It is astonishing to Christians to learn that three chapters (Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen) of the Book of Revelation, Jesus' Book to the Religions of the World, deal largely with Islam. This seems just as unbelievable to Christians as it was to the Jews that the Book of Daniel, in the Jewish Scriptures, was about the coming of Jesus Christ.
For Baha'is, Chapter Eleven is a very favored chapter because 'Abdu'l-Baha (The Center of the Covenant) Himself wrote the explanation and it contains the beginning of what is called "The Most Clear Proof" which is presented in Chapter Twelve.
This chapter describes the relationship of Islam and the former Faiths to the New Dispensation. The Jewish people find it difficult to accept that there were prophecies in the Old Testament that were about Jesus. The Book of Revelation, the most prophetic book in the New Testament, is now a test for Christians because a significant part of it is prophecies about Muhammad, whom the Muslims (and Baha'is) believe to be the Prophet that came after Jesus, in fulfillment of the prophecy by Jesus regarding the "Paraclete".
This whole chapter is about the 'woe' of Muhammad, or what went wrong. Muhammad's teaching work began in Mecca, but conditions became difficult, making His escape necessary. The 'Hegira', the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in Arabia (the City of the Prophet) in 622 C.E. dates the beginning of Islamic history. The Islamic Faith spread broadly through many parts of the world, into Africa, China, the Far East and Egypt, where today there are hundreds of millions of Muslims. There are presently twenty-two countries that are predominately Islamic. The Islamic Faith in its glory days became the basis of flourishing cultures and the development of science in many countries. It had great influence on Europe which was largely backwards and barbaric, until the time of the Crusades through which much of the scientific thought Europe gained, was from Islam. The first university in Europe was Islamic and the Islamic influence became the basis for the Renaissance; for European common law, western art, culture, European philosophy and western science. The Arabic numeral system made a remarkable difference to the development of Western mathematics and science.
There are parallels between the opinions the Jews have sometimes had about Christ, and the opinions some Christians have had about Muhammad. The Jews felt that Jesus falsely claimed to be their Messiah, that He associated with prostitutes and others of bad character, that He destroyed the religion and Sabbath established by God and Moses. Christians likewise thought of Muhammad as making a false claim of prophethood, being a molester of children and destroying the religion of Christ. Neither the Jews nor the Christians were inclined to recognize, accept or follow their subsequent Manifestation.
Christians no more believe Jesus foretold Muhammad would come after Him than do the Jews believe that Jesus was foretold. Nevertheless, that is the way the Muslims read the following Scripture about the "Paraclete", Whom they take to be Muhammad, while the Christians think it is simply a reference to the Holy Ghost. The latter finesse the word "another", which indicates that there can be more than one Holy Ghost, or another meaning to Holy Ghost than they imagine.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever.
John 14:26 But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.
John 15:26 But when the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me.
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.Douay-Rheims
Catholic version of the Bible
While there are many sects of Islam the great division is between the Sunnis, which formed among the Arabs of Arabia, and the Shiites, the followers of Ali, which centered initially in the non-Arab country of Zoroastrian Persia, now known as Iran. There are numerous smaller sects of Shiites, categorized as the Twelvers, or believers in the expected return of a Twelfth 'disappeared' Imam after Ali. The Baha'i Faith has its lineage from among these.
Baha'is consider Muhammad to be the "Seal of the Prophets" in the sense that He was the last Prophet of the 'Cycle of Prophecy' and that the Bab and Baha'u'llah then opened the 'Cycle of Fulfillment', the Bab being the return of One Christ-like, was expected by both the Christians and Muslims.
"From the beginning of time until the present day," is 'Abdu'l-Baha's own testimony, "the light of Divine Revelation hath risen in the East and shed its radiance upon the West. The illumination thus shed hath, however, acquired in the West an extraordinary brilliancy. Consider the Faith proclaimed by Jesus. Though it first appeared in the East, yet not until its light had been shed upon the West did the full measure of its potentialities become manifest."Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p.253
There is really not that much difference between the beliefs of Muslims and Christians except that Christians don't accept Muhammad, and there is a lot of theological discussion about the nature of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Manifestation of God.
The AFTERWORD of this chapter has A Charted History (Timeline) of Islam.
The quotes in this commentary
in Blue Italic are a
COMMENTARY ON THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER
by 'Abdu'l-Baha
that is to be found in: "SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS" (P.45ff)
[1] And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
V.1 This is considered the most important Chapter in the Book of Revelation because this is where Jesus gives the date of His Return. A Christian will quickly object, "No man knoweth the hour", but that is before the Return of Christ - and this explanation is being given AFTER the Return of Christ.
The Bab (and Baha'u'llah) are the Return of Christ (as also was Muhammad) but the full explanation about this is to be found in "The Most Clear Proof"
There are, of course, many spiritual meanings to all these words, but in a sense the Temple of God, is the Religion of God. Some would take a bit more literal explanation saying it is regarding the temple in Jerusalem.
In any case the order is to measure it and the measurement is actually one of time rather than space.
[2] But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
V.2 It is here that the clear standards for measurement are set. The terms used may have many meanings, but they are all compatible. There may well be historical places and events to which one may point. There is / was a temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem may well be considered the Holy City. As an archetype one may also be speaking of a spiritual temple in one of many forms and Jerusalem may be the "New Jerusalem", having a spiritual meaning, "coming down from heaven." None of these meanings precludes the other.
The key phrase, for us here at the moment, deals with what physical measure we are to use. We are NOT to use any other measure than that of the GENTILES. That is to say: we are to use the Gentile measure - NOT the Jewish measure. Remember - we are talking about a measurement of time, not space, so it means that we are to use the Gentile's calendar - NOT the Jewish calendar.
Gentile definition: someone who is not a Jew. Who were the gentiles, who are the gentiles, surrounding the temple, Jerusalem, treading the Holy City Jerusalem underfoot? It is the Muslims. So - it is their measurement, their calendar, that we are to use.
Also it is the Muslim measurement that we use, because this entire chapter of the Book of Revelation is about Islam. Specifically, we are to be concerned about their treading it underfoot for 42 months, something which is explained later.
V.2 "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles."
In the beginning of the seventh century after Christ, when Jerusalem was conquered, the Holy of Holies was outwardly preserved -- that is to say, the house which Solomon built; but outside the Holy of Holies the outer court was taken and given to the Gentiles. "And the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months" -- that is to say, the Gentiles shall govern and control Jerusalem forty and two months, signifying twelve hundred and sixty days; and as each day signifies a year, by this reckoning it becomes twelve hundred and sixty years, which is the duration of the cycle of the Qur'an (Koran). For in the texts of the Holy Book, each day is a year; as it is said in the fourth chapter of Ezekiel, verse 6: "Thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 46
[3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
V.3 The next question then is "who are the two witnesses?" Being an archetype it could be many: Moses and Joshua; John the Baptist and Jesus; the Bab and Baha'u'llah. This being an Islamic Chapter in the Book of Revelation they are: Muhammad and Ali.
The point being that "they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days." So, how long is that? Most American's are familiar with Lincoln's Gettysburg address: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation...", so a score is twenty, and three score is sixty. Therefore a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, is 1260 days.
Prophesying that long in sackcloth sounds pretty bad, and it was, because you know what happened to Ali, Muhammad's chosen successor.
V.3 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three-score days, clothed in sackcloth." These two witnesses are Muhammad the Messenger of God, and Ali, son of Abu Talib
In the Qur'an it is said that God addressed Muhammad, the Messenger of God, saying: "We made You a Witness, a Herald of good news, and a Warner" -- that is to say, We have established Thee as the witness, the giver of good tidings, and as One bringing the wrath of God. The meaning of "a witness" is one by whose testimony things may be verified. The commands of these two witnesses were to be performed for twelve hundred and sixty days, each day signifying a year. Now, Muhammad was the root, and Ali the branch, like Moses and Joshua. It is said they "are clothed in sackcloth," meaning that they, apparently, were to be clothed in old raiment, not in new raiment; in other words, in the beginning they would possess no splendor in the eyes of the people, nor would their Cause appear new; for Muhammad's spiritual Law corresponds to that of, Christ in the Gospel, and most of His laws relating to material things correspond to those of the Pentateuch. This is the meaning of the old raiment.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 48
[4] These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
V.4 Again, as always with archetypes, possible multiple meanings but this being the Islamic Chapter, in this case it is Muhammad and Ali. Here from "Some Answered Questions" is Abdu'l-Baha's description of this verse:
These two souls are likened to olive trees because at that time all lamps were lighted by olive oil. The meaning is two persons from whom that spirit of the wisdom of God, which is the cause of the illumination of the world, appears. These lights of God were to radiate and shine; therefore, they are likened to two candlesticks: the candlestick is the abode of the light, and from it the light shines forth. In the same way the light of guidance which shine and radiate from these illumined souls.
Then it is said: "They are standing before God," meaning that they are standing in the service of God, and educating the creatures of God, such as the barbarous nomad Arab tribes of the Arabian peninsula, whom they educated in such a way that in those days they reached the highest degree of civilization, and their fame and renown became worldwide.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 49
[5] And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
V.5 We shall continue on here with Abdu'l-Baha's explanation from "Some Answered Questions".
That is to say, that no one would be able to withstand them, that if a person wished to belittle their teachings and their law, he would be surrounded and exterminated by this same law which proceedeth out of their mouth; and everyone who attempted to injure, to antagonize and to hate them, would be destroyed by a command which would come out of their mouth. And thus it happened: all their enemies were vanquished, put to flight and annihilated. In this most evident way God assisted them.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 49
[6] These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
V.6 Once again from Abdu'l-Baha:
V.6 Afterward it is said: "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy,"
meaning that in that cycle they would be like kings. The law and teachings of Muhammad, and the explanations and commentaries of Ali, are a heavenly bounty; if they wish to give this bounty, they have power to do so. If they do not wish it, the rain will not fall: in this connection rain stands for bounty.
Then it is said: "They have power over water to turn it to blood," meaning that the prophethood of Muhammad was the same as that of Moses, and that the power of Ali was the same as that of Joshua: if they wished, they could turn the water of the Nile into blood, so far as the Egyptians and those who denied them were concerned -- that is to say, that that which was the cause of their life, through their ignorance and pride, became the cause of their death. So the kingdom, wealth and power of Pharaoh and his people, which were the causes of the life of the nation, became, through their opposition, denial and pride, the cause of death, destruction, dispersion, degradation and poverty. Hence these two witnesses have power to destroy the nations.
Then it is said: "And smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will,"meaning that they also would have the power and the material force necessary to educate the wicked and those who are oppressors and tyrants, for to these two witnesses God granted both outward and inward power, that they might educate and correct the ferocious, bloodthirsty, tyrannical nomad Arabs, who were like beasts of prey.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 50
[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
V.7 Abdu'l-Baha provides lengthy spiritual teachings regarding these verses and also turns the archetype of "the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit" to be the Bani-Umayya of the Umayyads.
The entire Islamic thread is quite lengthy for our readers, so we have greatly shortened the material, but anyone wanting to study it more in-depth should avail themselves of Abdu'l-Baha's entire presentation in the Baha'i Book, "Some Answered Questions".
An alternative meaning for "the beast from the bottomless pit", and seen in other verses in the Book of Revelation, may have to do with nuclear war during the application of the archetype in "the last days". This observation is somewhat irrelevant to the Islamic thread when reading Chapter Eleven in regard to Islamic history, but it becomes very significant when following a thread on the subject of the "bottomless pit", because later in Rev. 14:15 we find that the one exception (which thus emphasizes its importance) to the 42 cases being in order of reference in the Angel Threads is regarding this Zoroastrian/Parsee/Shiite Islam/Iran connection to the beginning of Armageddon and the nuclear holocaust.
[8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
V.8 Not "Sodom and Gomorrah", not Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified, but "Sodom and Egypt". All these archetypes and symbolism have spiritual meanings, as the verse states. Abdu'l-Baha explains some of them if we were to continue with His explanation, but there is more than we wish to belabor here.
"where also our Lord was crucified", obviously refers to Jesus, and briefly we can say that what is being recounted is that Muhammad and Ali were treated in much the same way and for the same reasons.
[9] And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
V.9 The nations that followed the Islamic Faith maintained the outward form (the dead bodies) of the teachings of the Spiritual Founders of their Faith. The reference to "three days and an half" is actually a reference to the Islamic year 1260. At first glance that may not seem possible, and that is what makes the Book of Revelation so incomprehensible to many, or seem to be such a hodgepodge of references.
To clearly understand that this reference is to 1260 - one can go through the Most Clear Proof presented in the Afterword of Chapter Twelve, which follows this chapter.
[10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
V.10 The Teachings of God disturb the inhabitants of the earth and they feel oppressed by them until they can get the Teachings buried out of sight. That is to say they keep the Name of the Teachings, create gigantic institutions about them, such as the Christians make a big thing of Christmas and send gifts one to another, and they celebrate with wine and parties, and immerse themselves in materialism and even immorality, but in reality they are making merry because they do not have to follow the real Teachings of the Prophets. The two Prophets in this case were those of Islam, but as an archetype it applies to all the religions.
[11] And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
V.11 This verse ties into verse 6 in Chapter Twelve which is very possibly the MOST IMPORTANT VERSE in the Book of Revelation. It all continues on from what was discussed in verse two. This is the Most Clear Proof about the Return of Christ. It is saying that three and a half days after these two Prophet's Teachings were ignored, once again the Power shall return to the earth, and the people of the earth will suffer great fear and consternation.
To understand the verse, to understand the Book of Revelation, to understand religion, to understand the meaning of life, one needs to understand what is being said here and in verse 6 of Chapter Twelve that the three and a half days are 1260 years, as explained in the Most Clear Proof.
God guides all, even those of little understanding, but He has favored you to hear about the Most Clear Proof.
[12] And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
V.12 One must learn to read the verses with a spiritual mind. The Great Voice from Heaven is the Voice of God coming from the Spiritual Heaven, and not from above the physical earth. The command to come up hither, does not mean to fly up into the sky but rather to raise ones thinking, consciousness, spirit into these new spiritual heights.
Ascending to heaven in a cloud does not meaning going up in physical clouds, but rather in the clouds of men's minds, another actual definition of clouds and cloudy thinking in some dictionaries, and being beheld by enemies means that others who opposed or were indifferent to True Religion will then be guided.
"And their enemies beheld them," meaning that many of their enemies, after witnessing their martyrdom, realized the sublimity of their station and the exaltation of their virtue, and testified to their greatness and perfection.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 55
[13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
V.13 There are both spiritual - and sometimes literal meanings - to the verses. Abdu'l-Baha, in the often referenced here, "Some Answered Questions", explains how these things literally occurred at the time of the Bab.
This earthquake occurred in Shiraz after the martyrdom of the Bab. The city was in a turmoil, and many people were destroyed. Great agitation also took place through diseases, cholera, death, scarcity, famine and afflictions, the like of which had never been known. "And the remnant was affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven." When the earthquake took place in Fars, all the remnant lamented and cried day and night, and were occupied in glorifying and praying to God. They were so troubled and affrighted that they had no sleep nor rest at night.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 55
[14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
V.14 As with all verses and archetypes there are often many different meanings. The archetype of The Three Woes has great significance to the present generation in the Three World Wars, and it is hard for many to believe that there could be an even greater significance.
The Three Woes are discussed in the Afterword of Chapter Eight. The Most Important Thing for humanity is in regards to these Three Manifestations of God. The Three Woes, foretold by Jesus, were Muhammad, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah.
"The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly." The first woe is the appearance of the Prophet, Muhammad, the son of Abdu'llah -- peace be upon Him! The second woe is that of the Bab -- to Him be glory and praise! The third woe is the great day of the manifestation of the Lord of Hosts and the radiance of the Beauty of the Promised One. The explanation of this subject, woe, is mentioned in the thirtieth chapter of Ezekiel, verses 2 and 3 where it is said: The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near." Therefore, it is certain that the day of woe is the day of the Lord; for in that day woe is for the neglectful, woe is for the sinners, woe is for the ignorant. That is why it is said, "The second woe is past; behold the third woe cometh quickly!" This third woe is the day of the manifestation of Baha'u'llah, the day of God; and it is near to the day of the appearance of the Bab.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 56
[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
V.15 The Seventh Angel in our Thread of Angels is of course always the Islamic Angel, and the last one to sound. The Seal of the Prophets and seal and end of Prophecy.
With the Next Woe, (The Bab), we will enter the Time of Fulfillment, the Great Day of The Lord, that which Jesus was directing us toward, the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, the Day in which the Spiritual and Divine Kingdom shall be established.
It is of course the Kingdom of Christ, and the Kingdom of ALL the Manifestations, because They all are the one and same, in different raiment, the Manifestation of the One and Only God.
[16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God.
V.16 The significance of the four and twenty elders is in regards to the importance of this time. Where before there were always twelve such as the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples of Jesus, this time is so important that it is the only one to have had a Double / Twin Manifestations and double the number of elders.
"And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God. "Saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned." In each cycle the guardians and holy souls have been twelve. So Jacob had twelve sons; in the time of Moses there were twelve heads or chiefs of the tribes; in the time of Christ there were twelve Apostles; and in the time of Muhammad there were twelve Imams. But in this glorious manifestation there are twenty-four, double the number of all the others, for the greatness of this manifestation requires it. These holy souls are in the presence of God seated on their own thrones, meaning that they reign eternally.Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 57
[17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
V.17 This is the time that was prophesized and looked forward to by all the ancient prophets. The Day in which they all the desired to live. The Day of Fulfillment and the coming to maturity of the earth. The Day of Accomplishment of all that it had been created for from the very beginning.
[18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
V.18 The coming of God's Kingdom on earth of course does not please the materialist masses of people that occupy the earth. It makes them very angry and this is what brings the Wrath of God which is to allow the people to fulfill their will. The nations do not follow God's Command to love one another and are destroying the earth. This destruction will be horrible and great.
Those that love God find this the second most blessed time in which to live, next to being in the presence of the Manifestation Himself, because it is the time in which they can be of the greatest service to God, in helping to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, by delivering His New Teachings.
[19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
V.19 As with all archetypes there are the possibilities of multiple meanings and the earthquake and other disturbances in this verse may be looked upon differently in future time based upon intervening events. The explanations given by Abdu'l-Baha iemphasize events and activities that concerned Him at His time.
This chapter concluded the third Angel Thread, and because it dealt with last of the Seven Angels it was predominately concerned with Islam and leads into the next two chapters which are the main chapters on Islam.
Many Christians are surprised that in what they consider to be their Christian Bible, Jesus is talking so much about the Islamic Faith, which was the next religion to come immediately after Christianity. Most particularly these chapters describe how the Islamic Faith is to be fulfilled by the religions that come after it.
At this point we are only half-way through the six threads about the Angels and the remaining threads will repeat the theme of The Apocalypse, which is often another name for the Book of Revelation.
As with all archetypes there are the possibilities of multiple meanings and the earthquake and other disturbances in this verse may be looked upon differently in future time based upon intervening events. The explanations given by Abdu'l-Baha in the following quote emphasize events and activities that concerned Him at His time.
"And the temple of God was opened in heaven" means that the divine Jerusalem is found, and the Holy of Holies has become visible. The Holy of Holies, according to the terminology of the people of wisdom, is the essence of the Divine Law, and the heavenly and true teachings of the Lord, which have not been changed in the cycle of any Prophet, as it was before explained. The sanctuary of Jerusalem is likened to the reality of the Law of God, which is the Holy of Holies; and all the laws, conventions, rites and material regulations are the city of Jerusalem -- this is why it is called the heavenly Jerusalem. Briefly, as in this cycle the Sun of Reality will make the light of God shine with the utmost splendor, therefore, the essence of the teachings of God will be realized in the world of existence, and the darkness of ignorance and want of knowledge will be dispelled. The world will become a new world, and enlightenment will prevail. So the Holy of Holies will appear.
"And the temple of God was opened in heaven" means also that by the diffusion of the divine teachings, the appearance of these heavenly mysteries, and the rising of the Sun of Reality, the doors of success and prosperity will be opened in all directions, and the signs of goodness and heavenly benedictions will be made plain.
"And there was seen in His temple the ark of His Testament" -- that is to say, the Book of His Testament will appear in His Jerusalem, the Epistle of the Covenant will be established, and the meaning of the Testament and of the Covenant will become evident. The renown of God will overspread the East and West, and the proclamation of the Cause of God will fill the world. The violators of the Covenant will be degraded and dispersed, and the faithful cherished and glorified, for they cling to the Book of the Testament and are firm and steadfast in the Covenant.
"And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail," meaning that after the appearance of the Book of the Testament there will be a great storm, and the lightnings of the anger and the wrath of God will flash, the noise of the thunder of the violation of the Covenant will resound, the earthquake of doubts will take place, the hail of torments will beat upon the violators of the Covenant, and even those who profess belief will fall into trials and temptations.'Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 60
Just as Christianity is divided into Catholic and Protestant, there are two main divisions of Islam called Sunni and Shiite. Just as both Catholics and Christians agree that their Source is Jesus, so do Sunnis and Shiites agree that Muhammad is their Source. Just as Christianity, particularly Protestant Christianity, has divided into mainy hundreds of sects, so have both the Sunnis and the Shiites.
Here is a brief explanation about how Islam became divided into two main branches. The Sunnis formed among the Arabs of Arabia. The Shiites, the followers of Ali, centered initially in the non-Arab country of Zoroastrian Persia, now known as Iran. The Baha'i Faith has its lineage from a sect of the Shiites, categorized as the Twelvers, or believers in the expected return of a Twelfth 'disappeared' Imam after Ali.
622 B.C.E
Hijira (Hegira, Hejira). The Hijira is the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina and all Muslims agree that it is the date of the beginning of Islam, and it is the beginning date of the Islamic Calendar.
631 B.C.E
Both Sunnis and Shiites consider the following story and verbal statement to be authoritative and it is upon its basis that Shiites (and also Baha'is as confirmed by the Bab and Baha'u'llah), believe 'Ali to be the lawful successor to the Prophet, but the Sunnis, who are the majority of the Muslims, interpret it differently.
Having completed the rites of pilgrimage to Mecca in the last year of His life, Muhammad, on His way back to Medina, ordered the large concourse of His followers to stop at a place known as Ghadir-i-Khumm. In that vast plain a number of saddles were stacked up, making an improvised pulpit from which Muhammad delivered an important address to the congregation. There, He is reported to have taken 'Ali by the hand and said, 'Whoever considers Me as his Lord, then 'Ali is also his Lord.'
632
Death of Muhammad
632 Abu Bakr was voted Caliph while Ali was making funeral arrangements for Muhammad. Ali was troubled by this and did not accept it for six months. Abu Bakr remained Caliph for 27 months, passing after an illness.
634 Umar (Omar) who was nominated by Abu Bakr to be his successor after his death, ruled until his own death 10 years later. It was Umar who conquered Jerusalem. Prior to his death he ordered six senior companions of Muhammad (including Ali and Uthman) to select his successor.
643 Uthman (Othman), having been selected, ruled for 12 years before being murdered.
656
Ali became the Fourth Caliph and last of the "Rightly Guided Caliphs".
661
Assassination of Ali
Husayn (Hussein) thought by Shiites to be the appointed heir - was martyred in 680 and is still highly revered by Shiites.
661
Mu'aviyyih I (Muawiyah or Muaawiya or Moawiya)(602-680)
was the first elected Umayyad Caliph (Khalifah) (r. 661-680)
Even the Sunnis do not classify him as one of the "Rightly Guided Caliphs".
It is at this point that the real split sets in between the Shiites and the Sunnis, and it is to this time period that much of these three chapters, about Islam in the Book of Revelation, is devoted.