Ezekiel (15:4) And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. (eze 43:4) (15:5) see And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. (eze 43:2) (15:6) see Baha'u'llah's name means "Glory of the Lord", or "Glory of God." He came to Israel from the east, for His birth place is Tihran, Persia (now Iran), which is directly east of Israel. And He did come by way of the "gate." Like Christ, Baha'u'llah also had a herald. Christ's herald was John the Baptist. Baha'u'llah's herald, who was a Prophet in His own right, was a young man called "The Bab." This title, when translated into English, means "the Gate." The Bab prepared the way for Baha'u'llah, Whom he described as Him Whom God shall make manifest. (15:7) Micah (15:8) In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.. (15:9) Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: (15:10) According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. (mic 7:12,14-15) (15:11) see Baha'u'llah came from Assyria, which was an ancient empire that included parts of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and what is now Israel. Baha'u'llah was born in Iran and was exiled to Iraq, to two cities in Turkey, and finally to the prison city of 'Akka, in the north of what is now Israel. (15:12) Baha'u'llah came from the fortified cities: He was exiled to the cities of Constantinople and 'Akka, both of which had enormous fortifications built around them. (15:13) Baha'u'llah came from the fortress even to the river: After Baha'u'llah was released from the mighty prison of 'Akka, while still a Prisoner in that region, He would at times visit a garden outside of the city. He named this garden "Paradise." It was surrounded on both sides by the river Belus, which had split into two streams at that point before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. There He would delight in the beauty of nature, of which He had been deprived for so many years due to His incarceration. (15:14) Baha'u'llah came from sea to sea: When exiled from Baghdad to Constantinople, He sailed on the Black Sea, and when exiled from Adrianople to 'Akka, in the north of Israel, He crossed the Mediterranean Sea. He, the Glory of the Lord, had arrived in the Holy Land by way of the east-driven there by His enemies, who, though they were attempting to eliminate Him and extinguish His Faith, were fulfilling the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments. (15:15) Baha'u'llah came from mountain to mountain: Just as Jesus withdrew into the wilderness at the beginning of His mission, so Baha'u'llah also withdrew, after receiving His revelation, for a period of two years. He went into the mountains of Kurdistan, in northeastern Iraq. He lived for some time in utter seclusion on a mountain called Sar Galu. Also, towards the end of His earthly life, while in the Holy Land, Baha'u'llah pitched His tent on Mount Carmel, as mentioned by Micah. "Carmel" means "Vineyard of the Lord," and He, the Lord of the Vineyard (mrk 12:9), while standing in the vicinity of the Cave of Elijah, revealed the Tablet of Carmel, in which He states: (15:16) see Call out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all-conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all-encompassing splendour is revealed. (tbh 4) (15:17) Micah's prophecy gives the exact time period that the Promised One will feed His flock. He says that it will be according to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt. The Jews wandered for 40 years after coming out of Egypt. Baha'u'llah's mission lasted from 1852 to 1892-exactly 40 years-during which Baha'u'llah revealed the teachings and guidance He received from God. His Teachings deal with the spiritual, social and economic welfare of humanity. Thus, for 40 years, God showed to Baha'u'llah marvelous things, which He fed to His flock. (15:18) Another prophecy of Micah refers to the Second Coming: And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. (mic 4:1-2) (15:20) see In the Tablet of Carmel Baha'u'llah ordained that the world center of His Faith would be established on Mount Carmel. The supreme governing body of His Faith, the Universal House of Justice, which is democratically elected every five years, now directs the afeairs of His Faith. Baha'u'llah states that this institution is divinely guided and protected. Its seat is a beautiful structure situated within magnificent gardens on Mount Carmel. It is visited by peoples of all nations. (15:21) Isaiah (15:22) It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. (isa 35:2) (15:23) see The Plain of Sharon spoken of by Isaiah lies at the foot of Mount Carmel. This prophecy was fulfilled by Baha'u'llah's visit to that mountain. (15:24) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,The mighty God, The everlasting Father,The Prince of Peace. (15:25) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (15:26) see These verses are understood by Christians as a prophetic reference to Christ. However, if we consider it carefully, we see that it does not refer to His First Coming, but rather to His Return. (15:27) Jesus made it clear that the government was not to rest upon his shoulder, for He said: Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's (Matt. 22:21). He also said: My kingdom is not of this world (joh 18:36). Although Jesus did not ordain any administrative order by which His Faith would govern humanity, He promised that the Kingdom of God would be established on earth: (15:28) see Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (mat 6:10) (15:29) see Baha'u'llah prescribes the reorganization of society through the principle of the oneness of mankind. The institutions He has ordained are for the purpose of building and maintaining unity so that the Will of God may be done in earth. Baha'i national and local spiritual assemblies have been established all over the world and are administering to the affairs of their communities. There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Baha'is are working towards the transformation of society in villages and neighborhoods through programs aimed at the development of the devotional character of the community, the spiritual education of children, the directing of the energy of the youth towards the construction of a better world, and the development of the capacity of all peoples for service. (15:30) Isaiah's prophecy uses the title Counsellor in reference to Christ upon His Return. Baha'u'llah refers to Himself as "Counsellor" and throughout His Writings He counsels humanity: (15:31) Hearken unto the Voice of this benevolent Counsellor, calling aloud, unveiled and manifest, before the faces of kings and their subjects, and summon the people of the world, one and all, unto Him Who is the Lord of Eternity. (tbh 44) (15:32) The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. This unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded. (gwb CXXXI) (15:33) see Be ye as the fingers of one hand, the members of one body. Thus counselleth you the Pen of Revelation, if ye be of them that believe. (gwb LXXII) (15:34) see O Son of Spirit! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting. (hwd Arabic No. 1) (15:35) see Isaiah's prophecy refers to the everlasting Father. In His Tablet to Pope Pius IX, Baha'u'llah refers to His coming in the station of the "Father": (15:36) The Word which the Son concealed is made manifest. It hath been sent down in the form of the human temple in this day. Blessed be the Lord Who is the Father! He, verily, is come unto the nations in His most great majesty. Turn your faces towards Him, O concourse of the righteous.. This is the day whereon the Rock (Peter) crieth out and shouteth, and celebrateth the praise of its Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most High, saying: `Lo! The Father is come, and that which ye were promised in the Kingdom is fulfilled!..' My body longeth for the cross, and Mine head waiteth the thrust of the spear, in the path of the All-Merciful, that the world may be purged from its transgressions.. (pob 84-85) (15:37) Isaiah's prophecy also mentions the title Prince of Peace. (15:38) The establishment of peace was not the mission of the First Coming. Jesus's own words attest to this: Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: (luk 12:51) (15:41) see The mission of Baha'u'llah, on the other hand, was precisely to bring peace to the world. He writes: (15:42) O rulers of the earth! Be reconciled among yourselves, that ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories and dominions. Beware lest ye disregard the counsel of the All-Knowing, the Faithful. (15:43) Be united, O kings of the earth, for therebywill the tempest of discord be stilled amongst you, and your peoples find rest, if ye be of them that comprehend. Should anyone among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is naught but manifest justice. (pdc 27) (15:44) The time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world's Great Peace amongst men. Such a peace demandeth that the Great Powers should resolve, for the sake of the tranquillity of the peoples of the earth, to be fully reconciled among themselves. Should any king take up arms against another, all should unitedly arise and prevent him. If this be done, the nations of the world will no longer require any armaments, except for the purpose of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining internal order within their territories. This will ensure the peace and composure of every people, government and nation. (gwb CXVII) (15:45) We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem Us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled-what harm is there in this?.. Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come.. Yet do We see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind.. These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family.. Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind. (pob VIII) (15:46) Baha'u'llah acknowledges that Isaiah wrote of Him: Peruse that which Isaiah hath spoken in His Book. He saith: 'Get thee up into the high mountain, O Zion, that bringest good tidings; lift up thy voice with strength, O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings. Lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: "Behold your God! Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him."' This Day all the signs have appeared. A Great City hath descended from heaven, and Zion trembleth and exulteth with joy at the Revelation of God, for it hath heard the Voice of God on every side.' (pdc 77) (15:48) For a complete discussion of the fulfillment of prophecy by Baha'u'llah, the reader may want to consider the following works: (15:49) Every Eye Shall See, by Gary Matthews The Challenge of Baha'u'llah, by Gary Matthews He Cometh With Clouds, by Gary Matthews I Shall Come Again, by Hushidar Motlagh Lord of Lords, by Hushidar Motlagh King of Kings, by Hushidar Motlagh A Thief in the Night, by William Sears The Prophecies of Jesus, by Michael Sours
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