Followers’ Expectations of Fulfillment of Prophecies

From: Baha’i Scriptures concerning Jesus and Christianity

As the adherents of Jesus have never understood the hidden meaning of these words, and as the signs which they and the leaders of their Faith have expected have failed to appear, they therefore refused to acknowledge, even until now, the truth of those Manifestations of Holiness that have since the days of Jesus been made manifest. They have thus deprived themselves of the outpourings of God’s holy grace, and of the wonders of His divine utterance. Such is their low estate in this, the Day of Resurrection! They have even failed to perceive that were the signs of the Manifestation of God in every age to appear in the visible realm in accordance with the text of established traditions, none could possibly deny or turn away, nor would the blessed be distinguished from the miserable, and the transgressor from the God-fearing. Judge fairly: Were the prophecies recorded in the Gospel to be literally fulfilled; were Jesus, Son of Mary, accompanied by angels, to descend from the visible heaven upon the clouds; who would dare to disbelieve, who would dare to reject the truth, and wax disdainful? Nay, such consternation would immediately seize all the dwellers of the earth that no soul would feel able to utter a word, much less to reject or accept the truth. 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Book of Certitude’)

1922: Baha’is of Britain formed a National Council [1] – the Guardian delineates its duties

From: Insights from Messages to the Baha’i World Community – by Shoghi Effendi

I need hardly tell you how grateful and gratified I felt when I heard the news of the actual formation of a National Council whose main object is to guide, co-ordinate and harmonise the various activities of the friends, and when I learned of its satisfactory composition, its harmonious procedure and the splendid work it is achieving.

My earnest prayer is that the blessing of the Almighty may rest upon all its deliberations, that it may be divinely guided, inspired in its work, may smooth speedily and definitely all differences that may arise, may promote the all-important work of Teaching, may widen the sphere of its correspondence and exchange of news with the distant parts of the Bahá'í world, may secure through its publications a dignified and proper presentation of the Cause to the enlightened public, and may in every other respect prove itself capable of distinct and worthy achievements. 

(Shoghi Effendi, excerpt from a letter dated 16 December 1922 to Baha’is in Great Britain; 'The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha’i Community')

[1 Dr. Esselmont and E. T. Hall were "chosen" to represent Bournemouth and Manchester respectively and they met with seven others representing "The London Groups" to form the first "All-England Bahá'í Council" which met at the London home of Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper 6 June, 1922. Mr. G. P. Simpson was elected Chairman.]

Quiz 11

From: Baha’i Knowledge Hunt

• What are some “divine susceptibilities” that according to the Master we need to “awaken and develop” in others?   Answer 

• How does the Bab explain the relation between the Manifestations of God and the “Primal Will of God”?    Answer
• Knowing that “archetype” is defined in the dictionary as “ a model, or original pattern from which all other things of the same kind are made, a prototype”, who does the Guardian identify as the “archetype of the people of Baha”?    Answer 
• The observance of the Day of the Covenant on November 26th of each year was the result of what request to ‘Abdu’l-Baha from the believers in the West?    Answer
• Which city was designated by Baha’u’llah as the “remote prison” and how long did He stay there?    Answer
• The Baha’i Dispensation is divided into three Ages. Can you name them and identify their corresponding dates?   Answer
• Is it true that according to Baha’i scriptures Jesus’ crucifixion should be viewed as a “ransom” for the “sins and iniquities” of “all the people of the earth”? Should the Bab’s martyrdom be viewed similarly?    Answer 

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

From: Baha’i Pilgrim Notes

'Abdu'l-Baha said:

Jesus Christ had two bodies -- one spiritual and one material.

The material body is of no importance; it changes and changes and changes always. An old person's body is not the same, as that of the same individual when young.

The visible world does nothing but change, and change leads to annihilation.

We must be sure that when the soul of man leaves his body, it never returns to that body again.

In the Gospel record, when Jesus Christ was crucified and ascended, Mary Magdalene and the other disciples had fallen into such a state of excitement and agitation, that during three days the cause of God was annihilated for them. After three days their agitation having abated, they realised that the cause of Jesus Christ, and His teaching was everlasting in the world. The disciples would not at first write to the other believers openly that Jesus was crucified till Mary Magdalene said to them what does it matter; His soul is with us. When Jesus was crucified, some said ‘His religion is annihilated and gone.’ Mary Magdalene said ‘Matter is gone, and flesh -- but the soul of the religion is forever.’

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Paragraph 1.7 of Surih of Temple in 'The Summons of the Lord of Hosts'

From: Reflecting on Baha’i Writings: The Summons of the Lord of Hosts

"O people of the Bayan! If ye aid Him not, God will assuredly assist Him with the powers of earth and heaven, and sustain Him with the hosts of the unseen through His command "Be", and it is! The day is approaching when God will have, by an act of His Will, raised up a race of men the nature of which is inscrutable to all save God, the All-Powerful, the Self-Subsisting. He shall purify them from the defilement of idle fancies and corrupt desires, shall lift them up to the heights of holiness, and shall cause them to manifest the signs of His sovereignty and might upon earth. Thus hath it been ordained by God, the All-Glorious, the All-Loving."

Comments:

· As we know, the “people of Bayan” is a reference to the followers of the Bab. It’s very sad that most of Baha’u’llah’s sufferings were caused by those followers of the Bab, albeit a very small group, that didn’t recognize Him as the Promised One of the Bab and did their best to discredit and harm Him. For example this reference from the beloved Master:

“…the people of Bayan who broke the Covenant of His Holiness, the Báb, and from six directions shot arrows of reproach and calumny at Thy Blessed Body.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 433)

· This paragraph also reminds us that the Manifestation of God has the full support of God and that God will “assist Him with the powers of earth and heaven, and sustain Him with the hosts of the unseen …” We may wonder, isn’t this obvious, since after all He is trying to do God’s Will. Maybe part of the wisdom of us being reminded of this point is to have absolute faith and confidence in the ability of the Manifestation of God to “assist” and “sustain” us when we are in need, since He has the full support of God.

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