Umar Gyasi Agyemang, Ghana
The ‘great disappointment’ on October 22, 1844, in the Millerite movement was the reaction that followed Baptist preacher William Miller’s proclamations that Jesus Christ would return to the Earth by 1844, what he called the Advent. There were ‘Jesus is coming soon’ banners creating awareness in churches around the globe, all in anticipation of the advent of Jesus Christ who foretold his second advent in this present era. Yet, on the specified dates of the Prophecy, there was no descent. This disappointment resulted in violent attacks against the movement’s leader and his followers.
There have been countless occasions similar to this or greater, and such anticipations only blew the breeze of disbelief amongst Christians because the Jesus they expected never showed up.
Christian and Muslim scholars are all awaiting this great advent because they have seen the signs foretold to accompany his advent being fulfilled, however, some have lost hope and have openly claimed that Jesus (as) is no longer coming.
However, while others have completely lost hope, some still await his advent. Nigeria was hit with a shock when news broke that in Ondo, about 77 people were kept in a church in anticipation of the advent of Jesus (as). The incident was captured on the BBC News with the heading ’Dozens of Nigerians freed from church awaiting ‘Second Coming’ in Ondo’.
The BBC news article states:
‘The pastor of the Pentecostal church, David Anifowoshe, and his deputy have been arrested, while the victims have been taken into the care of the authorities.
It further states:
“Preliminary investigation revealed that one Pastor Josiah Peter Asumosa, an assistant pastor in the church, was the one who told the members that Rapture will take place in April, but later said it has been changed to September 2022 and told the young members to obey only their parents in the Lord,” said police press officer Funmilayo Odunlami.’
As Ahmadi Muslims, for us, there is no waiting, because we believe the second coming of Jesus (as) has been fulfilled in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), who hailed from a village in Qadian. He claimed to be the very Promised Messiah foretold by Christianity, Islam and other major religions of the world. Now his voice echoes in all parts of the world with a large following growing from strength to strength with the help of God. He brings to us the message of Jesus (as) and the message of Islam as taught by the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), which is a message of peace.
Why then do people continue to remain in disappointment? Ahmadis unwaveringly say “the wait must stop!” for the Messiah has come in the holy personage of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and that is our belief.
We Ahmadi Muslims are against all types of oppression and are of the firm belief that the Messiah came with a message of peace, thus, no act of violence can be attributed to him.
How much longer will this wait continue when the awaited has already come to pass? Till when will such injustices be carried out in the name of Christ? When will people come to the realisation that Jesus has made his appearance, and has done so in accordance with his words?
We read in Revelation 16:15; ‘Behold, I am coming like a thief! — blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!’
And in Matthew 24:43, ‘But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night – the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.’
The Promised Messiah (as) had this to say regarding those Christians still awaiting the advent of Christ:
‘Remember very well that no one will descend from heaven. All our opponents who live today shall die and none of them shall ever see Jesus son of Mary coming down from heaven; then their children that are left after them shall also die and none from among them shall ever see Jesus son of Mary coming down from heaven and then their third generation shall also die and they too shall not see the son of Mary coming down. Then God shall cause great consternation in their hearts, yet the son of Mary has not come down. Then in dismay, the wise among them shall forsake this belief and three centuries from now shall not have passed when those who await the coming of Jesus son of Mary, whether they be Muslims or Christians, shall relinquish altogether this conception. Then shall prevail only one religion over the whole world and there shall be only one religious leader. I came only to sow the seed which has been planted by my hand. It shall now grow and flourish and there is none who can hinder its growth.’ [1]
The claim of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) is clear and unambiguous. Thus, we invite our readers to investigate the claim of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), for it is by investigating his claim that we can arrive at the truth of the second advent of Jesus Christ and safeguard ourselves from incidents like what happened in Nigeria.
So, as we say, “tell a friend to tell a friend that, ‘the Messiah has come”
About the Author: Umar Gyasi Agyemang graduated from Jamia Ahmadiyya International in Ghana. He currently serves as an Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Ghana and is the coordinator for The Review of Religions in Ghana.
ENDNOTES
[1] Tazkiratush- Shahdatain, pp. 64–65
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