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And in the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha:-- The light hath shone forth, and radiance floodeth Mount Sinai, and a gentle wind bloweth from over the gardens of the Ever-Forgiving Lord; the sweet breaths of the spirit are passing by, and those who lay buried in the grave are rising up - and still do the heedless slumber on in their tombs. (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha 14) (126:2) Thus far we have seen how the Baha'i writings provide an understanding of the symbolic meanings of Christ's return in the clouds and of the Rapture of the believers. But it would be a great omission not to note and explain the specific character of this appearance in the clouds. Jesus states that the Son of Man will come on the clouds of heaven 'with power and great glory'. (126:3) The Meaning of 'With Power and Great Glory'-- Christ's return in 'glory' is a theme which is central to the prophecies of the Old Testament (e.g. Ezek. 43:1-2; Isa. 35:2, 40:5), the prophecies of the New Testament (e.g. Mark 8:38, 13:26; Rev. 21:23), and to Baha'u'llah's claims. Addressing Christians, Baha'u'llah writes: (126:4) Day and night ye have been calling upon your Lord, the Omnipotent, but when He came from the heaven of eternity in His great glory, ye turned aside from Him and remained sunk in heedlessness. (Tablets of Baha'u'llah 9) (126:5) In stating that He has come 'from the heaven of eternity in His great glory', Baha'u'llah indicates that His appearance is the fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy that 'the Son of Man' will come 'on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory' (Matt. 24:30). (126:6) The glory of Christ is seen by many Christians in the Resurrection because it represents Christ's triumph over death, but they believe that Christ's glory will be especially revealed at the time of His return. Traditionally, many Christians have believed that when Christ returns at the end of the age, He will be opposed by the forces of evil in an epic battle of unparalleled carnage, which some regard as the battle of Armageddon mentioned in Scripture. Jesus' triumph in this battle is supposed to reveal His power and glory.
(126:7)
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