... the number 666. Someone here said that 666 refers to the year 666 AD. Apparently, that wasn't you?
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That's not what Bahai's believe. This is the Bahai view: '666' is 666 years after birth of Christ, which is the year 661, the rise of Muawiyeh, who opposed the divinely ordained successorship in Islam.
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But again, why are all the dragons and beasts made Islamic leaders? Why not an evil Pope or the English empire? But none of the dynasties lasted for 1260 years? Even if they did, they all started after the date that Islam began. So to add 1260 to them would add up to beyond 1844.
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No, the Baha'is believe 1260 years, is the duration of Islamic dispensation.
This was prophesied in Bible as follows:
“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months”.
Revelation 11:1-2
So, according to this prophecy, the holy city, which is Jerusalem will be given to Gentiles according to the Will of God. The Gentiles are basically the non Jews, according to many Bible scholars.
Now there is also a match in the history for this.
From Wikipedia:
“The Islamization of Jerusalem began in the first year A.H. (623 CE), when Muslims were instructed to face the city while performing their daily prostrations and, according to Muslim religious tradition, Muhammad's night journey and ascension to heaven took place”
Jerusalem - Wikipedia
So, the first year in Islamic Calendar is a beginning of period that the Holy city was given to Arabs in a Religious Sense.
But for how long was it given to them? The Bible says 42 months.
Lets see if history and religion can match here.
42 months is 1260 days, and in Bible, each day of Lord is 1 year.
That would be 1260 years.
When you count 1260 lunar years, beginning year 623 CE, it comes to the year 1844. Now this is the year that the Bab declared a new Revelation, thus, the Holy City which was given to Islam, was taken from them, in a sense that, Islam was abrogated. In year 1844 also an edict was signed, which initiated the process of return of the Jews.
From Wikipedia , the return was initiated in year 1844, when the Ottoman Empire signed an edict of tolerance which:
“….infers religious tolerance through ending executions for apostasy for Jews that seemed to convert making their social situation easier while actually keeping their personal and group identity in their Judaic religion. Jerusalem has had the largest Jewish population in Palestine in recent centuries since about 1844…”
Edict of Toleration 1844 - Wikipedia
Now, return of Jews to Holy Land was also prophesied in Bible in this manner:
"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: 'The LORD bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain…..The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.” Jerm. 31:23-31
What is noteworthy is that according to this Prophecy, return of Jews would happen at a time God makes a new covenant, and from Baha'i point of view, Revelation of the Bab was a new Covenant revealed in 1844, the year that edict was signed and Jews begin to return.