The Descent of the Messiah — Page 228
THE DESCENT OF THE MESSIAH 43 [continued] what He wished and how He desired it. It is not of my doing. As for the objection that such a prophecy will serve no purpose and that some doubts will still remain, I consider it to be premature. I freely admit and reiterate that, if as the critics be- lieve, this prophecy results in some ordinary fever or a minor illness, after which Lekhram fully recovers, it will not be considered a prophecy but will amount to fraud and deception. After all, nobody is free from such illness- es, and we all fall sick at some point or another. Thus, in such a situation, I will still deserve the punishment that I have stated. However, 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 does not require a fixed time and day for its fulfilment. Rather, it is enough to set a time limit within which the punishment will arrive. When the prophecy actually reveals itself with majestic awe, it in- nately draws hearts towards itself, and all the conjecture and premature criticism that take root in people's minds come to an end, and those who possess sound judgment retract their previous ideas and feel ashamed of them. Besides, I too am subject to the laws of nature. If I published this prophecy as a hoax, on the basis of mere presumptions and with some common ailments in mind, then the person who is the target of the prophecy can likewise make a prophecy concerning me, based on sim- ilar presumptions. I am quite willing that, instead of six years, which is the limit I have set for him, he is free to stretch it to ten years in my case. Lekhram would be no more than thirty years old at present. He is a well-built young man enjoying excellent health. I, on the other hand, am more than fifty years old, weak, chronically ill, and suffering from several ailments; nonetheless, the con- test will make it manifestly clear as to which is the word 228