Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 314
314 the not-stop bombing and shelling and the destruction of trees do cause birds to become extinct or to lose their senses. v. The prophecy contains the revelation ‘I have saved the Israelites from detriment’. This indicates that the calamity would entail some advantage for the Jews, which could not result from an actual earthquake. This, too, was a sign of the Great War that came to be fulfilled. I will explain later how this prophecy is also mentioned in the Holy Quran. vi. The prophecy points to war because it says that ‘the Pharaoh and H a m a n and their hosts are in the wrong’. This is an obvious reference to the German Kaiser who thought he was God’s Deputy, just as the Pharaoh in the time of Moses thought he was ‘God of his people and Mighty’. H a m a n in the revelation refers to the Emperor of Austria, the Kaiser’s ally, who had little power of his own and was obedient to the German warlord. If the prophecy meant a literal earthquake, the words ‘Verily Pharaoh and H a m a n and their hosts are in the wrong’ would have no meaning. vii. The revelations repeatedly promise ‘I will come suddenly with my armies. ’ This also points to war rather than an earthquake. viii. The revelations speak of a volcano the eruption of which will bring advantages for the Arabs and they will venture out of their homes. The description cannot apply to an earthquake. Here the eruption of the volcano means a violent expression of political discontent which may be precipitated by some passing event. The Arabs, realizing that it was against their interests to remain passive, would