extensively in ancient sacred literature.
Among the ancients, the Four was considered representative
of the World of Man. For example, there were 4 'elements' (fire,
air, earth, water); 4 societal levels (man, village, city,
nation); 4 seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter), 4 eras of
human growth (infancy, youth, maturity, old age); and 4 eras of
historical growth (gold, silver, bronze, iron). The list goes on.
Today, we recognize, e.g., that 4 colors are needed to color a
political map (without colonies) {4}, and, essentially, anything
that can be 'ex-plained' (i.e. 'taught from a plane surface')
through appropriate definitions, can be reduced to 4 initial
categories.
Seven was a highly spiritual number, the union (sum) of
heaven (3) and earth (4). Some ancients considered 7 to be the
'number of opportunity.' {5} As a symbol of opportunity, recall
that animals entered Noah's ark by sevens. {6} Some considered 7
to be the 'number of expiation and sacrifice.' For example, Jacob
spent 7 years in servitude for Leah and 7 more years for Rachel
{7}; the Ark of the Covenant was in the land of the Philistines
for 7 months {8}; and the Israelites were in bondage for 7
decades. {9} As the number of 'trial and punishment,' recall that
7 years was the legal limit of slavery under Mosaic law. Again
the list goes on, and the influence of the Four and the Seven
appears to have been felt throughout the entire ancient world.
TRIANGULAR VALUE
The 'triangular value' of a number is obtained by summing
all the numbers 'contained' in a number. For example, the
triangular value of 4 is (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) = the decade 10. In the
ancient Pythagorean and Hebraic schools, the number 4 was highly
regarded because it contained all the numbers necessary to create
the decade. And since all numbers higher than 9 were considered
to be emanations of the archetypal numbers 1 through 9, then the
4 was therefore a 'primal number' from which all other numbers
could be generated. Even today we can see evidence of the ancient
canon in the 4 points of the Christian Cross, the 4 Central
Apostles, the Squared Circle {2}, etc.
KLIMA
'Klima' was an extension of the concept of the triangular
value into the realm of letter-mysticism. In particular, certain
4-letter words were highly regarded as 'generators' from which
other entities could be derived. An important example is the
Tetragrammaton 'YHWH' (Jehovah).
To make use of this principle, the 4 letters contained
within the word are first arranged into a triangle:
Y
YH
YHW
YHWH
Next, we assign the gematrical values to the combinations
of letters. By the Hebrew gematria, the Y (Yod) has the value 10;
the H (Hay) has the value 5; the W (Waw) has the value 6.
Therefore, the Tetragrammaton has the values:
10 Sum = 10
10, 5 Sum = 15
10, 5, 6 Sum = 21
10, 5, 6, 5 Sum = 26
Now we make use of the fundamental idea of gematria as
explained above: the force of a name is to found in its numerical
value, while words and phrases of the same value may be
substituted without loss of meaning. In this case, any word or
phrase that has the values 10, 15, 21, or 26 can be substituted
for a row of the Tetragrammaton. Other combinations are also
valid. In particular, 'Adam' has the value 45 while 'Eve' has the
value 15. Thus Adam can be derived by summing the four tens in
the first column plus the 5 in the last column; Eve can be
derived by summing the three fives in the second column. Other
important numbers are immediately evident, such as the 40 (= the
years in the wilderness, etc.) in the first column, the 12 (= the
signs of the zodiac, the sons of Jacob, etc.) in the third
column. The 'Number of Man' {3} is Five and can be seen in the
fourth column.
The numerologically important number 72 is the value
obtained by the total klima of YHWH, that is, by summing the
numbers (10 + 15 + 21 +26). It is related to the 'Divided Name of
YHWH' obtained from Exodus 14 verses 19, 20, 21. Each of these
verses has 72 letters in the Hebrew. Writing these three verses
one above the other, verse 19 right to left, verse 20 left to
right, and verse 21 right to left, produces 72-three letter names
of God. Also called the 'Schemhamphoras.'
PROPHETIC TIME SCALES
The following temporal terms are found in prophetic biblical
writings:
A 'prophetic day' is usually taken as a year. Most biblical
scholars justify this definition by quoting Numbers 14:34 and
Ezekiel 4:6, in which it is said that a day of the Lord is equal
to a year. But in recognizing that a number-archetype may be
involved, 'one' prophetic day may equal 1 year, or 1 decade, or 1
century, or 1 millennium {10}, etc. Usually, calendar years are
intended, but in one instance (11:8-10), the 'day' is a
'prophetic year' or a 'time' (see below).
An 'evening and a morning' is taken as an EXACT 'prophetic
day.' The justification for this definition is that it works well
in the one place it is encountered: Daniel 8:13.
A 'prophetic week' is usually taken as seven calendar years.
But again, if 'seven prophetic days' are intended, it might mean
7 years, or 7 decades, or 7 centuries, or 7 millennia, etc.
A 'prophetic' month is taken as 30 calendar years. The 30
day month can be inferred by correlating Genesis 7:11, 24, and
8:4.
A 'prophetic year' is taken as 360 calendar years. It is
based on the 360 day calendar of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
The use of the 360 day calendar in biblical allegory can be
inferred by correlating the dates in Genesis 7:11, 24, and 8:4.
A 'time' is taken as 360 years. (The word 'time' is from the
Hebrew 'mowed,' conventionally a year of calendar time, but more
generally, a 'fixed time' or season.) The length of the year can
be inferred from the context, but is usually a lunar year. The
justification for this definition of the word 'time' is (1) the
use of the lunar calendar in the ancient Near East, and (2) to
allow a calendar year for each 'day' of the 360-day 'prophetic
year.'
The word 'times' is taken as 2 'times,' that is, 720 lunar
years. The justification for this definition is the dual form of
the Hebrew word in Daniel 12:7 in which 'times' is clearly 2
'times.'
A 'lunar year' is the time required for 12 lunations, equal
to 354.367 days.
A solar year is the time between equinoxes or solstices,
equal to 365.242 days.
There are 1.03069 lunar years in a solar year.
A NOTE CONCERNING TITLES
The epithet 'messiah' (Hebrew 'mashiyach') means
'anointed,' a title applied to kings, priests, and other
potentates in the Hebrew world. Originally, the term 'messiah'
simply meant 'ruler.' In later Hebrew history, the term 'Messiah'
became identified with the 'Messiah' of the Age of Redemption.
The word is found in Daniel 9:25, 26 where it is widely
considered a prophecy of the Advent of Jesus among both Christian
and Baha'i commentators.
The word 'Messias,' found in John 1:41 and 4:25, is a Greek
spelling of 'Messiah.'
The epithet 'Christ' (Greek 'Christos') is the Greek
equivalent of 'Messiah' and also means 'Anointed.'
The word 'Lord,' in most of the Old Testament, means
'Jehovah.'
In Genesis 15:2, 8 and 18:3, the word 'Lord' is the Hebrew
'Adown,' meaning 'Sovereign.'
Daniel uses the word 'Lord' in various forms: 'Adown,'
'Adonay,' and 'Jehovah,' where 'Adonay' is an emphatic form of
'Adown.' Daniel 2:47 uses the epithet 'Lord of kings,' where
'Lord' is the Chaldean 'Mare,' a 'domineering Master.'
All of the New Testament, except Revelation 6:10, uses the
word 'Lord' = Greek 'Kyrios,' meaning 'supreme in authority, ' a
'controller.' This was the most popular epithet for Jesus in the
early Christian world and likened him to a mystery deity.
Revelation 6:10 uses the word 'Lord' = Greek 'Despotes.' an
'Absolute Ruler.'
'King' in most of the Old Testament is the Hebrew 'melek' =
'king.' Daniel uses the Chaldean form of 'melek' to refer to the
king of the Chaldeans.
'King' in the New Testament is from the Greek 'basileios' =
'king.' The word is found in Matthew 27:11-42; Mark 15:2, 9-32;
Luke 19:38, 23:2, 37-38; John 1:49, 12:13-15, 18:33-39,
19:3, 14-21. Since all 'kings,' among other epithets, bore the
title 'anointed,' the word 'basileios' implied a higher rank than
'christos.'
In 1 Timothy 6:15, Paul uses the epithet 'King of kings and
Lord of lords' in connection with the Second Coming of Christ,
but apparently reserves the title for the Supreme Being.
In Revelation 17:14, we find the epithet 'Lord of lords,
and King of kings.' In Revelation 19:16 we find the epithet
reversed and capitalized: 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'
The reversing of the epithet suggests that the 'Lamb' of 17:14
is not the same Figure as 'Faithful and True' of verse 19:16. In
fact, 17:14 refers to the Bab while 19:16 refers to Baha'u'llah.
Collectively, they are the 'Twin Manifestation.' (In the context
of astrological symbolism, Gemini opens the door to the future
and is the 'Alpha' or 'Beginning.' Gemini also closes the door
to the past and is the 'Omega' or 'Ending.' Thus the 'Alpha' is
the 'twin' of the 'Omega.')
CHAPTER 1- THE GREATEST NAME
SYNOPSIS:
The Book opens with a brief preface explaining that the
Revelation is from Jesus Christ and is delivered by his angel to
John. The events in the prophecy are to commence very soon, but
the time duration of the prophecy is not specified. [The date of
the Revelation is circa 104 CE.]
John first relays a message of grace and peace to the 7
Divinely revealed Churches [Faiths] of the region called 'Asia,'
a region roughly equivalent to the modern Middle East. Each of
the 7 Churches is under the aegis of a Spirit, the prophetic
spirit of a Divine Revelator, who is seated before the heavenly
throne.
The 7 Spirits also represent the name 'Baha'u'llah' and are
Manifestations of the single Spirit of Baha'u'llah. Additionally,
the 7 Spirits relate to the 7 planets, the 'gods' that
astrologers considered to be the 'Executors of the Divine Will.'
Jesus reveals some of his roles, while John warns that "he
will come with clouds" [obscuring veils, trouble, divine mercy,
etc.]. When he does return, all those with [spiritual] eyes will
"see" him and realize he has been re-Manifested.
The Lord then reveals that He is the "Alpha" and the
"Omega," which has the archetypal value of 9. He is the
"beginning"and the "ending," suggesting among other things, that
his name is hidden in the first and last words of the Revelation
("Apocalypse" and "Amen"), both of which have an archetypal value
of 9. He also reveals for the first of 9-times that He is the
"Pantocrator."
John is then commanded by a loud trumpet-like voice to write
down in a book what he "sees" and send it to the 7 Churches of
Asia: Sabaean [Peace], Jewish [Benevolence}, Hindu [Law],
Zoroastrian [Light], Buddhist [Truth], Christian [Brotherly
Love], and Muslim [Justice]. Turning to see the speaker of the
voice, he sees Baha'u'llah standing amidst 7 golden candlesticks.
He holds 7 stars in his right hand, and explains that he is the
"first and the last," etc.. He also reveals that he has the "keys
of hell and death" [the power of judgement].
John is again commanded to "write down" what he sees. The 7
"stars" are revealed to be the "angels" [Revelators] of the 7
Churches. The 7 stars equate to the planetary 'gods.' The 7 stars
also represent the name 'Husayn-'Ali, the proper name of
Baha'u'llah. Furthermore, the 7 "candlesticks" are revealed to be
the 7 Churches. The word picture that John writes down is thereby
revealed to be a form of the Greatest Name Emblem of the Baha'i
Faith.
PREFACE:
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew
unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he
sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who
bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus
Christ, and of all things he saw. 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. -Rev. 1:1-3
Modern translations read "the time is at hand," etc. as
meaning that the events of the prophecy are to start unfolding in
the near future. The total duration of the prophecy is not
defined by these verses, and in fact will span about 19
centuries.
SALUTATION:
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 the throne; -
Rev 1:4
The term 'Asia' could refer to either the Roman Province of
Asia or to the larger Region of continental Asia. The Roman
province of Asia was limited to modern Asia Minor. In the early
centuries CE, the Region of Asia included India and Arabia, but
did not include modern Asiatic Russia or the Far East.
If one interprets it as the Province, then the 7 churches
which, for some reason, Jesus addresses this mighty Book, have a
literal meaning that is obvious. If one enlarges the scope of the
term 'Asia' to include the whole Region, then the prophecy has a
broader, more profound meaning. In the broader sense, the 7
Churches of Asia then represent those religions of Asia and of
the Prophetic Cycle {1} that will have living followers at the
Advent of Baha'u'llah.
The 7 Spirits before the throne also has multiple meanings.
The names 'Baha'u'llah' and 'Husayn-'Ali' (the proper name of
Baha'u'llah) both have seven letters in Arabic, and the Master,
'Abdu'l-Baha {2} has given the name 'Baha'u'llah' as one meaning
of the 7 Spirits. It should be pointed out that the 7 Spirits
also have an astrological significance that will become evident
later on.
"Him which is, which was, and which is to come" is one name
for the Lord God and derives from ancient Jewish mysticism. The
phrase implies a cyclicity of time that is related to
astrological Ages. Another possible meaning of the phrase "Him
which is, which was, and which is to come" is God as His
recurring Manifestations.
Baha'u'llah has explained to us that God educates mankind in
phases. Each phase is approximately a thousand years in duration
and is ushered in by a Revelator who holds undisputed sway during
the Age.
Before 1844 CE there were 7 revealed monotheistic Faiths in
the Region known as Asia. They were:
FAITH; REVELATOR
Sabaean; Unknown
Jewish; Moses
Hindu; Krishna
Zoroastrian; Zoroaster (Zarathustra)
Buddhist; Gautama Buddha
Christian; Jesus Christ
Muslim; Muhammad
If we include the Babi and Baha'i Faiths revealed after 1844
the list has 9 members. The Apocalypse is addressed to the 7
Divinely revealed Faiths of the Region of Asia and reveals the
Advents of the Bab and Baha'u'llah.
Another meaning of the Jewish Menorah may be revealed here.
The 7 candlesticks of the Menorah are named Peace, Benevolence,
Justice, Light, Truth, Brotherly Love, and Harmony [or Law?]. It
will become evident that their names are probably correlated with
the names of the 7 Churches.
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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his
Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. -
Rev 1:5-6
The message is also from Jesus Christ, [who, incidentally,
was the "morning star" (verse 22:16) of the astrological Age of
Pisces]. Jesus Christ is a faithful witness that these things
will come to pass. Jesus was the first to be raised from the
spiritually dead during his ministry.{3} He is the spiritual
Prince of the kings and rulers of the earth. By sacrificing his
blood (spiritual life-force) Jesus raised the early Christians
from spiritual death.
In the symbolism of the Apocalypse, such terms as 'death'
and 'life' usually refer to 'spiritual death,' etc. ('Leave the
dead to bury their dead.'{4}) 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.
Sin can have various aspects: disobeying God's laws as
revealed by His Manifestation; enslavement to animal passions and
motivations; attachment to the contingent world of attributes and
duality.
HE WILL COME WITH CLOUDS:
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. -Rev 1:7
Again, 'spiritual' should be associated with the word
'eyes.' Eventually, everyone with spiritual vision will know that
the Christ has been re-Manifested. Whether one blames the Jews,
or the Romans, or both for the Crucifixion is irrelevant, since
the spiritually astute of every nation will become aware. The
"wailing" of the nations reflects the sorrow experienced because
of their lost opportunity to recognize and obey him.
Clouds means troubles and a veil between man and heaven.
Because the Manifestation comes in a human body and with human
limitations, such things cast doubts in men's minds and act as
veils. Clouds can also symbolize Divine mercy, the annulment of
counter-productive laws, the abrogation of former Dispensations,
and the repeal of useless rituals and customs. "I have come in
the shadows of the clouds of glory, and am invested by God with
invincible sovereignty." -BH {5}
Jesus sometimes referred to those who have eyes and yet do
not see.{6} Baha'u'llah explains that the sincere seeker will be
rewarded with a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, and a new
mind.{7}
The fact that there will be a delay between his appearance
on earth and his eventual acceptance by the peoples of the
existing spiritual generation is made clear in Luke and Isaiah.
{8} The term 'generation' (Greek 'genea') as used in Luke and
elsewhere has among its meanings 'an historic age.' In
allegorical usage, a generation is a Day of Creation or a Lord's
Day. The word may be modeled after the Hebrew word 'olam,'
meaning an 'infinity' or 'world.'
THE ALPHA AND OMEGA INTRODUCES HIMSELF:
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. -Rev 1:8
The phrase "Alpha and Omega" has many meanings. Most
succinctly, it refers to The Word of God {9}, including the
appearance of the Lord God as His successive Manifestations. One
can also perceive another significance to the phrase, indicating
that every Manifestation is the beginning of the new Age and the
ending of the former Age. In the Apocalypse, the phrase refers
specifically to Baha'u'llah.{10}
The sum of the letters "Alpha" and "Omega" has a literal
value of either 801 or twice-666, depending upon the Greek
version of the text. In either case, the archetypal value is 9,
the Number of Baha'. Baha'u'llah used the number 9 as a seal,
since the name Baha' has the literal value of 9 by the Arabic
gematria.
The "beginning and the ending" is another clue to the
identity of the speaker. It suggests that we investigate the
beginning and ending words of the Book. These words, in the Greek
text, are "Apocalypse" and "Amen." The first word has the literal
value of 1512 and an archetypal value of 9; the last word has the
literal value of 99, which also has an archetypal value of 9.
Furthermore, the Greek word for 'Beginning' is 'Arche' which
has a literal value of 709; the Greek word for 'Ending' is
'Telos' which has a literal value of 605. The sum of these two
values is 1314, which also has an archetypal value of 9.
Isaiah {11} explains that both God and His Redeemer, the
Lord of Hosts, are the First and the Last. Other Old Testament
passages identify the Latter Day Redeemer or Ransomer as the Lord
of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel, and the King of Glory (=
Baha').{12} Baha'u'llah explains that he is both the Beginning
and the End, and both Stillness and Motion. {13}
His Holiness Baha'u'llah bears many titles, some of which
have been given him by other Manifestations and prophets and are
ascribed to Baha'u'llah by those Baha'is who have entered by
another faith. Some examples:
Jewish- Lord of Hosts, King of Glory, the Holy One of Israel
Hindu- Tenth Avatar, Immaculate Manifestation of Krishna, Kalki,
Vishnu Yasha
Buddhist- Fifth Buddha, Buddha Maitreye
Christian- Spirit of Truth, Return of Christ
Zoroastrian- Shah Bahram
Muslim- The Great Announcement, Return of Christ, Return of Imam
Husayn
Babi- Essence of Being, Remnant of God, Omnipotent Master,
Crimson all-encompassing Light
Other titles have been ascribed by Baha'u'llah to Himself in
order to explain his mission to mankind. Among these are:
Ancient of Days, Voice From the Burning Bush, Well Spring of
Revelation, Day Star of Divine Revelation, Sun of Truth, Bird of
the Throne.
For the first of 9-times in the Apocalypse, verse 8
identifies the Alpha and Omega as the Almighty, that is, 'The
Pantocrator.'
JOHN IS COMMANDED TO WRITE THE APOCALYPSE:
I John who also am your brother, and companion in 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. 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. -Rev
1:9-11
The names of the 7 Churches of Asia represent 7 Divinely
revealed Faiths. While the prejudiced reader of imperial Rome
might have been tempted to restrict the term 'Asia' to the Roman
Province of that name, in the unprejudiced view, the entire
Region of Asia extending through Palestine, Arabia, Persia and
India must be included.
The root meanings of the names of the 7 Churches are
indicative of their salient characteristics:
APOCALYPSE; ROOT MEANING; SYMBOLISM; FAITH
Ephesus; Family Hearth; Peace; Sabaean
Smyrna; Myrrh; Benevolence; Jewish
Pergamos; Parchment; Law, Harmony {14}; Hindu
Thyatira; Cyprus Tree; Light {15}; Zoroastrian
Sardis; Stone; Truth; Buddhist
Philadelphia; Brotherly Love; Brotherly Love; Christian
Laodicea; Just People; Justice {14}; Muslim
We shall not digress to justify the salient characteristics
attributed to the 7 Churches. There are numerous excellent works
on the subject of comparative religion. {16}
JOHN SEES THE ALPHA AND OMEGA:
And I turned to see the voice that spake to me. And being turned.
I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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; And his feet like unto fine
brass, as they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of
many waters. -Rev 1:12-15
The Figure is that of Baha'u'llah. He stands among the 7
candlesticks representing the 7 Churches of Asia. His garment to
the foot signifies his heavenly attributes, and in those
attributes, he resembles the Son of Man: "The voice of the Son of
Man is calling aloud from the sacred vale: 'Here am I, here am I,
O God my God!" -BH {17} His golden girdle symbolizes a new Faith
and his spiritual power. His white hair like purest wool
identifies him as the Head of Days, that is, the Ancient of Days.
And because of his great tribulations, the hair of Baha'u'llah
had literally become snow white. "The Pen of Holiness ... hath
writ upon my snow-white brow .. " -BH {18} His eyes have been
described by witnesses as 'flames of fire.'
His feet of brass are contrasted to those of
Nebuchadnezzar's vision in Daniel {19}. Nebuchadnezzar dreamt of
an image that had feet of part iron, part clay- a weakened metal
that soon broke beneath the forces of history. In John's vision,
the feet are of fine brass and are sufficient to endure
'forever.' The sound of many waters describes Baha'u'llah as the
Well Spring of Revelation.
In his TABLET OF ALL FOOD, Baha'u'llah reveals that the
spiritual worlds are of different degrees. In one of these
several worlds, the world of 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." -BH {20} In another spiritual
world, the plane of Divinity, the Heavenly Court, the
Manifestations are as utter nothingness compared to God.
The different spiritual worlds accounts for the seeming
paradox between the vision described in verse 13 and a similar
vision in Daniel. {21}. In Daniel's vision, the Ancient of Days
with "head like pure wool" sits on the heavenly throne in the
plane of Divinity, the Heavenly Court, while "one like the Son of
man" (KJV) is brought before Him to receive 'glory,' 'an
everlasting dominion,' etc. In the version of Rev 1:13, the 'one
like the Son of man' also has hair like wool, etc. The paradox is
resolved by the concept of different spiritual worlds: In
Daniel's vision, it is God Who sits on the throne while 'Husayn-
'Ali (later to be given the title Baha'u'llah) is brought before
Him. John's vision is of the All-Highest Dominion, it is in this
lower spiritual world where Baha'u'llah exhibits the same
attributes as the Lord God.
HIS APPEARANCE:
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth
went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun
shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet
as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear
not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was
dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the
keys of hell and death. -Rev 1:16-18
The 7 stars are the 7 'Governors' or Revelators of the 7
Churches, and also represent the name, 'Husayn-'Ali (the proper
name of Baha'u'llah). Since the 7 stars spell a single word, they
are actually the Manifestation of a single 'star,' the star of
'Husayn-'Ali.
The 7 stars is an allusion to the 7 planets, which,
according to the theories of the ancient astrologers, were the
true Governors of the world of man, the Executors of the Divine
Will.
The right hand is the hand of power and might. As the Spirit
of Truth, he speaks with the Sword of Truth, double-edged because
it separates the true from the false and the good from the
wicked. "Aid ye your Lord with the sword of wisdom and
utterance." -BH {22}
The sun symbolizes Divinity, the Manifestations of God, and
His Faith. "From Him all the Suns [Manifestations] have been
generated, and to Him they will all return. " -BH {23}
His sun-like countenance describes Baha'u'llah as the Sun of
Truth. Many witnesses have testified that it was extremely
difficult to gaze upon his dazzling countenance.
The Holy Spirit as evidenced through Jesus Christ and
Muhammad seemed to have died before the Advents of the Bab and
Baha'u'llah. But God lives forever and has the power to resurrect
man from the death of unbelief and to return him from the hell of
remoteness. "Paradise is on your right hand, and hath been
brought nigh unto you, while Hell has been made to blaze."
"Followers of the Gospel, behold the gates of heaven are flung
open." "No man can obtain everlasting life, unless he embraceth
the truth of this inestimable, this wondrous, and sublime
Revelation." -BH {24}
A WORD PICTURE:
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are,
and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven
stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the
seven churches. -Rev 1:19-20
The 7 stars are revealed to be the 'Governors' or Revelators
of the 7 Divinely revealed Faiths. Among other things, John is
commanded to "write down" the things that "are now" (REB).
Chapter 1 of the Apocalypse is a word picture. 'Writing down'
these things reveals the Greatest Name Emblem of the Baha'i
Faith. The upper level represents the Plane of Divinity, the
Heavenly Court. The second level represents the All-Highest
Dominion, the plane of the Manifestations, the third and lowest
level represents the plane of the Churches. They are connected by
the Name of Baha'u'llah who stands among the 7 Churches and holds
the 7 Governors of the 7 Faiths in his right hand of might and
power. In the Greatest Name Emblem, the stars or Governors are
represented by only two, the Bab and Baha'u'llah, whose missions
are to unify the Seven Churches through the single Spirit of
Baha'u'llah.
CHAPTER 2- LETTERS TO ANCIENT FAITHS
SYNOPSIS:
In this chapter, letters are addressed to the Sabaean,
Jewish, Hindu and Zoroastrian Churches. (Letters to the Buddhist,
Christian and Muslim Churches will be presented in the next
chapter.)
The letters are addressed to the Manifestations and the
devotees of the Churches as they will exist at the end of the
Piscean Age. Each of the Churches has strayed from its pristine
purity and vitality. The speaker in each of these first four
letters is God, speaking through Baha'u'llah.
The Sabaean Church is extolled for its good works, patience,
rejection of Covenant-breakers, etc., but is chastened because it
has strayed from its original teachings. Therefore, Baha'u'llah
threatens to come quickly and extinguish the Sabaean Church,
unless it repents and reverses its course.
Moses and the Jewish Church are extolled for the "true Jews"
within its fold, for those who do good works and are spiritually
rich, and who have withstood tribulation and poverty over the
centuries. But he condemns the "synagogue of Satan," and warns
the Jews that many of them will be imprisoned and tried for 10-
lunar years by the "devil" [Hitler]. Those who persevere, remain
faithful to God, and overcome the false teachings within the
Church, will be rewarded with a "crown of life," nor will they be
hurt by the "second death" [the rejection of Baha'u'llah, the
Messiah of the Last Day].
Krishna and the Hindu Church are extolled for their good
works, even in the place "where Satan [Shiva] dwells."
Baha'u'llah also extols the Hindus for holding fast to the name
of Brahma during the turbulent days of Lord Buddha; but he
chastens them for holding the doctrine of Baal [Shiva] with his
fertility rites, and to a large pantheon of gods and demons.
Baha'u'llah warns them to overcome these and other false
teachings, or else he will come quickly, and combat them with the
Sword of Truth. To those who do overcome, he will give them the
"hidden manna" of the Word of God, and a new name, 'Baha'i,' a
name whose import will be known only to the devotee.
Zoroaster and his Church are extolled for their good works
of charity, faith, etc., and are complimented for doing even
better than they did at their beginning. Nevertheless, they are
chastened for their idolatry and other decadent practices, and
for their witness to Satan [Ahriman]. Those who have not "known
the depths of Satan," who overcome false teachings, etc., will
receive no further tests, but will be rewarded with the "morning
star," the Bab, who will appear in their midst, and who is
destined, with his devotees, to rule the nations with a "rod of
iron."
The following letters in Chapters 2 and 3 are addressed to
the 7 Churches of Asia as they are characterized at the end of
the Age of Pisces. In contrast to their pristine purity, each of
the Churches has become corrupted. The Speaker is the Spirit of
God speaking through the Manifestation. Their style suggests an
equivalence between the Manifestation and His Church, and the
Savior seems to be identical to the saved. "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." "That some are near (to God) and others are far (from
God) is to be ascribed to the Manifestations themselves." -BH {1}
The first five letters are addressed to the Founders of the
Sabaean, Jewish, Hindu, Zoroastrian and Buddhist Faiths. All of
these Faiths were revealed during the Age of Aries and their
Dispensations had been ended by the beginning of the Piscean Age.
But there is a special role that is played by Baha'u'llah. In
THE YOUTH OF PARADISE, Baha'u'llah identifies Himself as the Word
upon which depended the souls of all the Prophets of God and His
Chosen Ones. Thus, only Baha'u'llah has the power to speak to and
for the Revelators of the first five Faiths.
There is sometimes an apparent ambiguity as to which
Manifestation is doing the speaking; the intermingling of Voices
points out their essential unity. "Inasmuch as these Birds of the
celestial Throne are 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 ..." -BH {2}
A LETTER TO EPHESUS:
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: 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: And
hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast
laboured and hast not fainted. -Rev 2:1-3
The letter is addressed to the now forgotten Revelator of
the Church of Peace, 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. Remember therefore from whence thou hast 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. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of
the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 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 tree of life, which is in
the midst of the paradise of God. -Rev 2:4-7
God, speaking through Baha'u'llah, is threatening to remove
their Faith from the earth because they have strayed from their
original teachings. Indeed, the Divinely revealed Sabaean Faith,
not to be confused with the Mandaeans of southern Iraq, is now
extinct. Originally, Abraham may have been a follower of the
ancient Sabaean Faith whose Revelator has been lost to history.
The remnants of this ancient Faith are the idolaters of Africa.
Nicolas was probably a convert from Antioch.{3} His
followers, Nicolaitanes, were Covenant-breakers of the early
Christian Church, and here signify the Covenant-breakers of any
Divinely revealed Faith. Nicholas maintained that the acceptance
of Jesus Christ placed the believer above the laws and morality
of non-Christians, and that one's standard of behavior became
largely a matter of personal inclination.
God promises the sincere Sabaeans that they will receive
spiritual life, light, and sustenance through God's
Manifestation, the Tree of Life, Baha'u'llah.{4}
A LETTER TO SMYRNA:
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things
saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 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 of the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of these
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 by the second death. -Rev 2:8-11
The message is addressed to Moses, the Revelator of the
Jewish Faith. The Jewish Faith was probably the first to
recognize the benevolence of God. He distinguishes between those
Jews who are materially poor but spiritually rich, and those who
are materially rich but spiritually poor. A true Jew loves God
and obeys His laws. Those who exalt themselves before Him and
refuse to obey His laws are of the synagogue of Satan.
The Jews are informed that some of them will be imprisoned
by the "devil" for a period of 10 days. We recall that in
biblical prophecy, a 'prophetic day' usually represents a year of
calendar time. The prophecy warns them of their 10-year
tribulation under Hitler and the Nazi regime. The holocaust began
with the 'Nurnberg laws on citizenship and race,' 15 September
1935, and ended with the destruction of the Third Reich in May
1945, a period of 10-lunar years.
The Spirit of Baha'u'llah, promises that the 'true Jews' who
persevere through their tribulation and overcome the false
teachings within their church will be rewarded with spiritual
salvation and eternal life. They can avoid the "second death" by
their acceptance of Baha'u'llah. Their 'first spiritual death'
resulted from their rejection of Jesus the Messiah.
A LETTER TO PERGAMOS:
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: These things
saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know
thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:
and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even
in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was
slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. -Rev 2:12-13
These words are addressed to Krishna and the Hindu Faith.
The most conspicuous characteristic of the Hindu Faith is its
emphasis on the universal spiritual Law of Karma. In Greek,
"Antipas" means literally 'against all,' and refers to the great
reformer of the ancient Hindu world, Lord Buddha. "Where Satan
dwells" generally refers to a degraded spiritual condition, but
more specifically to the worship of Shiva.
The modern Hindu Faith, although theoretically monotheistic
(or more correctly, 'trinitarian'), has a de facto pantheon that
includes the deity Shiva the 'Destroyer.' The Hindu
representations of Shiva- his fierce demeanor, trident, serpents,
human skulls, fire, phallic symbol, etc.- remind us of the
Western representations of Satan 'the Enemy.'
Tradition says that Lord Buddha was accidentally killed by a
meal of poisoned mushrooms in the home of Cunda, a smith.
However, poison was one method that had been used by a jealous
cousin Devadatta and his henchman in previous attempts on Lord
Buddha's life. Verse 13 indicates that Lord Buddha was actually
martyred, thereby revealing the true nature of His death.
The sincere Hindus are cited for maintaining the name of God
(Brahma) even during their period of spiritual decay.
14 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. So hast thou
also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing
I hate. -Rev 2:14-15
The infamous Jezebel, wife of Ahab, king of Israel,
introduced the idolatrous doctrine of "Balaam" (plural of Baal)
into Israel in the 9th century BCE. {5} While little is known for
certain about the Baal cult, it appears that he represented the
male fertility principle in nature and that his rites may have
had sexual undertones. It is probable that Shiva is Baal under a
different name. The wording of verse 14 suggests that the worship
of Shiva may not be acceptable to the Heavenly Court.
In contrast to Shiva, the Hindu pantheon also includes the
benevolent deity Vishnu 'the Preserver.' According to Hindu
theology, Lord Krishna was the last of several Avatars
(Manifestations) of Vishnu prior to Lord Buddha.
Verse 15 again censures those who use 'salvation' as an
excuse for unprincipled behavior.
Besides the literal meanings, allegorical and symbolic
meanings can be attached to certain phrases and words. For
example, 'idol worship' is equivalent to the modern day doctrine
of materialism. "To eat things sacrificed to idols" means to
believe in (to 'swallow') idolatrous teachings, just as the
consuming of the bread and the wine of the Eucharist symbolizes
the acceptance of Jesus Christ's teachings and His blood
sacrifice. "To commit fornication" means to accept false doctrine
or to participate in obscene rituals.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight
against them with the sword of my mouth. 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. -Rev 2:16-17
Hidden manna refers to Divine Revelation- spiritual
sustenance from heaven, the Word of God and Reality, hidden until
revealed by Baha'u'llah. " ... That which is preeminent 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 so remain, the Bread which cometh down
from Heaven." -BH {6} This "Heavenly Bread" is promised to those
who overcome the false teachings within the Hindu Faith.
In antiquity, it was a custom to present invited guests
with 'tesserae'- small pieces of stone, bone, ivory or mosaic.
These tesserae were also used to perpetuate a friendship or to
make a union more sacred. The privilege of friendship could be
extended to others carrying the tessera by a simple process: the
tessera was broken into two parts and each party wrote his own
name or secret inscription on his own piece. Mutual pledges were
made, the pieces were exchanged, and no one knew the name
inscribed on his piece except the possessor. Such secret tesserae
were probably carried by early Christians during their travels to
introduce them to fellow Christians.
The Bab presented His followers and Baha'u'llah with a
scroll often called the 'White Stone.' The Bab had inscribed it
with a pentacle composed of 360 derivatives of the word 'Baha'.'
The scroll revealed the name of the new Manifestation to follow
the Bab. Only those who accept the Baha'i Revelation understand
the meaning of the "new name."
"New name" (Greek 'kainon onoma') has a literal value by
gematria of 432 and an archetypal value of 9 ( that is, 4 + 3 + 2
= 9). 'Baha'' has the literal value of 9 by the Arabic gematria,
and Baha'u'llah used the number 9 as a seal to many of his
Tablets.
A LETTER TO THYATIRA:
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things
saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of
fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 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. -Rev 2:18-19
[REB 19 "I know what you are doing, your love and faithfulness,
your service and your endurance; indeed of late you have done
even better than you did at first."]
This letter is addressed to Zoroaster and His Church of
"Thyatira." Zoroastrianism, once with a vast number of devotees
throughout the entire Middle East, is now the smallest of the
world's living religions. Today, its most conspicuous
characteristic is its cult of the Eternal Flame: fires laced with
'thyine' fuels, and kept burning in places of worship.{7}
The title 'Son of God' has undergone an evolution in
meaning since ancient times. In the pre-Christian Gentile world
it meant 'Redeemer.' Pharaohs and other potentates of the ancient
world bore the title, and it was even a part of the Roman
Imperial cult, beginning with Augustus (63 BCE - 14 CE), who
received the title 'Divi Filius' (Latin = 'Son of God') by decree
of the Senate. Nevertheless, devout Jews considered it an act of
blasphemy for mere humans to adopt it; moreover, conjoining the
titles Messiah and Son of God implied that the Messiah was not
inferior in dignity to Caesar.
To Jesus, 'Son of God' and 'god' were epithets for "one unto
whom the Word of God came." Jesus makes this clear when he
answers certain Jews who accused him of blasphemy:
Jesus answered 'Is it not written in your law, "I said: You are
gods"? It is those to whom God's word came who are called gods-
and Scripture cannot be set aside. Then why do you charge me with
blasphemy for saying, "I am God's son," I whom the Father
consecrated and sent into the world? -REB: John 10:34-35
The "law" that Jesus quotes is
[God says:] 'This is my sentence: Though you are gods, all sons
of the Most High, yet you shall die as mortals die, and fall as
any prince does.' -REB: Psalm 82:6-8
In other words, a 'Son of God' is One to whom the word of
God came and who is consecrated by the Father.{8} This is
precisely what is meant by a 'Divine Revelator' or a
'Manifestation of God.'
In spite of their small numbers, the sincere Zoroastrians
are renowned for their beneficence, prosperity, education, and
charitable works designed to alleviate misery without distinction
of race or religion. In verse 19, Baha'u'llah extols them for
their good attributes at the end of the Piscean Age.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, 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 to idols. And I gave her space to repent
her fornication; and she repented not. Behold I will cast her
into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great
tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 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. -Rev 2:20-23
Originally, the Zoroastrian Faith was free of idols. Their
Supreme Deity was Ormazd (Ahura Mazda), the God of Goodness,
Wisdom and Spiritual Light. However, under the reign of the
Persian king Artaxerxes II (405-359 BCE), the god Mithra and
idols of Anahita, a fertility goddess, were introduced. The
historical causes of this momentous deviation away from idol-free
monotheism are unknown. However, verse 20 suggests that there may
have been a 'prophetess' involved, a woman analogous to Jezebel,
who introduced idolatry and other unwholesome elements into their
religious practices; the subject deserves further study by
historians. Today, the Zoroastrian Faith has a large pantheon of
gods and demons.
Baha'u'llah threatens to cast the Zoroastrian 'Jezebel'
into the bed of misery and shame, along with the idolatrous
followers who participate in her false doctrine. Her spiritually
dead descendants will disappear from the earth.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest of Thyatira, as many as
have not this doctrine, and have not known the depths of Satan,
as they speak; I will put none other burden. But that which ye
have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and
keepeth my works unto the end, to him I will give power over the
nations: 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. And I will give him the morning star. He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. -Rev 2:24-29
[REB 24 "And now I speak to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who
do not accept this teaching and have had no experience of what
they call the deep secrets of Satan. On you I impose no further
burden.]
Beginning in the Sassanid period of Persia (226-631 CE), an
insidious doctrine crept into the Zoroastrian Faith- 'dualism,'
by which Ahriman 'the Destroyer' (Satan) was elevated to a rank
equal in power to that of Ormazd 'the Preserver' (God). Modern
Zoroastrians tend to minimize this aspect of their religion, but
ever since the Middle Ages the co-equal power of Satan has been
used by them to rationalize the evil tendencies in Man. One
suspects that the 'depths of Satan' have been experienced by more
than a few 'devotees' of every religion.
The Bab, the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah, was manifested in
that part of Persia where the Zoroastrian Faith is centered. The
'Morning Star' is the Herald of a new Day of God, and represents
the Bab. His Advent resulted in great upheavals in Persia and
neighboring countries. The verses prophesy the final dissolution
of all the nations of the world and their spiritual domination by
the faithful who accept the Bab and Baha'u'llah.
The 'rod of iron' is a symbol of spiritual dominion, 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 can chastise the wicked is grievous ..." -BH {9}
".... certain souls guided [people] with a rod of the plant, that
is, a reed wherewith 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 Muhammad ..." -AB {10}
CHAPTER 3- LETTERS TO RECENT FAITHS
Synopsis:
These three letters are addressed to the Buddhist, Christian
and Muslim Faiths.
The first Church, being the last of the waning Age of Aries,
is delivered by God through His Manifestation, Baha'u'llah. The
last two Churches, being those of the waxing Age of Pisces, are
delivered by God speaking through His Manifestations Jesus the
Messiah and Muhammad the Seal.
Lord Buddha and his Church are admonished for being a 'dead'
religion, even though they profess to be 'alive.' Their works are
not perfect before God, and if they do not watch, the Buddha
Maitreye will enter and depart the world stage unseen, like a
thief. But there are a few Buddhists who have remained true to
their original teachings, and, if they are able to overcome the
false teachings within their Faith, they will be allowed to walk
with Baha'u'llah in Nirvana.
Jesus lauds his true devotees for keeping his Word and for
not denying his Name, even though they have little strength left
at the end of the Piscean Age. Also, he will cause those
insincere Jews, the "synagogue of Satan," to worship at their
feet. Because the sincere Christians have been loyal, they will
not be tested by the ordeal of receiving the Divine Reaper,
Baha'u'llah, within their midst. The Return of Christ will occur
quickly after the Piscean Age, and those Christians who are able
to overcome the false teachings within the Church will be
rewarded by a new name, 'Baha'i.'
Muhammad severely admonishes his devotees for being
"lukewarm" in their propagation of the Muslim Faith during the
Piscean Age; but he promises those true Muslims who are able to
overcome the false teachings within the Church, that they will be
allowed to sit with him on his heavenly throne, just as he sits
with 'Allah.
A LETTER TO SARDIS:
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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that
are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before
God. Remember therefore how thou has 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. -Rev 3:1-3
This letter is addressed to the Church of Stone (Sardis),
a symbol of Truth. The most conspicuous characteristics of modern
Buddhism are its astonishing megalithic statues of the Buddha,
and the worship of His effigies and sacred relics. In various
forms, the Buddhist Faith has spread throughout the entire world.
Lord Buddha was the Revelator of the 'Fourfold Noble
Truth,' and His mission was to reform the polytheistic and often
destructive tendencies within the Hindu Faith that had been
accreted over the centuries. His work was not completed, and
Buddhism had, itself, become assimilated into Indian Hinduism by
the 6th century CE.
The verses reveal that the original work of the Church is
no longer vigorous, and that the Faith, though outwardly alive,
is inwardly dead. Furthermore, even though they profess to watch
for the Advent of the Great Buddha Maitreye, He may enter and
depart the world 'unseen,' like a thief, and at an Hour that they
least expect.
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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches. -Rev 3:4-6
Raiment, garment, clothing, etc. mean the character or
attributes of the soul. "Say; From My laws the sweet smelling
savor 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." -BH {1} Verse 4 alludes to
those hypocrites among the Buddhists who defile their red and
saffron robes by violating their true purposes.
The Book of Life is the list of those deserving Nirvana
and 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." -BH {2}
The first five letters were addressed to the Revelators
and their Churches Who appeared in the past astrological Age of
Aries. A review of those letters will show that they are
all 'read' by Baha'u'llah, who was described by a word picture in
Chapter 1.
The last two letters, addressed to the Churches of
Brotherly Love and Justice, are to be read by their own
Revelators of the new Age of Pisces, that is, by Jesus and
Muhammad. The Apocalypse reveals the events of the new Age during
which they will have autonomy and supreme spiritual authority.
Only the Ancient of Days, the Manifestation 'with the seven stars
in His right hand,' has power over past Revelators whose
authority had been terminated at the end of the Age of Aries, and
may read their letters.
A LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA:
7 And to the church of Philadelphia write; These things saith he
that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he
that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man
openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before the an
open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. -Rev 3:7-8
[REB: 7 'To the angel of the church at Philadelphia write: .....
8 .... I know your strength is small, yet you have observed my
command and have not disowned my name. ....]
The letter is addressed to the Revelator of the Church of
Brotherly Love, that is, "Philadelphia." It is read by Jesus. A
new descriptor is introduced: the "Key of David." Since the
letter is being read by Jesus Christ, He extols the true
Christians for keeping "my" word and not denying "my" name.
The Key of David is the power to close the old Age and to
open the new Age. In astrological symbolism, each Age is
indicated by a 'door' in the zodiac. When a new constellation
appears at the 'door of Spring,' a new Age commences and is
reflected in the world of man by 'corresponding' events through
the formula 'as above, so below.' Jesus explains that He has
opened a new Age of history, and no man has the power to turn
back the movement of time. More will be said about the "door" in
later verses.
Jesus also reveals that He is aware of the weakness of the
Christian Church at the end of the Age of Pisces. In spite of the
great number who call themselves 'Christians,' the number of
devotees who actually practice the true teachings of Jesus are
relatively few. Doctrinal and theological disputes, beginning
with the rift between Peter and Paul, have weakened their
position and have produced a proliferation of sects numbering in
the thousands, each sect claiming to represent the 'true'
teachings of Christ. Brotherly love, the foundation stone of the
Christian Church, is rarely evidenced between the members of
opposing sects, and their power to influence the course of human
history is almost negligible.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, 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. 10 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. -Rev
3:9-10
[REB: 10 Because you have kept my command to stand firm, I will
also keep you from the ordeal that is to fall upon the whole
world to test its inhabitants.]
During His ministry on earth, Jesus was a radical reformer
attempting to cleanse Judaism and the Temple of 'satanic
practices.' The 'temple gang' eventually succeeded in having
their own Messiah nailed to the cross. It was only after the
total destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, that the 'true Judaism'
promoted by Jesus became the accepted norm by the Jews in exile.
Although much of the early Christian zeal has become sublimated
into less revolutionary channels, there are still some sincere
Christians, and Jews, who remain engaged in 'cleansing the
Temple.'
The Christians are promised that they will be spared from
the ordeal that will come to test all the inhabitants of the
world. And yet all the inhabitants of the world (including
Christians) are to be 'tested' by this ordeal.
What is to be the nature of this test? The test is to be
the same as it has always been, and the same as it was in the
early days of the Christian Church, that is, the test of
overcoming the false teachings within the Church and of
recognizing the new Manifestation of God when He appears. But in
contrast to the early Christian Church, the new test is to be
worldwide, not limited by geographical and communicational
constraints.
Indeed, the Christian world was spared from participating
in the ordeal that is to test all humanity. Contrary to the
expectations of most Christians, the new Manifestation did not
appear in a Christian country, but in a Muslim country! Even the
Christian regiment that was commanded to execute the Bab was
protected from doing so through Divine intervention, a miraculous
event that was observed by thousands and has been attested to by
many reliable witnesses.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no
man may take thy crown. 12 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. He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. -Rev 3:11-13
[REB: 12 Those who are victorious I shall make pillars in the
temple of my God; they will remain there for ever.]
A crown is a symbol of reward and authority. It will be
given to those Christians who overcome the false teachings within
the Church, and they will become 'pillars' (spiritual supports)
for the rest of those in the Church.
"New" is repeated for emphasis. The new Jerusalem will not
be called Christianity, and the new Manifestation will not be
named Jesus Christ.
Indeed, the new name of God will be Baha'; the new
Jerusalem will be called the City of Baha', and the new
Manifestation will be named Baha'u'llah. "O Concourse of the Son
(Christians)! Are ye hidden from myself because of my name?"
"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." -BH {3}
The word 'Jerusalem' means 'Sacred Peace.' In the Greek
gematria, 'Jerusalem' has a literal value of 864 and an
archetypal value of Nine. {4} 'New name' has a literal value of
432, which also has an archetypal value of Nine.
A LETTER TO LAODICEA:
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These
things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou
art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue
thee out of my mouth. -Rev 3:14-16
This letter is written for the Revelator and His Church of
'Just People' (Laodicea), and is read by Muhammad, the Comforter.
"The Amen" is an appropriate title for Muhammad, since He is the
'Seal' of the Prophets. Also he affirmed and echoed the Reality
of Jesus Christ, even claiming to BE Jesus in spirit. In the
Qur'an, God addresses Muhammad, the Messenger of God, saying "We
made you a Witness, a Herald of good news [gospel], and a
Warner." As a Manifestation, He is the beginning of a new Day of
God, a Source of creation in the world of man.
Muhammad admonishes His devotees for being "lukewarm" in
their promotion of the Cause of God. In spite of their
less-than-zealous promotion of Islam, early Muslims were
noteworthy for their positive acts of tolerance and justice.
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: 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. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore, and repent. -Rev 3:17-19
[REB: 19 All whom I love I reprove and discipline. Be
wholehearted therefore in your repentance.]
During the years of rapid expansion of Islam under the
infamous Houses of Umayyah and 'Abbas, the primary objective of
the caliphate was the collection of taxes on non-Muslims and the
acquisition of wealth by the corrupt Caliphs and their cohorts.
As a consequence, the true purpose of Islam was 'beclouded' and
has remained obscured to this day.
Gold is purified by fire; man is purified by spiritual
suffering and repentance.
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. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches. -Rev 3:20-22
Muhammad stands and knocks at the "door" (the new Age)
that was unlocked by Jesus with the "Key of David." He speaks in
the same spirit as Jesus, and promises to share spiritual
sustenance with anyone who recognizes that spirit. He also
alludes to His mystical flight from the Rock Moriah to the
'Seventh Heaven' where He sat with 'Allah on His throne.{5}
CHAPTER 4- THE INVISIBLE ZODIAC
SYNOPSIS:
John is permitted to see the far side of the celestial
sphere, the new heaven as it will appear the during the Age of
Aquarius. Baha'u'llah, representing God the Father, is seen in
glory upon a central throne on the crystalline surface.
Instead of the usual 12 thrones surrounding the central
throne, there are twice the usual number. [This is because of the
Twin Manifestation, the Bab and Baha'u'llah, that will appear at
the dawn of the Aquarian Age.] Also, John sees that the 7
planetary 'gods' are actually the 7 Spirits that were introduced
in Chapter 1. [The 7 stars are the Governors of the Revelators of
7 Churches, in whatever Age they are manifested, and in
particular, the 7 Churches of Chapter 1.]
The new pillars of the Aquarian Age [corresponding to the
sun's house at the two solstices and two equinoxes] are Leo,
Taurus, Aquarius, and Flying Eagle. [The last pillar has replaced
Scorpio for reasons that will be explained later.]
The four new pillars will exert their influences during the
Age of Aquarius in various ways, one example being the 4 Central
Figures of the Baha'i Faith.
The letters were written for the Revelators Who appeared in
Asia during the Age of Aries and Pisces.{1} Their Advents
probably appeared in the same temporal sequence as listed in the
Apocalypse. Now John will have a preview of the Age of Aquarius.
JOHN SEES THE KING OF THE AQUARIAN AGE:
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven:
and the first voice I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking
to me; which said, come up hither, and I will shew thee things
which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit:
and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the
throne. 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. -Rev 4:1-3
[REB: 1 ... and the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a
trumpet said, ...]
John is invited to see the far side of the celestial sphere,
the 'Upper World' or 'Celestial Pavilion', and to have a preview
of great secrets that will be disclosed after the Age of Pisces.
In accordance with first century cosmology, the outermost
'heaven' is represented as a vast crystalline sphere. The
Celestial Pavilion appears to John to be a 'sea of glass' as he
stands on its outer surface.
The voice like a trumpet is that of the heralding angel,
verse 1:10. John is invited to enter the "door" into the Age
"hereafter," that is, the Age following Pisces. In astrological
terms, the name of this future Age is Aquarius.
In this far distant Age, John sees Baha'u'llah in His role
as the King of Glory. His appearance on the throne signifies His
mission as the World Redeemer, the Unifier of Mankind: the jasper
appears in many colors, but especially the color of the human
heart; the sardine appears to be red or brown, depending upon how
it is viewed, and signifies the hidden unity behind the material
and spiritual realms.
The emerald shimmers with a color that blends with every
other color; the rainbow bright as an emerald is God's eternal
Covenant, renewed in every Age, and it shimmers with the 'colors'
of the seven Faiths.
THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS:
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. -Rev 4:1-3
The imagery of much of the Apocalypse reflects the ancient
cosmological theory that the Supreme Being exerts His influence
over the world of Man through the zodiac and astrological
influences. The theory derives from ancient Chaldaea
(neo-Babylonia) and Jewish theologians may have been influenced
by the theory during the Babylonian Captivity. Astrology was
considered 'science' until remarkably recent centuries.
'Abdu'l-Baha' {2} warns us that the theories of the astrologers
are not to be accepted literally but do have profound symbolic
value.
John sees the twenty-four Elders seated around the throne of
Baha'u'llah in correspondence with the signs of the zodiac.
Before the Baha'i Dispensation, there were only 12 Elders (holy
Figures) seated about the heavenly throne. For example, Jacob had
12 sons, there were 12 chiefs of tribes under Moses, Jesus had 12
Apostles, there were 12 Imams of Islam, and Buddha the Healer had
12 divine guardians {3}. But in the Dispensation to be unveiled
in the Age of Aquarius, there are to be twice-twelve of these
holy Figures!
Why is this? It is because the Baha'i Dispensation is
actually 'doubled' by the Twin Manifestation: the Bab and
Baha'u'llah. Thus in the Baha'i Dispensation there are to be TWO
holy Figures for every sign of the zodiac, instead of the usual
one! {4} The twice-twelve Elders are to be the 'channels' through
which the heavenly Manna is to be dispersed throughout the world
of Man.
THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD:
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. -Rev 4:5
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. {5}
As explained in Chapter 1, the 7 lamps of fire and the 7
Spirits have two meanings. In one sense they represent the two
7-lettered names (in Arabic) of Baha'u'llah, Husayn-'Ali; in a
second sense they represent the 7 Revelators of the 7 Faiths of
Asia.
The 7 lamps of fire before the throne, to the outward eye,
represent the 7 planets, which popular myth considered to be 7
lamps carried by angels across the dome of heaven. However, John
learns that the 7 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 Baha'.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE AQUARIAN AGE:
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto a
crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the
throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 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. -Rev 4:6-7
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 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 unto which every one of them will ultimately be united." -BH
{6} Baha'u'llah reflects perfectly the attributes of God from the
mirror-like surface, and no one can distinguish between the Light
of God and His Manifestation reflected on the throne.
The four beasts with "eyes" (stars) before and behind are
creatures of the zodiac. They correspond to the four corners or
pillars that will support the Age of Aquarius, the advent of
cosmic time that will announce the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah.
In astrological terminology, the four corners of an Age are the
signs corresponding to the equinoxes and solstices. They are
listed in their correct precession order:
BEAST; SIGN; PRECESSION ORDER; PILLAR (DAWNING TIME)
Lion; Leo; 9; Autumnal equinox
Ox (RSV); Taurus; 12; Summer solstice
Man; Aquarius; 3; Spring equinox
Flying Eagle; Scorpio; 6; Winter solstice
Leo, whose number is 9, is listed first to signify the
kingship of Baha'u'llah during the Age. Leo was also the point of
origin of the Great Star Fall of 11 November during the autumn of
1833 that seemed to announce the sixteenth birthday of
Baha'u'llah.
The more ancient name of the constellation Flying Eagle is
substituted for the name Scorpio for reasons that may prove
interesting. The subject will be revisited later. Flying Eagle
should not be confused with Eagle, another constellation that is
not a member of the zodiac.
Besides supporting the corners of the Age of Aquarius, the
four beasts have other meanings. In the world of Lahut (the Plane
of Divinity, the Heavenly Court){7}, it is God Who sits on the
throne and the four pillars are the Four Central Figures of the
Baha'i Dispensation:
Leo = the Lion of Judah, Baha'u'llah
Ox = the Servant of Baha', 'Abdu'l-Baha'
Man = the Man Child, the Bab
Flying Eagle = the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi
In the world of Jabarut (the All Highest Dominion){7}, it is
Baha'u'llah who sits on the throne, and the four pillars are
earthly rulers, paragons of virtue, who will accept Baha'u'llah
and thereby secure the Cause.
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. -Rev 4:8
The six wings allude to the ancient Hebrew Messengers of God
who had thrice-two wings. Full of eyes within signify great
spiritual insight.
The Lord God Almighty (the 'Pantocrator') is thrice-holy. He
is Manifested in every Age, past, present and future.
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