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Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) Birth, Ascension and Rise, and the Revelation of John - II

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Imam Mahdi’s (PBUH) Birth, Ascension and Rise, and the Revelation of John

Part 2

 

Footnote:

 

[1] It is very important to keep in mind that the original wording and order of the statements in the book of Revelation are certainly not available, here we only intend to present a logical interpretation for certain statements of this book of the new testament of the current Bible, pointing to the Birth, Ascension and Rise of Hadrat Mahdi (PBUH):

 

The book of revelation is the last book in the new testament of the bible. christians disagree widely regarding it and have had many different opinions in regard to the authenticity, authorship and interpretation of this book.

 

AS of the authenticity, some christians such as the eastern orthodox church do not consider it authentic and have rejected this book.

 

And as of the author, in traditional views John the apostle, to whom the gospel of John is also attributed, has been considered the author of the book of revelation, but other scholars believe that John the apostle, John the evangelist and John of Patmos were three different people to whom the gospel, epistles and revelation of John are attributed separately. Also, some modern scholars such as Stephen L. Harris, in his book: Understanding the Bible claims that John the apostle wrote neither the gospel nor the book of revelation attributed to him.

 

It is noteworthy to mention that Imam Reda (PBUH) in his debates with the jewish and christian scholars of his time has mentioned that there were three Yoohannaas (Johns): Yohannaa Akbar in Ajj, Yoohanna Qarqisiya and Yoohanna Deylami in Rajaaz with whom was the glad tidings regarding the Prophet Mohammad and his AhlulBayt (PBUT) and his Ommat (Nation), and according to the Imam (PBUH) it was he who gave to the Nation of Jesus (PBUH) and to the Bani Israel the glad tidings regarding the Prophethood of Mohammad and regarding his AhlulBayt and his Nation. (‘Oyoon Akhbaar Reda of Shaykh Sadooq, vol. 1, p. 158; …) It is also noticeable that, as mentioned in the series article: “Mohammad, the Promise of Enjil (Gospel)” in this site, many of such tidings are in the current gospel of John.

 

As far as interpretation is concerned, the most common view seems to be the futuristic view which believes that the book of revelation describes future events; it is widely believed by christians that the book of revelation is the only apocalyptic document in the new testament. And at the same time christians acknowledge that many statements in the book of revelation are unintelligible to them and can not be understood; and there have been many controversies surrounding the content of the book.

 

In addition, while most christian scholars think that the book of revelation was written near the end of the 1st century, but this book was not accepted into the canon until the council of Carthage of 397 C.E.; i.e. about three centuries after it was supposedly written, and with many acknowledged textual differences.

 

… Any how, due to humankind’s disobedience of Allah and thus forsaking the pure and Divine teachings of the Prophets and their Allah Chosen Successors (PBUT) and distorting the Word of Allah throughout the centuries, similar dark circumstances surround the entire old and new testaments of the bible. But while disagreements and proven distortions have been many, still by the Will of Allah, certain rays of guiding Light have been shining in the midst of the darkness of distortions in the books of the bible; the Divine rays which by Allah’s Grace have become the guiding means leading many jews and christians to the Truth of Allah, to the True Islam -the Religion of all Prophets and their Allah Chosen Successors (PBUT) prior to human distortions- as being manifested perfectly by Mohammad and his AhlulBayt (PBUT) in its final stage.

 

After all, Allah (SWT) has promised in the Qur’an that:

 

Qur’an 61:8 They desire to put out the Light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will Perfect His Light, though the unbelievers may be averse.

 

With all this in mind, we are going to have a brief look at some statements in chapter 12 of the current book of revelation, and a few supporting statements from other chapters. Let us at this point specially not forget that the statements of this book are believed by most christians to be about future happenings after the Prophet Jesus (PBUH).

 

It is stated in chapter 12 that the author of the book saw in a revelation a woman clothed with the sun, the moon, and the stars:

 

12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

 

We wish to present this logical interpretation that the glorious Lady clothed with the sun, the moon, and twelve stars whose appearance was predicted to occur after Hadrat ‘Eesa -Eisa, Jesus- (PBUH) was none other than Hadrat Fatemah Zahra (PBUH). Using the AhlulBayt’s (PBUT) interpretation of Hadrat Yoosef’s (PBUH) dream in which the sun and the moon are interpreted as his father and his mother, it is quite logical to assume that the sun and the moon clothing the Lady, may very well be referring to Hadrat Muhammad and Hadrat Khadijah (PBUT). It is an inspired Islamic teaching that heaven is under the footstep of mothers; and Hadrat Khadijah was truly a heavenly mother for Hadrat Fatemah, the mother of human leadership. And the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP) undoubtedly is the guiding Light and Sun for the entire humankind.

 

And of course the twelve shining stars on her crown can be none other than the twelve Infallible Imams, the Allah Chosen leaders to guide humankind after Hadrat Mohammad (PBUT) until the Judgment Day. Let us recite together an inspired Salawaat as documented in sources such as the Behaar-al-Anwaar, a special prayer which reveals the significant and central position of Hadrat Fatemah Zahra (PBUH) among the AhlulBayt (PBUT):

 

O Allah! Send Salawaats upon Fatemah and her father and her husband and her sons, and the Secret entrusted in her, as many times as that which Your Knowledge encompasses.

 

It is noteworthy to mention that it seems that due to the significance of the last star or the last Infallible Imam who was promised by all Prophets and Successors (PBUT) as the Saviour of humankind, his story is related in this book with somewhat more detail.

 

In statement five of this same chapter, it is stated that of her a man child would be born ruling all nations, and that this child would be taken to Allah’s Throne after he is born:

 

12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

 

Firstly, all Muslims including the Sunni have reported that Hadrat Mahdi (PBUH) -who is going to rule all nations in the Last Days- is of Hadrat Fatemah (PBUH).

 

Here as a sample we present only one of many such Sunni Hadiths:

Umme Salama (R.A) reported: I heard the Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) saying, "The Mahdi will appear from my progeny, of Fatimah." (Sunan of Abu Dawood)

 

Secondly, as it is clearly mentioned in the main Hadith of this writing, Hadrat Mahdi (PBUH) was lifted toward Allah after his birth; or as it is mentioned in the book of revelation: “her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne”.

 

Thirdly, we wish to show beyond the shadow of a doubt that the man child mentioned in chapter twelve of the book of Revelation is not Jesus (PBUH) as some christians claim.

 

In statement 6:1 of the book of revelation, John the author of the book clearly states that Jesus (PBUH) -the lamb, as christians call Jesus- was up in heaven when John was being shown a crowned man on earth riding on a horse (6:2):

 

6:1 And I [John] saw when the Lamb [Jesus] opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

 

So, it is quite obvious that the crowned man on white horse was a man other than the lamb, or Jesus himself.

 

It is also confirmed in revelation 1:7 that Jesus (PBUH) will descend on clouds from heaven in the Last Days, as his descending is verified by Islamic Hadith too:

 

1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 

And here is a sample Islamic Hadith:

 

Jesus son of Maryam will descend from heaven … (Ershaad al Qoloob, vol. 1, p. 66; …)

 

So, the book of revelation of the bible states that a crowned man on a white horse -other than Jesus descending on a cloud- is going to conquer on earth.

 

To be continued …