The Islámic Religion

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The Islámic Religion
One Bahá'í's Concept from
The Book of Revelation

Chapter Three

ISLÁM
THE GREEK WORD LAODICEANS MEANS "LUKE WARM"
622 C.E.
REVEALER MUHAMMAD

Bible Verses
[14] 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;
LAODICEAN - ISLÁM - COMMENTARY
V.14 John is told to write to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. Laodicea was a prosperous city. Fine wool and eye salve were two of its main products in demand. It also had a medical school and banking facilities. The city received its water from hot springs but because it came from some distance away by the time it arrived it had become lukewarm. The meaning of the word Laodicea is 'lukewarm'. Lukewarm describes the Islámic Faith, the leaders are prosperous, and while the followers are often dogmatically fanatic they often lack in spirituality and are therefore "lukewarm".
The Angel of this church (religion) is Muhammad. Although most members of Islám expect Christ to return they believe that Muhammad is the last Prophet to ever come. Bahá'u'lláh tells us 'yes', Muhammad is the last in the Adamic or Prophetic cycle that started with Adam, however, a new cycle of Fulfillment has begun. 'Amen' is expressed here as an ending to the old cycle. The new cycle began with One called 'the Báb' meaning the 'Gate' the Forerunner for Bahá'u'lláh. The Báb is called 'the Lamb' like Christ.

[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
V.15 Commends and condemns:
He knows their works, but doesn't really commend them as they are lacking in the spirit of love and tolerance although they are often very emotional and dogmatic.

[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
V.16 Threat:
Because they are spiritually lukewarm in the true spirit of love and tolerance which Muhammad taught, He says He will spew them out of His mouth, which is to say that He will reject them.
In brief, dissentions among various sects have opened the way to weakness. Each sect hath picked out a way for itself and is clinging to a certain cord. Despite manifest blindness and ignorance they pride themselves on their insight and knowledge. Among them are mystics who bear allegiance to the Faith of Islám, some of whom indulge in that which leadeth to idleness and seclusion. I swear by God! It lowereth man's station and maketh him swell with pride. Man must bring forth fruit. One who yieldeth no fruit is, in the words of the Spirit (Jesus) like unto a fruitless tree, and a fruitless tree is fit but for the fire.
('Abdu'l-Bahá,
Some Answered Questions,
p. 166)

[17] 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:
V.17 They do not realize that they are spiritually poor. The leaders, especially, are often materially rich but spiritually poor. The trade route passed through their land, which gave the rulers fabulous luxury at the time, and now once again the wealth is in the sale of oil. He says they are spiritually wretched, miserable, poor and naked in the lack of love and tolerance for other religions. Other religious cultures such as Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Bahá'ís have terribly experienced the effect of Islámist intolerance. The true spirit of religious tolerance was very much taught by Muhammad but now the Muslims are very often known for the opposite.

Chapter Seven

Bible Verses

[2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.

V.2 John saw another Angel, ascending (rising) from the East with a seal in His hand. This was the Seal of the Living God, and indeed Muhammad is considered the Seal of the Prophets. The Seal is the end of the 'Prophetic Age'. He cried to the Four Angels who were in charge of the destruction (see Rev.9:18).

The Islámic Faith began in Saudi Arabia and spread to Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Israel and Iran; which is the area of the Sabean, Jewish and Zoroastrian Faiths as well. The area of the Euphrates is where civilization began and is considered the location of the Garden of Eden.

Chapter Ten

Bible Verses

[7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

V.7 This verse says but in the days of the Seventh Angel (which was the Revealer to the Seventh [Islámic] Church) and is talking about what will happen in His Day. This is a shift from discussion about the Mighty Angel that we have been discussing since Verse One. The Seventh Angel (Revealer) was Muhammad and when He sounded - the 'mystery of God' was finished. Muhammad's Book was the last Book of prophecy about the 'Time of Fulfillment', and He was the 'Seal of all the Prophets', as is often repeated by Muslims. The completion of His Sounding - that is the 'Fulfillment' by the next Manifestation continues in Rev.11:15 and Rev.16:17 with both the benefits and woe that it brings.

Yes, the "time of prophecy" about what was to come and what was to be expected by ALL the religions ended with the Seal of the Prophets - and thereafter the New Books would be for the 'Time of Fulfillment' as brought by the Mighty Angel (The Báb) in the Book that He received from Another Mighty Angel Bahá'u'lláh (the One who sits on the Throne in Rev.5:7) and is called in Rev.14:6 and Rev.18:1 "Another Angel" when He brings His (the Ninth) Revelation.

Chapter Eleven

Bible Verses

[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

V.15 "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever."

The seventh angel is a man qualified with heavenly attributes, who will arise with heavenly qualities and character. Voices will be raised, so that the appearance of the Divine Manifestation will be proclaimed and diffused. In the day of the manifestation of the Lord of Hosts, and at the epoch of the divine cycle of the Omnipotent which is promised and mentioned in all the books and writings of the Prophets -- in that day of God, the Spiritual and Divine Kingdom will be established, and the world will be renewed; a new spirit will be breathed into the body of creation; the season of the divine spring will come; the clouds of mercy will rain; the sun of reality will shine; the life-giving breeze will blow; the world of humanity will wear a new garment; the surface of the earth will be a sublime paradise; mankind will be educated; wars, disputes, quarrels and malignity will disappear; and truthfulness, righteousness, peace and the worship of God will appear; union, love and brotherhood will surround the world; and God will rule for evermore -- meaning that the Spiritual and Everlasting Kingdom will be established. Such is the day of God. For all the days which have come and gone were the days of Abraham, Moses and Christ, or of the other Prophets; but this day is the day of God, for the Sun of Reality will arise in it with the utmost warmth and splendor.

Chapter Fourteen

Bible Verses

[15] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

V.15 Another angel, being in the order of religions - the religion of Zoroaster, appears to say that it is time to reap, that the harvest of the earth is ripe. This is known as the judgment day. Bahá'u'lláh tells the people of the world:

O YE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD! Know, verily, that an unforeseen calamity followeth you, and grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not that which ye have committed hath been effaced in My sight. By My beauty! All your doings hath My pen graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite.

(Bahá'u'lláh,
The Persian Hidden Words No. 63)

These events may well be identified with Zoroaster because His Religion is identified with the religion of Persia which is modern day Islámic Iran. One might speculate on the "sharp" sickle in light of current day events regarding nuclear inspections in Iran, but time will tell. This the only series of Angels that does not conclude with the Seventh Islámic Angel and this is the only connection to Islám in this series, which is noteworthy because it may thus identify one specific Islámic country.

Chapter Sixteen

Bible Verses [17] And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.	V.17 The Seventh Angel, identified with the Islámic Religion, is the last in order and when He acts the Great Voice (identified with Bahá'u'lláh) says that "It is done". This may well be the precipitating event to the Great War. "Verse 17, the seventh angel poured out his influence upon the world. It is said that he poured it in the air, because the air fills every place, and the continuing verses mean the Great War that is to come. After the war everything will be at peace."
[18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.	V.18 "And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail," meaning that after the appearance of the Book of the Testament there will be a great storm, and the lightnings of the anger and the wrath of God will flash, the noise of the thunder of the violation of the Covenant will resound, the earthquake of doubts will take place, the hail of torments will beat upon the violators of the Covenant, and even those who profess belief will fall into trials and temptations." ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 60) (regarding Rev 11:19) A great earthquake is told about in Isaiah 13:13; 24:20; 29:5; 38:7-8 This is a major upheaval, as it affects the whole world. Some see it as even the earth shifting on its axis. ISAIAH 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. 24:20 "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard. 29:5 "Yea, it shall be at an instant, suddenly," 38:7 And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; 38:8 Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
[19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.	V.19 "The city which was cut in three pieces means that the kingdom of Babylonia, which is under three kings, those of England, Persia and Turkey" (Palestine was under English law at the time).Babylon, a symbol of the great city, also was given the cup of wine of the fierceness of God's wrath. It is now in remembrance. The kingdom of Babylonia in Bible times was in the area of Iraq, Iran, Palestine and Turkey. Shoghi Effendi in 'Citadel of Faith p.124-128' is warning America. "The steady and alarming deterioration in the standard of morality as exemplified by the appalling increase of crime, by political corruption in ever widening and higher circles, by the loosening of the sacred ties of marriage, by the inordinate craving for pleasure and diversion, and by the marked progressive slackening of parental control, is no doubt the most arresting and distressing aspect of the decline that has set in.if not remedied, is bound to involve the American nation in a catastrophe of undreamed of dimensions."
[20] And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.	V.20 "The island and the mountains of verse 20 mean people of influence, and also small kingdoms, which will be destroyed and annihilated at that time." ------ XVIII. "The mountains have passed away, and the heavens have been folded together, and the whole earth is held within His grasp, could ye but understand it. Who is it that can protect you? None, by Him Who is the All-Merciful! None, except God, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Beneficent." (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh)
[21] And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.	V.21 "In verse 21, the 'great hail' means both bombs, shells, instruments of destruction and the calamities and hardships which will cause people to blaspheme." The people were greatly angered, and blasphemed God. The great hail symbolizes weapons of destruction of all kinds that shall reign from the skies upon men whether in the form of gases, deadly disease germs, guided missiles, or bombs. The sustaining grace is that 'Abdu'l-Bahá assures us that, in spite of the trials and tribulations through which humanity must pass, this century of light will bring about the unity of mankind, and a glorious new day. Bahá'u'lláh has written: "The promised day is come, the day when tormenting trials will have surged above your heads, and beneath your feet, saying: "The days are approaching their end, and yet the peoples of the earth are seen sunk in grievous heedlessness, and lost in manifest error." "Great, great is the Cause! The hour is approaching when the most great convulsion will have appeared. I swear by Him Who is the Truth! It shall cause separation to afflict everyone, even those who circle around Me." "Say: O concourse of the heedless! I swear by God! The promised day is come, the day when tormenting trials will have surged above your heads, and beneath your feet, saying: 'Taste ye what your hands have wrought!'" "The time for the destruction of the world and its people hath arrived. He Who is the Pre-Existent is come, that He may bestow everlasting life, and grant eternal preservation, and confer that which is conducive to true living." "The day is approaching when its [civilization's] flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: 'The Kingdom is God's, the Almighty, the All-Praised!'" "O ye that are bereft of understanding! A severe trial pursueth you, and will suddenly overtake you. Bestir yourselves, that haply it may pass and inflict no harm upon you." "O ye peoples of the world! Know, verily, that an unforeseen calamity is following you, and that grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not the deeds ye have committed have been blotted from My sight." (Bahá'u'lláh quoted by Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 81) ".and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened". (Mat.24:22) Then the "Resurrection" appeared, the "Day of Judgment" became manifest, the "earth" heaved and shook, the "mountains" were leveled, the "seas" boiled, the "sun" was eclipsed, the "luminaries" were darkened, the "stars" scattered, the "signs" became known, the "bridge" expanded, the "conditions" were fulfilled, the "balance" was set up, the "fire" burned fiercely and the "paradise" became begemmed! -- wherefore the devoted ones entered into delectable gardens with beatitude and the veiled ones were left to amuse themselves with their own imaginations; the possessors of perception beheld the lights and those whose eyes were weak vanished in gloomy darkness before the appearance of the mid day sun. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 396)

Chapter Twenty-one

Bible Verses

[9] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

V.9 Having dealt with the angels in order, this is now the Seventh Angel which is identified with Islám. The vials with the seven plagues refer to the seven spiritual deficiencies of the world described earlier in Chapter 16 by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. In summary they are:

1. The power and influence, of leaders -outwardly looking good but inwardly deceitful.

2. The learned people of the world, the philosophers, and leaders of thought who taught without deference to the Teachings of the Prophets.

3. The indifference, bureaucracy, of the administrators, officials and managers, applying rules of human law rather than God's principles of justice.

4. The oppression and unreasonable application of power by those in authority.

5. The darkness of complete submersion into the struggle of coping with the materialism and tinsel of day to day living.

6. The absorption of the masses into total ignorance with their being completely preoccupied with the frivolous in entertainment such as personalities, sports, clothing styles, fads, appearances and so forth, which consequently gives their rulers more power over them.

7. The complete daily lawlessness, insecurity, fear, threats from scams, crime, diseases and terrorism brought on by the breakdown of society and which is spread to the whole of the world as through the
air (Rev 16:17) (airwaves and communication)
to bring about what will be a world wide catastrophe. The above is a catalog of the internal, spiritual nature of the plagues that are a cause of a plight that dwellers of Babylon understand not, neither as to its nature nor its source.

The Angel also wished to show John the Bride for the Days of Fulfillment, which is the Law of God for the New Day and Age.

The Law of God is also compared to an adorned bride who appears with most beautiful ornaments, as it has been said in chapter 21 (verse 1) of the Revelation of St. John: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

('Abdu'l-Bahá,
Some Answered Questions,
p. 68)

.the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. the principal repository of that Law which the Prophet Isaiah had anticipated, and which the writer of the Apocalypse had described as the "new heaven" and the "new earth", as "the Tabernacle of God", as the "Holy City", as the "Bride", the "New Jerusalem coming down from God", this "Most Holy Book", whose provisions must remain inviolate for no less than a thousand years, and whose system will embrace the entire planet, may well be regarded as the brightest emanation of the mind of Bahá'u'lláh, as the Mother Book of His Dispensation, and the Charter of His New World Order.

(Universal House of Justice,
Kitáb-i-Aqdas,
p. 12)

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Bible Verses [14] 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;	LAODICEAN - ISLÁM - COMMENTARY V.14 John is told to write to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. Laodicea was a prosperous city. Fine wool and eye salve were two of its main products in demand. It also had a medical school and banking facilities. The city received its water from hot springs but because it came from some distance away by the time it arrived it had become lukewarm. The meaning of the word Laodicea is 'lukewarm'. Lukewarm describes the Islámic Faith, the leaders are prosperous, and while the followers are often dogmatically fanatic they often lack in spirituality and are therefore "lukewarm". The Angel of this church (religion) is Muhammad. Although most members of Islám expect Christ to return they believe that Muhammad is the last Prophet to ever come. Bahá'u'lláh tells us 'yes', Muhammad is the last in the Adamic or Prophetic cycle that started with Adam, however, a new cycle of Fulfillment has begun. 'Amen' is expressed here as an ending to the old cycle. The new cycle began with One called 'the Báb' meaning the 'Gate' the Forerunner for Bahá'u'lláh. The Báb is called 'the Lamb' like Christ.
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.	V.15 Commends and condemns: He knows their works, but doesn't really commend them as they are lacking in the spirit of love and tolerance although they are often very emotional and dogmatic.
[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.	V.16 Threat: Because they are spiritually lukewarm in the true spirit of love and tolerance which Muhammad taught, He says He will spew them out of His mouth, which is to say that He will reject them. In brief, dissentions among various sects have opened the way to weakness. Each sect hath picked out a way for itself and is clinging to a certain cord. Despite manifest blindness and ignorance they pride themselves on their insight and knowledge. Among them are mystics who bear allegiance to the Faith of Islám, some of whom indulge in that which leadeth to idleness and seclusion. I swear by God! It lowereth man's station and maketh him swell with pride. Man must bring forth fruit. One who yieldeth no fruit is, in the words of the Spirit (Jesus) like unto a fruitless tree, and a fruitless tree is fit but for the fire. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 166)
[17] 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:	V.17 They do not realize that they are spiritually poor. The leaders, especially, are often materially rich but spiritually poor. The trade route passed through their land, which gave the rulers fabulous luxury at the time, and now once again the wealth is in the sale of oil. He says they are spiritually wretched, miserable, poor and naked in the lack of love and tolerance for other religions. Other religious cultures such as Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Bahá'ís have terribly experienced the effect of Islámist intolerance. The true spirit of religious tolerance was very much taught by Muhammad but now the Muslims are very often known for the opposite.