shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. "And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God." "My Servant David" unquestionably has no reference to David the Hebrew King who died long before the time of Ezekiel. It is furthermore apparent that the promised coming was to take place in the future. It must be therefore clearly understood that "My Servant David," "The Prince," "The Plant of Renown" must be the Manifestation of God Himself from the statements-"I even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. "And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God." Again in the 36th chapter of Ezekiel, the same prophetic statement is made by the Infinite God through His prophet. "And David, My Servant, shall be King over them." Also "My Servant David shall be their Prince forever." And "I will be their God, and they shall be my people." These are clear teachings that God the Everlasting Father will reveal and manifest Himself upon the earth to save His flocks from the hands of unjust shepherds and spiritual advisers; and that His Manifestation shall be called "David" or the "Beloved of God." By comparing these prophecies with the teachings of Christ, we find absolute correspondence in announcement; and complete disproof of any possible claim that Christ was "David." Christ said that the Lord of the Vineyard would come to redeem and judge His Vineyard, exactly as Ezekiel said that God the Shepherd would come Himself to redeem and judge His flocks. We are taught beyond doubt that Christ did not claim to be that "Lord of the Vineyard" and "Shepherd David,” and stronger proof than this could not be demanded. By establishing His household, Beha 'U'llah perfected the laws of man, grafted us to His glorious Temple, the Tree of Life, became practically our Father as one of our race and fulfilled the prophecies of scripture. From Him descended twelve children, three daughters and nine sons. Five sons died before His departure and the following are the names and titles of the seven who lived after Him. The daughters are called "Holy Leaves" and the sons "Branches." "Khanum" signifies lady, and "Effendi" gentleman. THE HOLY LEAVES. Behiah Khanum. Samadiah Khanum. Shuruck Khanum. THE BRANCHES. Abbas Effendi, entitled Gusn-i-Azam. Greatest Branch.) (The Muhammad-Ali Effendi, entitled Gusn-i-Akbar. (The Mightiest Branch.) Zia 'Ullah Effendi, entitled Gusn-i-At'har. (The Holiest Branch.) Badi 'Ullah Effendi, entitled Gusn-i-Anwar. (The Most Luminous Branch.) |