1The Bible contains one verse so powerful, it could change the
world. It speaks of a deadly disease that is quite easy to catch
and spread. It has caused countless religious wars, it has divided
Christianity into thousands of denominations, and it has caused
the rejection of every Redeemer God has ever sent. This deadly
disease is literal-mindedness. Its awesome powers are described
in these words:
…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. II Cor. 3:6 NIV
It is amazing that even after 2,000 years of learning about this
deadly disease, the bacteria of literal thinking is as alive and
deadly at the time of the Second Advent as it was at the time of
the First! This chapter demonstrates how this deadly disease has
shaped the course of history.

1Prophecies are like sign posts; they are given to guide us to
our destiny, to help us recognize our Redeemer. But many
believers, throughout all ages, have used them for an opposite
purpose. They have turned them into obstacles to deny their
Redeemer. They have acted like someone who thirsts for water,
but uses water to drown himself!
The prime reason for the abuse of prophecy is the abundance of
symbols, parables, and metaphors in sacred Scriptures—espe-
cially in prophetic verses—and the abundance of literal-minded
believers among the followers of all religions. Obviously this is
not a good match. What would we expect if we had a married
couple who could not communicate? What would happen if one
of them spoke in sign language, and the other could not interpret
the signs? This seemingly little seed of misunderstanding has
borne bitter fruits in all ages and all religions. The following
verse describes the obstacle that people faced at the time of
Jesus and still are facing:
Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand
what he was telling them. John 10:6 NIV

1Clothed with Symbols?
Prophecy is essentially a sign language. There are many reasons
for this. Let us explore two of them:
• What would have happened if King Herod had known
who Jesus was? Would Jesus have had a chance of surviv-
ing beyond His infancy (Matt. 2:13-16)? Those who hold
the reins of power, both secular and religious, always feel
threatened by God’s great Messengers and Redeemers.
• What would happen to people’s freedom of choice if
prophecies gave them the exact details about their
Redeemer in a way that they could not deny Him? What
would happen to their cherished gift of faith?
Symbolic or sign language serves as a means of testing the
believers’ sincerity. It offers the faithful a means by which they
can reach their hearts’ desire. It offers the faithful a stepping
stone to reach their destiny by recognizing their Redeemer. But
symbolic language also offers the same opportunity to the
unfaithful. It provides them with a way to justify and follow
their hearts’ desire: to remain in their comfort zone by rejecting
their Redeemer. It allows them to preserve their freedom of
choice.
Concealing events through symbols is comparable with the way
God conceals Himself. What would happen if God stepped out
from behind “the veil” and allowed us to see Him? The conse-
quences would be the same if all prophecies were expressed in
literal language.

1believers. It demonstrates the difference between human
language and God’s language. It teaches us what happens when
spiritual language strikes the minds of literal thinkers, what
follows when two opposites come together and interact.
Imagine a four year old who hears his parents speak about
“burning love,” and thinks that they mean literal fire. That is
how the Pharisees interpreted the Word of Jesus. Imagine also a
police officer who hears about a poor, homeless wanderer, with
devoted followers, who walks around and tells people that:
I have come to set fire to the earth. Christ (Luke 12:44 NEB)
And if asked: “Where are you coming from?” The poor man
responds:
I have come from heaven (sky). Christ (John 6:38 NEB)
Then he adds:
I am the bread that came down from heaven (sky).
Christ (John 6:41 NIV)

1thinking. They also encounter several specific references and
many examples that encourage spiritual thinking. Despite this
they continue to insist on the accuracy of their position, and
continue to ignore the teachings of the Bible that they should
not depend on their personal interpretation (II Peter 1:20).
What Scriptural defense do we find for literal thinking? None!
To justify their stance, literal thinkers have their own verse.
They simply claim—without a single reference to support their

2views—that: “The Bible means what it says, and says what it
means.”
We have countless references and examples that teach us just
the opposite. Surely the Bible contains many literal facts. But
contrary to what the literalists claim, the Bible often does not
mean what it says, and often does not say what it means. This
topic is so vast, it is treated in a forthcoming book by this
author: In the Clouds of Glory. The book explains the many
uses of metaphor in the Scriptures.

1Literal thinking is not a minor problem. Its consequences are
very serious, more than anyone can imagine. What consequence
can be more serious and sinful than the rejection and ridicule of
the One who comes to guide humankind and lead them to their
divine destiny? What consequence can be greater than sending
the Redeemer of the world to prison? What consequence is
greater than executing the One who comes to give life to the
world?
Since the Ones sent by God do not literally fulfill the prophecies,
the literal-minded believers, who are always in the majority,
simply refuse to pay attention (“Watch”) to the news of His
coming. This has been the trend throughout all ages, the prime
reason for the rejection of every Messenger and Redeemer
God has sent to humankind.

2Why is Literal Thinking Popular?
Literal thinking is popular for several reasons. It is easier; it does
not require abstract thinking. Further, it appeals to the believers’
self-interests, it reinforces what they already want to believe. It
gives them the good news of being among the privileged; it
offers them the hope of receiving special treatments, favors,
honors, and glories from their powerful Redeemer who comes

3exclusively to comfort them and rescue them, while leaving the
followers of other faiths in the grip of hopeless misery, humilia-
tion, and even death by fire!
Imagine the sense of elation and ecstasy that this belief can
generate in any believer. No wonder a series of books known as
Left Behind (to suffer and die in misery) has sold over 40
million copies. This breaks the record set by any religious book
published in the West except the Bible. The success of these
books alone points to the fulfillment of the following prophecy
concerning the believers who live at the end of the age:
…they will gather around them a great number of [Bible]
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
II Timothy 4:3 NIV
Today the first obstacle that prevents many Christians from
investigating the news of the Second Advent is their assumption
and insistence that they know how Jesus will return: from
heaven to take the “true” believers with Himself back to heaven,
but leave the great majority of humankind behind to suffer and
die in misery. Some leaders of literal thinking even estimate the
number of Christians who deserve to be saved: about nine
percent of the earth’s population.

1time of Jesus and the literal-minded Christians who live today.
The Jews expected their Redeemer to come from an “unknown
place” with great glory and power to crush their enemies and
crown them on a kingdom as lofty and splendid as those ruled
by David and Solomon. They said: “Nazareth! Can anything
good come from there?” (John 1:46 NIV). Where on earth can a
place be unknown to humans? None except the heavens qualify
for this honor.
How then did Jesus fulfill the expectation cherished by the
Jews? What did He say to those who questioned Him? He told
them in plain language that He had fulfilled their desire, that He

2had indeed come from the sky, and that He had at His command
“all power.”
…I have come down from heaven… Christ (John 6:38 NIV)
See also John 6:42
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Christ (Matt. 28:18)
…a deliverer with victorious power… Luke 1:69 NEB
Why did Jesus advance a claim that did not seem to be true?
Because He spoke in sign language, not literal language. He
contradicted this widely accepted principle: “The Bible means
what it says, and it says what it means.” In this instance and
many others, Jesus did not mean what He said and did not say
what He meant. He used metaphoric speech to show the
fulfillment of metaphoric prophecies. Only a spiritual mind can
discern and appreciate the things that come from God. The
literal mind does not have this extremely valuable and unique
talent:
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that
come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him,
and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
discerned. I Corinthians 2:14 NIV
Once again Bahá’u’lláh• speaks in the same language to show
the fulfillment of the same prophecies. He reminds Christians
that He has indeed fulfilled their desire, that He has also come
from heaven with great power and glory, even as he had come
and fulfilled the same expectations in the same way, the first
time:
He [Bahá’u’lláh], verily, hath again come down from Heaven
even as He came down from it the first time.1 Bahá’u’lláh
God is my witness! He, the Ancient of everlasting days
[Bahá’u’lláh] is come, girded with majesty and power.2
Bahá’u’lláh

3•
See Part III for a brief introduction to Bahá’u’lláh’s life.

 The All-Merciful is come invested with power and sover-
eignty.3 Bahá’u’lláh
If Jesus’ statement that He came from heaven is true, cannot the
same statement from Bahá’u’lláh also be true? If Jesus’
statement that He has “all power” is true, cannot Bahá’u’lláh’s
statement that He has “power and majesty” also be true? Why
apply two standards to God’s language spoken at different
times? Why take one language symbolically, and the other
literally? Who decided that there was a shift in God’s way of
speaking between the First and Second Advents?

1Christians have a precedent for the meaning of “sky” in
precisely the same context: the descent of a Redeemer from
above. The Jews did not have this precedent. The example that
Jesus set—how He fulfilled the prophecies and how people
rejected His interpretation—should open the hearts and minds
of all faithful Christians. It should awaken them to this truth, to
this invaluable lesson of history: human beings should not
regard their understanding of prophecy as the standard of truth.
…man can never hope to attain unto the knowledge of the
All-Glorious, can never quaff from the stream of divine
knowledge and wisdom…unless and until he ceases to
regard the words and deeds of mortal men as a standard for
the true understanding and recognition of God and His
Prophets.4 Bahá’u’lláh
When tested for their ability to decode the prophetic language,
human beings have always received a failing grade. In the court
of prophecy, they have always proved to be unfair and incompe-
tent judges.
Does a Redeemer come to break the seal of prophecies, or should
He ask Bible teachers to teach Him the wisdom required to break
them?

 “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But
no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open
the scroll or even look inside it. Christ (Rev. 5:2-3 NIV)
Does a Redeemer come to judge us by His truth, or does He
come to be judged by our “truth”?
…He is coming to judge…the peoples with His truth.
Psalms 96:13 NKJ

1If wisdom could speak, what would it say? Would it say: “Trust
the popular beliefs, accept the traditional expectations? Would it
say: your lucky birth into your family gives you a good reason
to remain where you are? Would it say: If your family is Baptist,
stay a Baptist; if a Sunni, stay a Sunni; if an atheist, stay an
atheist? Would wisdom say: “This choice—investigating or
ignoring the news of the Second Advent—is so minor, it should
be left to the judgment of others? Would wisdom say: “If you
wish to find the truth, do not waste your time in seeking”?
Would it say: Do not hesitate to build your everlasting destiny
on chance or coincidence? Would wisdom declare: “Do not pay
attention to any claim that does not fulfill the orthodox, the
popular, and the mainstream expectations”? Would wisdom say:
“As long as you are in the majority, you are safe”? No, wisdom
would say none of these. The Scriptures, the evidence of
history, and reason reject all those assumptions.
…seek, and ye shall find… Christ (Matt. 7:7)
…small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and
only a few find it. Christ (Matt. 7:14 NIV)

1believers with haloes of absolute and unconditional humility.
Those haloes should enlighten all their thoughts. They should

2guide every step of their spiritual journey. Jesus exalted and
blessed the meek who acknowledge their spiritual poverty (Matt.
5:3, 5), and debased those infected with pride (Matt. 23:12).
A lack of humility—such as saying “I am sure I am right and
have no need to investigate Bahá’u’lláh’s Claim—is the first
and foremost obstacle in the path of many devout Christians.
This obstacle is so powerful, it conceals from the sleeping souls,
the most splendid revelation of God’s glory and grace. To the
awakened, the Glory of God shines as brightly as the lightning
that illumines the sky (Matt. 24:27). To the sleepers, that Supreme
Glory remains as hidden as a thief (Rev. 3:3). Those who start
their spiritual journey with this grave obstacle—I am sure Jesus
must come from the sky—will be unable to take the next
essential step: Test Bahá’u’lláh—the Glory of God—by God’s
standards, rather than by their own faulty assumptions. They
will fail for the same reason that others before them have failed:
staying firmly on the literal track, preferring the earthly bread
over the heavenly.

1Are the believers of this age, who look to the sky to deliver their
Redeemer, justified in assuming that they understand the mean-
ing of prophecies any better than the Jews? Is there a single verse
that promises them this advantage, that validates this sense of
superiority? Do they have a global vision of God’s plan? Can
they assemble the grand jigsaw puzzle of prophecy? If they can,
why then are there so many conflicting “schools” of prophecy?
The Jews were absolutely certain that their Redeemer would not
come to suffer. He would rather come to relieve their sufferings.
They did not link Chapter 53 of Isaiah—that speaks of suffering—
to their expected Messiah. Consider the following statement
from a major Christian institution, known as Resources for
Christian Communication:
Jesus’ closes friends also found it impossible to believe that
Jesus would suffer at the hands of His enemies (Matt. 16:21-
23). They expected that He had come to conquer the world

 and bring in the kingdom of God. Only in time would Jesus’
disciples be able to see that the prophet Isaiah had predicted
another side of the Messiah’s work. Only in retrospect would
the friends of Jesus be able to see the meaning of the prophet
Isaiah’s words…5
The publication then quotes several verses from Isaiah 53, a
chapter people failed to link to Jesus.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and
familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their
faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not…We all,
like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own
way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:3, 6 NIV
Question: It took some time for the followers of Jesus and a
long time for others, to see that Isaiah’s prophecy was relevant
to the promised Messiah, and that the phrase “despised and
rejected by men” depicted another side of Jesus’ First Advent.
How long will it take for the masses of Christians to see that
predictions such as “I was sick and in prison and you did not
look after me” or “He must first suffer,” or “I shall come like a
thief” or “as it was in the days of Noah” and many others, also
depict another side of Jesus’ Second Coming?•
It took about three centuries before Jesus received His due
recognition—when Emperor Constantine became a believer and
promoted Christianity. How long will it take this time? How
long will people wait before they will partake of the most
glorious outpouring of grace from their Lord?
This is the Day in which God’s most excellent favors have
been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most
mighty grace hath been infused into all created things.6
Bahá’u’lláh

3•
For a detailed review of prophecies that predict that Christ “must first
suffer and be rejected” at His Second Coming, see King of Kings, Chapters
4 to 9. In that book, a total of 6 chapters are devoted to this topic.

 The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of
the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him.7
Bahá’u’lláh
Haste ye to win your share of God’s good grace and mercy in
this Day that eclipseth all other created Days. How great the
felicity [bliss] that awaiteth the man that forsaketh all he hath
in a desire to obtain the things of God! Such a man, We testify,
is among God’s blessed ones.8 Bahá’u’lláh
Should we allow once again three centuries to pass before we
awaken to this glorious dawn, before we pay attention (“watch”)
and open our hearts to the news of the coming of our Redeemer?

5The Awesome Powers of One Word
Let us now see how a little obstacle—one word—prevented the
people of the past from “seeing” the meaning of prophecies of
the First Advent, and how once again one word is preventing
the people of our time from “seeing” the meaning of prophecies
of the Second Advent. The Jews were told repeatedly to expect
their Messiah to be a king. Consider these prophecies among
many others:
I will raise up your offspring to succeed you…his throne will
be established forever. I Chronicles 17:11, 14 NIV
…one who will be ruler over Israel… Micah 5:2 NIV
When questioned about His kingdom, Jesus spoke in metaphoric
language—as He did in relation to His “coming from heaven”—
to show the fulfillment of a metaphoric prophecy. In response to
the objections, He simply said that He was indeed a king, but in
another world—the spiritual world:
My kingdom does not belong to this world.
Christ (John 18:36 NEB)
The story of the First Advent shows that when it comes to
prophecy, human beings are “slow learners.” Why did it take
them so long to learn that God often speaks in spiritual or
figurative language? Now, once again, we are at a critical

6turning point in history. How long will it take us this time to
learn that same lesson? How long will it take us to learn that
“every eye shall see Him” refers to the spiritual eye, the “eye”
in the heart, not on the head? How long will it take us to learn
the lesson of humility? How long will it take us to notice and
obey this instruction?
…no prophecy of Scripture is a [matter] of any personal or
private or special interpretation. II Peter 1:20 AB
How long will it take us this time to obey and honor this
instruction?
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till
the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in
darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that
time each will receive his praise from God. I Corinthians 4:5 NIV
Ponder the following statement from the noted Christian author
and scholar, Dr. James Kennedy:
The great Princeton theologian of the last century, Dr. Charles
Hodge, said something which I have always thought is worth
remembering. He said that though the Old Testament is
filled with some 333 prophecies concerning the first coming
of Christ; in spite of that, nobody got it right. And as you
know, they crucified Christ because of a misunderstanding
about what the Messiah was really coming to do. And we
should because of that be somewhat humbled and modest in
our attempts to interpret prophecies concerning the second
coming of Christ. It is quite possible that all of us
[Christian leaders] are wrong as well. [Emphasis added.]9
Even the enlightened people who lived at the time of Jesus
needed help to understand the meaning of Hebrew prophecies:
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the
Scriptures. Luke 24:45 NIV
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained
to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:27 NIV

7Do we not once again need our Redeemer’s help to open our
minds? Do we not need His Wisdom to explain the meaning of
prophecies to us?

1of Prophecies?
In His First Advent Jesus rejected, even condemned, the
personal, private interpretation of the Jews. He showed them
that only He had the right to say that by “king” is meant
“spiritual king.” Does not Christ have the same right in His
Second Advent? Is He not allowed this time to say that by “eye”
is meant the “spiritual eye”? Is He not authorized this time to
declare that His true essence is His Spirit, and that only the
“eye” that can “see” God can also see Him? Can He not declare,
as He did in His First Advent, that once again He has descended
from heaven?
Both by the way Jesus responded to objectors and by the story
of His life, He set the standard of knowing what to expect.
Should we change that standard and claim that this time we
know the true meaning of prophecies, that this time we know
what “sky” and “seeing” mean?
Does not God often speak in metaphoric language? Did He not
teach us that only pure-hearted people can “see” God? Surely
He did not mean “seeing” with physical eyes.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Christ (Matt. 5:8)
Whether we want to see God, the Glory of God, the Love of
God, or the Greatness of God, the requirement is the same. We
must possess a noble heart—pure and faithful. Note how clearly
Jesus taught us the requirement or prerequisite for seeing “the
glory of God” which is the English equivalent of “Bahá’u’lláh:”
Did I not tell you that if you have faith you will see the glory
of God? Christ (John 11:40 NEB)

2Then who is qualified to decide which prophecy is literal, which
prophecy is metaphoric? Can Christians or Jews find one bishop,
one rabbi, or one scholar, among all the peoples of the world,
who has this wisdom, who can “break the seal”? Will they be
able to find one honest Bible teacher who can claim to have the
insight to know for sure?
This is one of the greatest puzzles of all times. Those who lived
at the time of Jesus did not understand the meaning of the
prophecies regarding the First Advent. Jesus reminded them
repeatedly of their failure:
When it is evening you say, “It will be fair weather, for the
sky is red”; and in the morning, “It will be foul weather
today, for the sky is red and threatening.” Hypocrites! You
know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot
discern the signs of the times. Christ (Matt. 16:2-3 NKJ)
What do you think has changed since Jesus spoke those words?
Could we assume that people did not have the wisdom to
discern the meaning of prophecies at the time of the First
Advent, but somehow they have gained that wisdom? What
evidence is there to show that they have, that they are wiser,
humbler, or more discerning? Unfortunately prophecies portray
a gloomy picture of the spiritual profile of the people of our
time:
There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be
lovers of…pleasure rather than lovers of God…They are
the kind who…[are] always learning but never able to
acknowledge the truth. II Timothy 3:1-7 NIV
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound
doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their
itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from
the truth and turn aside to myths. II Timothy 4:3-4 NIV
If people acknowledge this fact—their inability to understand
the truth of prophecies—they will discover a panorama of
fulfilled prophecies in Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation on a scale they
have never witnessed.

1Every Redeemer comes on the clouds: the clouds of traditions,
assumptions, and misconceptions. The only “authority” that most
people respected and obeyed at the time of Jesus was “tradition.”
That same authority rules today. And what is tradition? It is an
accumulation of assumptions—idle fancies—made long ago by
some self-assured, imaginative, and bold theologians, and then
passed to others until it assumed the appearance of truth!
What an awesome power tradition has at its command! Jesus
was a poor and lowly Jew. Without any armies, He conquered
the world. Today one out of every three persons living is
Christian. By the example of His life and sacrifice, He showed
us that He could not have falsely claimed to be a Redeemer
from God. Further, He fulfilled many Hebrew prophecies. Yet,
that one word—king—is still preventing millions of Jews from
acknowledging their Jewish Redeemer! How can one word
possess such an awesome power? How can it prevent the hearts
and minds of millions from seeing?
In both of His Advents, Christ came not only from the sky, but
also over the clouds. Like the Sun He shined, and still is shining,
but the clouds of assumptions and traditions concealed—and still
are concealing—His great glory and power from many millions
of people.
Today another word is playing the same role, and it has assumed
the same awesome power as the word “king” did long ago. That
word is “sky.” Once again, to many people, it does not matter
how great Bahá’u’lláh is, what incredible prophecies He has
fulfilled, what great works He has accomplished, how noble a
life He has lived, or what beautiful Scriptures He has revealed.
All that matters is that word: sky. Once again one word is
concealing the awesome Glory of God from countless millions
of devout Christians. History is repeating itself with astonishing
precision. As Jesus declared, it is the way of people to persecute
the Prophets, and it is the way of future generations to build
magnificent shrines in their memories (Matt. 23:29).

1Consider the following verses from Bahá’u’lláh. Can any human
being, on his own, speak with such authority and power? These
quotations alone manifest to receptive hearts and souls, the true
identity of Bahá’u’lláh, His divine glory and power:
I am the One Whom the tongue of Isaiah hath extolled, the
One with Whose name both the Torah and the Evangel were
adorned.10 Bahá’u’lláh
…from the heights of the Kingdom the Voice of the Spirit of
God is heard proclaiming: “Bestir yourselves, ye proud ones
of the earth, and hasten ye unto Him.” Carmel hath, in this
Day, hastened in longing adoration to attain His court, whilst
from the heart of Zion there cometh the cry: “The promise is
fulfilled. That which had been announced in the holy Writ of
God, the most Exalted, the Almighty, the Best-Beloved, is
made manifest.”11 Bahá’u’lláh
Solomon in all his majesty circles in adoration around Me in
this day, uttering this most exalted word: “I have turned my
face towards Thy face, O Thou omnipotent Ruler of the
world! I am wholly detached from all things pertaining unto
me, and yearn for that which Thou dost possess.”12 Bahá’u’lláh
O concourse of priests! Leave the bells, and come forth, then,
from your churches. It behoveth you, in this day, to proclaim
aloud the Most Great Name among the nations. Prefer ye to
be silent, whilst every stone and every tree shouteth aloud:
`The Lord is come in His great glory!'?…He that summoneth
men in My name is, verily, of Me, and he will show forth
that which is beyond the power of all that are on earth…Let
the Breeze of God awaken you. Verily, it hath wafted over
the world. Well is it with him that hath discovered the
fragrance thereof and been accounted among the well-
assured.13 Bahá’u’lláh
O concourse of priests! The Day of Reckoning hath appeared,
the Day whereon He Who was in heaven hath come. He,

 verily, is the One Whom ye were promised in the Books of
God, the Holy, the Almighty, the All-Praised. How long will
ye wander in the wilderness of heedlessness and superstition?
Turn with your hearts in the direction of your Lord, the
Forgiving, the Generous.14 Bahá’u’lláh

1Wisdom is heaven’s most precious gift to humans:
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains
understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and
yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than
rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her…She is a
tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of
her will be blessed. Proverbs 3:13-18 NIV
…let the wise listen and add to their learning… Proverbs 1:5 NIV
Wisdom is the light that leads us to true knowledge. Among the
lessons wisdom teaches is this: “Have courage, but do not take
unreasonable risks.” What is the risk no one should take? Leave
his everlasting destiny to chance. In choosing our destiny, what
choices do we face?
• We can either remain apathetic, complacent, and closed to
new ideas.
• Or stay awake, watchful, alert, and open to new ideas.
Which choice is wise—apathy or alertness? The answer is
evident:
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will
come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and
puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and
tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch
because you do not know when the owner of the house will
come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when
the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not
let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to every-
one: ‘Watch!’ Christ (Mark 13:33-37 NIV)

2Can wisdom coexist with apathy and ignorance? In a TV ad,
someone asks a young lady: “What kind of guy are you looking
for?” She says: “Whatever!” Then another lady appears. Some-
one asks her: “What kind of oil are you looking for?” She says:
“Penzoil!” The ad ends with: “What you choose does matter.”
The contents of the ad fits the way many people choose their
destiny. When they want to buy a car, they consult the Consumer
Reports to make the wisest choice. But when it comes to
choosing their everlasting destiny, do they also search for the
wisest choice? Do they try to discover what God has planned
for them? Do they ask questions such as:
• What really matters in human life?
• Should I set aside some time to choose my destiny, or
should I continue to follow whatever my parents and my
culture gave me?
In this age, it seems most people pay more attention to where
they want to spend their few days of vacation than where they
want to spend eternity. It seems most people prefer to watch
their favorite TV show than watch for the news of the coming
of their Lord. We should note that failing to choose our destiny
is also a choice, but one with everlasting and irreversible
consequences.
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that
I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life…the Lord is your life… Deut. 30:19-20 NIV

1Jesus declared that when He returned, He would divide the
people into two groups:
When the Son of Man comes…he will separate the people
one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his
left. Christ (Matt. 25:31-33 NIV)

2Who are the two groups? One group consists of the believers
who welcome their Lord into their hearts and homes, and the
other of the believers who fail to respond to His knocking. Today
Jesus’ prediction has come true. Some Christians have welcomed
the Lord and embraced Him, while many others have ignored
His call. To those who would recognize Him and welcome Him,
Jesus promised rewards beyond description. He said He would
give them the glorious honor of sitting with Him on His throne:
Here I am! 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. To him who overcomes, I will give the right
to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down
with my Father on his throne. Christ (Rev. 3:20-21 NIV)
Just as it was in the days of Noah (Matt. 24:37) and in the days
of Jesus, most people today are complacent with their lives. The
news of the coming of the Lord does not excite them. It does
not bring them out of their churches and synagogues. They
continue to remain asleep in the night of unawareness. They do
not heed Jesus’ repeated warnings that they should be watchful
and vigilant at all times.
Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake
and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked
and be shamefully exposed. Christ (Rev. 16:15 NIV)
Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to
escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able
to stand before the Son of Man. Christ (Luke 21:36 NIV)
Our Redeemer makes an urgent appeal to Christians—who have
fixed their hopes and their eyes on the skies—to investigate for
themselves the news of His coming—the news of the Advent of
this most glorious Revelation. He invites each of us to step
forward and see for ourselves the fulfillment of all the prophecies
of the Scriptures. He invites us to seek the knowledge of this
most glorious event in human history!
He invites us to come and see for ourselves the supreme power
and glory of the One we have been waiting for! He invites us to
examine the Blueprint that He has brought for building the City

3of God! He invites us to come and see for ourselves the
heavenly Civilization that He has already established—a
Civilization the like of which the world has never seen before!
This Civilization, this Kingdom, has been growing steadily and
slowly “like a mustard seed.” And as our Lord has promised, it
will become, in due season, the largest of all trees:
What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what
parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed,
which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when
planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden
plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can
perch in its shade. Christ (Mark 4:30-32 NIV)
We have the freedom and the honor to participate and become a
part of this Kingdom. To succeed in our search, we must set
aside all our fears, assumptions, and preconditions, and begin
our spiritual journey with total dependence on God, rather than
on Bible teachers and scholars who depend only on human
understanding!
Can we expect to be delivered through avoidance and inaction?
Can we expect to be saved by ignoring His “knocking” and by
keeping our heart closed? Can we expect to be saved by
disobeying our Lord, by not seeking, by not praying, and by not
“watching” or paying attention to the news of His coming?
…through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Proverbs 11:9
This is the most auspicious time in human history. It is the time
to lay the foundation for the City of God. Our Redeemer invites
us to come and participate in building this city. He invites us to
overcome our fears and open our hearts to His most glorious
Advent! He invites us to search for the Heavenly Thief! He
invites us to allow the “Lamp of our Spiritual Wisdom” to lead
us to the Bridegroom and His everlasting Banquet! We are not
asked to accept anything, only to investigate, test, and examine,
only to “watch” or pay attention to the glorious News of His
coming, and to the overwhelming evidence that proves that our
Lord has already returned!

4Is it wise to let history once again repeat itself ? Is it wise to
ignore the Sun because of the drifting clouds of literalism—
clouds that have dominated the hearts and minds of humankind
and concealed the light of true understanding?
May God bless and guide you in all your endeavors.

 Part II
A Brief Dialogue with
a Doctoral Candidate
in Theology

1The following dialogue did actually take place; it is not fiction.
Recently a family friend, Elizabeth, was telling us about a
relative, named Tom, who was working on his doctorate in
theology. She described Tom as having both an open and sharp
mind. Elizabeth suggested that I should call him and tell him
about Bahá’u’lláh and send him a copy of I Shall Come Again.
To prepare Tom for the dialogue, Elizabeth told him that I
would call.
I am always curious and would like to know how people respond
to an invitation or a challenge. One evening I called Tom and
asked if he had heard about the Bahá’í Faith. He said he had
studied the topic only in an introductory course during his
undergraduate years, and had talked briefly with a few Bahá’ís.
I then referred to I Shall Come Again—which covers biblical
prophecies about the advent of Bahá’u’lláh—and asked if he
wanted to receive a free copy. He said he was quite busy with
his studies and had no time to read anything beyond what his
professors required. He then indicated that he was quite happy
with his beliefs because he had serious problems earlier, and
since he had fully accepted Jesus, he now lived an abundant life.
He seemed quite friendly and displayed no sign of impatience.
So I decided to challenge him a little, and perhaps disturb his
peace! The following is a paraphrase of the exchange of ideas
between us, written immediately after our conversation:
• Me: Did you know that Bahá’u’lláh has fulfilled the biblical
prophecies about the Second Advent?
• Tom: That is typical of those who make such claims. They
take some prophecies and apply them to themselves.
• Me: Can you give an example?
• Tom: Louis Farrakhan believes Jesus and Elijah are the same
person. He believes he is Elijah.
• Me: I agree; people abuse prophecies. The only way to know
is to investigate each claim.
• Tom: We already know how Christ will come. We have
accumulated an abundance of evidence about the way He
will return. We have 2,000 years of interpretation. We know
Christ has not come again.
• Me: You base your faith on fallible interpreters. Do you
realize that the Gospel gives the right of interpretation only
to the Lord? Do you realize we are told:
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait
till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden
in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.
I Cor. 4:5
• Tom: Some prophecies are clear. They do not need any
interpretation. For instance, we are told in plain language
that the same Jesus will come again. Is Bahá’u’lláh the same
person who came as Jesus?
• Me: Bahá’u’lláh did not have the body of Jesus, but mani-
fested the Spirit of God, the same Spirit that appeared in
Jesus. Do you realize that your literal interpretation of
prophecies is based on tradition? The Pharisees did the
same. They followed their ancestral beliefs and denied
Jesus.
• Tom: Pharisees had to deny Jesus, because prophecies pre-
dicted that they would.
At this point, I heard the alarm signal! I recognized that I could
find no way to Tom’s heart. First, even if the Pharisees had to
deny Jesus, they were still wrong. And second, the Pharisees did
not have to deny Jesus. Why would God force a person to deny
His Messenger and then punish him for doing so? Why would
Jesus force a few ignorant people to engage in a horrible act and
then condemn them for doing it? I did not raise any one of these
questions. To do so would have turned the friendly dialogue into

2a stressful argument. I respected his decision to keep his heart
closed.
His response demonstrates how the desire to win overcomes the
simple rules of reason; it shows how a passionate need to
protect one’s belief subdues the rational powers. Tom showed
no thirst for learning about Bahá’u’lláh. I was not looking for a
victory, and stopped at the right moment. Why would anyone
force his way into a locked house, unless he is a burglar? God
has given each soul the right to protect and preserve his or her
spiritual possessions. But I have to admit that, at times like this,
it is so tempting to go on. The desire to break the lock is ever-
present, the need to win feels almost as natural as breathing.
The attempts made by certain believers to break this lock by
force has immensely damaged and even destroyed the dignity of
religion. What would happen to the price of gold if people went
around, knocked on doors, got the householders out of their
bed, then asked them, and even argued with them, that they
must accept free chunks of gold?
Any time we engage in a debate or argument about religion, we
are violating God’s principle of freedom, we are dragging a
person into His Kingdom. Our Creator has taught us again and
again that He does not want reluctant guests in His banquet. The
only responsibility we have is to invite and inform. Resistance
to an invitation must be met instantly by submission, silence,
and an acknowledgment of the principle of freedom. When a
person argues, as I think Tom began to do, he is sending a clear
signal that I do not want your gift.
We must show unqualified respect to all those who say, “No!”
to God’s invitation to His heavenly banquet because they are
exercising the right of freedom that God gave them. Respecting
them is respecting God, and disrespecting them is disrespecting
God, the original Designer. The beauty of the divine Drama
comes from diversity.
Tom asked no question about Bahá’u’lláh except to say, “Is He
the same person as Jesus?” If I had said yes, he could ask, “Did
he have holes in his body?” And if I had said yes, he could ask,

3“How many holes were there?” And if I had said the right
number, he could ask, “Were they all in the right place?” And if
I had said yes, he could ask, “Are there pictures to prove it?”
And if I had said yes, he could ask, “Is there any evidence that
the pictures are authentic?” And if I had said yes, he could ask,
“Did he have the same height and weight as Jesus?” And if I
had said yes, he could ask, “Did he have the same skin color?”
And if I had said yes, he could ask, “Are there x-rays to show
that some of his joints were separated?” And if I had said yes,
he could ask, “Did He speak Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic as He
did in ancient times? And if I had said yes, he could say, “Is
there any recording of his voice?” And if I had said yes, he
would probably say, “Your answers are all too good to be true,”
and they were!
As this theoretical dialogue demonstrates, where there is a will,
there will always be a way to deny any truth, no matter how
evident it may be. Tom knew he was right and no evidence, no
proof, no testimonial could have convinced him otherwise. How
would he respond, if he was confronted by the same Jesus who
came 2,000 years ago exactly as He appeared then? Would he
repeat the same arguments the Pharisees pursued?
A prophecy often quoted by Christian scholars about the First
Advent of Christ indicates that all of Messiah’s bones will be
“out of joint” (Psalms 22:12). I could have asked him if he has
any evidence to prove this. Did crucifixion disjoint all of Jesus’
bones? Another frequently quoted prophecy (Isaiah 53:10)
about the first advent declares that the Messiah will be “pierced
for our transgression” and then it states that “He will see His
offspring.” I could have asked him, “Who was Jesus’
offspring?”
To continue the discussion, I felt, was a waste of time and
money. This was a long-distance call! When he said, “The
Pharisees had to deny Jesus,” I gently changed the subject. Our
conversation ended on a friendly note. I saw Tom anxious to be
well prepared for his course and university tests, but not for a
test that would determine the course of his eternal destiny. How
perfectly St. Paul predicted Tom’s response:

 They are the kind…who are…always learning but never
able to acknowledge the truth. II Timothy 3:6-7
Theology students must master an enormous amount of detailed
information about biblical studies, and ancient and modern
languages. As we noted, Tom said he could not read about
Bahá’u’lláh because of his enormous studies. He was learning
German and two ancient languages. Note how Bahá’u’lláh
describes his status and that of today’s many Bible students and
scholars:
They cleave to the obscure intricacies of knowledge, when
He, Who is the Object of all knowledge, shineth as the sun.
They see the sun with their own eyes, and yet question that
brilliant Orb as to the proof of its light.15 Bahá’u’lláh
Who were the scribes? According to Christian scholar F. F.
Bruce, they were “the acknowledged students and teachers of
the law.” In a way, ancient scribes can be compared to today’s
Bible scholars and professors at seminary schools. According to
Unger’s Bible Dictionary:
The higher the law rose in the estimation of the people, the
more did its study and exposition become an independent
business; and an independent class of “biblical scholars or
scribes,” [who] were the real teachers of the people…16
How did the scribes respond to Jesus? Did their knowledge of
the law of God serve as a beam of light to lead them to truth or
as a veil of darkness to deprive them of truth? According to
Harper’s Bible Dictionary:
The scribes, like the Pharisees with whom their name is often
linked in the N.T., were opposed to Jesus (Matt. 7:29),
because he sometimes cut across their ancient traditions and
exposed their unwarranted claims to prestige. Scribes played
a conspicuous role in bringing about his Crucifixion (Mark
14:43, 15:1; Luke 23:10), though a few of them believed in
his teaching (Matt. 8:19).17
Once again we can clearly see that there is no link whatsoever
between being a scholar and being a truth lover. Yet most people
have throughout all ages delegated their spiritual responsibility

5to their leaders who are taught by religious scholars from
institutions of higher learning. They assume that if someone
knows Greek and Hebrew and has taken numerous courses in
seminary schools, or has taught at institutions of higher learn-
ing, then he is the one who must lead them to their destiny.
Suppose you are a university student, taking an introductory
course in biology. At the end of the semester your teacher tells
you that you should look forward to meeting your next instruc-
tor, who will offer an advanced course in biology. Then he adds,
“Trust this teacher. He is quite knowledgeable.” Let us assume
you register for this advanced course, go to the class and wait
for the instructor. Now suppose a man suddenly enters the class-
room and starts teaching. How should you respond? Should you
start by saying, “You are not the instructor?” Or should you listen
to him for a while to see if he sounds like one? Is not rejecting
him, without listening to him, an unreasonable act? And yet,
according to our experience in Mt. Pleasant, where I live,
Christian leaders showed little if any interest in receiving a free
book about the biblical prophecies fulfilled by Bahá’u’lláh. Out
of more than fifty only one pastor asked for a copy, and another
called to say that he already knew that we were wrong, and that
he did not need a book as further evidence. We later discovered
that the pastor who requested a copy, threw it away without
reading it! To him, removing even one copy out of circulation
was a good deed!
Concerning the new instructor, should the students cling to their
ideas about how he should look, or should they listen to him?
Should they not give him a hearing? Why then are the religious
scholars and students not examining the evidence Bahá’u’lláh
presents? Why are they closing their hearts and minds? Why are
they walking out of the classroom? How can a student judge an
instructor without listening to him? Were the students not asked
by their previous instructor to refrain from making any judg-
ment about difficult issues? Were they not instructed to wait for
the Lord to bring to light what was hidden in darkness?

 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till
the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in
darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.
I Corinthians 4:5 NIV
Why are the students not listening to those instructions? Why
are they telling the instructor that he is wrong before they even
listen to him? Why are they assuming that they already have the
answer to difficult questions?
The story of Bahá’u’lláh is so astounding, the biblical evidence
for His divine origin is so compelling that every seminary
school should offer at least one course about Him. I wonder if
Bahá’u’lláh is even mentioned in those schools. Students are
kept within the confines of Christian theology. It is assumed
nothing else is worth studying.
What the majority of people believe comes from their pastors
and priests. And what the majority of pastors and priests believe
comes from what their professors at seminary school taught
them. Those professors are the true shakers and shapers of
Christian’s beliefs. They are highly respected as the authority on
what the Bible means. As a rule, these scholars are financially
supported by a given denomination. Does it make sense to
undermine the institution that feeds you? Safety—the second
most significant human need—lies in preserving the status quo
rather than taking risks for the unknown. This is why it is so
difficult to make a change. The system is closed. Many people
mistake “scholarship” for love for truth. But these two attributes
are not necessarily related. In fact, they are entirely different.
There are some theology professors who are in heart agnostics
and atheists!
Whether Christians realize it or not, most of their beliefs come
from scholars and university professors. That is where the
majority of their views about the meaning of the Scriptures
originate and gradually trickle down to others. Is it then prudent
to place by far the most important decision of our lives—the
one that determines our everlasting destiny—mainly in the
hands of professors at seminary schools?

7Does knowing, loving, and “seeing” God require a Ph.D. (Doctor
of Philosophy), or a P.H. (a Pure Heart)?
Does knowing the truth require a D.TH. (Doctor of Theology)
or D.T. (Detachment from Traditions)?
You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God
in order to observe your own traditions! Christ (Mark 7:9)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Christ (Matt. 5:8)

11. The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 83.
2. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 36.
3. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 107.
4. The Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 3-4.
5. The Message of the Prophets, Grand Rapids, MI: Resources for Biblical
Communication, p. 17.
6. The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 121.
7. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 8.
8. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 214.
9. Living By the Book, CBN Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, p. 2.
10. The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 86.
11. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 211.
12. Shoghi Effendi. The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í
Publishing Trust, 1980, p. 105.
13. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 13.
14. The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 95.
15. The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 208.
16. Unger, Merrill F. Unger's Bible Dictionary, Chicago: Moody Press,
1985, p. 981.
17. Miller, Madeleine S. and Lane J. The New Harper's Bible Dictionary,
New York: Harper & Row, 1973, p. 653.