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The authenticity and historicity of such non-biblical accounts is probably not a central or necessary point when considering the message Baha'u'llah is setting forth. For the benefit of His audience, Baha'u'llah is simply illustrating the reasonableness of His interpretation by referring to stories that are known and generally accepted in the East. The message is simple: Since ancient times, stories recount how stars appeared as 'signs' and heralds of Messengers of God such as Abraham, Moses and Christ. Such a star is, therefore, the likely meaning of Jesus' prophecy; that is, 'the sign' (Matt. 24:29) which Jesus says will appear in heaven as a herald to His return is physically a star and symbolically a saintly person. (197:2) This interpretation is so appropriate that the physical and symbolic meaning of the Star were accepted among Christians in early times. Ephraim Syrus (or Ephraim the Syrian, c. 300-73), in his 'Hymns For the Feast of the Epiphany' wrote: |