>Speaking of Babylon, the symbolic city of corrupted religion, John writes: > >" . . . thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries > >were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and > >of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." 18:23-24 > > > On what basis do you say this? It seems to me that this chapter can be > taken fairly literally concerning the materialistic society which revolves > around a decaying religion. >
Dear Don, Sorry for the delay in my reply to your question. I've had to think about how much detail I will go into, because the complete answer is something that's hard to put into words or answer in a liner way with step by step reasoning, but I guess I'll give it my best shot. So, the first part of my answer to your question about the basis for my interpretation, is that this prophecy can certainly have both outward literal AND an inner symbolic meanings. There have been recent discussions on the list about how in some cases only the literal meaning is intended; however, in this case we are talking about Babylon, the mystery, "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth". I think this certainly points toward the possibility of meanings beyond simply the literal. And, as this prophecy is taken as being inspired by the creative word, I believe that it is something that is not only simply literal, but also not only a one time event, and something that resonates repeatedly through history in various ways. I wrote of Babylon as the city of corrupt religion (the antithesis of the city of the Word of God - the new Jerusalem). I think that the term "mother of harlots" might refer specifically to the prostitution of religious beliefs for one's self-gratification, but it goes even beyond that to the "abominations of the earth". I'm not going to take time now to go into the specific Greek and Hebrew words for abomination, but if I recall correctly, in the Old Testament the "abomination" which makes desolate is associated with idolatry. Idolatry goes beyond simply the corruption of religion through worshipping man-made physical idols such as the gold calf and includes man-made spiritual idols. For example, in the 20th century, Shoghi Effendi writes, the: "chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshipping. (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 113). Today, while Communism has been left behind, the world is faced with the resurgence of Nationalism and Racism, particularly as intertwined in Jewish Nationalism, Islamic Nationalism, and Christian Nationalism (all of which also have components of racism). While Shoghi Effendi speaks of the three idols above, I think that other purely selfish things, such as hatred, murder, greed, and vanity also fall under the banner of spiritual idolatry. Going back to my first post, in 2 Peter where it speaks of false prophets, who will "make merchandise of you" it resonates with the passages in Revelation (and others such as the ones I mentioned in my first post). This includes the "merchants" of Babylon (Rev 18:23) who were: "the great men of the earth: for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." The idea of deception correlates with the "Deceivers in Measure" of the Qur'an. I think this is one possible meaning, but I do not exclude others. When dealing with the creative word there can be many valid interpretations (and many invalid ones). I recall in the Iqan where Baha'u'llah speaks of the huris of inner meaning: "How many the huris of inner meaning that are as yet concealed within the chambers of divine wisdom! None hath yet approached them;-huris, "whom no man nor spirit hath touched before."[1] [1 Qur'án 55:56.] (The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 70) Years ago it struck me that these huris or "dark eyed damsels" of inner meaning are also the 72 virgins of Paradise. In conjunction, Baha'u'llah recalls a verse from Rumi in The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys: Love's a stranger to earth and heaven too; In him are lunacies seventy-and-two. (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 10) "Love shunneth this world and that world too, In him are lunacies seventy-and-two." (Baha'u'llah, The Four Valleys, p. 54) My understanding of this verse, in referring to love it speaks of God's law as a whole, is that in a way it encompasses the whole spectrum from obedience to disobedience of the law. Love of God is "the first and great commandment." Love covers the whole continuum, from God's love (and obedience to the law of God) to love of self (spiritual idolatry-works of the flesh as described in the New Testament--selfish actions such as hate, murder, strife, envy, vanity, etc., results of giving in to the Evil Whisperer - the Satan of self). To enjoy the huris of inner meaning (virgins of Paradise) one needs to get rid of self. "'Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?' Say: 'The one is reunion with Me; the other thine own self . . . .'"(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 131). Speaking of the self, Christ said: "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Matthew 7:20-23) These are the abomination. In other words, a key to a correct understanding the inner meanings is selflessness (not that I'm claiming pure selflessness-I certainly have a long way to go there-but I still believe in this understanding and have had abundant personal confirmations). When there is selflessness and love of God (demonstrated through obedience to God's law) the eyes perceive, the ears are unstopped and the heart understands. Christ said "No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his brother", again emphasizing the importance of selflessness and, in effect, reinforcing the meaning of the "law" of "love". If there is self-love, associated with idolatry/corrupted religion/hell/works of the flesh, the seventy-two meanings shade toward the idolatry end of the continuum of 72 lunacies (the tree of Zaqqum--evil--as opposed to the tree of life). Alternately, the inner meanings and wine are found in the third valley of Baha'u'llahs "Seven Valleys". There is a good argument to make that this is the third heaven (known as the abode of angles) that the apostle Paul speaks about: "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." 12:1-4 (2 Corinthians) Here, Paradise (which Baha'u'llah associates with selflessness) is found in the third heaven with the angles, and this is also consistent with Paul's famous words: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). If one interprets Paul's use of the word love in this passage as love of God (selflessness) and obedience to God's teachings, it reinforces the concepts of love and obedience in mastering the tongues of angels, in other words speaking in the language of inner meanings. There is so much more here, but I'd better end it for now. Patti PS: One more thing that comes to mind specifically in thinking about "fornication" with the whore of Babylon, interpreted as corrupted religion, is Christ's reference to "an evil and adulterous generation" of scribes and Pharisees who were seeking to test Christ by requesting a sign from God. To them "there shall be no sign given" (Matthew 12:39). Connecting the dots, the "adultery" of the generation of scribes and Pharisees can be equated with "fornication" with Babylon. Also, it is interesting to compare the repetition of the failure of the scribes and Pharisees to recognize the signs of Jesus Christ (they wanted a sign specifically tailored to their request) with the failure of the ulama to recognize the signs of the Bab (specifically in their questioning of Him). __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [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]
