First let me state that I am a Baha'i; perhaps you have heard of the
Baha'i Faith. In any case, for the purposes of this discussion let me
state that Baha'is believe in the Oneness of humankind; that we all come
from one source, and are even as one body. Another Baha'i belief is
that from this one Source come all of the religions of the world, and
whether the people call this Source the Great Spirit, Yahweh, Allah,
God, or what have you, they are recognizing the same Essence.
Now, with regards to the 19th century, it is interesting to note that
people around the world were awaiting the fulfillment of certain
prophecies that had been given to their people by certain Great
Teachers. Some of these prophecies had to do with times, and others had
to do with the signs that would accompany these times, and still others
had to do with what the two individuals who would return would bring to
the earth, namely peace, unity, knowledge, and the ushering in of a New
Age. This goes for prophecies of the Hopis, Mayans, Christians,
Muslims, Buddhists, and many others. (I can provide references and
accounts for these, if people are interested.)
So, with these notions in place, I found it quite interesting to compare
Tecumseh's prophecy and the events which followed it, and this account
in the Bible:
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign when
all these things shall be fulfilled?...
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled:
for [such things] must needs be; but the end [shall] not [be] yet. For
nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there
shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and
troubles: these [are] the beginnings of sorrows.
And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither
enter [therein], to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is
in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to
them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And
pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For [in] those days
shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation
which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened,
and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall
fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall
they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
(Mark 13:4,7-8,15-19,24-26)
David Yarrow quotes the book:
DY> What might any geologist give to know how Tecumseh was able to predict
DY> with such accuracy? Most likely, what a geologist would have to
DY> sacrifice are his own sacrosant beliefs in the separation of Science and
DY> Spirit.
Yes, I believe that Religion and Science are actually in harmony, and
when they appear not to be, it is because of a human misunderstanding.
DY> The earthquake of December 16 was only a starter. It lasted,
DY> intermittently, for two terror-filled days; and at the end of that time,
DY> the atmosphere was so choked with dust and smoke that for a week
DY> afterwards the sun shone sickly reddish-bronze through an ugly haze.
Note in the passage I quoted above about the sun being darkened. Other
accounts in the Bible describe the moon as being "turned to blood"--I
wonder what the moon looked like then?
DY> The second earthquake struck on January 23, and the third hit four days
DY> later. And finally, on February 13, came the last and worst of them --
DY> a hideous grinding and snapping which last for only an hour, but caused
DY> about as much damage as the other three combined.
Truly a fearsome time. And in Lisbon, Portugal, near this time (1810?
I can't recall, since it's been a while since I read about it), a
similarly ferocious earthquake struck.
Well, I didn't want this posting to grow too much, so I will leave it at
this; if people are interested, I would be happy to continue a
discussion on this topic. However, in the interests of maintaining
relevence to native issues, perhaps people would like to offer accounts
of other such native prophecies they know of?
-- Mark Towfiq, FTP Software, towfiq@FTP.COM, W:+1 617 224 6275, H:+1 617 488 2818The challenge facing the religious leaders of mankind is to contemplate, with hearts filled with the spirit of compassion and a desire for truth, the plight of humanity, and to ask themselves whether they cannot, in humility before their Almighty Creator, submerge their theological differences in a great spirit of mutual forbearance that will enable them to work together for the advancement of human understanding and peace. -- "The Promise of World Peace", The Universal House of Justice