In a message dated 6/7/04 10:51:31 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Can someone help me understand this? 'Ere the "second woe is past"'-seems to mean 'before the day of the Manifestation of the Bab is past? This seems to make sense as regards Quddus' suffering in the path of the beloved Bab but how does this fit the context of the Revelation of St. John regarding the two winesses? >>
Dear Larry Marquardt, "And after three days and a half [i.e., 1260 years] the *spirit of life from God entered* into them, and they [Muhammad and Ali] stood upon their feet [in the persons of the Bab and Quddus]". "ere the 'second woe is past'" means before this second woe/judgement is past or is over, the *spirit of life from God entered* into both the them, the Bab and Quddus. With regard to the spirit entering Quddus see Nabil's narrative, page 263. Notice also the verse, Qur'an 59:23/62:1, chanted by the Babis, page 352, 389, 404, which is "Holy, holy, the Lord our God" (Quddus, Quddus, the Lord our God) and the significance of the Black Standard with regard to the Mihdi/Quddus (pages 290, 324, 328, 351-3, 406-7). "Then after three days and a half, which by the terminology of the Holy Books is twelve hundred and sixty years, these divine teachings, heavenly virtues, perfections and spiritual bounties were again renewed by the appearance of the Bab and the devotion of Jinab-i-Quddus." "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly."[Rev. 11:14] The first woe is the appearance of the Prophet, Muhammad, the son of Abduâllahâpeace be upon Him! The second woe is that of the Babâto 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." (SAQ 56) "Woe" refers not to the Manifestation, but to the Day of the Manifestation. "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 Bahaâuâllah, the day of God; and it is near to the day of the appearance of the Bab." (SAQ 56) I hope this helps. Michael __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
