The Descent of the Messiah — Page 165
HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMADAS on other accounts. Remember, however, that this discussion does not include the kind of dubious revelations received by common folk that are neither attended by Divine signs nor by consistent heavenly support that reinforces the Word through the testimo- ny of the Divine act, nor is the recipient himself perfectly certain about them as he ever remains in doubt whether they are from Satan or from God. The point to be made here is that revelations that are so faint and feeble in effect that their Divine or satan- ic origin remains uncertain even in the eyes of the recipient are, in reality, from Satan, or at the very least contain some satanic element. The one who believes in them is misguided, and the person who succumbs to this perilous temptation is unfortunate, for Satan is playing with him and attempting to imperil him. Many people ask about the signs that distinguish Divine revelation. The answer is that it has several distinctions: (1) It is accompanied by such Divine power and blessing that, even if other proofs have not yet become manifest, this power itself declares with great zeal and force that it is from God. It so over- comes the heart of the recipient that even if he is thrown into fire or is about to be struck by lightning, he can never say that the revelation is satanic, a suggestion of the mind, dubious, or conjectural; rather, at every moment, his soul proclaims that it is certain and is the Word of God. (2) Divine revelation has extraordinary grandeur. (3) It is revealed with a forceful voice and might. (4) It has a certain pleasure to it. (5) It often involves a succession of questions and answers whereby man asks and God answers back; he asks again, and again God answers. At the time of receiving God's answer, a sort of drowsiness comes over the recipient; however, having some words come out of one's mouth in a state of drowsiness is not definitive proof that they are from God, for satanic inspiration can also occur in the same manner. (6) The revelation may sometimes be communicated in 165