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Records show that a comet made a close appearance to earth in AD 607,which is only three years before Muhammad's mission is believed to have begun. Other sightings occurred in AD 613, which is the year Muhammad first publicly proclaimed His mission. (118:1) The presence of Ruz-bih and the appearance of a star demonstrate that the Revelation of Muhammad was heralded by a two-fold sign, fulfilling the prophecy of Matthew 24:30. Moreover, by recounting these stories, Baha'u'llah again illustrates that prophecy speaks of spiritual signs and truths that accompany the advent of every Manifestation of God. Prophecy has a universal or archetypal nature and an eternal quality that takes it beyond the limits of singular historic events. Even the outward sign of the unusual star in the visible heaven is periodic and symbolic of the special nature of the appearance of each of God's Messengers. (118:2) Baha'u'llah concludes this series of illustrations by showing that, in this age, the prophecy of Matthew has been fulfilled with the advent of the Baha'i Revelation. He writes: (118:3) And now concerning this wondrous and most exalted Cause. Know thou verily that many an astronomer hath announced the appearance of its star in the visible heaven. (Ibid. 65) (118:4) This account is equally verifiable. In the nineteenth century there appeared what is referred to as the 'Great Comet', or the 'Great March Comet'.
(118:5)
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