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Baha'u'llah's spiritual interpretations are in full harmony with the Bible. Let us look at one example of this. (16:30) The following prophecy of Joel from the Old Testament speaks of great outward signs. Although these outward signs did not occur, the New Testament states that this prophecy was fulfilled during the time of Jesus. (16:31) Prophecy of Joel: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. (16:33) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. (joe 2:28-31) (16:34) see In the Book of Acts, Peter refers to this prophecy and states that it was fulfilled. We know that Peter must have understood the prophecy spiritually, because many of the signs mentioned by Joel were not fulfilled literally: (16:35) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: (16:36) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (16:37) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (16:38) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: (16:39) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. (act 2:14-20) (16:40) see Knowledge Shall be Increased (16:41) A fascinating aspect of the unsealing of the books given to us in the book of Daniel, wherein it states: (16:42) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (dan 12:4) (16:43) see These words of Daniel have been fulfilled. Through the coming of Baha'u'llah, like a spiritual sun rising, the world has experienced a tremendous increase in knowledge. More people travel to and fro in this day than at any other time in history. (16:44) Jesus uses the analogy of the physical growth of a tree to explain how we will be helped to recognize the time of His Return: (16:45) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (16:46) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (mat 24:32) (16:47) see When do we see that this change referred to by Daniel and Jesus began? (16:48) An astonishing fact of history is that the famous first message sent by Samuel B. Morse on his newly-constructed telegraph system, which ran between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, was sent on May 24, 1844-one day after the Baha'i Faith commenced in Persia. The words chosen for that telegraphic message were quoted from the Book of Numbers, 23:23: What hath God wrought! Morse was a born-again Christian. He felt "the assurance that his Creator had chosen him to be a great benefactor to mankind." (YL p. 113) His invention anchored the age of electronic communications. It was given to mankind by God to provide the means whereby humanity could live as one fold (joh 10:16), and to enable the birth of a world civilization wherein humanity could freely communicate.
(16:49)
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