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After the ascension of Jesus to the Realm of Glory, these few souls [the Apostles] stood up with their spiritual qualities and with deeds that were pure and holy, and they arose by the power of God and the life-giving breaths of the Messiah to save all the peoples of the earth. Then all the idolatrous nations as well as the Jews rose up in their might to kill the Divine fire that had been lit in the lamp of Jerusalem. 'Fain would they put out God's light with their mouths: but God hath willed to perfect His light, albeit the infidels abhor it' (Qur'an 9:33). Under the fiercest tortures, they did every one of these holy souls to death... In spite of this agonizing requital, the Christians continued to teach the Cause of God. (Secret of Divine Civilization 45, clarification added) (52:1) Apostasy and Betrayal Among Christians-- Jesus' words, 'And then shall many be offended' refer to the apostasy of many who once professed the faith. That is, seeing the persecution and fearing for themselves, they renounced their faith. (52:2) the pastors of the churches hiding disgracefully in one place or another, while others suffered the indignity of being held up to ridicule by their enemies. (The History of the Church 329) (52:3) When Jesus prophesied that they will 'betray one another', He may have meant that the deserters will betray those who adhere to their faith. They 'shall hate one another' may mean that, because the people's faith will weaken, hate will enter in among them. The Christian commentator J. P. Lange interprets this verse in the context of Christian sectarian conflict and strife.
(52:4)
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