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DavidMark
Guest
Obviously, mankind always stands in need of instruction. The qustion is Who is the Divine Educator? In HIs Kitab-i-Aqdas, Baha’u’llah stated stated that after His passing, the believers should turn to His SOn 'Abdu’l-Baha. Who was the designatd Interpreter. THis is how He says it::
**‘O ye people of the world! When the Mystic Dove will have winged its flight from its Sanctuary of Praise and sought its far-off goal, its hidden habitation, refer ye whatsoever ye understand not in the Book to Him Who hath branched from this mighty Stock.’
Addressing all the people of the world He saith: When the Mystic Dove flieth away from the orchard of praise to the Most Supreme and Invisible Station – that is, when the Blessed Beauty turneth away from the contingent world towards the invisible realm – refer whatever ye do not understand in the Book to Him Who hath branched from the Ancient Root. That is, whatever He saith is the very truth.**~Abdu’l-Baha, writing about this passage.
Baha’u’llah ‘broke the seals’ on the Books of the past, and Abdu’l-Baha gave the detailed explanations about every sign and nuance in the Apocalypse, which we need to meditate on.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
The Divine Educator is the Church.
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DavidMark
Guest
As the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it, so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by God. Whenever this robe hath fulfilled its purpose, the Almighty will assuredly renew it. For every age requireth a fresh measure of the light of God. Every Divine Revelation hath been sent down in a manner that befitted the circumstances of the age in which it hath appeared. (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 81)
There are lots of problems in the world whose solution was never given before now.
There are lots of problems in the world whose solution was never given before now.
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adriancombe
Guest
You would appear to have a very esoteric definition of metaphysics. I learned a lot about metaphysics in college - I minored in philosophy - and Kabbalah never even came up once.
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juliamajor
Guest
FROM www.catholics-resources.org
Who or What Is the Beast?
The answer to this nearly 2000-year-old question depends on how you choose to interpret the Book of Revelation (a.k.a. the Apocalypse), the last book of the New Testament.
Near the middle of this highly symbolic book are descriptions of several strange creatures:
First, “a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads”; it is described further after being defeated by Michael and his angels in a battle in heaven: “The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Rev 12:3-18);
Second, “a beast rising out of the sea having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names… [it] was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority…” (Rev 13:1-10);
Third, “another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast…” (Rev 13:11-18).
At the end of the paragraph about this third beast, the author challenges the reader with an intriguing puzzle: “This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.” (13:18).
In order to understand this text, one must know that ancient Hebrew (like Greek and other ancient languages) did not have a separate set of characters to indicate numbers, but simply used the letters of its alphabet to represent numbers. This fact provides the basis for the ancient practice of “gematria,” in which numerical equivalents of words and names are calculated (still a popular game today!).
The basic idea is that every word has a number associated with it, obtained by adding up the numerical equivalent of each letter in the word.
This is mostly commonly done with names; thus every person has a number, the numerical value of his or her name.
There are several different ways of assigning numbers to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, but the system most commonly used is this:
alef = 1; bet = 2; gimel = 3; dalet = 4; hey = 5; waw = 6; zayin = 7; chet = 8; tet = 9; yod = 10; kaf = 20; lamed = 30; mem = 40; nun = 50; samek = 60; ayin = 70; pey = 80; tsadeh = 90; qof = 100; resh = 200; shin = 300; taw = 400.
For example, the name “David” has a value of 14 in Hebrew (since it is written dalet-waw-dalet, which is 4+6+4); see Matthew 1:17.
The same game can be played in any language by assigning numerical values to each letter of the alphabet:
In English, for example, we could have
a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, d = 4, e = 5, f = 6, g = 7, h = 8, i = 9, j = 10,
k = 20, l = 30, m = 40, n = 50, o = 60, p = 70, q = 80, r = 90, s = 100,
t = 200, u = 300, v = 400, w = 500, x = 600, y = 700, z = 800.
Now calculate the number of YOUR name! Find the value of each letter of your name, and add them all together. You can get a number corresponding to your first name, another number for your last name, and another number for both together. You will get different results if you use longer or shorter versions of your name, or nicknames, or include middle names, or titles or suffices.
The results you want to get may also determine which numerical system you choose; for example, you can get HITLER = 666 if you choose a system in which a=100, b=101, c=102, etc.
For a more extensive introduction to Hebrew gematria, see The Art of Gematria: Hebrew Numerology.
Who or What Is the Beast?
The answer to this nearly 2000-year-old question depends on how you choose to interpret the Book of Revelation (a.k.a. the Apocalypse), the last book of the New Testament.
Near the middle of this highly symbolic book are descriptions of several strange creatures:
First, “a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads”; it is described further after being defeated by Michael and his angels in a battle in heaven: “The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Rev 12:3-18);
Second, “a beast rising out of the sea having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names… [it] was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority…” (Rev 13:1-10);
Third, “another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast…” (Rev 13:11-18).
At the end of the paragraph about this third beast, the author challenges the reader with an intriguing puzzle: “This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.” (13:18).
In order to understand this text, one must know that ancient Hebrew (like Greek and other ancient languages) did not have a separate set of characters to indicate numbers, but simply used the letters of its alphabet to represent numbers. This fact provides the basis for the ancient practice of “gematria,” in which numerical equivalents of words and names are calculated (still a popular game today!).
The basic idea is that every word has a number associated with it, obtained by adding up the numerical equivalent of each letter in the word.
This is mostly commonly done with names; thus every person has a number, the numerical value of his or her name.
There are several different ways of assigning numbers to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, but the system most commonly used is this:
alef = 1; bet = 2; gimel = 3; dalet = 4; hey = 5; waw = 6; zayin = 7; chet = 8; tet = 9; yod = 10; kaf = 20; lamed = 30; mem = 40; nun = 50; samek = 60; ayin = 70; pey = 80; tsadeh = 90; qof = 100; resh = 200; shin = 300; taw = 400.
For example, the name “David” has a value of 14 in Hebrew (since it is written dalet-waw-dalet, which is 4+6+4); see Matthew 1:17.
The same game can be played in any language by assigning numerical values to each letter of the alphabet:
In English, for example, we could have
a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, d = 4, e = 5, f = 6, g = 7, h = 8, i = 9, j = 10,
k = 20, l = 30, m = 40, n = 50, o = 60, p = 70, q = 80, r = 90, s = 100,
t = 200, u = 300, v = 400, w = 500, x = 600, y = 700, z = 800.
Now calculate the number of YOUR name! Find the value of each letter of your name, and add them all together. You can get a number corresponding to your first name, another number for your last name, and another number for both together. You will get different results if you use longer or shorter versions of your name, or nicknames, or include middle names, or titles or suffices.
The results you want to get may also determine which numerical system you choose; for example, you can get HITLER = 666 if you choose a system in which a=100, b=101, c=102, etc.
For a more extensive introduction to Hebrew gematria, see The Art of Gematria: Hebrew Numerology.
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adriancombe
Guest
This is a specious argument. The use of Greek letters (Χξς) is equivalent to us using digits (666) in the interest of saving space. Most contemporaries exposed to this would have heard it read aloud (εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα και εξ) just as if you or I read 666 out loud we would say six hundred sixty six. The would still have heard or read out loud ‘hex’ three times.
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DavidMark
Guest
Gematria or abjad reckoning in Arabic is used extensively by the Báb, Whom Bahá’ís believe is the Child the Woman is carrying. Miss Him, and you’ve missed the whole Point.
He is called the Point because, as we dot an i, Arabs identify the letter B (ba) with a dot or point below it.
Not only do the words uttered by the Manifestations have inner meanings but even a single letter contains divine mysteries and significances. There is a well-known tradition in Islam – attributed to Ali, the first Imam and the lawful successor of Muhammad – that** the essence of all the Scriptures of past Dispensations is to be found in the Qur’án, that the Qur’án itself is contained in the opening chapter, that this chapter is embodied in the first verse, that the first verse in its entirety is included in the first letter (B), and that all that is within this letter is condensed in the dot beneath it.**This clearly indicates that the Word of God is transcendental in its nature and far beyond the comprehension of men.(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha’u’llah v 1, p. 34)
Remember the 1260 “days” in Revelation 12 are biblical years, which are the years of the Islamic Dispensation until the appearance of the Child, that is, the Promised One of Islam in 1260 AH or 1844 CE. Please refer to my earlier posts in this thread. This is how the Abrahamic faiths, already like fingers of one hand to God, will be reconciled with nations.
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juliamajor
Guest
So, Who Is the Person Whose Number Is 666?
Throughout history, attempts have been made to identify 666 with many famous people (usually one’s enemies)!
Since the Reformation (and still today!), some Protestants have tried to connect 666 with the Pope, either with the “Roman Pontiff” in general or with a specific Pope in particular. (For example, see the article by Michael Scheifler, from a Seventh Day Adventist perspective; but see also a response to this article by Mario Derksen on the “Catholic Insight” webpages.) On the other hand, some Catholics used to see a link between the apocalyptic beast and Martin Luther.
Some Democrats have tried to associate the beast with Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, while some Republicans might argue it was John F. Kennedy or Bill Clinton (see the websites listed in the “Fun and Humorous” section above).
Most biblical historians agree, however, that the Book of Revelation is simply referring to the Roman Emperor NERO, the most “beastly” ruler of the first Christian Century:
The Hebrew equivalent of “Emperor Nero” could be written NRWN QSR (nun-resh-waw-nun qof-samek-resh in Hebrew spelling); thus, the first word is 50+200+6+50, the second word is 100+60+200, and the total is no surprise!
For more extensive discussion of the first-century Roman Empire and the historical references behind the dragon, the sea beast, and the land beast in Rev 12-13, see any good biblical commentary on the Book of Revelation.
Is the Number Really 666, or Was It Originally 616?
While most ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament have the number “six hundred sixty-six” in Rev 13:18, some ancient manuscripts contain the alternate reading “six hundred sixteen” (616), which might well be the older or original reading of this text.
A branch of biblical scholarship called “textual” criticism deals with such issues, trying to determine which variant was more likely the original reading. If the text originally said 666, how and why was it changed to 616 in later manuscripts? Or vice-versa, if the original text was 616, how and why was it later changed to 666?
The proposal that 616 is the older and better reading of Rev 13:18 was recently bolstered by some newly published Oxyrhynchus Papyri.
The Oxyrhynchus Papyri website also has a discussion of Numerology, but opposes the application to Nero.
Thanks to my friend and colleague Robert M. Royalty, Jr., Ph.D., for telling me about this new discovery and website!
The change from “616” to “666” can easily be explained, especially if the historical reference was originally to Emperor Nero.
The final letter “nun” is optional in the Hebrew spelling of Nero. Thus, NRW QSR would be 50+200+6+100+60+200 = 616.
If this was the original reading, it is easy to see how the text of Rev 13:8 would have been changed to “666,” due to its more highly symbolic value (since “6” represents lack or incompleteness, in contrast to the number “7” representing completion, the triple 666 represents evil more clearly than 616.)
Throughout history, attempts have been made to identify 666 with many famous people (usually one’s enemies)!
Since the Reformation (and still today!), some Protestants have tried to connect 666 with the Pope, either with the “Roman Pontiff” in general or with a specific Pope in particular. (For example, see the article by Michael Scheifler, from a Seventh Day Adventist perspective; but see also a response to this article by Mario Derksen on the “Catholic Insight” webpages.) On the other hand, some Catholics used to see a link between the apocalyptic beast and Martin Luther.
Some Democrats have tried to associate the beast with Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, while some Republicans might argue it was John F. Kennedy or Bill Clinton (see the websites listed in the “Fun and Humorous” section above).
Most biblical historians agree, however, that the Book of Revelation is simply referring to the Roman Emperor NERO, the most “beastly” ruler of the first Christian Century:
The Hebrew equivalent of “Emperor Nero” could be written NRWN QSR (nun-resh-waw-nun qof-samek-resh in Hebrew spelling); thus, the first word is 50+200+6+50, the second word is 100+60+200, and the total is no surprise!
For more extensive discussion of the first-century Roman Empire and the historical references behind the dragon, the sea beast, and the land beast in Rev 12-13, see any good biblical commentary on the Book of Revelation.
Is the Number Really 666, or Was It Originally 616?
While most ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament have the number “six hundred sixty-six” in Rev 13:18, some ancient manuscripts contain the alternate reading “six hundred sixteen” (616), which might well be the older or original reading of this text.
A branch of biblical scholarship called “textual” criticism deals with such issues, trying to determine which variant was more likely the original reading. If the text originally said 666, how and why was it changed to 616 in later manuscripts? Or vice-versa, if the original text was 616, how and why was it later changed to 666?
The proposal that 616 is the older and better reading of Rev 13:18 was recently bolstered by some newly published Oxyrhynchus Papyri.
The Oxyrhynchus Papyri website also has a discussion of Numerology, but opposes the application to Nero.
Thanks to my friend and colleague Robert M. Royalty, Jr., Ph.D., for telling me about this new discovery and website!
The change from “616” to “666” can easily be explained, especially if the historical reference was originally to Emperor Nero.
The final letter “nun” is optional in the Hebrew spelling of Nero. Thus, NRW QSR would be 50+200+6+100+60+200 = 616.
If this was the original reading, it is easy to see how the text of Rev 13:8 would have been changed to “666,” due to its more highly symbolic value (since “6” represents lack or incompleteness, in contrast to the number “7” representing completion, the triple 666 represents evil more clearly than 616.)
J
jpk1313
Guest
I think the mystery of 666 is very easy to understand when put into our day and age it is a bar code like on the things you buy and it relates to the mark of the beast people will recive on their hands or forheads. The mark is symbolic of how everything begins with a thought (mark on the head) and ends with an action (mark on the hand). it is a warning about consumerism which has become the god of the modern world, this can be demonstrated by simply looking at american money (in god we trust).
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DavidMark
Guest
Not only have many Catholics diverged from ByzCaths view, many still adhere to it:
that there are no new Revelations from God. What an impudent presumption!
In 666 AD, there occurred a terrible travesty when enemies of Muhammad’s family, from long before His mission, began to gain power within the Islamic community and murdered Muhammad’s grandson’s and many others from His family. This was the beast!
Ferocity and savagery are natural to animals, but men should show forth the qualities of love and affection. God sent all His Prophets into the world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for this great purpose they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity; and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and bloodshed in our midst. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 106)
that there are no new Revelations from God. What an impudent presumption!
In 666 AD, there occurred a terrible travesty when enemies of Muhammad’s family, from long before His mission, began to gain power within the Islamic community and murdered Muhammad’s grandson’s and many others from His family. This was the beast!
Ferocity and savagery are natural to animals, but men should show forth the qualities of love and affection. God sent all His Prophets into the world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for this great purpose they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity; and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and bloodshed in our midst. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 106)
J
JesuisSean
Guest
This may be classified as spamming, but here goes.
outersecrets.com/real/biblecode2.htm contains info relating to 666.
But please understand that if a fellow named JESUS CHRIST had his own website, pretty well all religious forums would ban this guy forever, since he would immediately be tossed out as a spammer.
Sounds crazy, but it’s absolutely true.
The religious folk have no respect for such an authority, and this is because they are believers. They believe in Jesus Christ, and one can, and need be, practicing a belief only if one is located at a distance from the actual truth in the first place. Thus if truth is presented to a religious believer here in the here and now, it is 100% rejected since beliefs can no longer be practiced if one is directly connect to the truth that these beliefs speak of.
ENJOY.
outersecrets.com/real/biblecode2.htm contains info relating to 666.
But please understand that if a fellow named JESUS CHRIST had his own website, pretty well all religious forums would ban this guy forever, since he would immediately be tossed out as a spammer.
Sounds crazy, but it’s absolutely true.
The religious folk have no respect for such an authority, and this is because they are believers. They believe in Jesus Christ, and one can, and need be, practicing a belief only if one is located at a distance from the actual truth in the first place. Thus if truth is presented to a religious believer here in the here and now, it is 100% rejected since beliefs can no longer be practiced if one is directly connect to the truth that these beliefs speak of.
ENJOY.
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DavidMark
Guest
Sean, what you say has iron in it. I discovered that Arabic has numerical values assigned to each letter, and many secrets can be found studying the Qur’an and Baha’i scriptures.
How the Báb & Bahá’u’lláh are the return of Adam & Eve
The previous Cycle of Prophecy was only 6,000 years long, and it began with Adam and Eve, the soul and spirit of Man. A new Cycle has begun called the Cycle of Fulfillment, which will stretch into the future for half a million years! It began with the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh…
The numerical value of “Bab” is 5. The numerical value of “Baha” is 9.
Number nine contains all the digits from one to nine
and number five (contains all the digits) from one to five, which when added respectively, will be:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5+ 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 45
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15
Now the name of Adam and Eve in the Oriental scripts are written as follows:
ADM and HWA the numerical values of which are as follows respectively.
A = 1 H = 8
D = 4 W = 6
M = 40 A = 1
- ___ + ___
45 15
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kamalayka9
Guest
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
If they diverge from the Teachings of the Catholic Church can they still be called Catholic? Would you call someone of the Baha’i faith if they did not believe what your prophet teaches?
God has told us this though His Church, how it is presumption to believe God?
To me it seems you have issues with others’ believing what their faith teaches rather than believing what you tell us.
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DavidMark
Guest
I tried to mention this before and was shot down. God is continually enlarging His tent, so that all mankind will worship Him in oneness. He enlarged it from the Jews to all the gentiles. He taught idolotors about the prophets that came before them; and now I find a greater “catholicity” in Baha’i than was found in all the previous…as the digit 9 includes the lower digits. Yet, I do not seek the conversion of others here, only that they be informed; because in a time to come the Vatican will surely arise in alarm over the growth of Baha’i, to which it has been indifferent until now, and I want Catholics to be as well informed as possible when that happens.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
You were shot down because what you are saying is not what Catholics’ believe that God is saying though His Church.
But, this post in now way addressed the questions I asked you so I have included them again here,
If you do not wish to address these questions just let me know and I will stop reading your posts altogether.
Thanks!
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juliamajor
Guest
Numerology and Bible codes reveal nothing.Revelation is from God alone. Number systems can be manipulated and are not to be relied on.So called bible codes are goofy since you can take other book(novels) assign letters numerical value and come up with “prophecies”. All smoke and mirrors- no substance-silliness at best dabbling in magic at worst.
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Peter_Dawson
Guest
Ouch!Numerology and Bible codes reveal nothing.Revelation is from God alone. Number systems can be manipulated and are not to be relied on.So called bible codes are goofy since you can take other book(novels) assign letters numerical value and come up with “prophecies”. All smoke and mirrors- no substance-silliness at best dabbling in magic at worst.
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JesuisSean
Guest
Letters, words, and sentences, etc., reveal nothing. Revelation is from God alone. Letter systems can be manipulated and are not to be relied on. So called bible texts are goofy since you can write other books(novels) and arrange the letters and come up with other “prophecies”. All smoke and mirrors- no substance-silliness at best dabbling in magic at worst.juliamajor;5990793:
Ouch!Numerology and Bible codes reveal nothing.Revelation is from God alone. Number systems can be manipulated and are not to be relied on.So called bible codes are goofy since you can take other books(novels) assign letters numerical value and come up with “prophecies”. All smoke and mirrors- no substance-silliness at best dabbling in magic at worst.
Was the above paragraph created via the output of a random letter generator. Will we ever know?
Anything can be rejected in an instant.
To see the truth, the ALL must be taken into account. Thus if you simply reject this and that in an instant, you also keep yourself far away from the complete truth. But it is like you said, " Ouch! ". Some folk prefer to keep the truth shattered and fragmented to the point of it being beyond recognition.
Now why would they want to do that?
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