The Shining Lamp — Page 33
Truth has Come—Example of an Accepted Prayer 33 be considered a prophecy, rather it would amount to fraud and deception, for no one is free from such illnesses and we all fall sick at one time or another. In such a situation, I would still deserve the punishment that I have stated, but if this prophecy manifests itself in such a way that the Signs of Divine wrath are clearly and openly witnessed, then let it be known that it is from God Almighty. The fact is that the inherent greatness and awe of a prophecy do not require that the time and day [of its fulfilment] should be fixed, and it is enough to set a time limit within which the pun- ishment will come. When a prophecy actually reveals itself with appalling awe, it automatically draws hearts towards itself, and all the conjecture and criticism that prematurely take root in the hearts are so vanquished that people who possess judicious and sound judgement retract their previous ideas and are ashamed of them. Moreover, I am subject to the laws of nature as well. If I pub- lished this prophecy as a hoax, merely on the basis of presump- tions and with some common ailments in mind, then the person who is the focus of the prophecy can likewise make a prophecy concerning me based on similar presumptions. I am quite willing that instead of six years, which is the limit I have set for him, he may stretch it to ten years in my case. Lekh Ram at present would be no more than 30 years old. He is a well-built young man enjoying excellent health, and I, on the other hand, am more than 50 years old, weak, chronically ill, and suffering from several ailments. Nevertheless, the contest will make amply clear as to which is the word of a mortal and which is the word of God Almighty.