Interfaith Partnerships towards a Better SOCIETY: Part - 5

Interfaith partnerships towards a better society

Part - 5

Kingdom of God

Jesus has talked about the “Kingdom of God’ when the ‘Son of Man’ will come. Scriptures of Jews, Christians, Muslims and Hindus, all talk of this eventuality. Not just this, the Meso-American documents too talked of this. Let us see this in detail.

The most important of native Meso-American documents was what is now called the Dresden Codex, named after the town in whose library it was lodged. It deals with astronomy providing detailed tables of lunar eclipses and other phenomenon. These are so accurate that they put our own calendar to shame.

Mayans had a system of counting the days relative to a starting date, called the Birth of Venus and now known to be 13 August 3114 BC. This calendar was divided into “months” or uinals of twenty days, “years” or tuns of 360 days and longer periods of 7200 days, the katun and 144,000 days, the baktun. The number 13 was magically important to them and they believed that, starting from the Birth of Venus (Prophet or a divine person Quetzalcoatl), after 13 of these longest periods, or baktuns, this age (the Age of the Jaguar, the fifth and the final ‘sun’) would come to an end. Working from their start date this Mayan Prophecy points to a date in our own time, 22 December 2012, when the fifth or last age, as per this calendar, ends. There never was much information regarding what the Mayans thought would occur in 2012; we continued to speculate until the date came and went past.

It is interesting to note that the Maya civilization which inhabited a region encompassing southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and western Honduras, and flourished as Aztec empire between third and tenth centuries AD, had degenerated by 1200 AD. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived on March 4, 1519 under Hernan Cortes, with merely 11 ships, 600 foot soldiers, 16 horses and some artillery on the coast near what was to become Vera Cruz, the entire Aztec Empire succumbed to their feet by August 13, 1521.

Part of the reason for his success was a case of mistaken identities, the Indians believing that he was a divine person named Quetzalcoatl whose return had long been prophesied, didn’t offer much of a fight and consequently Spanish got control of the entire region.

The entire Aztec empire succumbed to Spanish feet but Quetzalcoatl didn’t come. He still hasn’t come during the past 500 years since then. If Quetzalcoatl is real, is he mentioned in the holy books of Hindus, Jews, Christians and Muslims? Who is Quetzalcoatl, whose return had been prophesied?

The Coming of the Awaited Saviour

An article on Christianity said that in order to be a prophet from God, you must prophesy. The article goes on to say that if you claim to be a prophet yet fail to prophesy, you are a false prophet and ridicules other religions other than Christianity for containing “miniscule amounts of prophecy or none at all. Because of this fact, these religions are immediately disqualified as being divinely inspired by God.”

We do not agree to the aforementioned statement and believe that all the religions of the world which may be termed as Divine or have emanated from the One God of the Cosmos contain abundant prophesies, if we look at them with an unbiased, untainted perception.

Unfortunately, the greatest of our faults is that we look at the other religion with a biased, preconceived mindset, at all times considering our own religion and their prevailing practices to be best and in accordance with the Divine Will.

This is often not true! With time each of our divine religions have become so distorted and deviated that we can safely say that our present day understanding and following of the teachings of these religions is far removed from the Divine Teachings that they possess or possessed at some time.

Neither it is true that there is only one true religion and all others are false religions nor that each religion emanated from a different god. There is no doubt that there is One God of the Universe who was at all times guiding and showing the path of our well-being. If this is true then the Divine Truths and Teachings must be present in all the Divine Scriptures. This must also mean that as they emanate from the one and the same source, same or similar teachings must be present in all Scriptures that are attributed to God. At least the path shall be the same! After all, if there is One God, there must be only One True Path to reach to Him. 

Quetzalcoatl is the saviour, as per the Mayans

Coming back to the Mayan prophesy about Quetzalcoatl who is supposed to come again as the Saviour to this world, we tried to find whether similar prophesies regarding the Awaited Saviour exists in other religious scriptures of the world. After all, those who say that ‘if you claim to be a prophet yet fail to prophesy, you are a false prophet’ will agree that if several people, separated by the barriers of religion, thousands of kilometers in distance and hundreds of years in time, have prophesied about one and the same thing, all these scriptures must have a common source.

If the Mayans believed in the coming of Quetzalcoatl, it was not possible to know about it until the discovery of America by Columbus in the 15th century or till the Dresden Codex was unscripted by a German scholar in 1880. Vedic and other Hindu scriptures had not been translated into other languages until the time of Dara Shikoh. The Mormon Scriptures and the Dead Sea Scrolls have been found only in the 19th centuries. Confucius and Buddhist teachings have been known to the world in the twentieth centuries. And Prophet Mohammad was never taught by any person and hence was considered illiterate till Quran was revealed as the greatest literary masterpiece among Arabs who took pride in their vocabulary, literature and command over language and yet prostrated before the Quranic verses, agreeing that it was not a compilation by a human soul. 

Jesus is the Awaited Saviour, as per the Christians

Christians believe that Jesus is the saviour. He had come as Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited Messiah sent from God and will again be sent on earth close to the end of the world. All believers of Jesus are waiting for the time when he will come once again to rid us of all ills that are plaguing our society.

Jesus said to the religious leaders of the day when they did not believe in him: 

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the same Scriptures that testify about me but you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 5:39-40

The following prophesy was revealed to Prophet Daniel in 580 B.C.

Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy. 

Know and understand this:  From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah comes, there will be seven sevens and sixty-two sevens.  It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two sevens, the Messiah will be cut off but not for himself.  The people of the ruler to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. 

Daniel 9:21-26 written 580 b.c.  

It is interesting to note that while Bible talks clearly of the Second Coming of Jesus, it also refers to an “anti-Christ who will rise to power on a peace platform. He will help initiate a seven year peace treaty with Israel and many other countries. However, halfway through the treaty, he will end sacrifices and offerings and he will set up the abomination that causes desolation. This is known as the tribulation period.”

Isn’t it interesting that it were not just the Mayans who believed that Quetzalcoatl will come to them as Saviour for Humanity? Their eagerness to be with him cost them their kingdom as they prostrated before a false Quetzalcoatl. The Christians too believe that Jesus will reveal himself once again as the Saviour for all humanity. And around the same time the anti-Christ will arrive as the villain against God and the True Teachings. Talking of anti-Christ, it is said:          

He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. He was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.  All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. He who has an ear, let him hear. 

Revelation 13:6-9 written 95 A.D.

The anti-Christ is also likely to befool people in the name of Jesus just as the Mayans were befooled by a false Quetzalcoatl. For it is clearly said he will rise to power on a peace platform. Soon he will have worldwide control. There will be no sovereign nations. All countries of the world will be under his authority. Most people on earth will begin to worship him. God will be blasphemed and those who will not worship him will be punished to death.

What does Jesus have to say about when he will be returning? It is clearly said that it is not in his hands when he will re-arrive. None knows the timing but God.

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:36-37

Jesus says he will be returning when the earth is like it was in Noah’s day.  What was the world like in Noah’s day? The earth was corrupt before God and it was filled with violence. ”All flesh had corrupted their way” is reference to materialistic pursuits overshadowing the spiritualistic pursuits.

For God looked upon the earth and it was indeed corrupt. All flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before me.  The earth is filled with violence through them and I will destroy them with the earth.” 

Genesis 6:11-13. 

Decide for yourself whether or not our world is filled with corruption and violence today.

About the true believers Jesus says:

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. I will make the one who overcomes a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God and I will also write on them my new name.

Revelation 3:10-12

Jesus not only says that he will be coming soon but a new sacred city of God will be revealed. Not just this, Jesus will come and reveal himself by a new name or he will be born as a normal person by a certain name and then proclaim that he is Jesus, thus complicating things which will facilitate the anti-Christ to make followers for him.

Now read this. ‘Son of Man’ is a clear indication that another Divine Person who has been born out of man will also arrive. ‘Son of Man’ can never be reference to Jesus. Also note, when Jesus was referring to his own second-coming, he was talking in first person and when he is talking about the coming of ‘Son of Man’, he is referring to him in Third Person.

If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened. At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away. You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24:22, 30-31, 35, 44

Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away. 

Luke 21:29-33

Tenure of Jesus will be followed by the Day when all those who are living will fall dead. Blessed will be they who attain immortality or salvation for the soul even though the physical body will perish. Jesus too is perishable but he will join with the Imperishable – the Almighty God. The following passage is a clear reference to the Day of Judgment.

I declare to you that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?”

I Corinthians 15:50-55

In the following revelation, there is reference again that another Divine Spirit other than Jesus will arrive. It says that Jesus will present himself and testify before the Spirit. The Spirit is not God as it is sitting with his bride. All will take the Free Gift of the Water of Life. This means that they all will attain immortality through salvation, and will live forever in the heavens.(Kindly note the relation of the Devatas (Ahlul-bayt) with ‘Life’ and salvation in the Upanishads.)

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright Morning Star. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” and let the one who hears say, “Come!”  Whoever is thirsty, let them come and whoever wishes, let them take the Free Gift of the Water of Life. 

Revelation 22:16-17

 Mahdi is the saviour as per Muslims; he will be accompanied by Jesus

Exactly the same concept exists among Muslims regarding the coming of the Saviour. Several books of prophecies and the authentic sayings of the Prophet Mohammad say that Mahdi – the Awaited – will be the Saviour who will remove all evil from the earth. Quran also testifies that Jesus will come again. It is not clarified whether the two will come together or one before another. However, it is abundantly made clear that all evil will be wiped out from the face of the earth by Jesus and Mahdi – whose real name will be Mohammad. Traditions also say that Mahdi will be from the Prophet’s family and descendant of Ali and Fatima. Though all sects believe in the concept of Mahdi, Shia sect of Muslims believe that Mahdi is none but last of the 14Ahlul-bayt, who is also the 12th Imam, and whose name is Mohammad, son of their 11th Imam, who took birth in 869 CE and was hidden by God at the age of five (874 CE). He is still alive but has been in occultation, awaiting the time that God has decreed for his return. He is the light or spirit that guides us even now and will come to save this world from evil and corruption in the near future. Though all Muslims are awaiting the coming of the Mahdi along with Jesus, Mahdi is besieged to come in all congregations of Shia Muslims.

In Shia and Sunni eschatology, Mahdi (The Guided One) is the prophesied redeemer who will stay on earth for seven, nine or nineteen years (according to various interpretations) before the Day of Judgment  (literally, the Day of Resurrection) and, alongside Jesus, will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny.

In Sunnis, five of the six canonical collections of hadees (Sahah-e-Sitta) refer to the Mahdi, thus indicating that the Mahdi doctrine is common to both Sunni and Shia Muslims. Even the belief in an anti-christ is prevalent, very much like Christianity. Islamic scholar Moojan Momen considers the following beliefs in relation to the Mahdi are shared by Sunni and Shia Muslims alike:

·     The Mahdi will be a descendant of Mohammad of the line of Fatima.

·     He will have the same name as Mohammad.

·     He and Jesus will rule together for 40 years

·     His coming will be accompanied by the raising of a Black Standard.

·     His coming will be accompanied by the appearance of the anti-christ.

·     There will be a lunar and solar eclipse within the same month of Ramadan.

·     A star with a luminous tail will rise from the East before the coming of the Mahdi.

·     He will restore faith to its original form and eradicate moral corruption.

·     He will fill the world with justice and fairness at a time when the world will be filled with oppression.

The Twelfth Imam will return as the Mahdi with “a company of his chosen ones,” and his enemies will be led by the one-eyed Anti-christ and the Sufyani. The two armies will fight “one final apocalyptic battle” where the Mahdi and his forces will prevail over evil. After the Mahdi has ruled Earth for a number of years, Jesus will return.

The Prophet Mohammad said:

The Mahdi is the protector of the knowledge, the heir to the knowledge of all the prophets, and is aware of all things.

The dominion (authority) of the Mahdi is one of the proofs that God has created all things; these are so numerous that his [the Mahdi’s] proofs will overcome (will be influential, will be dominant) everyone and nobody will have any counter-proposition against him.

People will flee from him [the Mahdi] as sheep flee from the shepherd. Later, people will begin to look for a purifier. But since they can find none to help them but him, they will begin to run to him.

When matters are entrusted to competent [the Mahdi], Almighty God will raise the lowest part of the world for him, and lower the highest places. So much that he will see the whole world as if in the palm of his hand. Which of you cannot see even a single hair in the palm of his hand?

Mohammad al-Baqir, the Seventh Ahlulbayt said of the Mahdi:

The Master of the Command was named as the Mahdi because he will dig out the Torah and other heavenly books from the cave in Antioch. He will judge among the people of the Torah according to the Torah; among the people of the Gospel according to the Gospel; among the people of the Psalms in accordance with the Psalms; among the people of the Qur’an in accordance with the Qur’an.

Ja’far al-Sadiq, the Eighth Ahlulbayt, made the following prophecies:

Abu Bashir says: When I asked Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, “O son of the Messenger of God! Who is the Mahdi (qa’im) of your clan (Ahlul-bayt)?”, he replied: “The Mahdi will conquer the world; at that time the world will be illuminated by the light of God, and everywhere in which those other than God are worshipped will become places where God is worshiped; and even if the polytheists do not wish it, the only faith on that day will be the religion of God.(Note ‘the Rule of God’ as foretold by Jesus)

Sadir al-Sayrafi says: I heard from Imam Abu Abdullah Ja’far al-Sadiq (the Sixth Imam) that: Our modest imam, to whom this occultation belongs [the Mahdi], who is deprived of and denied his rights, will move among them and wander through their markets and walk where they walk, but they will not recognize him.

Abu Bashir says: I heard Imam Mohammad al-Baqr say: “He said: When the Mahdi appears he will follow in the path of the Messenger of God. Only he [the Mahdi] can explain the works of the Messenger of God.

Ali the second of the Ahlulbayt quoted the Prophet as saying:

The Mahdi is one of us, the clan of the Prophet. God will reform him in one night. (Reported by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Maqah)

At-Tirmidhi reported that the Prophet said:

The Mahdi is from my Ummah; he will be born and live to rule five or seven or nine years. (If) one goes to him and says, “Give me (a charity)”, he will fill one’s garment with what one needs.

Abu Dawud also reported a hadees about the Mahdi that the Prophet Mohammed said:

The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead, a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.

At-Tirmidhi said:

It has been related from Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah said: One of my people whose name is the same as mine will assume leadership... If but one day of life remains to the world, Allah will prolong that day to permit him to assume dominion.

In Sufism too, belief in the Mahdi is widely accepted.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, in his fatwa entitled ‘The brief discourse on the portents of the awaited Mahdi’, said that denial of the Mahdi is disbelief.

Jalaluddin Al-Suyuti wrote:

This is the belief of ahl al-sunnah (sunnis), this is the belief of the Sufis, this is the belief of our sheikhs, and this is the belief of the true Shadhili sheikhs, whose path both al-Suyuti and al-Haytami followed. Whoever differs with them is a liar and an innovator.

The Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order, under the leadership of Shaykh Nazim and his khalifah Shaykh Hisham Kabbani of Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA), is among the Sunnis/Sufis who strongly believe the coming of Imam Mahdi in this 21st Century is imminent. Shaikh Hisham has written a book “The Approach of Armageddon” that touches much on this subject according to Sufi doctrine and beliefs.

It is said “predictions and lore concerning the Mahdi abound”. Among them are that the promised Mahdi would be a Caliph of God and that to make a covenant with him is obligatory. He would belong to the House of Mohammad and would be in the line of Imam Husain. His name would be Mohammad and his family name would be Abul Qasim, his father’s name would be ‘Abdu’llah, and he would appear in Makkah. He would protect the Muslims from destruction and would restore the religion to its original position.

Imam Rabbani is of opinion that Mahdi will appear in the second millennium after the death of Prophet. It has been more  than 1400 years since Prophet’s death. It is said that 1400 to 1600 years are crucial as this is the middle of the second millennium. God may ask Mahdi to come anytime during this period. According to Imam as-Suyuti’s accounts, the life of the community of Mohammad will not exceed the year 1500. God knows the best. 

Maschiach of Yisra’el (Messiah of Israel) is Saviour, as per Jews

The path of Maschiach is the path of Salvation (Yeshua), as per the Jews. In other words, Maschiach himself is salvation. He is God in flesh, the healer and the judge.

“The Talmud extensively details the advent of the Messiah (Sanhedrin 98a, et al.) and describes a period of freedom and peace, which will be the time of ultimate goodness for the Jews and for all mankind. Tractate Sanhedrin, contains a long discussion of the events leading to the coming of the Messiah, for example:

R. Johanan said:

When you see a generation ever dwindling, hope for him [the Messiah], as it is written, “And the afflicted people thou wilt save.”

II Samuel 22:28

R. Johanan further said:

When thou seest a generation overwhelmed by many troubles as by a river, await him, as it is written, when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him; which is followed by, And the Redeemer shall come to Zion.

The son of David will come only in a generation that is either altogether righteous or altogether wicked. ‘in a generation that is altogether righteous,’ — as it is written, Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever. ‘Or altogether wicked,’ — as it is written, And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor;

and it is [elsewhere] written, For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it.

II Samuel, 22:29-31

Throughout Jewish history Jews have compared these passages (and others) to contemporary events in search of signs of the Messiah’s imminent arrival, continuing into present times.

The Talmud tells many stories about the Messiah, some of which represent famous Talmudic Rabbis as receiving personal visitations from Elijah the Prophet and the Messiah. For example:

R. Joshua b. Levi met Elijah standing by the entrance of R. Simeon b. Yohai’s tomb. He asked him: ‘Have I a portion in the world to come?’ He replied, ‘if this Master desires it.’ R. Joshua b. Levi said, ‘I saw two, but heard the voice of a third.’ He then asked him, ‘When will the Messiah come?’ — ‘Go and ask him himself,’ was his reply. ‘Where is he sitting?’ — ‘At the entrance.’ And by what sign may I recognise him?’ — ‘He is sitting among the poor lepers: all of them untie [them] all at once, and rebandage them together, whereas he unties and rebandages each separately, [before treating the next], thinking, should I be wanted, [it being time for my appearance as the Messiah] I must not be delayed [through having to bandage a number of sores].’ So he went to him and greeted him, saying, ‘peace upon thee, Master and Teacher.’ ‘peace upon thee, O son of Levi,’ he replied. ‘When wilt thou come Master?’ asked he, ‘Today’, was his answer. On his returning to Elijah, the latter enquired, ‘What did he say to thee?’ — ‘peace Upon thee, O son of Levi,’ he answered. Thereupon he [Elijah] observed, ‘He thereby assured thee and thy father of [a portion in] the world to come.’ ‘He spoke falsely to me,’ he rejoined, ‘stating that he would come to-day, but has not.’ He [Elijah] answered him, ‘This is what he said to thee, To-day, if ye will listen to his voice.’

Daniel 9:24-26 says:

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

24

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

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After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolation’s have been decreed.

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The traditions and belief about the coming of the Messiah is so widespread among Jews that they won’t be surprised if the Messiah arrives just now, even while you are reading these lines. Prophet Ezekiel living in the land of Babylon had prophesied of a Gog-Magog War, which will last for seven years. Rabbi (Priest) Kaduri believes that this is reference to the US and British forces War against Terror which began on 7th October, 2001.

As per Jews, the final “Shemittah’z” or Seven Sabbatical years before the Revelation of the Messiah are already over in 2008 and the Messiah can arrive any time now. According to the calculations of the Vilna Gaon, as interpreted by the Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, during the 7-years count from that Hoshana Rabba on October 7, 2001, a major revelation associated with Maschiach may be given. Rabbi Kaduri believes that the Mashiach is already in the land of Israel but says: “Whatever people are sure will not happen, is liable to happen and whatever we are certain will happen may disappoint us. But in the end, there will be peace throughout the world. The world is mitmatek mehadinim (or becoming sweet from strict justice).”  

Not long ago, Gerrer Rebbe, who is known as Rabbi Yakov Aryeh Alter, too joined the call of the current Torah saes to send the warning that the time for the arrival of the Maschiach of Yisra’el is near. Rabbi Alter is the seventh Hasidic rabbi of the Ger Hasidim in Israel, the largest single Hasidic group in the Land of Israel.

And Rebbe shlit’a said recently that “we are now so close to Mashiach that all of our current mitzvas are preparations for his imminent arrival”. If that’s the case, then we must all hasten to strengthen our Torah and tshuva (repentance) immediately; tomorrow might be too late.

Not long ago, Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar said: “We know that he is very near at hand, but he needs not only to be born but also to come,” He further said that the Messiah may well have been born already, but unless he is ordered by God he cannot reveal himself with God’s help and change the world for the better.”

Speaking further, Rabbi Berel Lazar said: “The world today is in a state described by our sages as ‘hevley mashiah’, that is, labour that precedes the coming of a Messiah. It is a time when many good things are created in the world and the progress of science and technology has made it possible to solve many human problems, to overcome diseases, famine, etc., on one hand. On the other hand, it is for the first time since God created human beings that humans have taken hold of such means of destruction that the whole of our race and even the globe itself can be destroyed instantly. We are living on the verge of history. It can be felt everywhere.”

He further said: “Perhaps God is waiting for only one deed to be put on the good scale to order the Messiah to reveal himself,” and that it was important for everyone “to add this good deed, as one’s contribution may prove decisive.” And said: “May Hashem help us. Chazak ve’amatz, be courageous and strong in your outreach work, Lazer; even if the whole world throws tomatoes at you and spits in your face, continue to spread the word of Hashem to anyone that is willing to listen. B’hatzlocho!” 

The Kalki Avatar is the Saviour, as per the Hindus

Lord Krishna says in the Gita that it is our actions that are leading to the destruction of the world. The advent of Lord Krishna became imminent as the world had become full of corruption and there was a need for Dharma (righteousness) to be re-established. 3600 years after Krishna, the world has been filled up with corruption, sin, deceit, treachery and mischief once again and it is time for the Kalki Avatar (an Avatar of the present era) to arrive who shall re-establish order resulting in dawn of the golden era. Hindus believe that none other an incarnate of the Omnipotent God can achieve this feat. He will be the deliverer and he will bring all countries on a single platform.

As per Hindu traditions, the Kalki avatar for all practical purposes shall be one who guides the humanity in the present chaos. He is the chosen one. He is destined to save the mankind from the rigors of today. The day to day lowering of human values, humans behaving more like a vicious animal (it is ironic sometimes it is difficult to distinguish human beings from animals), the breaking up of relationships between the family members, between communities and on larger scale the countries has become the order of the day.

Such a one fully prepared and powered to address the ills of today head-on shall be known as Kalki Avatar - one who shall annihilate the ills of today and make Dharma (righteousness or true path) prevail and make the humanity step forward towards a new golden era... the Satyuga (the golden period). He will be a true incarnate of Almighty God himself.

It is believed that out of the present world population of 6000 million people, 1200 million will perish in the fights that will ensue upon his arrival and out of the remaining 4800 million, 2000 million people will have faith in him.

It is said that the Kalki Avatar will provide a justified end to Kali Yuga, the metal age. He will be one whose teachings and preaching will be based on the strength of his character. He will be one who will approach every problem logically and render full justice. He will never be dictatorial in character. He shall be a man from the masses, a believer in the concept of by the people, of the people, for the people. The society as a whole will get a reprieve to improve self and also those around. Every individual would exercise his right and all shall be equal in his eyes. Man or woman... everyone would be governed by truthfulness. To distinguish right from wrong would be his forte. To punish the guilty and reward hard-working honest denizen of the society would be his daily routine. Might is right shall be the forgotten order. Truth and only truth shall be the order of the day.

The society as of today awaits the coming of Kalki Avatar! Call him the Messiah of the masses or the downtrodden denizens of the society... coming of Kalki Avatar would be a boon to the mankind at large!

The prophecy and its origins

The Vishnu Purana explains :

When the practices taught in the Vedas and institutes of law have nearly ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of His own spiritual nature, and who is the beginning and end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon earth. He will be born in the family of Vishnuyasha, an eminent brahmana of Shambhala village, as Kalki, endowed with eight superhuman faculties. By His irresistible might he will destroy all the mlecchas and thieves, and all whose minds are devoted to iniquity. He will reestablish righteousness upon earth, and the minds of those who live at the end of the Kali age shall be awakened, and shall be as clear as crystal. The men who are thus changed by virtue of that peculiar time shall be as the seeds of human beings, and shall give birth to a race who will follow the laws of the Krita age or Satya Yuga, the age of purity. As it is said, ‘When the sun and moon, and the lunar asterism Tishya, and the planet Jupiter, are in one mansion, the Krita age shall return.’

Book Four, Chapter 24

The Padma Purana relates:

Lord Kalki will end the age of Kali and will kill all the wicked mlecchas and, thus, destroy the bad condition of the world. He will gather all of the distinguished brahmanas and will propound the highest truth. He will know all the ways of life that have perished and will remove the prolonged hunger of the genuine brahmanas and the pious. He will be the only ruler of the world that cannot be controlled, and will be the banner of victory and adorable to the world.

6.71.279-282

The Bhagavata Purana states:

At the end of Kali Yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen , and when the power of government is transferred to the hands of ministers elected from the evil men, and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser. (2.7.38) It further describes Lord Kalki’s activities as follows: “Lord Kalki, the Lord of the universe, will mount His swift white horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth exhibiting His eight mystic opulences and eight special qualities of Godhead. Displaying His unequaled effulgence and riding with great speed, He will kill by the millions those thieves who have dared dress as kings.

12.2.19-20

Followers of Tibetan Buddhism have preserved the Kalachakra Tantra in which “Kalkin” is a title of 25 rulers of the mystical realm of Shambhala. The aims and actions of some of these are prophesied in portions of the work.

The Kalachakra tantra was first taught by the Buddha to King Suchandra, the first dharmaraja of Shambhala, which says:

Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brahmana of Shambhala village, the great souls Vishnuyasha and Sumati.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Bhag.12.2.18 [7]

Commonality of Teachings

Wikipedia description of the Kalki Avatar says: “In Hinduism, Kalki (also rendered by some as Kalkin and Kalaki) is the tenth and final Maha Avatar (great incarnation) of Vishnu who will come to end the present age of darkness and destruction known as Kali Yuga. The name Kalki is often a metaphor for eternity or time. The origins of the name probably lie in the Sanskrit word “kalka” which refers to mud, dirt, filth, or foulness and hence denotes the “destroyer of foulness,” “destroyer of confusion,” “destroyer of darkness,” or “annihilator of ignorance.” Other similar and divergent interpretations based on varying etymological derivations from Sanskrit - including one simply meaning “White Horse” - have been made.”

One of the revelations attributed to Christians say:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice, he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter.  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written:  King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Revelation 19:11-16

And in their book, ‘Al Mahdi and the End of Time’, Muhammad Ibn ‘Izzat and Muhammad ‘Arif, two well-known Egyptian authors, identify the Mahdi from the Book of Revelation, quoting Hadees transmitter Ka’ab al-Ahbar.

In one place, they write,

I find the Mahdi recorded in the books of the Prophets… For instance, the Book of Revelation says:

And I saw and behold a white horse. He that sat on him…went forth conquering and to conquer.

‘Izzat and ‘Arif then go on to say:

“It is clear that this man is the Mahdi who will ride the white horse and judge by the Qur’an (with justice) and with whom will be men with marks of prostration (zabiba) on their foreheads.”

It is not just coincidence that Hindu, Christian and Muslim scripture are all talking of a White Horse for the Saviour.

Popular images of the Kalki avatar depict him riding a white horse with wings known as Devadatta (God-given.) In these images, Kalki is brandishing a sword in his right hand and is intent on eradicating the corrupt destitution and debauchery of Kali Yuga.

Mahdi is said to be in possession of Zulfiqar (the double-edged sword) that was given to his great grand father Ali by God through his angels in one of the battles.

Revelation 22:16-17 talks of a divine spirit other than Jesus before whom Jesus will present himself and testify. Muslim scriptures talk of Jesus and Mahdi together as saviours. Mahdi is referred to in
some supplications as ‘baqiatullah’ or ‘the remaining portion of
(spirit of) God’ on earth. Mahdi is also referred to as the guiding spirit created by God. Most interestingly, R. Johanan in Jewish scriptures says that “the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him (enemies); which is followed by, And the Redeemer shall come to Zion.” And the Muslim scriptures say that Mahdi, together with Jesus, will raise Black Standards against the enemies. Jews also refer to him as “God in flesh” (human body).

All religions believe that there will be one saviour (not only for us but our souls); he will come when the world will be full of corruption and injustice. When he will come, there will be great bloodshed but eventually truth will prevail. There will be justice, there will be happiness. Earth will open up its treasures. All scriptures show a direct relationship of the redeemer with God. He has been described as salvation. Anyone who will come on his side will attain salvation. In fact he is the torch-bearer from God, one who will not only show the path but will lead with example. This will be God’s final chance for all the remaining souls to attain salvation. All scriptures agree that the world will come to end after this.

Can there be different sources to such similar teachings? We must conclude that there is only One God and Only One True Path to reach him and all of us have deviated from the Path in the name of religion, to coin our own religions. 

One God, One Path

If Muslims believe that the Saviour will convert all the people to Islam, if Christians believe that the Saviour will turn all people to Christianity, if Jews are of the opinion that the Zionist belief will prevail upon his arrival and if the Hindus think that Dharma (their religion) will prevail, all are wrong. Yet, all are correct!

As Muhammad al-Baqir, the Seventh Ahlulbayt said of the Mahdi:

The Master of the Command was named as the Mahdi because he will dig out the Torah and other heavenly books from the cave in Antioch. He will judge among the people of the Torah according to the Torah; among the people of the Gospel according to the Gospel; among the people of the Psalms in accordance with the Psalms; among the people of the Qur’an in accordance with the Qur’an.

Since the Saviour has a direct connection with God and since God has guided people of different lands and time with different scriptures and Prophets, the Saviour will unite all the religions and reveal the One Religion – the Straight and True Path to Lord. The scriptures of all religions still talk of the Straight Path, but we have either distorted them or understood them differently, as per our abilities or requirements, to give different shapes to our respective religions.

Once these distortions and deviations are removed, One Straight Path will be abundantly visible to adherents of all religions, from their own scriptures itself. A Hindu will identify the Savior from his scriptures, Jews from his own scriptures, Christians from their scriptures, Buddhists from their books, Muslims from their own books and even the Indians of Latin America from their own scriptures.

That way if people adhering to different religions believe that the Saviour will convert the rest of humanity to their religion (as it exists today), they are wrong. But if they believe that the Saviour will convert the rest of humanity to the teachings of their True Scriptures, they all are right. After all, true Divine scriptures, when taught by a True Divine Representative, will reveal the One and Only Divine Path to Bliss and Salvation.