Approaching the West — Page 13
A pproaching the West—13 Telegraph reported it. In fact, the news swept in the West like lightening. On February 20, 1907, Ḥ a ḍ rat A ḥ mad published a prophecy that he had received from All ā h entitled ‘A Prophecy of a New Sign. ’ He wrote, God says that He will show a new Sign which will contain a glorious victory. It will be a Sign for the whole world, and it will be by God’s own Hands and from the heaven. Let everyone wait for it because God shall show it very soon, so that He may make it evident that this humble person who is being abused by all nations is from Him. Blessed are those who may derive benefit from it. (Q ā di ā n ke Ā rya aur ham, p. 2) Within less than two weeks of the publication of the above prophecy, on March 9, 1907 precisely, Dr. John Alexander Dowie died a pathetic death. Once again, the news of Ḥ a ḍ rat A ḥ mad’s astonishing victory in the prayer-dual spread as lightening in the West coming from the East! The Chicago Evening American summarized Dr. Dowie’s life- story in the following words. Gigantic success and tragic failure punctuated his life. Here are some remarkable works and reversals that marked Dowie’s career: He built a creed; he was excommunicated. He built a city; he was expelled from it. He amassed a fortune of millions; he was reduced to virtual poverty. He