r than this agreement of the prophecies with one
another. The Bab appeared in the year 1260 of the Hejira of Muhammad,
which is the beginning of the universal era-reckoning of all Islam. There
are no clearer proofs than this in the Holy Books for any Manifestation.
For him who is just, the agreement of the times indicated by the tongues
of the Great Ones is the most conclusive proof. There is no other possible
explanation of these prophecies. Blessed are the just souls who seek the
truth. But failing justice, the people attack, dispute and openly deny the
evidence, like the Pharisees who, at the manifestation of Christ, denied
with the greatest obstinacy the explanations of Christ and of His
disciples. They obscured Christ's Cause before the ignorant people,
saying, "These prophecies are not of Jesus, but of the Promised One Who
shall come later, according to the conditions mentioned in the Bible."
Some of these conditions were that He must have a kingdom, be seated on
the throne of David, enforce the Law of the Bible, and manifest such
justice that the wolf and the lamb shall gather at the same spring.

And thus they prevented the people from knowing Christ.

Note.--In these last conversations 'Abdu'l-Baha wishes to reconcile in a
new interpretation the apocalyptic prophecies of the Jews, the Christians
and the Muslims, rather than to show their supernatural character. On the
powers of the Prophets, cf. "The Knowledge of the Divine Manifestations,"
p. 157; and "Visions and Communication with Spirits," p. 251.

14: SPIRITUAL PROOFS

In this material world time has cycles; places change through alternating
seasons, and for souls there are progress, retrogression and education.

At one time it is the season of spring; at another it is the season of
autumn; and again it is the season of summer or the season of winter.

In the spring there are the clouds which send down the precious rain, the
musk-scented breezes and life-giving zephyrs; the air is perfectly
temperate, the rain falls, the sun shines, the fecundating wind wafts the
clouds, the world is renewed, and the breath of life appears in plants, in
animals and in men. Earthly beings pass from one condition to another. All
things are clothed in new garments, and the black earth is covered with
herbage; mountains and plains are adorned with verdure; trees bear leaves
and blossoms; gardens bring forth flowers and fragrant herbs. The world
becomes another worl