Fulfilment of a Grand Prophecy - Hazrat Ahmad’s Challenge to John Alexander Dowie — Page 85
Fulfillment of a Grand Prophecy sorrow and torment, Almighty God has given his judgment exactly as he had informed his messenger three of four years previous to these occurrences. ". J. H. Smith Pigott, to whom the Messiah refers, heads a peculiar sect in Clop ton, London, known as the Agapemonites, or "Dwellers in the Abode of. Love. ". About seven years ago he proclaimed himself the "New Messiah," and drew around him 3000 fanatics, including many women. . Pigott promised to take his followers to heaven on Aug. 24, 1901. At the appointed time they gathered in a field and waited vainly for the event to take place. Pigott promptly explained that they had been sinning, and thereby had so sorely grieved the Lord hat he refused to accept them. The. Agapemonites believed this explanation and promptly did penance by subscribing a large sum of money for the erection of a beautiful church. In this Clop ton region, which is called the "Abode of. Love", there is neither marriage nor grieving in marriage, and the inmates are supposed to dwell together in an atmosphere of spiritual comradeship and platonic affection. Grave scandals resulted in popular hostility against the doctrines of Pigott. . Piggott's annual receipts are $30,000. At one time this Messiah, whom Mirza disapproves of so strongly, was a sailor on the Pacific coast. In 1890 he returned to England, his native country, took holy orders and became a curate of the Church of. England in a London parish. Subsequently he joined the Salvation Army, rose to the position of major and then acquired divinity. . As to disasters dire, the Indian divinity says: "Bear in mind that Almighty God has informed me of earthquakes in general. Know it for certain, then, that as earthquakes have come in American,. Europe, and Asia in accordance with my former prophecies, more will yet occur in diverse places, some of which would be so severe that the destruction wrought by them will be unparalleled in the world's history and will remind men of the destruction of the judgment day. " 89 "Death will make such havoc that streams of blood will flow. Calamities of a terrible nature from earth as well as heaven will come upon men. ' "Many shall be saved and many shall be destroyed. The days are near, nay; they are at the door, when the world shall see an unparalleled scene of devastation. Not only will great earthquakes come, but other calamities from heaven and earth will also visit the earth. All this will be brought about because men have forsaken God, and with all their heart and all their soul they are bent low upon the world. Had I not but with my appearance the secret designs of the wrath of God have been made manifest, for He says that 'punishment is not sent upon a people until a messenger is raised. ' Those who repent shall be saved, and hose who show fear before the calamity comes shall be shown mercy. " "Do you think that you can be saved by your own plans? That cannot be. Do not think that severe earthquakes have come in distant places in. America and your country is safe, for I see that greater distress is in store for you. Thou, O. Europe! Art not safe, nor thou, O Asia! And ye hat dwell in islands! No self-made deity will assist you on that day. I see cities falling down and I find inhabited places in ruin. " "I say to you truly that the turn of this country is drawing near. The days of Noah will you again witness and the scene of Lot's land you will see with your own eyes. But God is slow in sending. His wrath. Repent that mercy may be shown to you. He who forsakes God is a worm, not a man, and he who does not fear Him is dead, no living. ">. The words of a plague prophecy, literally translated, run as follows: "In Europe and other Christian countries a kind of plague will make its appearance which will be very severe. " The appearance of plague in India. was foretold by the promised Messiah by more than 10 years, assert his followers.