What I'm saying is labeling him Glory of God may have influenced his actions and undermines the value of the prophecies that are solely depending on his assignment of this name, Baha'u'llah.
I can see how this labeling might undermine the value of the prophecies, as far as how people interpret them. Again, I am not sure why Baha’u’llah did not remain with His given name, but other Baha’is might know.
However, there is another side to that, as labeling Him as the Glory of God might have been a way to help people determine how to interpret many of the prophecies. Say for example the Messiah is the Glory of God. That would mean we should be looking for a man who reflected God, a man who was a Manifestation of God, rather than an ordinary man. For example, take the following verse:
Micah 7:7 But I will hope in the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God shall hearken to me.
I believe that this verse refers to the Messiah who came as a Manifestation of God, and He was a God of salvation.
See how this verse ties in with Micah 7:12 below.
If Baha'u'llah fulfilled the prophecies, then the fact that his name means Glory of God is of lesser importance.
I fully agree.
I don't know. I'm just focusing on the prophecies in Tanach that are claimed to have been fulfilled by Baha'u'llah. Are the verses messianic? Do they clearly identify Baha'u'llah and no one else? Were they actually fulfiled by Baha'u'llah or was it just a coincidence?
I do not know what you mean by “messianic” because Jews have a different idea as to what that means. Bahais believe that all the Old Testament (Tanakh) prophecies were fulfilled by Baha'u'llah during His lifetime, or they will be fulfilled during the Messianic Age as the result of His Coming, what he did and what He wrote. Prophecies that will be fulfilled during the Messianic Age, include prophecies that will be fulfilled during the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah but could extend beyond that. The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah will last
no less than 1000 years (1863-2863 AD), but it could last longer. It will last until another Messenger of God appears, and that could happen any time after 2863 AD but not any sooner.
I would not say that the prophecies clearly identify Baha’u’llah because they were not intended to do so, since prophecies are not written that way, such that it would be really easy to know to whom they refer. Also, we have no way of knowing if the prophets who wrote those prophecies knew the actual identity of the Messiah. Obviously they knew there would be a Messiah, and what would happen when he came, but that does not mean they knew who he would be, the given name that would be assigned to him in the future.
However, after the Messiah came, it would be easy to tie him back to the prophecies because then we can compare what the prophecies say with what the Messiah actually did as well as what happened as the result of His coming. For one example Baha’is believe that the following verse refers to Baha’u’llah, who was the Messiah, so “he” in this verse refers to the Messiah. How could it be a coincidence that all these things happened to Baha’u’llah during His mission on earth? Please bear in mind that He had no control over His own destiny as he was banished from place to place by the government, so He was a prisoner and an exile for 40 years.
Micah 7:12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
He shall come from Assyria: At that time Assyria was a large area. Baha’u’llah and His family lived in the part that was Persia, now Iran, in the city of Tihran.
and from the fortified cities: Baha’u’llah was banished from city to city: After being released from the Black Pit dungeon in Tihran in 1852, His family and companions had only a short time before being sent to the fortified city of Baghdad. While living in Baghdad, He gained such a large following that the enemies where shocked. Right away He was banished again, this time to the fortified city of Istanbul.
The Governor of the city refused many times to fulfill the orders that he received to banish Him again. Finally forced to follow orders, Baha’u’llah was banished again to the fortified city of Adrianople. He was honored and praised, and shown respect everywhere, until He was finally sent to the most horrific of all places, the fortress of Akka, where it was expected that He would succumb to the terrible conditions.
and from the fortress even to the river: It was while in Baghdad that the Tigris river became a special place, as Baha’u’llah crossed it to the Ridvan Garden. April 21, 1863 was the fulfilment of prophecy, as that was when Baha’u’llah declared to those around Him His Station as the Manifestation of God.
and from sea to sea: After His banishment in Baghdad, His exile was by way of the Black Sea. Still a prisoner He crossed the Black Sea from Sinope on His way to Constantinople. After the banishment in Adrianople, He crossed the Mediterranean Sea from Gallipolis in Turkey, embarking at Alexandria, Egypt, then on to the fortress of 'Akka, the most desolate of cities.
and from mountain to mountain: The time in Baghdad was turbulent with opposition. To protect His family and companions Baha’u’llah went to the Kurdistan mountains. There He lived in poverty, but the area was magnetized by His presence. After two years, He was persuaded to return to Baghdad.
The other mountain was in Israel, Mount Carmel, where He had docked before His final journey to Akka. Later He had a chance to return to Mount Carmel, to pitch His tent. Here He wrote the Tablet Of Carmel, surrounded by pilgrims looking for the return of Christ to descend from heaven. Mount Carmel is the headquarters of the Baha’i Faith.
From:
William Sears, Thief in the Night
Map of Baháʼu'lláh's banishments
You'll need to demonstrate that you'll listen. Since you brought up the New Covenant again, I'm more and more confident that there's no reason to share information with you. It seems like a waste of time.
