(Clearwisdom.net) In "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference" in 2002, Teacher mentioned time. Teacher stated, "An article that you wrote and that's on the PureInsight Website mentions that the Book of Revelation in the Bible says that the evil beast would attack God with his mouth for forty-two months, which is three and a half years. I won't comment on whether that's the case, but I can say that this evil drama has really come to the final stage, where it has the will but not the strength to carry on." What Teacher has said are principles of the Fa, not something specific. Then how should we understand it?
Some fellow practitioners said, "Oh, since the time has been preset, doesn't it seem meaningless that we eliminate the evil persecution and the rotten demons behind the evil's head?" Another practitioner thought, "If it is three and a half years, the persecution might end early next year." This practitioner thought that Teacher was telling us the specific time of conclusion, rather than taking what Teacher told us as principles of the Fa. I think when we study the Fa, we must not use human notions to understand it. Otherwise, we cannot understand the true inner meaning of the Fa principles. Teacher indeed talked about time, but how did Teacher explain it in the article? Teacher said, " I won't comment on whether that's the case, but I can say that this evil drama has really come to the final stage, where it has the will but not the strength to carry on." This reveals to us, according to my understanding, that due to many factors, the old forces cannot be allowed to commit wrongdoings without end. In addition, the old forces have reached the end of their rope, and they can no longer be allowed to continue for long. Therefore, we Dafa disciples should clearly realize that time is pressing. We should place more effort in clarifying the truth to save people, instead of just waiting and being complacent.
My understanding is that this "forty-two months" is also an arrangement by the old forces. Teacher didn't recognize that it would last three and a half years. The old forces arranged this matter long, long ago, including each and every detail of this evil drama. Of course, it also includes when and how this persecution develops and ends. Teacher has repeatedly told us about this in the Fa-lectures. In the article "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples", Teacher said, "Most fundamentally, you all still need to establish your great mighty virtue in the process of shattering the old forces' persecution, and return to your highest positions." Amidst this persecution that's been imposed on us by the old forces, the evil's lies have deceived and poisoned the minds of numerous people. Therefore, I personally think that in order to save more lives, we should, in addition to devoting ourselves fully to clarifying the truth, take more responsibility in eradicating the evil by sending forth righteous thoughts.
"And sweeps across the rotten demons who sought to ruin the Fa
Do not say that our mercy is somehow lacking"
(The Heavens Become Clear Again)
Let's strengthen our righteous thoughts, eliminate the old forces' evil arrangements and enable the sentient beings to be truly saved. This is the compassion of Dafa disciples.
This is just my personal understanding, and I hope fellow practitioners will compassionately point out anything inappropriate.