s a
harbinger of the break of that true and exalted Morn. These twofold signs,
in the visible and the invisible heaven, have announced the Revelation of
each of the Prophets of God, as is commonly believed.

Among the Prophets was Abraham, the Friend of God. Ere He manifested
Himself, Nimrod dreamed a dream. Thereupon, he summoned the soothsayers,
who informed him of the rise of a star in the heaven. Likewise, there
appeared a herald who announced throughout the land the coming of Abraham.

After Him came Moses, He Who held converse with God. The soothsayers of
His time warned Pharaoh in these terms: "A star hath risen in the heaven,
and lo! it foreshadoweth the conception of a Child Who holdeth your fate
and the fate of your people in His hand." In like manner, there appeared a
sage who, in the darkness of the night, brought tidings of joy unto the
people of Israel, imparting consolation to their souls, and assurance to
their hearts. To this testify the records of the sacred books. Were the
details to be mentioned, this epistle would swell into a book. Moreover,
it is not Our wish to relate the stories of the days that are past. God is
Our witness that what We even now mention is due solely to Our tender
affection for thee, that haply the poor of the earth may attain the shores
of the sea of wealth, the ignorant be led unto the ocean of divine
knowledge, and they that thirst for understanding partake of the Salsabil
of divine wisdom. Otherwise, this servant regardeth the consideration of
such records a grave mistake and a grievous transgression.

In like manner, when the hour of the Revelation of Jesus drew nigh, a few
of the Magi, aware that the star of Jesus had appeared in heaven, sought
and followed it, till they came unto the city which was the seat of the
Kingdom of Herod. The sway of his sovereignty in those days embraced the
whole of that land.

These Magi said: "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have
seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him!"(48) When they had
searched, they found out that in Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, the
Child had been born. This was the sign that was manifested in the visible
heaven. As to the sign in the invisible heaven--the heaven of divine
knowledge and understanding--it was Yahya, son of Zachariah, who gave unto
the people the tidings of the Manifestation of Jesus. Even as He hath
revealed: "God announceth Yahya to thee, who shall bear witness unto