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Chapter 78
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Some references on Baha'u'llah, a Universal Manifestation.
1)
Were these people, wholly for the sake of God and with no desire but
His good-pleasure, to ponder the verses of the Book in their heart,
they would of a certainty find whatsoever they seek. In its verses
would they find revealed and manifest all the things, be they great or
small, that have come to pass in this Dispensation. They would even
recognize in them references unto the departure of the Manifestations
of the names and attributes of God from out their native land; to the
opposition and disdainful arrogance of government and people; and to
the dwelling and establishment of the Universal Manifestation in an
appointed and specially designated land. No man, however, can
comprehend this except he who is possessed of an understanding heart.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 174
2)
Such is the day of God. For all the days which have come and gone were
the days of Abraham, Moses and Christ, or of the other Prophets; but
this day is the day of God, for the Sun of Reality will arise in it
with the utmost warmth and splendor.
"And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God.
"Saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Which art, and wast,
and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and
hast reigned."[1] In each cycle the guardians and holy souls have been
twelve. So Jacob had twelve sons; in the time of Moses there were
twelve heads or chiefs of the tribes; in the time of Christ there were twelve Apostles; and in the time of Muhammad there were twelve Imams.
But in this glorious manifestation there are twenty-four, double the
number of all the others, for the greatness of this manifestation
requires it. These holy souls are in the presence of God seated on
their own thrones, meaning that they reign eternally.
[1 Rev. 11:16-17.]
These twenty-four great persons, though they are seated on the thrones
of everlasting rule, yet are worshipers of the appearance of the
universal Manifestation, and they are humble and submissive, saying,
"We give thanks to Thee, O Lord God Almighty, Which art, and wast, and
art to come, because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power and hast
reigned" -- that is to say, Thou wilt issue all Thy teachings, Thou
wilt gather all the people of the earth under Thy shadow, and Thou wilt
bring all men under the shadow of one tent. Although it is the Eternal
Kingdom of God, and He always had, and has, a Kingdom, the Kingdom here
means the manifestation of Himself;[1] and He will issue all the laws
and teachings which are the spirit of the world of humanity and
everlasting life. And that universal Manifestation will subdue the
world by spiritual power, not by war and combat; He will do it with
peace and tranquillity, not by the sword and arms; He will establish
this Heavenly Kingdom by true love, and not by the power of war. He
will promote these divine teachings by kindness and righteousness, and
not by weapons and harshness. He will so educate the nations and people
that, notwithstanding their various conditions, their different customs
and characters, and their diverse religions and races, they will, as it
is said in the Bible, like the wolf and the lamb, the leopard, the kid,
the sucking child and the serpent, become comrades, friends and
companions. The contentions of races, the differences of religions, and
the barriers between nations will be completely removed, and all will
attain perfect union and reconciliation under the shadow of the Blessed
Tree.
[1 I.e., His most complete manifestation.]
-- Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 56
3)
Briefly, we say a universal cycle in the world of existence signifies a
long duration of time, and innumerable and incalculable periods and
epochs. In such a cycle the Manifestations
appear with splendor in the realm of the visible, until a great and
universal Manifestation makes the world the center of his radiance. His
appearance causes the world to attain to maturity, and the extension of
his cycle is very great. Afterwards other Manifestations will arise
under his shadow, who according to the needs of the time will renew
certain commandments relating to material questions and affairs, while
remaining under his shadow.
We are in the cycle which began with Adam, and its universal Manifestation is Bahá'u'lláh.
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 54
4)
No Independent Prophet will appear until after at least 1,000 years of Baha'u'llah's dispensation have passed.
CLXVI. Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere the
expiration of a full thousand years, such a man is assuredly a lying
impostor. We pray God that He may graciously assist him to retract and
repudiate such claim. Should he repent, God will, no doubt, forgive
him. If, however, he persisteth in his error, God will, assuredly, send
down one who will deal mercilessly with him. Terrible, indeed, is God
in punishing! Whosoever interpreteth this verse otherwise than its
obvious meaning is deprived of the Spirit of God and of His mercy which
encompasseth all created things. Fear God, and follow not your idle
fancies. Nay, rather follow the bidding of your Lord, the Almighty, the
All-Wise.
-- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 345
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