False Prophets (4:19) Jesus gives us clear guidance regarding the characteristics by which to identify false prophets: (4:20) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. (mat 7:15-20, RSV) (4:21) see Paul speaks of the fruits: What are the fruits of Baha'u'llah? Here is a passage from His Writings exhorting His followers: (4:23) 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. (gwb CXXX) (4:24) And again: Baha'u'llah teaches that everyone must acquire divine virtues-the fruit of the spirit spoken of by Paul-and that we must work in this life for the betterment of society. These Teachings are good fruit by any fair standard, and Christ says that only a good Prophet can bear these fruits. (4:26) Jesus tell us: The proofs of Baha'u'llah's claim to be the Return of Christ are not based on any great signs and wonders. Miracles are not and have never been reliable proof of a Prophet. Baha'u'llah's proofs are based upon His life of sacrificial love and suffering in the path of God, His Teachings and the community of followers, dedicated to the betterment of the world, that He has raised up. (4:28) Peter speaks of false prophets: A review of Baha'u'llah's life and teachings clearly demonstrates that He did not deny the Master, but instead glorifies Him. He did not suffer swift destruction. His mission lasted forty years and His Faith continues to grow to this day. And He did not show licentiousness or greed; He willingly gave up the life of luxury, wealth, and prestige that was His birthright in order to proclaim the Cause of God. (4:30) Ezekiel tells us that false prophets shall not enter into the land of Israel: (4:31) And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. (eze 13:9) (4:32) see Baha'u'llah entered into what is now the land of Israel when He was sent there as an exile. He remained there for twenty-four years. Therefore, according to Ezekiel's words, Baha'u'llah cannot be a false prophet. (4:33) Jesus states that a true Prophet will glorify God, not Himself: (4:34) He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (joh 7:18) (4:35) see Baha'u'llah states: By Jesus's own words, Baha'u'llah cannot be a false prophet. This is why the tree of His Faith has not been cut down and thrown into the fire. Instead it has grown and blossomed and now reaches to all parts of the planet bringing its spiritual fruits-the love of God, the love of humanity-to nourish all peoples and heal the world of all its ills. (4:37) Satan (the Devil): Let us look at what the Bible says about Satan. First, we should know that "Devil" and "Satan" refer to the same thing: (4:39) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (rev 12:9) (4:40) see Next, let us look at the characteristics that Satan has: (4:41) He [the devil].. has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. (joh 8:44) (4:42) see We know that there is no truth in Satan. We also know that Baha'u'llah teaches the truth by glorifying Jesus, by teaching that Jesus is the Son of God and that the Bible is divinely inspired. Therefore, the belief that Baha'u'llah is Satan is not biblically founded. (4:43) Paul States: Baha'u'llah does call Jesus Lord: The following passages shed light on who and what Satan is: (4:46) From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that he must go into Jerusalem.. and be killed. Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned and said unto Peter, 'Get thee behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men. (mat 16:21-23) (4:47) see Here, Christ calls Peter "Satan" because Peter is on the side of man, and not on the side of God. But certainly we don't believe that Peter was actually Satan. Christ uses the word "Satan" symbolically in order to convey that it is satanic to reject the Will of God. (4:48) Other verses in the Bible can be interpreted symbolically to illustrate the teaching that Satan is a symbol for evil: (4:49) In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. (2co 4:4) (4:50) see "Satan" can therefore be interpreted as the act of turning away from God, which, as in the case of Peter, is ultimately the source of evil. Where does Jesus say that evil comes from? Our own hearts: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (mat 15:19) (4:51) see If our heart is in the wrong place, attached to the things of this world, attached to the self and selfish desires, then from our hearts will proceed evil. Evil does not have an independent existence, but rather it is the absence of good, just as darkness is the absence of light: (4:53) Darkness is the absence of light: when there is no light, there is darkness. Light is an existing thing, but darkness is nonexistent. Wealth is an existing thing, but poverty is nonexisting. Good exists; evil is nonexistent. (saq 264) (4:54) The Baha'i Writings confirm that Satan exists, but that it does so not as a person or entity, but as the condition of evil: (4:55) The whisperings of Satan have been breathed to every creature. (bpr 314) (4:56) Be fair in your judgment. Every good thing is of God, and every evil thing is from yourselves. (gwb LXXVII) (4:57) Just as Jesus warned that evil comes out of the heart, the word "Satan," in the Baha'i Writings, describes the state of being in which a human being has submitted to his or her lower nature. We know that this power can blind the mindsof them who believe not. (4:58) Indeed the actions of man himself breed a profusion of satanic power. For were men to abide by and observe the Divine teachings, every trace of evil would vanish from the face of the earth. However, the widespread differences that exist among mankind and the prevalence of sedition, contention and conflict, and the like are the primary factions which provoke the appearance of the satanic spirit. (tbh 177-178) (4:59) If his morals become spiritual in character, his aspirations heavenly, and his actions conformable with the will of God, man has attained the image and likeness of his Creator; otherwise, he is the image and likeness of Satan. Therefore Christ hath said, 'Ye shall know them by their fruits.' (pup 335-336) (4:60) We must look to Biblical proofs as the standard by which to judge Baha'u'llah and not follow the example of those who rejected Jesus without justification.
(4:61)
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