Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 44
44 involved as they were in fatal error as to the manner of advent* could look upon as bringing about a fulfilment of their cherished hopes. But the expectancy of Christianity became even more intense on this bitter disappointment, and Colonel Roberts brought out a book in which he showed by his calculations that the coming of the Messiah could not go further than the year 1899. And now we see almost a legion of booklets showing the fulfilment of the signs and stating that the hour of advent i very very near, and that the Anti-Christ is to be found in the present form of the Christian Church itself. "The Unveiling of the Daughters of an aged Mother" published in 1900, dis- covers the Anti-Christ in "the profession of the day. "' It makes "Popery in the Church of Rome" as "the Great Anti- Christ," and looks upon almost all denominations of Christianity as branches of the same, "daughters of:the whore" as is likes to call some of them. ;. . . What do we learn from this? All these facts decidedly lead to the conclusion that the coming of the Messiah is now or never. In fact it appears clearly that the hour is left behind and that the date has been carried on farther and farther only on account of repeated disappointments, and" that according to the best calculations th y e Messiah must already come. Too much stress has been Had by the Christians on one side of the question to the utter neglect of. the other sides. On every dis- appointment it was thought that there was some error in calculations, and therefore, not the least attention was bestowed on the question of the manner of the promised Messiah's advent. Every interpreter of prophecies assuming a particular manner of advent, added a few years to the previously calculated date to avoid a total disappointment;. But the hope being a real hope has not been obliterated from the hearts of men notwith-