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Other examples include the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the Dark Day of 1780, and the star-falls of 1833 and 1866. All were interpreted by at least some Christians as literal signs heralding Christ's return. Moreover, such signs seemed to be added confirmations to the Millerites and Adventists of the nineteenth century who expected Christ to return in the year 1844. (106:2) These interpretations were expressed in many books and, although the Adventists either revised their views or renounced them following their disappointment in 1844, some Baha'is eventually adopted their interpretations of these events. (106:3) Vain imaginings have withheld them from Him Who is the Self-Subsisting. They speak as prompted by their own caprices, and understand not. Among them are those who have said... 'Have the stars fallen?' Say: 'Yea, when He Who is the Self Subsisting dwelt in the Land of Mystery (Adrianople)'. (Epistle 131-2) (106:4) The 'Land of Mystery' refers to the city of Adrianople, now Edime, situated in Turkey on the border with Bulgaria, an area which, at the time of Baha'u'llah, was located in the Ottoman Empire. In 1863 Baha'u'llah was exiled to Adrianople, and it was in 1866, during His sojourn there, that a meteor shower took place. It would therefore appear that the 1833 meteor shower cannot be the one referred to in Matthew 24:29 - unless the 1833 meteor shower heralded the Bab and the 1866 meteor shower is understood as a herald of Baha'u'llah.
(106:5)
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