Bible Verses [1] 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.	One Bahá'í's Concept Sardis - Buddhist - Comentary V.1 John is told to write to the angel (star) of the church of Sardis. Pillars still remain there of a great Greek temple. Sardis was the capital of the great ancient kingdom of Lydia, at one time known for its wealth. This is also a place where John had taught. The symbolic meaning of the Greek word Sardis is 'Lack of Zeal'. This fifth religion is associated with the Buddhist Faith whose the prophet is Gotama Buddha. He who has the seven stars, and the seven churches, (the seven Spirits of God) in his hand is Bahá'u'lláh the latest Revealer, who has come to unite all the previous seven religions with the two (Bábí and Bahá'í) for this day and age. Commends: He tells them that He knows their works, Condemns: however although they feel alive in this life, but are really spiritually dead. The founder of Buddhism was a wonderful soul. He established the Oneness of God, but later the original principles of His doctrines gradually disappeared, and ignorant customs and ceremonials arose and increased until they finally ended in the worship of statues and images. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 165)
[2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.	V.2 He tells them to be watchful, and to strengthen and hold onto the spiritual side of their life, as their works have not been perfect. Buddhism has not been a religion of "good works" as have those religions in the Judaic, Christian, Islámic tradition. We hear of the latter's humanitarian efforts in such things as the Magen David Adom Society, Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations. For centuries there have been Christian hospitals, orphanages, schools, universities and other charitable institutions in Buddhist countries but one seldom hears of a Buddhist hospital or such in places like Africa or South America. There seems to have been a dearth of Buddhist missionary zeal. The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, p. 63) The Jews call that reality Moses, the Christians Christ, the Mussulmans Mohammed, the Buddhists Buddha and the Zoroastrians Zoroaster. Now mark well that none of these religionists have ever seen the founders; they have only heard his name. Could they overlook these names they would at once realize that all believe in a perfect reality which is an intermediary between the Almighty and the creatures. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 155)
[3] 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.	V.3 He tells them to remember how their Revealer came to them, and watch for Him coming the same way. The Threat: If they don't watch the new message will come quietly like a thief, at a time they are not expecting it. Most Buddhists expect the return of the Fifth Buddha or what they call the Maitreya. He (Bahá'u'lláh) was equally in no doubt about the role which He had been called upon to play in human history. As the Manifestation of God to the age of fulfillment, He is the one promised in all the scriptures of the past, the "Desire of all nations," the "King of Glory." To Judaism He is "Lord of Hosts"; to Christianity, the Return of Christ in the glory of the Father; to Islam, the "Great Announcement"; to Buddhism, the Maitreya Buddha; to Hinduism, the new incarnation of Krishna; to Zoroastrianism, the advent of "Sháh-Bahram." (Bahá'í International Community, 1992 May 29, Statement on Bahá'u'lláh) Those who accept him (the Messiah) shall rejoice. And those who deny him shall tremble.And the warriors (teachers) shall march under the banner of Maitreya.' Ballou and Spiegelberg in The Bible of the World, point out that according to the sacred scripture of the East, Maitreya is 'the compassionate Buddha who is to come in the distant future. Foretold by Gautama, as Christ foretold his second coming.' Maitreya, the Buddha of 'universal fellowship' was expected to appear to the West of India and to the East of Israel. Persia, the home of Bahá'u'lláh, lies between them. His message is one of "universal fellowship" and the union of religions, nations, and races. Isaiah also foretold the day when all the earth would hear the Messiah's teaching: Isaiah 18:3 'All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains.' (William Sears, Thief in the Night Part 3, p. 143)
[4] 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.	V.4 The Reward: He says that there are a few who have not defiled their garments (of yellow) and are still faithful, who shall walk with Him in white, symbolizing their righteousness. In former days, in the time of the Buddha and Zoroaster, civilization in Asia and in the East was very much higher than in the West and ideas and thoughts of the Eastern peoples were much in advance of, and nearer to the thoughts of God than those of the West. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, p. 69) The teaching of Buddha was like a young and beautiful child, and now it has become as an old and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot see, it cannot hear, it cannot remember anything. Why go so far back? Consider the laws of the Old Testament: the Jews do not follow Moses as their example nor keep his commands. So it is with many other religions. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London, p. 64)
[5] 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.	V.5 The Promise: 'He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment (a pure soul); 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.' Light is good in whatsoever lamp it is burning! A rose is beautiful in whatsoever garden it may bloom! A star has the same radiance if it shines from the East or from the West. Be free from prejudice, so will you love the Sun of Truth from whatsoever point in the horizon it may arise! You will realize that if the Divine light of truth shone in Jesus Christ it also shone in Moses and in Buddha. The earnest seeker will arrive at this truth. This is what is meant by the 'Search after Truth'. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 137)
[6] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches	V.6 The Refrain: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. My hope is that thou wilt acquire a perceptive eye, a hearing ear, and that the veils will be removed from thy sight. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 50)

[1] 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.	One Bahá'í's Concept V.1 The fifth angel sounded: The fifth angel is the angel of the Buddhist religion. The Star of this religion of the Compassionate Buddha, the Great Teacher of love and tolerance, fell as did the other religions. Particularly in China, where the state philosophy became that of atheistic communism. Buddhist countries saw great military conflicts. The Japanese, in particular, became noted for their war making inclinations. Hence, it is clear and manifest that by the words ".the stars shall fall from heaven" is intended the waywardness of the divines, and the annulment of laws firmly established by divine Revelation, all of which, in symbolic language, have been foreshadowed by the Manifestation of God. (Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 41) Stranger even than this episode is the fact that the government of Japan was in the beginning subject to and under the protection of China, and that now for some years, Japan has opened its eyes and adopted the techniques of contemporary progress and civilization, promoting sciences and industries of use to the public, and striving to the utmost of their power and competence until public opinion was focused on reform. This government has currently advanced to such a point that, although its population is only one-sixth, or even one-tenth, that of China, it has recently challenged the latter government, and China has finally been forced to come to terms. Observe carefully how education and the arts of civilization bring honor, prosperity, independence and freedom to a government and its people. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 111)
[2] 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.	V.2 Japan became the focus of the great technological force that was to forever change the destiny of mankind. The following amazing prophecy about the Atomic Bomb was given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in San Francisco in 1912, to the Japanese Ambassador Viscount Arakawa, upon whose country the first atomic bomb would be dropped. "Scientific discoveries have increased material civilization. There is in existence a stupendous force, as yet, happily undiscovered by man. Let us supplicate God, the Beloved, that this force be not discovered by science until spiritual civilization shall dominate the human mind. In the hands of men of lower nature, this power would be able to destroy the whole earth." ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Japan Will Turn Ablaze, p. 51) Split the atom's heart, and lo! Within it thou wilt find a sun. (Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys, p. 12) The spiritual meaning of this verse is of even greater significance to mankind. From the pit came smoke, which is more dense than clouds of the mind, which kept people from following the true teachings of the Buddha. The sun and air were darkened, which means the spirituality of the religion was gone. The symbolic term "smoke" denotes grave dissensions, the abrogation and demolition of recognized standards, and the utter destruction of their narrow-minded exponents. 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? So fierce is this fire of self burning within them, that at every moment they seem to be afflicted with fresh torments. (Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 76)
[3] 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.	On the literal side, we also saw the painful result of the smoke that arose from the pit of hell when the Atomic bomb was dropped. This peculiar smoke contained particles of radioactivity material whose bite was as dreadful as the scorpions of the earth. Strange and astonishing things exist in the earth but they are hidden from the minds and the understanding of men. These things are capable of changing the whole atmosphere of the earth and their contamination would prove lethal. (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 69) Out of the smoke came locusts, which are much like grasshoppers, but they strip all vegetation as they go. Since they travel in great hordes, it is devastating, as the crops are completely destroyed. The armies of Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam, and elsewhere in the Far East, became like great hordes of locusts as the gun barrels of defending forces melted in their efforts to stop them. The smoke of corruption hath enveloped the whole world in such wise that naught can be seen in any direction save regiments of soldiers and nothing is heard from any land but the clashing of swords. (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 39)
[4] 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.	V.4 While those who remain alive in the spiritual teachings of their religion (the green grass and trees) will not be spiritually harmed, it is those that have become spiritually dead that will be harmed. Although in some religions people put a mark on their foreheads (not a Bahá'í practice) what is meant is a spiritual reference. More importantly what one should really note here is that while many people have concerned themselves about a supposed literal 'mark of the beast' in this case the mark on the forehead is viewed in a very positive light. The essential point however, is that in neither case is it a physical mark but rather the expression is used to denote the nature of their character. These are they who are blessed by the Concourse on high, who are glorified by the denizens of the everlasting Cities, and beyond them by those on whose foreheads Thy most exalted pen hath written: "These! The people of Baha. Through them have been shed the splendors of the light of guidance." Thus hath it been ordained, at Thy behest and by Thy will, in the Tablet of Thine irrevocable decree. (Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, p. 83) We, verily, have chosen courtesy, and made it the true mark of such as are nigh unto Him. Courtesy is, in truth, a raiment which fitteth all men, whether young or old. Well is it with him that adorneth his temple therewith, and woe unto him who is deprived of this great bounty. (Bahá'u'lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 71 Suriy-i-Haykal / Surih of the Temple / Napoleon III:137) The seal of God is deep down commitment to His teachings; The spiritual teachings give direction for living the life. CXXX. Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility. (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 285)
[5] 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.	V.5 The prophecies of the Book of Revelation are fulfilled over a period of time and a part of the problem in writing about it is that even after the seals have been opened there are aspects that are still in the process of being fulfilled and therefore we will not be able to understand them until after they have been fulfilled. In a literal sense we may observe that the smoke (radiation) from nuclear weapons does persist with some intensity for a period of about five months and that very often for many it is a serious but not fatal torment. Prophetic statements of time are often symbolic. As seen in 'The Most Conclusive Proof' (see appendix by that name) five months, really means 150 years, arrived at by multiplying 5 months times the 30 days in a month and considering each of the resulting 150 days as representing a year. The difficulty then comes in determining the starting point of the time period. Once an event has occurred one can then count backwards from the event to the what was the concealed reference and in that way see the prophecy as a "proof". If one were to speculate that the point of reference were the beginning of Japan's interaction with the West, in 1854, then the completion of the time period would be in 2004 which lies beyond the time of this writing and would therefore be pure speculation. From the Bahá'í timetable the base year is usually 1844 with declaration of the Báb, but then we add to that the 'year 9' which brought us to the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh, and 150 years added to that again brings us into the current time frame. A few years one way or the other may not be that significant in speaking of times that are a century long, or a thousand years long, or as in this case a century and a half in duration. Whatever may be the fulfillment of these prophetic verses, there is no doubt but that they are indicative of the interesting times in which we live and that they may be warning of a grevious catastrophe still to befall Japan and mankind.
[6] And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.	V.6 If these verses are seen as a description of events still to come at the time that this book is being written, then this could be also interpreted as a literal description of the horrors that modern warfare can impose and what may occur in a nuclear catastrophe so terrible that it has been speculated that the living will envy the dead. Where canst thou find refuge now? Who shall protect thee from the dreadful scourge of thy Lord, the All-Compelling? There is no haven for thee in this Day, O ungodly doubter!" Whereupon the agony of death seized him and he saw no more. Thus did We lay hold on him in Our wrathful anger, and severe is thy Lord in His punishment. Then an angel from the right hand of the Throne summoned him: "Behold the angel of affliction. Is there any place to flee to save hell, wherein the heart boileth?" And the angel of chastisement received his spirit, and a voice proclaimed: "Enter the bottomless pit which hath been promised in the Book, and whose existence thou didst day and night deny!" (Bahá'u'lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 178, Lawh-i-Fu'ád:11) My only joy in this swiftly-passing world was to tread the stony path of God and to endure hard tests and all material griefs. For otherwise, this earthly life would prove barren and vain, and better would be death. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 226) If he becomes the center of the imperfections of the world of humanity, death is better than life, and nonexistence better than existence. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 53)
[7] 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.	V.7 From a spiritual perspective we can see these armies (like hordes of locusts) prepared for battle, were deceptive. They are described as having crowns, but their crowns were 'like' gold, meaning that they felt that they had authority from God, however they were mistaken. Divine authority, is always symbolized by a golden crown. In this verse they are described as locusts, but it says they have faces of men. Literal interpretations of this are left for the appendix at the end of this chapter. Say: None shall be secure this Day from the decree of God. This indeed is a grievous Day. We point out to them those that led them astray. They see them, and yet recognize them not. Their eyes are drunken; they are indeed a blind people. Their proofs are the calumnies they uttered; condemned are their calumnies by God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. The Evil One hath stirred up mischief in their hearts, and they are afflicted with a torment that none can avert. They hasten to the wicked, bearing the register of the workers of iniquity. Such are their doings. (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 41)
[8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.	V.8 Again, a literal interpretation is left for the appendix at the end of the chapter but from a spiritual point of view that they had hair like women, would mean that they appeared placid in their deception, while 'teeth of lions' denotes strength of their intent. This is very descriptive of the Maoist cultural revolution in China.
[9] 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 to battle.	V.9 While these verses permit very graphic literal interpretations as presented in the appendix to this chapter they are also equally adaptable to spiritual meanings which are even deeper. The breastplates of iron here represent strength and the overwhelming sound of wings that of intense energy and activity. All of which can be seen in the action of societies which exert political power over the people without the essence of spiritual justice.
[10] And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.	V.10 Once again we have the five month figure and while it may be seen as a conflict that some effect of lasts five months it is also (either alternatively or simultaneously) possibly code for activity that covers a 150 year period, the conclusion of which we have not seen yet.
[11] 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 name Apollyon.	V.11 The king of the bottomless pit is called Abaddon in Hebrew, and Apollyon in Greek: Both mean 'Destruction' and there is no doubt but that these verses forebode a period of destruction both physically and spiritually. Indeed, the last century has seen both physical destruction, such as had not occurred in all the previous centuries combined, and spiritual destruction with the rise of godlessness (repudiation of belief in God) and extremes of immorality and spiritual uncleanliness that the world has no record of having occurred before. CXII. Behold the disturbances which, for many a long year, have afflicted the earth, and the perturbation that hath seized its peoples. It hath either been ravaged by war, or tormented by sudden and unforeseen calamities. Though the world is encompassed with misery and distress, yet no man hath paused to reflect what the cause or source of that may be. Whenever the True Counsellor uttered a word in admonishment, lo, they all denounced Him as a mover of mischief and rejected His claim. How bewildering, how confusing is such behavior! No two men can be found who may be said to be outwardly and inwardly united. The evidences of discord and malice are apparent everywhere, though all were made for harmony and union. The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. We cherish the hope that the light of justice may shine upon the world and sanctify it from tyranny. (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 218)
[12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.	V.12 A detailed discussion of 'The Three Woes' is to be found in the concept box at the end of the previous chapter (Chapter Eight). Here it may be seen as that the woe that befell the Buddhist religion in the Far East is to be followed by woes that will befall the sixth and seventh religions - therefore the Christian and Islámic countries, respectively.

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