Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 39
39 upon the wickecTgeneration by bringing destruction upon them. So must. it happen in the days of "the son of man, Mark that it is not at his advent but in his days. He will come and will not be recognised, he will preach and. will not be listened to but will be persecuted instead, and ultimately Divine wrath overtake the people for this wickedness. As the days of Noah do not mean the hour of his advent> for the deluge did not destory the people until Noah had preached to them for a long time, so the days of the son of man do not mean the hour of his advent, but the time during which he preaches to the people until they are destroyed by the wrath of God. Thus it is further on stated : "They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day. . "and this was done notwithstanding Noah's preach- ing. His word was not heeded. The same thing will happen when the Messiah will preach during the last days. "In that night there shall be two men in one bed ; the one shall be taken and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field ; the one shall be taken and the other left. " All' this refers to the vengeance of heaven brought down upon the people in the form of plague for not heeding the word of the Messiah. God does not punish a people until His word has been preached to them through a messenger and until clear signs have been shown to them. How can it be that the people will be smitten with wrath from heaven without ever obtaining a chance to mend themselves. Such has never been the Divine La. w since the world began. Matthew 17: 12 is another evidence. "But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the son of man suffer of them. " Here Jesus refers to the coming of Elias