Christ and Baha'u'llah

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chapter 1

                      CONTENTS

 Chapter                                            Page
      Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
  1   God's Call to the Christians . . . . . . . . . .11
  2   The Kingdom in the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . .14
  3   Jesus Christ, Herald of the Kingdom . . . . . . 20
  4   The False Prophets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
  5   Muhammad, Builder of Nations . . . . . . . . . .31
  6   Muhammad and the Christians . . . . . . . . . . 40
  7   The Violation of Muhammad's Covenant . . . . . .43
  8   Christianity and Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
  9   The Rise of Modern Europe . . . . . . . . . . . 50
 10   The Dawn-Song of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . .57
 11   The Bab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
 12   Bahá'u'lláh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
 13   The Proclamation to the Kings . . . . . . . . . 79
 14   'Abdu'l-Bahá . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
 15   The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . . . . .98
 16   The Kingdom on Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
      Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

I wish to acknowledge my debt to my dear son and daughter, Brian and Una, for their devotion, high enthusiasm and their manifold helpfulness in the writing of this book.

            GEORGE TOWNSHEND.

      Since the last edition of this work, the Bahá'í Faith has further extended its influence and is now represented in 135 independent nations and approximately 180 significant territories and islands, while its literature has been published in 434 languages. These figures correct those on p. 116.

      Presently, (1995) the Bahá'í Faith has been extended to 233 countries and dependent territories with over five and one-half million members worldwide. There are national spiritual governing councils in 174 countries. "Bahá'ís reside in more than 120,000 localities around the world, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship." The Bahá'ís, The Bahá'í International Community, 1994, p. 5.

PROLOGUE

      BRIEFLY but clearly, and with all possible emphasis, facts are given in this little book to prove that the Kingdom of God, as foretold in the Bible with a thousand details, has at last come with those details all fulfilled.

      In all the revealed world religions the coming of the Kingdom is identified with the appearance of the Supreme world Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, the returned Christ, the Qá’im, the new Buddha. "One fold and one shepherd" is to replace the many conflicting and separated groups of men.

      This outstanding pledge, originally given thousands of years ago, has never been taken up by any of the Great Prophets until the nineteenth century, when Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, announced to the rulers and religious leaders of the world that He was this Redeemer and the Bearer of God's message to modern man. He proclaimed that He spoke with the Voice of God Himself, that He was the Lord of Hosts, Christ come in the glory of the Father, and that this was indeed the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh and His martyred Forerunner, the Báb, had for twenty years suffered persecution of every form; yet without investigation the kings and ecclesiastical rulers whom He addressed ignored His message. He died in 1892 in the Holy Land, an exile and captive of the Turks. Yet to-day a world-wide community exists bearing His name and following His teachings.

      Twentieth century thought and aspiration are deeply committed to the social and humanitarian principles which Bahá'u'lláh announced, though His spiritual message is, as yet, ignored and certainty no relationship is conceived between the idea of world order and the Kingdom of God.

      This book is directed especially to the Christians whose age-long prayer, given by Christ Himself, is "Thy kingdom come". Unfortunately the Christian Churches are in disagreement as to what this means and they are, therefore, powerless to meet the crisis of our times.

      The message of Bahá'u'lláh opens to Christians the one door leading to the certain prospect of fulfillment of all that is best in their great tradition, the fairest hope of service and of redemption in the future.

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chapter 1