The numerous manifestations of God, when they are on this earth, are the images or likenesses of God to mankind.

 

122. Image of God. The manifestations of God, when they are on this earth, are the images or likenesses of God to mankind. This is clearly stated out right in some of the religions of God and hinted at in some of the others. So, in following with this reasoning, we find that the prophets of God do what God tells them to do: Christ did not profess to be God on this earth in fact he clearly indicated that God was in heaven not on this earth.  Christianity: Matthew 23:9 “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” Christ clearly makes distinction here by stating that no one currently on the earth is worthy of the title of father, and that only God who is in heaven should be called Father. Christ was, in reality, the image of that unknowable essence we, on this earth, call God: 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Christ is the image of God on this earth, because God is unknowable on this earth. Baha’i Faith: “To every discerning and illuminated heart it is evident that God, the unknowable Essence, the Divine Being, is immensely exalted beyond every human attribute, such as corporeal existence, ascent and descent, egress and regress. Far be it from His glory that human tongue should adequately recount His praise, or that human heart comprehend His fathomless mystery. He is, and hath ever been, veiled in the ancient eternity of His Essence, and will remain in His Reality everlastingly hidden from the sight of men. ‘No vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in all vision; He is the Subtle, the All-Perceiving.”’

(Bahá’í Faith, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 46)

 BABI RELIGION: “O concourse of divines! Fear God from this day onwards in the views ye advance, for He Who is Our Remembrance in your midst, and Who cometh from Us, is, in very truth, the Judge and Witness. Turn away from that which ye lay hold of, and which the Book of God, the True One, hath not sanctioned, for on the Day of Resurrection ye shall, upon the Bridge, be, in very truth, held answerable for the position ye occupied…. And unto you We have sent down this Book which truly none can mistake…”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 43)

It only stands to reason that all that might and power could not be contained in the restraints of a mere mortal body, I mean, in emphasis, the heavens cannot contain him:  Judaism: 2 Chronicles 2:6 “But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him!” How much less can a mere mortal body contain Him.

Christ was not God on this earth, but the image of God on this earth and John, a disciple of Christ, clearly states this, not once but twice, by stating that no man had, at anytime, seen God on this earth, and that includes when Christ was walking on this earth:  Christianity: 1 John 4:12 “No man hath seen God at any time.” John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Jesus, who was spiritually in the bosom of God, declared His existence not that he was God and he spoke by God’s will not his own. Jesus tells us he does nothing of himself but only the things that pleases the Father, and Jesus definitely speaks what the Father commands: John 12:49 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”

Christ is like a clear and perfect mirror in which the image of God is reflected to the world of mankind:  Christianity: Colossians 1:15 “Who is (Jesus) the image of the invisible God,” Christ is not God he is the reflection of God to mankind.

 BABI RELIGION: “Every Manifestation is but a revelation of Thine Own Self.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 4)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The Perfect Man is in the condition of a clear mirror in which the Sun of Reality becomes visible and manifest with all its qualities and perfections. So the Reality of Christ was a clear and polished mirror of the greatest purity and fineness. The Sun of Reality, the Essence of Divinity, reflected itself in this mirror and manifested its light and heat in it; but from the exaltation of its holiness, and the heaven of its sanctity, the Sun did not descend to dwell and abide in the mirror. No, it continues to subsist in its exaltation and sublimity, while appearing and becoming manifest in the mirror in beauty and perfection.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 112)

So, Christ was a perfect man on this earth:  Christianity: Hebrews 1:1 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,” 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;” 1:3 “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:” 1:4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” So, Christ we find was the image of God on this earth, but he was not the only one. Moses stated that God would raise up a prophet like him.  Judaism: Deuteronomy 18:15 “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me;” and the Lord told Moses what to do and say as well: Exodus 4:12 “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” Isaiah 63:11 “Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? where is He that put His holy Spirit within him?“ 63:12 “That led them by the right hand of Moses.” So, if Christ was like Moses, and Christ was the image of God on this earth, then Moses must also have been the image of God on this earth, and The Apostle Paul, in a way, confirms this:  Christianity: Acts 3:22 “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall The Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me;” Like unto Moses. Christ and Moses are both revealers of God’s message to mankind on this earth. If this is the case one must ask himself, what about the other manifestations of God? Are they also reflections of God on this earth? And, to find this answer, we must again look at Hebrews: Hebrews 1:1 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,” It plainly states, that God has been in touch with man in the past speaking through prophets, so, in studying the bible, we find the answer is yes. And in reading the various writing’s from the other prophets  of God from the other religions we find that the answer is also yes, but it is just not stated quite as openly in some of the religious writings then some of the others:

 BABI RELIGION: “His station is that of the Essence of divine Revelation… Whatever evidence of bounty is witnessed in the world, is but an image of His bounty;”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 99)

 ISLAM: 30. “So set thy purpose (O Muhammad) for religion as a man by nature upright – the nature (framed) of Allah.” (Muhammad was framed, or formed in the nature of Allah God, His likeness)

(The Qur’an (Pickthall tr), Sura  30 – The Romans)

Islam: “The country of Pares dreads not the vicissitudes of time, As long as one presides over it like thee, the shadow of God.” Muhammad was like a shadow or image of The Father on the earth.

(Islamic Miscellaneous, Gulistan of Sa’di (Edwin Arnold tr))

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “O Good Thought, my worship, O Mazda (God), towards one like You,”“O Mazda Ahura, might one like Thee teach?” “True paths that lead to the world where Ahura Mazda dwells – a faithful man, well-knowing and holy like Thee, O Mazda.” “As the holy one I recognized thee, Mazda Ahura, when Good Thought came to me, when first by your words I was instructed.” (Zoroaster was one like Ahura Mazda, an image of God on this earth who Ahura Mazda instructed in words what he should say and do.)

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 33, 43 and 44)

 Zoroastrianism: Denkard. Zoroaster, “Is there any transmission of Light from one to another? The answer to which is that the God of Existence is the best leader of the world, temporal and spiritual, and He is capable of imparting His own Light to another.” (The Manifestation of Himself)

 HINDUISM: “This frightened heart is fain To see restored again My Charioteer, in Krishna’s kind disguise. Yea! Thou hast seen, Arjuna! because I loved thee well, The secret countenance of Me.” “The Prince beheld once more Mighty BRAHMA’S (GOD‘S) form and face Clothed in Krishna’s gentle grace.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 9)

 Hinduism: “Peace and joy it did restore When the Prince beheld once more Mighty BRAHMA’S form and face Clothed in Krishna’s gentle grace.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 11)

 Hinduism: “With single, fervent faith adoring Me, Passing beyond the Qualities, conforms To Brahma, and attains Me! For I am That whereof Brahma is the likeness!” 5. “We speak by our descent from our primeval Sire. Speak Thou and make it known to us.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 14 and Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 1)

 BUDDHISM: “Buddha, the Enlightened One:” “Whether Perfect Ones [Buddhas] appear in the world or whether Perfect Ones do not appear in the world,” “He who has no entrapping, clinging desire to lead him in any direction, that Buddha, whose home is in the infinite, Pathless as he is,” “even the devas envy them perfect Buddhas and recollected as they are.” “Following this Path you will put an end to suffering. I have taught you the Way.” ((the perfect one or “The Perfect Man is in the condition of a clear mirror in which the Sun of Reality (Brahma, God) becomes visible and manifest with all its qualities and perfections.” “The Sun of Reality, the Essence of Divinity, reflected itself in this mirror” (which means the prophet, Buddha, in his time, was a reflector or the image of God on this earth). (Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 112))

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha and Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “The womb of the Tathagata, the highest perfect wisdom of the all embracing Mirror. Though these are all different in name yet in nature they are all pure and perfect.” (Buddha, Surangama Sutra)

 Buddhism: “In this world and in other worlds am I known by these uncounted names, but they all see Me as the moon is seen in water. Though they all honor, praise and esteem Me, they do not fully understand the meaning and significance of the words they use; not having their own self-realization of Truth they cling to the words of their canonical books, or to what has been told them, or to what they have imagined, and fail to see that the name they are using is only one of the many names of the Tathagata.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “We have acknowledged,’ ‘Praises,’ and ‘Thee (Life God)’ for Myself so that there may be commemoration for Me on earth.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 77) First Life= God, commemoration for God on earth. The image of God on this earth the Holy Manifestation Adam. God has manifestations, messengers, who are His image and counterpart in this life on this world, but God Himself will never take on the imperfect shape of an earthly human; He is to grand and magnificent to become a mere human mortal. “Arise, worship and praise The Great Life (Haiyi/God) And praise His Counterpart, that is the image of The Life.” “I worship and praise that channel of light, The messenger of all rays-of-light (The manifestation of God on this earth). Every day, daily, they gaze on His likeness And upon the great Countenance of Glory.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 114 thru 116)

Sabeanism: “In the Name of The Great Life (God). Vines shone in the water And in the Jordan mighty they grew. Ye are flourishing offshoots. Messengers hither I bring you.” “Establishing Your likeness and giving us light, Let your radiance shine upon us.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 177 and 382)

 BABI RELIGION: “O SPIRIT of God! Call Thou to mind the bounty which I bestowed upon Thee when I conversed with Thee in the midmost heart of My Sanctuary and aided Thee through the potency of the Holy Spirit that Thou mightest, as the peerless Mouthpiece of God, proclaim unto men the commandments of God which lie enshrined within the divine Spirit.” “The whole world of existence, sets it under His Own authority by relating it unto Himself, then as the Mouthpiece of God, the Source of His divine light — exalted and glorified be He — proclaimeth: ‘Verily, verily, I am God, no God is there but Me; in truth all others except Me are My creatures. Say, O My creatures! Me alone, therefore, should ye fear.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 63 and 97)

BAHA’I FAITH: “God is pure perfection, and creatures are but imperfections. For God to descend into the conditions of existence would be the greatest of imperfections; on the contrary, His manifestation, His appearance, His rising are like the reflection of the sun in a clear, pure, polished mirror.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 113)