1He shall “come like a thief”?
This is one of several prophecies that, if taken literally, make good sense, but do not fit
the traditional theories. Consider the following prophecy. It is expressed as literally and
as plainly as possible:
Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time… Hebrews 9:28
What is the literal, plain meaning of “looking for” someone? Suppose you are walking in
a crowded street. Suddenly you notice that your little girl is missing. What do you do?
You start instantly looking for her. You describe her to the police and other shoppers to
see if they have noticed her. Let us now see how a theologian changes the plain and
simple meaning of “looking for” into the complicated, how he transforms the “good”
sense into “no” sense:
“Unto them that look for him shall he appear.” Does that mean that if one doesn’t
happen to be looking into the sky, or at least thinking of Christ’s return when He
comes to catch away His bride, he’ll be left behind? Surely not. Our going to heaven
at the Rapture does not depend upon whether we even believe in that blessed hope
much less are looking for Christ at that particular moment. Our ticket to heaven is the
finished redemptive work of Christ on the cross…
If all Christians are included, then why does it say, “Unto them that look for him”?
Simply because it is expected of all Christians to be looking for Christ…So “unto
them that look for him shall he appear” is just another way of saying, “unto all
Christians shall he appear.” Isn’t that redundant? No. He’s speaking of the Rapture,
and at that time Christ appears only to His bride as He catches her up to heaven.156
Now try to paraphrase the preceding interpretation in your own words to see if you make
any sense out of it!
Let us now see how theologians have distorted the plain and literal meaning of “like a
thief” so that it will not undermine their “heavenly” theories. They say “coming like a
thief” does not mean “coming in the form of a humble and seemingly ordinary human
being” as did Jesus, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh. It rather means coming suddenly. Again
what is the plain and literal meaning of “coming like a thief”? Can a thief remain a thief,
if people see him, whatever he comes suddenly or unsuddenly? Yes, remaining
undetected is the first and foremost concern of a thief. In this case, the plain makes sense.
Why then look for the unplain?
The analogy of “a thief” is perfect. Jesus was the light of the world” (John 8:12). He
walked among the Jews with that light hidden in His physical form. He was King of
kings, but He controlled and concealed His heavenly power. People stood face to face
2with Him, yet they could see nothing except the son of a carpenter, a homeless man. The
same holds true with the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. People hear about them, but they don’t
really see them, unless of course they begin to pray with a pure heart and “watch” or pay
close attention. If you saw a king in plain clothes, would you know him?
One Sunday a plainly dressed, scholarly-looking man went into a church in the
Netherlands and took a seat near the pulpit. A few minutes later, a woman approached
the pew. Seeing the stranger in it, she curtly advised him that this was “her seat” and
asked him to leave. The man graciously apologized and moved to one of the pews
reserved for the poor. There, he devoutly joined in the service and left afterward
without further incident.
When the service was over, one of the woman’s friends asked her if she knew who it
was whom she had ordered out of her pew. “No,” the woman replied casually, “only
some stranger, I suppose.”
To the woman’s great dismay, her friend informed her “It was King Oscar of Sweden.
He is here visiting the Queen.”157
A simple change of clothes concealed the identity of the king. The same holds true with
heavenly Kings. Their physical frame is the veil that clouds their glory.
We can also recognize the meaning of “coming like a thief” from the remedy Jesus
offered. What is that remedy? Remaining watchful and awake. How do theologians
interpret that word? Once again they change the simple into the complicated. They limit
its meaning to these specific points:
• Attaining a state of inner awareness, such as: Jesus may come any moment.
• Attaining a state of outer awareness, such as: we should look out and watch for the
signs of His coming.
What can people gain from a state of inner awareness? Nothing, if it is only mental.
Unfortunately, for most people it is only mental. But if the awareness leads to spiritual
purity, then it is extremely worthwhile. That takes a lot of effort, and few admit needing
purification.
What benefit can people gain from a state of outer awareness: being aware of the signs of
Jesus’ return? They can benefit immensely if their awareness is not limited to tradition
and preconceived notions; if it is not confined by what theologians tell them.
Unfortunately, for most people, this too is limited to a state of awareness about what
Bible teachers, especially the ones in their own denomination tell them.
Thus Jesus’ commandment that believers should “watch” or take notice and investigate is
used to limit where they look, which is the exact opposite of the purpose for which it
was intended. As we can see, once again the meaning of a simple literal word is distorted
to serve a special purpose contrary to what God intended.
Religious leaders send the following message constantly to the masses of believers: “We
are your true watchmen. If anything happens, we are the first to know. Depend on us. We
know what we are doing.” They send this message, and then go about disagreeing among
themselves and arguing about what the prophecies mean! How do people react to this
message of dependency? They become even less watchful. It is like telling someone, “I
3have good eyes, lean on me. You don’t have to look. You can even go to sleep. When the
hour comes, I will wake you.” Again this is a total distortion of the meaning of the word
“Watch.” Jesus did not limit the state of watchfulness to what religious leaders may know
or say. He set no conditions.
Let me cite an analogy to clarify the meaning of “watch” as intended by Jesus. Recently
we were remodeling our house. We had gone to many houses, but seldom paid close
attention to the way they looked. With a keen interest in remodeling, we went to several
houses simply to look. It is incredible how much more we could see! As a result of this
new awareness, our perception of seeing the inside of a house has improved immensely,
perhaps as much as a hundred times! If you don’t believe this, take a few minutes and try
to describe the details of the inner design of a house you have seen before. Take the
kitchen. Can you describe the sink and the faucet? What color and design did the cabinets
have. Did they have knobs? What kind? What color and design did the countertop have?
What was it made of ? Tiles, Formica, or marble? What about the walls? How much
wallpaper was used? Can you remember its color? Was a border used? How many
sources of light were there? Were there any chandeliers? What kinds? Did the various
colors used in the kitchen match?
The preceding analogy demonstrates perfectly why Jesus asked us repeatedly to “watch.”
Many people say, “I have never heard about the Bahá’í Faith.” But once they become
aware, they hear it and see it coming toward them from all directions!
As Christian author, Dr. David Reagan notes:
Jesus can be found on almost every page of the Old Testament, if you know how to
look for Him. He is there symbolically in types.158
Dr. Reagan’s statement holds true more with the second advent than the first. For
according to Christian scholars the Bible contains as many as six times more prophecies
about the second advent.
A main purpose of this book is to provide insight into theological and psychological
influences that allow people to deny their Redeemers. Many believers do not take time to
meditate, to think, and to ponder. Further, they hear only one side of the story. This book
presents the other side, the one you would not hear in your church, your synagogue, or
through the public media. How can a person make an informed decision without hearing
the various views?
The examples given concerning the distortion of the meaning of Jesus’ most critical
warnings should give you the needed insight to make an informed decision, by far the
most significant decision of your life.
As we noted, many Bible teachers express a sense of pride and even superiority in being
literal and “true” to the word of God, but if the literal contradicts their imagined theories,
they set out to distort its meaning to support their preconceived positions. They make
high sounding and splendid claims and present lofty principles such as “If the plain and
the literal makes sense, choose no other sense,” and then set out to violate them
immediately. As long as people hear what their “itching ears” like to hear (II Tim. 4:3),
theologians can get away with anything they wish.
4How strange! These people with one hand cling to those verses…which they have
found to accord with their inclinations and interests, and with the other reject those
which are contrary to their selfish desires.159 Bahá’u’lláh
The people at the time of Jesus engaged in the same mental gymnastics. They interpreted
the Word of God to fit their own tradition. Note how clearly history is repeating itself:
You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your
own traditions. Christ (Mark 7:9)
To give His faithful believers further help, Jesus also communicated the manner of His
return through dreams and visions. This is a further evidence of His love and grace for the
true seekers of His Kingdom. Christian author, Dr. Scott Sparrow, has compiled a book
called I Am With You Always.160 It contains dreams in which Christians have seen Jesus.
The book presents two dreams that relate to the Second Advent. One of them points to the
way Jesus returns. That dream confirms both the Bible’s and Bahá’u’lláh’s statement that
God sends His Redeemers to test us, to separate the unfaithful and fearful from the
faithful:
I had a dream in 1972 in which Christ appeared to me. Before the dream began, I had
a thought-transference experience. I didn’t hear an actual speaking voice, but it
“spoke” and said, “This dream is a symbolic message not to be taken literally.”…
I felt like I was in the wrong place, but something reassured me I was in the right
place. I knew that I just needed to look for him. I started wandering around this
circus—that’s why I didn’t think I was in the right place…Again this voice came in
the dream and reminded me this was all symbolic and not to be taken literally. I went
on inside the tent. The tent was empty but there was a stage up front and there was a
stagehand there. I explained to him I was supposed to meet with Jesus and that he had
invited me. As soon as I said that, the stagehand’s face brightened up and he said, “Oh,
yes! He’s expecting you. But the show is about to start so you’ll have to wait until
afterward.” People were coming in, and just then Jesus came around a curtain and saw
me just as I saw him. Although I knew it was he, I was surprised at his appearance…
his face didn’t look like the traditional Jesus face…I knew unquestioningly, however,
that it was Jesus. He greeted me and apologized for having to rush right into the
performance.
After a few moments an announcer walked out onstage and said, “The show is about
to begin. And now here he is—the one and only—Jesus the Christ.”…He began to
speak. His words to me were like gold, but I don’t remember the specifics of what he
said. I just remember I was hanging on every word. After a few moments one fellow in
the back of the tent said, “Oh, what is this?! I came to see a show not to hear a lot of
talk.” And Jesus very tactfully replied that he was free to leave at any time. Jesus
continued. Several others got up and left, grumbling and muttering. There was obvious
skepticism, but some were really impressed. Others showed no doubt. One large fat
lady was just beaming as he spoke. Over half had left since he started. Then there was
a question-and-answer session, and other people left. Details are vague, but I know
that I accompanied him for what seemed like two weeks.
5He didn’t always say the same thing. He seemed to tailor what he was saying to the
needs of the particular people. Over the course of the two-week period, I noticed that
the fat lady was frequently there in the front row. I also began to notice another man—
it was hard not to notice him—he had bright red hair and wore a loud plaid jacket and
orange pants. He seemed to appear quite frequently. I was concerned that he might be
some evil or satanic influence. Finally I said to Jesus, “Master, who is that man?” He
replied, “You know—but not at this time,” and just smiled. Finally I asked him why he
6looked so different. He said, “Of course, everyone would come to see me if I
descended from the clouds in a white robe with angels attending; but that is not my
purpose. I’m here to separate the wheat from the chaff. Those who truly know me will
recognize me in Spirit—the rest will not know me. In this way I am gathering my true
followers.” Again I was told by the voice in the dream that the setting of the dream
was symbolic—not to be taken literally.161
Then the author, Dr. Sparrow, offers this comment about the dream:
It is interesting to note that the two figures other than the dreamer who remain
committed to Jesus have physically undesirable qualities—obesity and tasteless
dress—upon which a shallower individual might have rejected them. They, too,
contrast with the “ideal” follower even as the Jesus in the dream contrasts with the
“ideal” Jesus-like figure. The whole thrust of the experience seems designed both to
test the dreamer’s ability to look beyond superficial appearances, as well as to give
him further reason to suspend judgment on the basis of appearances. Thus, we can see
that initiation goes beyond the mere assessment of the recipient. It facilitates, as well,
a strengthening of the very capacity it is designed to measure.162
The second dream quoted in that book about the Second Advent also confirms Biblical
and Bahá’í Scriptures. It points to the dire conditions of our time:
The room is full of people—one can hardly move, it is so filled. A big party is going
on with drugs, booze, and everybody getting crazy.
I turn to the north wall and see some steps starting to appear. I watch until they are in
my full view. Then Elijah and Daniel come down the stairs with Christ following
behind them. Elijah and Daniel stop at the bottom of the steps, and Christ stops a few
steps behind them.
Christ pleads to the people in the room to follow him, to throw away their worldliness
and to follow him.
No one cares; some even laugh and jeer. He keeps pleading but it is no use.
Elijah and Daniel then turn and start back up the steps, ahead of Christ. He takes a few
steps, but then he falls to the steps, weeping very deeply. Elijah and Daniel then turn to
aid and comfort him. He is weeping because he knows the people are lost.
They do not listen and my heart feels very heavy as I begin weeping, too.163
The best-known vision about the manner in which Christ returns was reported by Miss
Margaret MacDonald, a 15-year-old from Scotland. She had that vision in the spring of
71833, eleven years before the advent of the Báb. Since her vision is cited in I Shall Come
Again, only an excerpt will be quoted here:
It was first the awful state of the land that was pressed upon me. I saw the blindness
and infatuation of the people to be very great…O it is not known what the sign of the
Son of man is; the people of God think they are waiting, but they know not what it is. I
felt this needed to be revealed, and that there was great darkness and error about it…I
saw the error to be, that men think that it will be something seen by the natural eye;
but ‘tis spiritual discernment that is needed, the eye of God in his people…Only those
who have the light of God within them will see the sign of his appearance…I often
said, Oh the glorious inbreaking of God which is now about to burst on this earth…It
was a glorious light above the brightness of the sun, that shone round about me. I felt
that those who were filled with the Spirit could see spiritual things, and feel walking in
the midst of them, while those who had not the Spirit could see nothing…164
Miss MacDonald’s vision was so influential, it convinced many Christians writers and
scholars to believe in two consecutive comings of Jesus: one from sky with great power
and glory, the other from earth, like “a thief in the night.” Those writers were so attached
to the heavenly coming of Jesus, they could not give it up. They simply added one more
coming to that one!
…a thief never knocks, never rings the doorbell, never announces his presence. He
enters silently, takes what he wants, then disappears again. The Lord says that is what
His coming again will be like—not His visible coming when He appears to establish
His kingdom, when every eye will see Him, as described in Revelation 1:7.165
The theory of “double comings” of Jesus shows how difficult it is to detach one’s self
from established and ingrained beliefs.
It is astonishing how history repeats itself. The people of Israel faced the same confusion
and formed the same theory to resolve it. The same puzzling prophecies led to the same
conclusion at the first advent of Jesus:
Other [Jewish] commentators invented a theory that perhaps two Messiahs were meant
to come. The conquering King would be the Son of David, and the suffering, lowly
one would be in the tradition of Joseph, the Jewish lad who had suffered so badly at
the hands of his brothers by being sold into slavery in Egypt and then had risen to
prominence there. This Messiah began to be referred to as Messiah ben Joseph. What
all these learned men failed to see was that all the predictions of Messiah, both
concepts of him, were to be fulfilled in one man, but not at one time.166
8I don’t know enough about
the Bible. How can I tell if
Bahá’u’lláh is from God?
Many Christians excuse themselves from the responsibility of investigating Bahá’u’lláh,
the Glory of God, for this very reason: I don’t know enough about the Bible. They base
their everlasting destiny on an illusion, on a totally unfounded assumption. History,
reason, and the testimony of the Bible all contradict this popular assumption.
9First, the story of great religions of the past indicate that the first to recognize their
Redeemer were ordinary people. None of Jesus’ disciples was a scholar. In fact, the best-
known scholars of the time condemned Him to death.
Second, reason also contradicts this unfounded assumption. Would it make any sense to
allow only the Bible scholars to find the truth? Would God discriminate against people
who don’t go to high school or college?
God is absolute love. What connection does book learning have with love? Book learning
may create clouds of illusions. It may itself become a veil to genuine love and true
understanding and knowledge by generating pride and prejudice. That same veil prevents
some eminent scientists from acknowledging God. Only love of God can destroy this
veil:
We have consumed this densest of all veils, with the fire of the love of the
Beloved…167 Bahá’u’lláh
Third, the assumption of not being able to judge the truth for lack of Bible study is also
contradicted by countless verses from the Scriptures. Our Creator never points to
scholarly achievement in itself as a means of knowing the truth. Every reference in the
Scriptures about salvation, knowing God, and acknowledging the truth relates to spiritual
virtues and gifts, such as sincere faith, courage, good deeds, good hearts, and wisdom.
The Bible makes no mention of knowledge of ancient languages, scholarly positions,
publications, leadership, or degrees and diplomas of any kind. Consider these verses:
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their
deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the
light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into
the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through
God. John 3:19-21
…if you accept my words and store up my commands…then you will understand the
fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1,5
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are
those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! Psalms 119:1-2
For the upright he shines like a lamp in the dark… Psalms 112:4
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have
good understanding. Psalms 111:10
The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart
shall be far from me…whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not
endure. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me.Psalms 101:4,6
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Psalms 95:7-8
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus blessed all those who manifest virtues—purity,
humility, etc.—nine times (Matt. 5:3-12). Not once did He refer to scholars, rabbis,
priests, or pastors. Spirituality and scholarship are entirely separate and distinct
dimensions, the first rests in the heart, the second in the mind. Some people reach the top
10of the ladder of biblical studies, then they see themselves as the authority for the word of
God. Someday they will learn that their ladder was against the wrong wall.
The understanding of His words…are in no wise dependent upon human learning.
They depend solely upon purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom of spirit.168
Bahá’u’lláh
Consider also these verses from Daniel. They point to two dimensions: wisdom and
wickedness:
…the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified,
made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the
wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. Daniel 12:9-10
Here Bahá’u’lláh refers to the same two dimensions of “wisdom-foolishness,” and
righteousness-perversity:
Gracious God! So great is the folly and perversity of the people, that they have turned
their face toward their own thoughts and desires, and have turned their back upon the
knowledge and will of God—hallowed and glorified be His name!169 Bahá’u’lláh
What is wisdom? The same as book learning? No, wisdom is a virtue of the soul. To be
spiritually wise, one must be open-minded, watchful, curious, just, judicious, critical,
courageous, pure-hearted, and keenly aware of the long-term consequences of every
choice.
A suitable title for those who fail to understand the purpose of prophecies is “dull” or
“slow of mind.” Why, then, are they called “wicked”? Because lack of understanding
God’s purpose does not pertain to the mind. It is always a matter of heart and soul. When
a person rejects or ignores a new Redeemer, he or she has a heart problem, not scholarly
deficiencies. The heart may be fearful, selfish, lazy, careless, deceitful, inattentive,
worldly, or unjust. He may have a brilliant mind, but a dull spirit. His mind may move
like a lizard; his soul may crawl like a worm.
They that have hearts to understand…who have not for one moment gratified their
selfish desires, will behold, resplendent as the sun in its noon-tide glory, those
tokens, testimonies, and evidences that attest the truth of this wondrous Revelation,
this transcendent and divine Faith.170 Bahá’u’lláh
It does not matter how we see ourselves. From God’s perspective, anyone who ignores
His Redeemers suffers from serious spiritual disease. In fact, God does not consider him
or her even alive! Such people are always referred to as dead (John 5:24).
The parable of the talent also confirms Daniel’s verdict. Jesus calls His “one-talent”
servant—who fails to invest his “talent” to find the Master—”wicked” (Matt. 25:26). Any
person who bases his or her relationship with God on miracles is also called wicked
(Matt. 12:39). Why? Because he or she has a heart problem, not Bible-study problem.
Amazing as it may seem, if you are not a Bible scholar, you are in a better position to
know the truth.
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. I Corinthians 8:1
11If all the lines written by theologians about the meaning of prophecies were turned into a
thread, they would create a mountain so vast, few would dare to climb! Getting involved
with this tangled thread causes much confusion, even dizziness. This prophecy was not
spoken in vain:
The day God visits you. Now is the time of their confusion. Micah 7:4
By stepping out of this tangled thread, we have a better chance of seeing the beauty of
our Beloved. The accumulated dust of tangled threads—floating through the hearts and
minds of the believers—diminishes the clarity of His Face. Here Bahá’u’lláh asks all
sincere seekers and lovers of truth to purify their hearts from this “obscuring dust:”
When a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading to the
knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse and purify his
heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the
obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge…171
If you find it hard to believe that book learning is often a disadvantage, remember, as an
example, Mary Magdalene, a simple peasant, who loved the Lord, and Annas, a
sophisticated Jewish scholar of the time, who hated Him.
God wants only a pure heart on which to build His Kingdom. He wants nothing on it.
Any old structure must be demolished.
A businessman was once very concerned about his ability to sell a warehouse property
he owned. Since he had last surveyed the building, vandals had damaged the doors,
smashed the windows, and strewn trash throughout it…As the man showed a
prospective buyer the building, he took great pains to assure him that he would replace
the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, mend the roof,
and clean out the garbage. He felt as if he was apologizing at every turn for the
condition of the building…To his surprise, the buyer finally said to him, “Listen,
forget about the repairs. I’m going to build something completely different on this
land. I don’t want the building I want the site.”172
It is hard to find anything in a crowded basement. Almost every theologian has added
something to the collection of thoughts, theories, and illusions; he has contributed
something to the masses of truths, half truths, and falsehoods. We can unearth mountains
of them in books written, kept, and then quoted and quoted again by countless
theologians over the course of 2,000 years! What is the solution? Bahá’u’lláh asks all
seekers and lovers of truth to cast away everything they have collected in their hearts and
minds. Without this required house cleaning there is no room for the Kingdom of
Heaven:
O peoples of the world! Cast away, in My name that transcendeth all other names,
the things ye possess, and immerse yourselves in this Ocean in whose depths lay
hidden the pearls of wisdom and of utterance, an ocean that surgeth in My name,
the All-Merciful.173 Bahá’u’lláh
Cast away, O peoples of the earth, that which ye have and take fast hold of that
which ye are bidden by the All-Powerful, He Who is the Bearer of the Trust of
God.174 Bahá’u’lláh
12Cast away that which ye possess, and, on the wings of detachment, soar beyond all
created things. Thus biddeth you the Lord of creation, the movement of Whose Pen
hath revolutionized the soul of mankind.175 Bahá’u’lláh
It is impossible to see the Glory of God through tainted glasses.
Steven Covey, the author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, states that to
succeed at any task you must start with the correct map. Suppose you are looking for a
home in Chicago with the map of New York City. Will you find the home by trying
harder? No amount of driving and running will help you get to your destination. You need
another map.
The problem with Christian scholars is that they start with the wrong map just as Jewish
scholars did. Their map is designed by human desires. It sends this direction: “Just keep
waiting until Jesus will suddenly come out of the blue and take you to heaven.” What
message does the right map send, the one drawn by Jesus? This one: “You could wait a
million years and you will still be waiting. Don’t waste your precious life. Go to the store
and buy all the detective instruments you can find. Drink some coffee to stay awake (Rev.
16:15), trim your lamps (Matt. 25:7), have extra oil (Matt. 25:4), put some ointment on
your eyes (Rev. 3:18), and start looking for the Heavenly Thief.”
Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time… Hebrews 9:28
You can find and read countless books in which scholars debate about the majestic
appearance of Jesus on the clouds, the number of angels around him, the place of their
landing, the destiny of good Christians, the mediocre ones, and the bad ones, the wars
Jesus will wage, the number of armies on each side of the battle, and the number of the
dead! This reading will get you nowhere. It is the wrong map. Perhaps 99 percent of
what today’s theologians teach—whether they are Jews, Christians, or Muslims—follows
the wrong map. The Jews rejected Jesus and are still rejecting Him for the same reason:
for using the wrong map.
If all the priests, pastors, and scholars of all religions get together and consult for the next
thousand years, they will be unable to help you advance even one step in your journey of
the search for truth. They will fail because their map is designed with imagination and
drawn in the dark of human desire for the glamorous, the miraculous, and the
supernatural. Their map has no basis in reality, it has no connection with:
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will
come in and eat with him, and he with me. Christ (Rev. 3:20)
If Bible study had any value, all the Jewish rabbis and scholars would be among the first
to acknowledge Jesus as their Redeemer. Does their knowledge of Hebrew language help
them? Does their scholarly endeavors bring them any closer to Jesus Christ? If you are
ambitious, take the best scholarly books of proof about Jesus to several rabbis and ask
them to read! Then wait for the miracle. Be prepared to wait a long time!
Bahá’u’lláh bestows supreme honors and blessings on the divines (theologians) and the
learned. But He sets specific conditions:
Respect ye the divines and learned amongst you, they whose conduct accords with
their professions, who transgress not the bounds which God hath fixed, whose
13judgments are in conformity with His behests as revealed in His Book. Know ye that
they are the lamps of guidance unto them that are in the heavens and on the earth.
They who disregard and neglect the divines and learned that live amongst them—
these have truly changed the favor with which God hath favored them.176
How can theologians, religious leaders, and scholars become deserving of heavenly
honors and blessings?
• They must practice what they preach.
• They must not transgress their limits, such as claiming to know the meaning of
prophecies.
• They must judge according to God’s commandments, such as “seek and ye shall
find,” and “by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Only by meeting the preceding requirements can they transform their learning and
scholarly achievements from “dead letters” into “living spirits,” only in this light can
their hearts and minds glow with the glory of God, only then do they become lamps of
guidance for their followers.
There is a book called Jesus in Two Perspectives. Two distinguished scholars, one a Jew
(Dr. P. Lapide), and one a Christian (Dr. U. Luz) present their views about Jesus and the
way He was treated. Dr. Lapide is introduced as “a Jewish scholar of the New
Testament.” I have never heard of a Jew who would get a degree in Christianity!
Apparently, some rabbis, in their training, are taught about the Messiah they reject. Those
in charge know they cannot ignore another Jew, Jesus, who changed the world.
I wish Christian seminaries would do the same. I wish they too would include the
writings of Bahá’u’lláh as a part of their curriculum. If they did, it is quite likely that
many of the pastors and priests would recognize Bahá’u’lláh! At this point in history,
Christian scholars know virtually nothing about the Bahá’í Faith. And the information
that they do get is often unreliable.
Dr. Lapide is extremely sympathetic and loving toward Jesus and Christians, yet without
any hesitation he denies Jesus as the promised Messiah of the Jews. First, he defines the
word Messiah:
Dictionaries describe “the Messiah” primarily as “the promised deliverer of the Jews,”
who in time also becomes known as “the Redeemer of humankind,” or more
specifically as “the liberator of all oppressed peoples.” As the anointed king and
representative of God he embodies truth and righteousness and on assuming power,
will restore divine order to a world that has gone awry.177
Then he describes the role of the Messiah:
The role of the messianic kings of the Bible was political; all of the messianic
prophecies concerning the last days were politically colored; the plight of Israel out of
which the Messiah was to save God’s people was primarily political. A nonpolitical
Messiah would have been a self-contradiction during the rule of Rome.178
He then states that seeing the role of the Messiah simply as spiritual, as One who saves
the soul—a Savior—is “antibiblical escapism.” It is “a denial of historical-political
14responsibility for this God-created world.”179 He refers to several expectations the people
of Israel had from their promised Messiah, such as delivering them from the hand of their
enemies, and then concludes:
Jesus of Nazareth did not fulfill any of these expectations—nor did he ever promise to
fulfill them.180
From his writings it is clear, Dr. Lapide knows the New Testament far better than an
average Christian and even better than some pastors and priests, yet he fails to see the
Spirit of God in Jesus. Why does he fail? He focuses so intensely on “the letter,” on the
definition of the word Messiah, He misses the Spirit of the Messiah. That is exactly what
many Christians do when they are invited to investigate the advent of Bahá’u’lláh.
Do you believe if Dr. Lapide takes more courses in New Testament under distinguished
Christian scholars he will begin to see the light?
To excuse one’s self from making the most critical choice of life, for lack of Bible
studies, is infinitely unwise. A believer with any degree of wisdom would never take this
chance. Bahá’u’lláh teaches that everyone is capable of appreciating the Beauty of God in
His great Saviors and Messengers, and before the court of His justice no one can excuse
himself for ignoring the invitation to enter His heavenly Banquet while on earth.
Say: O people, praise ye God, for its Manifestation, for verily it is the most great favor
upon you and the most perfect blessing upon you; and through Him every moldering
bone is quickened. Whosoever turns to Him hath surely turned unto God, and
whosoever turneth away from Him hath turned away from My beauty, denied My
proof and is of those who transgress.181 Bahá’u’lláh
God is so gracious, He promises to protect from deception all those who truly trust Him.
Even those with a “simple heart” are protected:
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord
protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Psalms 116:5-6
15What did Jesus mean by saying,
“At that time many will turn away
from the faith”?
The best way to understand this prediction is to look to the past and find its meaning in
the lessons of history. Jesus was the Spirit and Splendor of God. Yet with the exception of
a few pure-hearted and humble truth seekers, the masses of people and their leaders
remained unmoved and skeptical about everything He said. They did not trust Him at all.
Are the people of our age more trusting? Because of decline of values, the spread of cults,
and the influence of mass media, people are today more skeptical than ever before. They
see fraud, deviation, and deception on their TV screen day after day. Their general sense
of skepticism affects everything they do. It closes their hearts to the Glory of God in
Bahá’u’lláh as it closed the hearts of previous generations to that same Glory in Jesus
Christ, the Anointed One of God.
16Today many Christian leaders have turned their hearts away from sincere faith in the
words of Jesus, and turned their minds toward serious biblical studies. Never before has
such an abundance of books on the Scriptures been published. Never before have so
many scholars devoted so much time and resources to biblical studies. Have these studies
and publications enhanced their wisdom and their faith? Today there are more confusions
about religion, and more denominations and divisions than ever before. Merely studying
the Scriptures and taking more courses in Hebrew and Greek and receiving seminary
degrees and honors offer no advantage.
They have even failed to realize, all this time, that, in every age, the reading of the
scriptures and holy books is for no other purpose except to enable the reader to
apprehend their meaning and unravel their innermost mysteries. Otherwise reading,
without understanding, is of no abiding profit unto man.182 Bahá’u’lláh
Many believers hide behind scholars and biblical studies. By doing this, they think they
can absolve themselves of the responsibility of looking for their Master. They don’t
realize that diligent and scholarly study of the Scriptures is a safety net the Jews used also
at the time of the First Advent:
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess
eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to
me to have life. Christ (John 5:39-40)
God does not reveal Himself only to scholars. He reveals Himself to every pure-hearted
person. We are not told, “Blessed are the smart and the scholarly,” but “blessed are the
meek and the pure in heart” (Matt. 5:5-8).
…the life of the spirit is possessed only by the pure in heart who have quaffed from
the ocean of faith…183 Bahá’u’lláh
What is the evidence of a pure heart? Pure faith. What is the evidence of pure faith? Pure
love for the Lord. What is the evidence of pure love? Whole-hearted obedience to His
commands. Disobedience implies putting one’s selfish desires, interests, or wishes
above God’s Will. Can selfishness and purity of heart coexist? Note how clearly Jesus
promises to show Himself to those who obey Him; to others He makes no promises:
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you….Whoever has my commands
and obeys them…I…will…show myself to him. John 14:18,21
Jesus also indicates that obedience is an evidence of wisdom.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is
like a wise man who built his house on the rock…But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his
house on sand. Christ (Matt. 7:24,26)
The ultimate test of knowing God and His Redeemers is obedience:
Here is the test by which we can make sure that we know him: do we keep his
commands? The man who says, “I know him,” while he disobeys his commands, is
a liar and a stranger to the truth; but in the man who is obedient to his word, the
divine love has indeed come to its perfection. I John 2:3-5
17Today most Christians do not obey the repeated commands of Jesus that they should look
for Him. They present all kinds of excuses to avoid His urgent command. They prefer the
security of their surroundings to the adventure of stepping out. What does this indicate?
Lack of faith in the words of Jesus. It points to the fulfillment of these prophecies:
At that time many will turn away from the faith. Christ (Matt. 24:10)
They will hold to the outward form of religion, but reject its real power. II Timothy 3:5
The same spiritual disease—lack of faith—afflicted the people in the First Advent:
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you
do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say? John 5:46-47
Some people carry their Bible wherever they go as a security blanket. But if they are
asked to obey the commands of the Bible and investigate Bahá’u’lláh’s message,
immediately they take a defensive position by saying, “Everything I need is in the Bible!
I trust only Jesus!” They trust Him in words, but violate that trust in action. No wonder
Jesus asked this question:
…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Christ (Luke 18:8)
These believers feel comfortable and secure in their churches. God of course does not
even invite such tradition bound, fearful, and rested servants:
Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Christ (Matt. 11:28)
He prefers those who mourn:
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Christ (Matt. 5:4)
The complacent believers keep the words “My Lord Jesus Christ” always on their lips,
yet they refuse to heed His numerous warnings that they should be watchful and awake. It
seems this verse was revealed especially about them:
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he
who does the will of My Father in heaven. Christ (Matt. 7:21)
Rejecting the First Advent of the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ the Anointed One of
God, was at least hundred times easier and more excusable than it is to reject that same
Spirit in the name of Bahá’u’lláh, the Glory of God. Is this an exaggeration? Not at all.
Suppose you lived twice. What advantage would you have the second time? All the
lessons of your first life. Experience is by far the best teacher. Because you experienced
them, those lessons would prove invaluable. In relation to the coming of John the Baptist
and Jesus, and the coming of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, we have the repetition of
thousands of events and facts. The parallels are astonishing—beyond belief. In Lord of
Lords, you can find a list of 86 similarities between Jesus and the Báb.
All that is required of you is to apply the lessons of the First Advent to the Second. Is this
too difficult? The people of Israel did not have this advantage. If you are a Christian, you
do. The Jews have been blamed for 2,000 years for rejecting Jesus. Imagine the intensity
of blame cast in the future on those who, in spite of a clear advantage, are ignoring an
invitation to investigate the News of the coming of their Lord.
18All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us—to warn us
against doing the same things. I Cor. 10:11
Why then so many fail to benefit from the lessons of history? Why then so many fail to
recognize the Spirit of Christ in a new human temple with a new name, Bahá’u’lláh, the
Glory of God? For this very reason:
At that time many will turn away from the faith. Christ (Matt. 24:10)
…they will gather around them a great number of teachers [scholars, priests, and
pastors] to say what their itching ears want to hear. II Timothy 4:3