The Twelfth Insight - James Redfield [69]
We all looked at one another, and for some reason I felt his brother would be instrumental in whatever happened on Sinai.
“I also know your friend Hira,” he continued, “from when I lived in Jerusalem during my youth. My mother was Jewish, and she knew Hira’s mother. We all studied end-times Prophecy in the Bible and the Torah. I think the most fascinating aspect of the prophetic literature, however, is that the prophecies of all three major religions seem to have the same structure. Each has an idea of a final conflict, or Armageddon. And each has the notion that a Divine Messiah figure is coming to establish an ideal, spiritual world.”
I remembered what Tommy had told me. The next step of Creation of the Mayan Calendar also seemed to have a similar structure. What was Synchronicity trying to show us here?
“It’s fascinating,” Joseph went on. “And some of the traditions also agree that the same literal events must take place before Armageddon begins. The first event is that the Jews must return to the Holy Land, which has occurred. Then the rebuilding of David’s temple in Jerusalem on the site of its old foundation must take place.”
“Trouble is,” Rachel interjected, “the Dome of the Rock, an especially important mosque, already occupies that site.”
“Any reason that both the mosque and the temple couldn’t fit up there?” I asked.
They all looked at me in silence.
“The problem,” Rachel finally said, “is that the two religions both claim title to the entire rock.”
“That’s right,” Joseph added. “And many believe an attempt to rebuild the temple would signal the onset of Armageddon and the whole end-times drama would be played out, including the coming of the Messiah figures. For our tradition, it would be the Twelfth Imam who would return.”
He glanced at Rachel. “You might argue that it would be the return of the Christ.”
“Wait a minute,” Coleman remarked. “So you’re saying that these events— Jews returning to the Holy Land and the rebuilding of David’s temple in Jerusalem—are the primary events in prophecy that would signal the beginning of Armageddon?”
“I would add one more from the Arab side,” Joseph said. “One of our prophets said the end times are near when there is chaos and incivility building in society, and a general dishonoring of all people. It is a time when the truth is disregarded for more convenient lies.”
“You mean runaway ideology?” Coleman remarked.
Joseph nodded. “Yes.”
I perked up. The energy of this conversation had begun to feel numinous, and I knew it was happening for a reason.
“There is also another event,” Rachel interjected, “that many believe will occur as the end times approach. In Christianity it is called the Rapture, but other traditions have a similar idea as well. It’s the notion that as the Messiah figure begins to come to Earth and Armageddon begins, the true believers’ bodies will be lifted into spirit and they will meet the coming God figure in Heaven, where they will be protected.”
She looked at Joseph.
“Yes, that’s right,” Joseph said. “In our religion, it is thought that as the Twelfth Imam approaches, our true believers will be taken to the side in spirit and also protected.”
Coleman looked around at each of us. “This is amazing. I’ve never put this together before. All the major religions do have almost the same structure for the end times, just with different names.”
Our discussion was interrupted as Adjar turned off the main road onto a bumpy gravel track that left a plume of dust swirling up behind us in the fading light. Within minutes, we were stopping at a place where the road widened into a turnaround and proceeded no farther.
“This is where Love of Mountain said to meet,” Joseph said.
We waited another ten minutes before we saw the muted headlights of a vehicle approaching.
“That’s Love of Mountain’s Subaru,” Rachel commented.
Seconds behind them came the Volvo. When everyone was out and ready, Tommy prepared us for the route ahead, telling us the first mile would be relatively flat desert, but the second would be very mountainous and would take us up