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

Chapter Two

[28] And I will give him the morning star.

V.28 The morning star is the light that precedes the new day. Since The Báb preceded Bahá'u'lláh, He is referred to here as the 'morning star'. The Zoroastrian Faith flourished at the time of Christ in Persia, which is now Iran. The Báb was born in Persia in 1819 near the birthplace of Zoroaster.
    His Holiness the Báb gave the glad tidings concerning the appearance of the Manifestation of God, and His Holiness, the Blessed Perfection, was the Promised One of all the nations and religions. The Báb was the Morning Star heralding the glorious Dawn of the Sun of Reality. Now all of us are under Its shadow and receive the refulgent bestowals from It.
    ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Scriptures,
    p. 284)

Chapter Four
CONCEPT BOX

This chapter deals with the religion that is to come 'hereafter': the Fulfillment of the previous religions. In the Bahá'í Writings there are often references to the Revealers as 'Trumpets', and the Revealers as sitting on Thrones. Two Trumpets being blown would therefore be two Revealers - one after the other.

    "And the trumpet shall be blown, and those who are in the heavens and in the earth shall swoon, save whom God pleases. Then it shall be blown again, and, lo! they shall stand up and look on. And the earth shall beam with the light of its Lord, and the Book shall be set forth, and the prophets and martyrs shall be brought; and it shall be decreed between them in truth, and they shall not be wronged!"
    (The Qur'án [Koran] Sura 39 - The Troops)
The Báb, Mírzá 'Alí-Muhammad, was born in the city of Shíráz Persia, October 20, 1819. He declared His mission in 1844. There was a lot of excitement as the One who became known as the Báb already had wisdom, eloquence, great knowledge and courage. This chapter describes the problems of the world at that time, which will continue until the new Twin Manifestations of God (the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh) are recognized.

It is eight years (1852) after the Báb's declaration (1844), before the person to be Bahá'u'lláh finds out who He Himself is. Another eleven years will go by before Bahá'u'lláh declares His mission (1863).

The 'beasts' mentioned in this chapter have often been perceived in a negative light, whereas here a positive sense of worthiness is shown. In this regards there is discussion of the nature of symbols in the appendix at the end of this chapter.

Bible Verses

[1] After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

One Bahá'í's Concept

V.1 "A door was opened in heaven." The Voice of the Trumpet called John to 'Come, I will show you things which must come shortly. The Book of Revelation gives new meaning to religion, bringing new concepts, also a history that is truly amazing as it is right on with the times of this century. We would not have understood if the book had been open before this era.

The Door that was opened is the Báb. (The meaning of the word 'Báb' is 'Gate'). He opens a new cycle, and is the forerunner for the new age. He tells of things to come and foretells that the Promised one, promised in all the Holy Scriptures would come in 19 years. The Báb's voice, also a Trumpet, tells John that He also will reveal what is to come.

    The trumpet asketh: 'Hath the Bugle been sounded?' Say: 'Yea, by the King of Revelation!, when He mounted the throne of His Name, the All-Merciful.'
    (Bahá'u'lláh,
    Epistle to the Son of the Wolf,
    p. 132)

Chapter Five

CONCEPT BOX

A study of the progressive nature of religion shows that each succeeding religion has brought 'additional' concepts about God, and a more inclusive social organization for its followers.

This chapter introduces us to a new concept: Until the return of Christ, which is Bahá'u'lláh, and His Forerunner the Báb, the Book of Revelation was impossible to decipher. The Seals are now opened with Their appearance.

This 'Strong Angel' (5:2) is the 'Mighty Angel' mentioned again in Rev.16:7 and Rev.18:21. This Angel is distinct from the Seven Angels (the Revealers of the Seven Religions). He is a new Angel - The Báb, the bringer of the Eighth Religion. Later in Rev.8:3 and Rev.10:1 and Rev.18:1 there will come still 'Another Angel', the Ninth Angel with Great Power and Glory, Who is Bahá'u'lláh. These, the Prophets of the religion of the New Age are the One's worthy to loose the seals and open the Books of the Teachings for the New Age.

It is central to understanding these scriptures to recognize that the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh are the Return of Christ and of the other Manifestations of God (as again in Rev.18:1). The 'Most Conclusive Proof' of this is referred to in Chapter 11.

You could say that this chapter happened in Heaven before the event of the actual appearance of the Twin Manifestations. The One on the 'Throne' is Bahá'u'lláh. The 'Lamb' refers to the Báb.

Bible Verses

[2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

V.2 The Strong Angel is an Eighth Angel in addition to the Seven Angels. This is the Báb and He AND Bahá'u'lláh, the Ninth Angel, will open the Books of God.

The Book of Revelation, itself, could not be opened until 'The Time of the End' and had to be opened by the 'Right Person' - the Manifestation of God.

[6] And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

V.6 John then saw a Lamb that had been 'slain'; this showing the destiny of the Lamb's life. The Lamb (the Báb) appeared in the midst of the Throne of Bahá'u'lláh, the elders, and the four rulers. The life of Christ and the life of the Báb are similar, both are considered Lambs, both were martyred, both sacrificed their lives for mankind. Both were Messengers from God.

The Báb (with innate knowledge) sees everything of the past of the seven Revealers, which refers to the seven eyes. The horns are their religious kingdoms. The title 'Báb' means 'Gate' which was to open the way for a 'New Cycle', a 'New Era', with the announcement of the coming of Bahá'u'lláh, the Promised One of all the religions of the world.

[7] And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

V.7 The Báb took the Opened (unsealed in Verse Five) Book, out of the right hand of the One (Bahá'u'lláh) 'upon the throne'.
    XXIV. Beware, O believers in the Unity of God, lest ye be tempted to make any distinction between any of the Manifestations of His Cause, or to discriminate against the signs that have accompanied and proclaimed their Revelation. This indeed is the true meaning of Divine Unity, if ye be of them that apprehend and believe this truth. Be ye assured, moreover, that the works and acts of each and every one of these Manifestations of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them, and whatsoever they may manifest in the future, are all ordained by God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Whoso maketh the slightest possible difference between their persons, their words, their messages, their acts and manners, hath indeed disbelieved in God, hath repudiated His signs, and betrayed the Cause of His Messengers.
    (Bahá'u'lláh,
    Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh,
    p. 59)
[8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

V.8 When the Báb took the Book, there was great rejoicing, and prayer. The odours represent more than prayers, like an invisible essence of spiritual atmosphere. The emphasis here is that every one of them had harps and golden vials which is symbolic that all the religions had spiritual truths.
    The Reality of the divine Religions is one, because the Reality is one and cannot be two. All the prophets are united in their message, and unshaken. They are like the sun; in different seasons they ascend from different rising points on the horizon. Therefore every ancient prophet gave the glad tidings of the future, and every future has accepted the past.
    ('Abdu'l-Bahá,
    'Abdu'l-Bahá in London,
    p. 29)
    5.99 Set before thine eyes what hath been revealed in the Book of God, the Help in Peril, the All-Glorious: "And when they had forgotten their warnings, We set open to them the gates of all things," even as We did set open to thee and to thy like the gates of this earth and the ornaments thereof. Wait thou, therefore, for what hath been promised in the latter part of this holy verse, for this is a promise from Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise -- a promise that will not prove untrue.
    (Bahá'u'lláh,
    The Summons of the Lord of Hosts,
    p. 227
    Suriy-i-Mulúk / Surih of the Kings:99)
[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

V.9 They sang a new song. This is a new Revelation from God, one that has not been heard before. The Báb is worthy to take the Book and also (besides Bahá'u'lláh) opens the Seals. He too, was a descendant of Abraham. The Báb was to sacrifice His life to make way for Bahá'u'lláh: The 'Glory of God' for all peoples, all races and all nationalities. The historical similarity between the life of the Báb and that of Jesus is quite astounding. This Message, the New Song, is for all mankind.
[12] Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

V.12 A loud voice proclaimed the Báb to be worthy to receive power, with eloquence, extraordinary wisdom, spiritual strength and above all, innate knowledge from God. Bahá'u'lláh also had all these qualities, as did all Seven Revealers of all the religions of God. On May 23, 1844 the Báb declared who He was. To open the new cycle, God has introduced a 'Gate' a Manifestation, with the same attributes as all previous Prophets, to be the Forerunner. Eighteen individuals independently found the Báb and became His disciples. Including the Báb they are called Nineteen Letters of the Living. Bahá'u'lláh also became a follower of the Bábí Faith after receiving a letter from Him, telling who He was.
[13] And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

V.13 All the creatures on the earth, under the earth, and all creatures in the sea, can feel this New Revelation and are blessed by it. The most spiritually blind eye should be able to recognize that a Power was released around 1844 that changed the world. Electricity, automobiles, airplanes, satellites, atomic energy, computers and thousands of other things have suddenly come into existence in the history of the world and mankind.

For the centuries between the time of Jesus and His giving of this prophecy - and its Fulfillment - the world remained pretty much the same with horse, foot and sail transportation - but then it all suddenly changed at the Divine Springtime and every creature on the earth, under the earth or in the sea were affected one way or the other by this Two Edged Sword.

Blessing and honour and glory, be upon him that sitteth on the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever. We are to be very humble and accept God's new Prophets for this new day and age because They alone have the guidance that we need for dealing with the Power that has been released in this New Day.

Chapter Six

Bible Verses

[1] And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

One Bahá'í's Concept

V.1 John saw the Báb open one of the seals, and he heard the noise of thunder brought on by the Great Message the Báb has to offer. We recognize the Lamb as being the Báb because He is the Return of Christ (which is identified by Christians as being the Lamb). All the Manifestations of God are the One and the Same. The First and Last. The Only. Even as Bahá'u'lláh said:

    XLVII. If ye be intent on crucifying once again Jesus, the Spirit of God, put Me to death, for He hath once more, in My person, been made manifest unto you.
    (Bahá'u'lláh,
    Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh)
He opens the first seal and the 'first beast' says "come and see". The "beasts" as pointed out in Chapter Four, are rulers that will become champions of His Cause.

The first seal, though associated with the Sabean Religion, it being the oldest religion and most anciently widespread among the native peoples of the earth, is universal in its application.

Chapter Seven

Bible Verses

[9] After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

V.9 John now saw a great multitude, which no man could number, from all nations, all races and all tongues. This symbolizes that beyond the 144,000 eventually most of mankind will take up the 'Cause of God' with heart and soul. They will stand before The Throne of Bahá'u'lláh and before the Báb, (the Lamb) clothed with white robes of purity, with palms in their hands showing their dedication.

    The sea of the unity of mankind is lifting up its waves with joy, for there is real communication between the hearts and minds of men. The banner of the Holy Spirit is uplifted, and men see it, and are assured with the knowledge that this is a new day.
    ('Abdu'l-Bahá,
    'Abdu'l-Bahá in London,
    p. 19)
[10] And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

V.10 The multitude cried with a loud voice, saying "Salvation" to Bahá'u'lláh, the Glory of God, and to the Báb.

In time, the whole world will become aware of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh and will recognize Them as the Source of the spiritual power that has unified mankind.

[14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

V.14 These (in the white robes) are the ones who had great trials, just as the twenty thousand souls that gave up their lives for their belief in the Báb. Their robes were washed, meaning that they have detached themselves from the materialism and immorality of this world. These are the ones among mankind who live their lives in complete dedication to the Lord and have overcome such attitudes as nationalism, racism, and religionism.
[17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

V.17 The Lamb is the Báb and the living fountains of waters that He shall lead them to is of course Bahá'u'lláh. We struggle with fears in this earthly plain to arise above earthly attachment and to achieve spiritual detachment. Our Lord guides us on our individual paths. His assistance and the assistance of the Holy Concourse is with every soul that seeks to turn to Him and serve Him. Eventually each one that does so arrives at a life of joy!

    O ye servants of the Sacred Threshold! The triumphant hosts of the Celestial Concourse, arrayed and marshaled in the Realms above, stand ready and expectant to assist and assure victory to that valiant horseman who with confidence spurs on his charger into the arena of service.
    ('Abdu'l-Bahá
    Selections of the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
    p. 264)

Chapter Eight

CONCEPT BOX

The prophecies for the last days in the Book of Revelation are to the whole world and in this chapter we begin to see both the New Song regarding the Teachings of God and the problems that will befall the world in its struggle to accept the Teachings.

Because these prophecies have not yet been all fulfilled, what we may see in them can only be speculative. Here we have slavishly followed the order of what we accept as the appearance of the world's religions in trying to anticipate what they may mean. After the events, the actual relationships to the scriptures will be able to be more clearly seen.

Bible Verses

[1] And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

One Bahá'í's Concept

V.1 John looked and saw a lamb (The Báb) on mount Zion and with Him were his followers, (one hundred and forty-four thousand). The city of Jerusalem is built on Mount Zion, and frequently is mentioned in the Bible. Here it refers to the New Jerusalem, which is a symbol for 'The Law of God', which is now established on Mount Carmel in Haifa.

The body of the Báb came to Its final resting place after being transferred from place to place for sixty years. His body was ceremoniously deposited by 'Abdu'l-Bahá within its sacred casket on Mount Carmel in Haifa on Naw-Rúz, March 21, 1909 C.E. at what is known as the Shrine of The Báb which 'Abdu'l-Bahá had built especially for it.

The 144,000 is a number that adds to nine, a symbol for the Bábí and Bahá'í followers. Mount Carmel is now the World Administrative Center, and a place for the future Bahá'í Commonwealth to gradually be established. The promises of God as recorded in the Holy Scriptures, have been fulfilled.

    XVI. The time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation. Happy is the man that pondereth in his heart that which hath been revealed in the Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Meditate upon this, O ye beloved of God, and let your ears be attentive unto His Word, so that ye may, by His grace and mercy, drink your fill from the crystal waters of constancy, and become as steadfast and immovable as the mountain in His Cause.
    (Bahá'u'lláh,
    Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh)

[14] And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

V.14 John saw a white cloud and saw one 'like' the Son of Man (Jesus) with a golden crown. The gold crown means Divine Authority. The white cloud indicates that the One 'like' the Son of Man is the Báb who is still hidden from the knowledge of most of mankind. The cloud is described as 'white' but still it is symbolic of men's thoughts that conceal Him from them. The darker the cloud - the more the concealment.
    Tear asunder the veils and curtains of these dogmas, remove these accumulated, suffocating increments, dispel these dark impenetrable clouds, that the sun of reality may shine from the horizon of eternity.
    ('Abdu'l-Bahá,
    Divine Philosophy,
    p. 162)
The sharp sickle He holds in His hand is symbolic of the judgment of mankind that is about to come.
[16] And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

V.16 This verse goes back to Verse 14 where the One on the cloud is noted as being the Báb (the Gate) towards a New Day and a New Era. The old order must be rolled up and a new order put in place. He was requested to thrust His cycle on the earth as a symbol toward the beginning of the Day of Judgment. The beginning of Judgment Day has happened and falls forward from the time of the Báb's declaration in Persia.
    Beseech ye the one true God to grant that all men may be graciously assisted to fulfil that which is acceptable in Our sight. Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth, and is the Knower of things unseen.
    (Bahá'u'lláh,
    The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh,
    p. 121)

Chapter Sixteen

Bible Verses

[7] And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

V.7
    "In the 7th verse another angel of power speaking confirms this, that God is just and righteous to have judged the people."

Chapter Seventeen

Bible Verses

[14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

V.14 This combination of ten ruler and religious powers would make war with the Lamb (the Báb). In the seven short years the Báb proclaimed His Cause, He found over twenty thousand followers. He had never studied in school, yet with innate knowledge, He wrote beautiful prayers and verses. This illustrious soul arose with such power that He shook the customs of the Persians, into accepting, new rules, new laws, a new religion. He imparted divine education to an unenlightened multitude, and produced marvelous results.

The Báb was twenty-five years old when He Declared. The great personages of the state, nearly all the clergy, and public men arose to annihilate him. The Báb's purpose was to proclaim the coming of the Promised One of all ages. He is called the Lamb, because He, like Jesus knew His life would be sacrificed. He thus fulfilled His purpose. He truly can be called Lord of lords, and King of kings.

Chapter Eighteen

Bible Verses

[21] And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

V.21
    You will see how the world is upset with internal conflict, and many lands are dyed in human blood, - nay the earth is kneaded with gore. The flame of war is so ablaze that such terrible struggle finds no parallel in the war records of any of the middle or recent ages. Heads have become like grains and the war like millstones, - nay even worse. Flourishing lands are ruined, cities completely wrecked and thriving towns annihilated. Fathers have lost their sons, sons are made fatherless, and mothers have shed tears of blood over the death of their youthful sons. Children are made orphan, women are helpless, and the world of humanity is forced backward in all respects. The wailing cry of fatherless children is raised abroad, and mothers' pathetic lamentation reaches the high heaven.
    ('Abdu'l-Bahá,
    Letter to Martha Root,
    Dated: 28th of 2nd Kanoun (Feb?), 1920.
    Translated by Dr. Ali Kuli Kahn,
    August, 1935
    Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and Wilmette)
A millstone is a large stone used mostly for grinding grain. The Mighty Angel (identified with the Báb) cast a stone 'like the millstone' into the sea, saying that with violence the great city symbolized as Babylon has been thrown down, and will never reappear.

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