Clarel Birthday 2011

Visit to Le Chamarel

A very peacefuland greenly place peoples are so lovely and peaceful the children are so BEAUTIFUL MICHEL AND EDDY 

Reflextion on The Station of BAHA'U'LLAH

In the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Qur'an are promises that God Himself will come to the earth. Baha'u'llah both fulfills and explains the meaning of this.

In the Book of Revelation we read:

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God." (Revelation 21:3)

 n Isaiah we read (and many Christian study Bibles star this verse as a prophecy that God Himself will come to earth)

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God." (Isaiah 35:1-2. Another example is in Isaiah 40:10)

Baha'u'llah quotes this verse and says of it and other verses from Isaiah,

"These passages stand in need of no commentary. They are shining and manifest as the sun, and glowing and luminous as light itself. Every fair-minded person is led, by the fragrance of these words, unto the garden of understanding, and attaineth unto that from which most men are veiled and debarred."
(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 146)

Naissance de Bahá’u’lláh

Il est le Très-Saint, le Très-Grand."

    C'est au cours de ce mois que naquit Celui qui porte le Plus-Grand-Nom, dont l'apparition a fait trembler les membres de l'humanité et dont la  poussière des pas a été recherchée comme une bénédiction par l'Assemblée  céleste et les habitants des cités des noms. Pour cette naissance ils rendirent grâce à Dieu, crièrent de joie et exultèrent. Par Dieu ! Voici le mois par qui tous les autres mois ont été illuminés, le mois au cours duquel Celui qui est le Secret caché et le Trésor bien gardé a été rendu manifeste et a élevé la voix parmi les hommes. Tout pouvoir appartient à cet Enfant nouveau-né par qui la face de la création s'est illuminée de sourires, les arbres se sont balancés, les océans se sont gonflés, les montagnes se sont soulevées, le Paradis a élevé la voix, le Roc a crié et tout s'est exclamé : « Ô assemblée de la création ! Empressez-vous vers l'orient du visage de votre Seigneur, le Miséricordieux, le Compatissant ! » …

Extraits de "Commémoration des jours de souvenance"

         « En vérité, je vous le dis, voici le jour où l’humanité peut contempler le visage et entendre la voix du Promis.  L appel de Dieu se fait entendre et la lumière de son visage se lève sur les hommes.  Il convient à chacun d’effacer de la tablette de son cœur toute trace de vaines paroles, et de considérer d’un esprit ouvert et exempt de préjugés les signes de sa révélation, les preuves de sa mission et les témoignages de sa gloire. »

                                                                                                                                    Bahá’u’lláh

       

            Bahá’u’lláh appartenait à une famille fortunée de l’aristocratie persane, propriétaire de vastes domaines, dont les origines remontent aux dynasties régnantes de l’ancienne Perse impériale.  Refusant le poste que ces avantages lui offraient à la cour, Bahá’u’lláh se fait connaître pour sa générosité et son amabilité qui vont lui valoir un profond amour de la part de ces concitoyens.

            Précurseur de la foi bahá’íe, le mouvement bábí balaya l’Iran comme un ouragan et déclencha de violentes persécutions de la part des autorités religieuses.  Après l’exécution du Báb, Bahá’u’lláh fut arrêté et emmené à Téhéran, pieds et cou enchaînés.  Des membres influents de la cour et du clergé réclamèrent la peine de mort.  Mais Bahá’u’lláh de par sa réputation personnelle, la position sociale de sa famille et les protestations d’ambassades occidentales protégeaient, y échappa.

            On le jeta dans la célèbre prison portant le nom de «Fosse noire » ou Siyáh-chál, en persan.  Cet évènement est comparable à ces grands moments de l’histoire où Dieu se révéla à ses premiers messagers : Celui où Moise se tint devant le buisson ardent ; où Bouddha reçut la révélation sous l’arbre Bodhi ; où le Saint-Esprit, sous la forme d’une colombe, descendit sur Jésus et enfin où l’archange Gabriel apparut à Mohammad.

            «Je n’étais qu’un homme comme les autres, endormi sur ma couche, lorsque le souffle du Tout-Glorieux est passé sur moi et moi et m’a donné la connaissance de tout ce qui est.» « Cela  ne vient pas de moi mais de Celui qui est tout-puissant et omniscient.  Et il m’a enjoint d’élever la voix entre le Ciel et la Terre. »

            Vers la fin des années 1870, Bahá’u’lláh fut autorisé à se déplacer librement en dehors des remparts de la ville et ses disciples le rencontrèrent avec une liberté relative. 

            Le thème central des Écrits de Bahá’u’lláh est que l’humanité ne forme qu’une seule race et que le jour de son unification en une société mondiale est venu. 

Ô peuple et tribus en lutte sur la Terre !

Tournez vous vers l’unité afin que brille sur vous l’éclat de sa lumière.

Rassemblez-vous et, pour l’Amour de Dieu,

prenez la résolution de déraciner tout ce qui est cause de lutte entre vous. 

Alors la splendeur du grand luminaire du monde enveloppera le Terre entière,

et ses habitants deviendront le citoyens d’une même cité.

                                                                                                                          Bahá’u’lláh

PROPHECIES FULFILLED FROM ISAIAH and MICAH

PROPHECIES FULFILLED FROM
ISAIAH and MICAH by Joel Smith

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BAHA’U’LLAH’S CLAIM
Baha’u’llah, the Prophet founder of the Baha’i Faith, explicitly claimed to be the "redeemer" whose coming was foretold in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. Baha’u’llah (pronounced: ba HA’ oh LAH) wrote:

"I am the One Whom the tongue of Isaiah hath extolled, the One with Whose name both the Torah and the Evangel were adorned."-The Promised Day is Come, page 34

Is there any evidence to support such a claim? Is Baha’u’llah truly the Promised One? Let’s take a closer look at what Isaiah actually wrote to see how closely Baha’u’llah fits the description that Isaiah gives of the "redeemer".

ISAIAH AND MICAH The Old Testament Prophets Isaiah and Micah both lived in Israel sometime during the sixth century BC. Each wrote a book of prophecy. The Book of Isaiah and the Book of Micah are both so similar to each other in style and content that it almost seems that they were written by the same pen. For example, speaking of the "last days" Micah 4:1 says: "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains... and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths... and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more."

Compare this Micah passage with Isaiah 2:4 where it says: "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord... and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths... and he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

As you can see, these two statements are so similar that it would almost seem that they were written by the same person. It is for this reason that, in addition to the Book of Isaiah, I also am going to examine related material from the Book of Micah.

 The Books of Isaiah and Micah are two of the greatest books of prophecy in the Bible. Isaiah and Micah both lived in Israel sometime during the sixth century BC during one of the most turbulent times in the history of Israel. This was when Israel was about to conquered by a succession of foreign empires and most of the inhabitants of the Jewish kingdom were about to be dispersed among the nations.

In their books, these two Prophets of God looked beyond the tragic events that Israel was soon to face to a more hopeful time, far in the future, when God would send a "redeemer". They promise that this "redeemer" will gather the dispersed Jews back to Israel, "will magnify the law, and make it honorable" and will bring new teachings which will create a new system of government which will establish peace "even forever."

When the prophecies of the books of Isaiah and Micah are compared side by side we can see that they offer us an almost unmistakable picture of what the coming of the "redeemer" will be like.

ISAIAH AND MICAH’S LAMENT
Micah 7:2 laments: "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men... the best of them is as a brier". Isaiah 2:21 wonders: "How is the faithful city become a harlot!" This is a sad commentary on the decline of the character of the people at a time when the religion of Judaism had become corrupted to the point that Isaiah refers to it as a "harlot".

When we compare these passages with Matthew 24 in the New Testament we can see that Jesus repeats these warnings. Jesus warns that because of "false teachers" arising from within the Church even the "elect" of Christianity shall become "deceived" by the last days.

These passages all speak of a people who had been led astray, a people who had lost the true teachings of God and who had violated the Covenant of God. Isaiah reassures us that God will not allow this violation of God's Covenant to continue forever. "The former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare... sing unto the Lord a new song... he will magnify the law, and make it honorable... I will do a new thing... shall ye not know it?" -Isaiah 42 (KJV)

Jesus affirms Isaiah’s promises by assuring us that the "redeemer" will make "all things new" and that He will give us a whole "new Jerusalem." All three promise that, like He has so many other times in the past, God will again send a redeemer. "As for our redeemer the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." -Isaiah 47:4 (KJV)

The following section is a collection of some of the major themes found in Isaiah and Micah which help us to recognize when, where and how the "redeemer" will appear.

THE MESSIAH WILL APPEAR TO GATHER THE JEWS BACK TO ISRAEL
Both Isaiah and Micah identify the general time when this redeemer will appear.

Isaiah 2 promises: "It shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established... and all nations shall flow unto it."

In Micah 4:1 we read: "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains... and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..."

These sentiments are echoed in the Book of Job where it says: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth..." -Job 19:25 (KJV)

"The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see..."-Isaiah 40:5

"The excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord ... [when] the ransomed of the Lord [the Jews] shall return." -Isaiah 35 (KJV)

Isaiah continues in this same passage by next identifying the "redeemer's" family line. He wrote: "there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse... and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding... with righteousness shall he judge..."-Isaiah 2 (KJV)

The "redeemer", "the glory of the Lord" will appear at Carmel and Sharon in the "last days". He will come from the family line of Jesse, who was the father of King David.

Isaiah continues by next describing an event which will unmistakably identify the time of the coming of the "redeemer". He wrote: "it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people... and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."-Isaiah 11 (KJV)

The redeemer will begin to "recover", "assemble" and "gather" the "dispersed" Jews back to Israel when he appears in the "last days."

We can be certain that the time we live in right now is the "last days" referred to in the prophecies because we know that the Jews have already returned to Israel. These prophecies have already been fulfilled! Their fulfillment began in the mid-1800s with the coming of Baha'u'llah, who is a direct descendant of Jesse and David and whose name, when translated into English, is "the Glory of God".

THE GLORY OF GOD COMES TO ISRAEL FROM THE EAST Isaiah continues by next telling us the direction from which the Messiah will come. He wrote: God "raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings..."-Isaiah 41:2 (KJV)

He continues: "I am God... calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man who executeth my judgment from a far country." -Isaiah 46 (KJV)

Similar statements can be found elsewhere in the Bible. For example, in Ezekiel 43 it says: "the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east... and the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east".

Baha'u'llah, the "glory of God", literally came to Israel from "the east" at the "time of the end" when the "dispersed of Judah" were beginning to return to Israel "from the four corners of the earth."

MESSIAH COMES WITH A NEW NAME
Isaiah next promises that the "redeemer" will appear with a "new name." He wrote: "I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off." -Isaiah 56

Again he promises: "thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name." -Isaiah 62 And again he warned: "ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee and call his servants by another name." -Isaiah 65 (KJV)

Some Christians assert that the redeemer's new name is Jesus. This might have been true if it weren't for the fact that Jesus did not appear in the "last days" at a time when the Jews began to return to Israel. And also if for the fact that Jesus also promised that he too will have a "new name" when he returns.

Jesus promised: "Him that overcometh... I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." -Revelation 3:12 (KJV) Jesus repeats this same promise of a "new name" two other times in this same book. (See Rev 2 and Rev 19)

When the "redeemer" comes to Israel from the "east" he will have a "new name." His "servants" shall be called "by another name." He will make "all things new." We will get a "New Jerusalem" which will also come with a "new name."

Baha'u'llah, whose name in English, is translated as "the glory of God", came to Israel from the "east" at a time when the "dispersed" Jews began to return to Israel and his voluminous writings have created a "New Jerusalem"... a new system of religious belief and practice.

MESSIAH COMES TO AKKA AND MT. CARMEL 
Isaiah began by telling us where the Messiah will come from. He wrote that the redeemer would come to Israel from the east. Next, Isaiah continues by telling us the place where the Messiah will come to.

He wrote: "The excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord ... [when] the ransomed of the Lord [the Jews] shall return." -Isaiah 35 (KJV)

In another place in his book Isaiah repeats this same promise: " Sharon shall be a fold of flocks and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in for my people that have sought me." -Isaiah 65 (KJV)

In these two passages, Isaiah has described a very specific area of Israel. He says that "the glory of the Lord" will come to "Carmel", "Sharon" and "Achor". The city which was known in ancient times as Achor (also spelled Acre), today is called Akka. The city of Akka is located at the foot of Mt. Carmel in Israel and both Akka and Mt. Carmel are situated on the plain of Sharon. As you can see, Isaiah was very specific about where the Messiah will appear. He said that the redeemer will come to Akka and Mt. Carmel.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus reveals that the great conflict, which will rage around the Messiah in the "last days", will take place at Armageddon. In the Hebrew language the word for mountain is HAR, while the word MEGEDDON refers to the city of Meggido. In other words the word Armageddon literally means the mountain of Meggido. The city of Meggido is located just a couple of miles inland from the city of Akka. The mountain which is located right next to Meggido is Mt. Carmel. Mt. Carmel is the Armageddon... the mountain of Meggido and, according to Jesus, this is where the Messiah is supposed to appear.

ISLAMIC PROPHECY CONCERNING BAHA AND AKKAIn Islam there is a 1300 year old prophecy which states: "Ere long God will shine from the face of the Glory of the most Glorious with the name of Baha on the day of absolute in the plain of Akka."Dala'il'u'l-Irfan

According to this explicit Islamic prophecy, the Promised One will come to "Akka" and his name will be "Baha" The name Baha means Glory. So, according to these prophecies, the Promised One with the "new name" of "Baha" will come to "Akka," "Mt. Carmel" and the "plain of Sharon". Each of these prophecies, point by point, were explicitly fulfilled by Baha'u'llah.

MESSIAH SUFFERS IN PRISON
Isaiah warned that, just like every other time God has sent his "manifestation" in the past, in this age also (the "last days") there will again be people who will oppose the Messiah when he appears. Isaiah wrote: "Woe to the rebellious children... that take counsel, but not of me... this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Which say... Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits; Get you out of the way... cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." -Isaiah 30 (KJV)

When Baha'u'llah began to teach, the rulers and religious leaders opposed him. They caused the "Holy One of Israel to cease from before" them by sending Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Israel.

The city of Akka, in the middle of the 1800s (at the time when the Jews began to return to Israel) , was the most desolate prison of the Ottoman Empire. The entire city was a prison. Life there was so disease infested and so harsh that there was a saying that a bird who flew over Akka would die. Similarly, people who were sent to this hellhole usually also died.

Akka was where Isaiah said the "redeemer" would come... apparently as a prisoner. Isaiah wrote of the treatment that the Messiah would receive in this prison. He wrote: "many were astonished at (him), his visage was so marred." -Isaiah 52 (KJV)

"He is despised and rejected of men... he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities... he was taken from prison (Akka) ... for he was cut off out of the land of the living... thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed (his children), he (God) shall prolong his days." -Isaiah 53 (KJV)

According to these passages, the Messiah will suffer greatly in prison... so greatly that his friends and family will be astonished by his bruises, his wounds and his marred appearance. Isaiah promises, however, that despite his sufferings, the Messiah will live to see his children and that God "shall prolong his days"... the "redeemer" will have a long life.

Did Baha'u'llah do these things? Yes, he did!

At this point I am going to temporarily depart from this commentary on Isaiah to examine related messianic prophecies found in the book of Micah.

MICAH’S AMAZING PROPHECIESIn the last chapter of his book, Micah gives us one of the most detailed and explicit descriptions of the coming of the Promised One ever recorded.

Micah 7:12 promises: "In that day also he (the Promised One) shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river , and from sea to sea , and from mountain to mountain . Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvelous things."

This passage explicitly foretold Baha'u'llah's coming to Israel. Micah told us where he will come from, where he will go to, the route that he will take on his way to Israel, what he will do when he gets there and even the length of time that he will teach.

As we begin to take a look at this prophecy point by point, keep in mind that it was given approximately 2700 years before these events actually happened.

PROMISE"In that day also he (the Promised One) shall come even to thee from Assyria..." Isaiah prophesied that the "redeemer" would come to Israel from the "east". Here Micah similarly promises that the Promised One will come from "Assyria"..., which was located to the east of Israel.
FULFILLMENT 
In 1817 AD Baha'u'llah was born in Persia to a royal family. He is descended from both the kings of Persia and from the kings of ancient Israel including David and his father Jesse and through them to Abraham. When Baha'u'llah began to teach, he was opposed both by the clergy and government leaders of his homeland. Because of his royal blood and his family's high standing in society Baha'u'llah's enemies could not risk public outrage by having him killed. So, instead they exiled him away from his homeland. Baha'u'llah first was exiled to the city of Baghdad... the ancient capitol of the Islamic Empire. From here he was next exiled to Constantinople (modern Istanbul) ... which in those days still was the capitol of the Ottoman Empire. Baha'u'llah's journey from Baghdad to Constantinople actually took him through the capitol city of the ancient Assyrian Empire thus fulfilling Micah's prophecy that he would come to Israel from Assyria. Baha'u'llah eventually was forced to endure two more exiles. The last brought him in chains to Israel "from the east" involuntarily as a prisoner.
PROMISE Micah next identifies the route that Baha'u'llah would be forced to take on his exile to Israel. Micah said that he would come "from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain..."
FULFILLMENT
Baha'u'llah was exiled from the "mountains" of Iraq to Mount Carmel in Israel. He journeyed from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. He was exiled from the fortified city of Constantinople to the fortress of Akka in Israel where he was imprisoned. Years later, still a prisoner, Baha'u'llah was allowed to go outside the prison. During these excursions Baha'u'llah loved to leave the fortress and visit the river Na'mayn which is located just outside of Akka's walls.
Thus Baha'u'llah fulfilled Micah's prophecy point by point. Baha'u'llah went from mountain to mountain, he went from sea to sea, he went from fortress to fortress and he left the "fortress even to the river."
PROMISEMicah continues by next telling us where the redeemer will appear. He wrote: "Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel..." The "rod" of Moses was the staff that he carried as he shepherded the Jewish people through the wilderness. In one sense Moses' "rod" represents his Law and his teachings. And here Micah promises that the Promised One will also "feed thy people with thy rod..." This is reminiscent of Isaiah who wrote "he will magnify the law, and make it honorable." -Isaiah 42
FULFILLMENT 
Baha'u'llah has written volumes of new teachings. The Holy Books have been unsealed and, as foretold by Jesus, the new Jerusalem--- the new Law has descended from heaven.
PROMISE
"the flock of thine heritage..."
FULFILLMENT 
Baha'u'llah's "heritage" is the prophets and kings of ancient Israel. He is descended from Abraham, Jacob, and Moses and from Jesse, David and Solomon. This means that he is also descended from Jesus' family line. Baha'u'llah clearly fulfilled the prophecies that the redeemer would be descended from the family line of David and Jesse.
PROMISE
"which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel..."
Isaiah promised that "the Glory of God" will come to Mt. Carmel, the city of Akka and to the plain of Sharon and here Micah agrees that he will appear "in the midst of Carmel."
FULFILLMENT 
Baha'u'llah was sent involuntarily and in chains to the prison city of Akka. Akka is located on the Israeli seashore at the foot of Mt. Carmel. Years later, when his imprisonment was relaxed somewhat, Baha'u'llah actually resided on the side of Mt. Carmel. Mt. Carmel, as you may know, is the HAR MAGEDDON... the mountain of Megiddo. The ancient Hebrew city of Megiddo is located just a few miles inland from Akka and Mt. Carmel is the mountain which overshadows the city of Megiddo. Isaiah, Micah and Jesus all clearly identified Mt. Carmel as the place to which the "Glory of God" would come.
PROMISE 
"According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I (God) shew unto him (the Promised One) marvelous things."
FULFILLMENT 
It took forty years for the Jews to come "out of the land of Egypt." The exact length of Baha'u'llah's ministry was forty years. Baha'u'llah first received his revelation from God in 1852. He passed away in Israel in 1892.... exactly forty years. Micah continues his amazing description of the coming of the Promised one to Israel by next describing what many people’s response to Him will be. In Micah 7:16 we read "The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf." Evidently, people will not want to hear this message... "their ears shall be deaf." The Apostle Paul echoes these sentiments of Micah. Paul also warned that people in these days will "preserve the outward form of religion, but are standing in denial of its [inner] reality. For the time will come when they will not stand wholesome teaching... They will stop their ears to the truth and turn to mythology..." -2 Timothy 4:4 (NEB)
Now, back to the prophecies of Isaiah.

MESSIAH RENEWS RELIGION
Next, Isaiah promises that the Messiah will both renew religion and reveal "new things." He wrote: "the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare... sing unto the Lord a new song... he will magnify the law, and make it honorable... I will do a new thing... shall ye not know it?" -Isaiah 42-3 (KJV)
In the Book of Revelation we find a scene where the Messiah is pictured as unsealing a scroll sealed with seven seals. The prophet Daniel similarly wrote that the "books are sealed unto the time of the end" at which time the Messiah will come to unseal them. According to this prophecy, religion will be renewed, new things will be revealed and the meanings of the books and the prophecies will be "unsealed." This unsealing, renewing of God's religion and the revealing of "new things" is what is meant by the descent of the New Jerusalem from heaven. Baha'u'llah, in his writings, has done all of these things.
MESSIAH USHERS IN A
NEW ERA OF PEACE AND UNITY
Isaiah tells us that this new era which will be ushered in by the Messiah will, on one hand, be characterized by turmoil, upheaval, wars and great suffering. But, he also promises that these birth pangs will culminate in a world where: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" -Isaiah 2 (KJV)
Isaiah continues by speaking of the people who formerly were wandering blind by saying: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light... for unto us a child is born... and his name shall be called... The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace... and the government shall be upon his shoulder... of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end..." -Isaiah 9 (KJV)
Isaiah concludes his book by announcing: "I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory... all flesh (shall) come to worship before thee." -Isaiah 66 (KJV)
ISAIAH FULFILLED
Baha'u'llah explicitly claimed to be the redeemer whose coming was foretold by Isaiah. He wrote:
"I am the One Whom the tongue of Isaiah hath extolled, the One with Whose name both the Torah and the Evangel were adorned." -The Promised Day is Come, page 34
Although the Books of Isaiah and Micah were written over 2600 years ago, they clearly foretold the life and the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah came with a "new name." Baha'u'llah's name in English means the "Glory of God." (His name is pronounced bah HA' oh LAH) Baha'u'llah's people are called by a new name. They are called Baha'i... followers of Baha.
Baha'u'llah was born to the "east" of Israel in the land of Persia. He is a member of one of the oldest royal families in the world and he is descended from both the Persian kings (as foretold by the prophet Zoroaster) and from Abraham and Jesse, the father of King David. Baha'u'llah was royalty. He literally was a prince- the Prince of Peace.
The fanatical Islamic clergy and government leaders- the "beast" of the Book of Revelation, despised Baha'u'llah and conspired to destroy him. Even though he committed no crime, they had him arrested. He was beaten until he was bruised and bloody. He was thrown into a black pit dungeon-- an underground prison almost unimaginable in its disgusting circumstances. It was dark, cold, vermin infested and it had no sanitary facilities. His enemies placed Baha'u'llah in special chains that were reserved for the worst criminals of the realm. These chains weighed over one hundred pounds apiece. They cut deeply into Baha'u'llah's shoulders and neck and scarred him for life. Baha'u'llah's health deteriorated so much in the dungeon that he almost died. His visage was so marred that his young son had difficulty recognizing him. The Islamic clergy, at this time, had decreed that membership in this new religion was a crime punishable by death. The Islamic clergy and government leaders not only conspired to kill the Bab, Baha'u'llah's forerunner, but they eventually killed more than 20,000 innocent believers. Many were put to death in the most fiendishly imaginative ways. And yet, despite these persecutions, Baha'u'llah's fame increased and this new religion continued to grow.
As a result, Baha'u'llah's enemies, in an attempt to limit his growing popularity, exiled him away from his home country. Baha'u'llah eventually was forced to travel over 3000 miles on these exiles. His enemies eventually sent him to the most foul and desolate prison in the Ottoman Empire. They sent him to the prison city of Akka, in Israel. It was their hope that Baha'u'llah would die in this horrible prison and that he would be forgotten. Instead, by sending Baha'u'llah to Israel, his enemies unknowingly fulfilled the ancient Bible prophecies of Isaiah, Micah and the other Prophets. Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God, came to Akka, Israel from the east involuntarily as a prisoner and an exile.
Life was extremely harsh in the prison city. Baha'u'llah's young son and several of Baha'u'llah's companions died from the conditions of Akka. Baha'u'llah himself suffered terribly and at times, it seemed that he too would perish. This, however, was not to happen. After all, if you recall, Isaiah promised that the Messiah would endure these hardships, come out of the prison, live to see his seed (children) and live to an old age. After spending years in Akka, Baha'u'llah eventually did come out of this prison. He and his children then pitched his tent on Mt. Carmel overlooking Akka to the north and the plain of Sharon to the south. Baha'u'llah spent the rest of his forty year long ministry as a prisoner near Akka. As Isaiah promised, God prolonged Baha'u'llah's days. Baha'u'llah lived to be 75 years old.
It was as a prisoner that Baha'u'llah wrote the new teachings that magnify the law and make it honorable. He also created the new government whose increase will see no end as promised by Isaiah. The supreme governing body of Baha'u'llah's new world order is called the Universal House of Justice.
When we compare the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah with the life story of Baha'u'llah, we can see that Baha'u'llah clearly fulfills each and every one of them. And this is just a small fragment of the prophecies which were fulfilled by Baha'u'llah.
Ask yourself, what are the mathematical odds that a man could appear at the exact time that was predicted, that he could literally fulfill dozens of specific prophecies concerning his life and his teachings and that he could give birth to a religion which today encompasses all the nations, races and tribes of the earth... what are the odds that Baha'u'llah could do all of these things and yet still be false?
Could Baha'u'llah truly be the Promised One whose coming was foretold by Isaiah, Micah and the other Hebrew Prophets? Is he the One who, as Jesus said, was supposed to come unexpectedly as a "thief in the night"? This is a question that each individual needs to carefully consider and to answer for themselves. Keep in mind though that Micah prophesied that people would initially turn a deaf ear to the redeemer's message. Consider also Isaiah’s statement: "I will do a new thing... shall ye not know it?" -Isaiah 43 (KJV)

If this story is true... "shall ye not know it?"




Joel Smith is a member of the Baha'i Faith living in the United States. The opinions expressed in this article constitute his own personal understanding and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Baha'i Faith or its teachings.

TO MY LORD

TO MY LORD

O Thou who assure the returns of the days and nightsO Thou who rekindle the bones who fall like dust
Thy words light my extinguish flame 

O lumiere pourpre qui baigne toute choses!
comment cette forme mouvante de poussiere
cet ame sans vie sans esprit sans intelligence 
peut te louer toi l'incomparable 
qui est au-dessus de louanges des Saints des saints, !!
ou est la louange de DAVID ~!!


OU EST LES PSAUMES EN TON HONNNEUR 
ESAIE ! JOSUE !REVEILLER VOUS !!
IL EST VENU DANS LA GRANDE GLOIRE
LES CLOCHES DU CIEL ONT SONNER L'APPEL
Thy Greatest Name flash my drooping soulOThou who are far from me because of my trespasses
please O beloved of my heart 
show to this servant the path of thy True lovers
The bird song of THOMAS in celebrating thy greatness and praise's 
hasten to offer his earthly life in praising Thy Grandeur 

The faith of FARIS who regnonise thy sublime station
.... in his letter we read 
O! thou who converse on the Sinai 
by the love of your son Jesus
and beloved friend Muhamad ......
blessed be the imortal lovers 
the transforming power of Mulla hussein ...
who hear the voice of Gabriel 
and acclaiming to the universe thy glad tidings of the new dawn

there came Badi the celestial coursier
who brave the fire in giving your message
o celestial martyrs
thousands upon thousands
hasten in giving their life
for Love of Thee
O BAHA'U'LLAH O BAHA'U'LLAH
o words you fail to import the meaning
no words can adequately robes the spirituality of this wondrous souls how could you ?? 

what power can a shadowy creature claim to posess when face to face with the uncreated

he who is not reborn in this age will remain eternally dead

year 2008 
josian dholah  
papijoon

Introduction

Introduction
To  serve humanity video

We are grieved to  announce the passing of Jerome H. Jones, a devoted
follower of  Baha'u'llah, today, January 15, 2014. Jerome was an accomplished
calligrapher  and artist who served in the American military until he retired
in Lawton  Oklahoma.  Jerome taught the Faith tirelessly at his many
overseas duty  stations around the world.

The interment will take place on Friday  January 17, 2014 at 2:00pm. The
location will be at the Fort Sill National  Cemetery just outside of Lawton,
Oklahoma.  The Baha'is are his Family.
From OKC: Via Highway 44 take exit 53. Cemetery is Approx. 3 miles west.
Address:2648 NE Jake Dunn Road, Elgin, OK 73538. Phone: (580)492-3200 or
(580)492-3201

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2648+NE+Jake+Dunn+Rd+Elgin,+OK+73538&ie=UTF-8
&ei  =sSTXUufNMca0ygGQ6YDwDA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg

From Lawton Airport: Travel  north on 11th Street to Lee Boulevard. Go east
on Lee Boulevard to Interstate  44. Take Interstate 44 towards Oklahoma
City. Take Exit 46 (last free exit) to  Elgin. Follow the road approximately
four miles straight across and over the  train tracks, pass  Doleses's
Rock/Stone quarry and continue to Porter Hill  at the four-way intersection
(blinking light). Turn right on Highway 277 North  Meers/Porter Hill Road.
Approximately two miles (at the top of the hill) turn  right onto Jake Dunn Road and
travel approximately one mile to the cemetery's  main entrance, which will
be on the left.

Katherine  Phillips
Correspondence Secretary
Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of Wichita  Falls, Texas

I AM NOT LOST BUT ARRIVE SAFELY

O my loved ones on earth !

Let   not your eyes  be dimmed with tears of sorrow

Lift up your voices with full of praise from your hearts  

Rejoice   Rejoice For the voyager has landed  from His Flight

I dwelt on earth as in a dream a world of illusion  and  at   the hour  of death 
I wake up in the real world 

Death  had no power over my soul 

I am the immortal bird of heaven 

Death cannot reach me 

Do not mourn for me 

I arrive safely 

The hosts of heaven welcome me with   garlands of lights and praise 

Let your lips  sing a prayer 

I  am  in a boundless joy 

Your grief  is my grief  

Let your joy be my joy 

O that  you could witness my wonders 

O that they could see the rapture in my soul

O my Beloved  O Baha’u’llah my heart desire

Could the world see my joy 

Thou art my Best Beloved 

02-11-13

KI TO BIZIN PER

Kan to pou dechire voile sa monde la 

Et to rentre dan to demeure  Celeste

To pou trouve  toi bien entourer avec ban Ange le ciel avec to Nom lor zotte la levre

Zot  pou acceuille toi .

Reconforte toi  et pou guide toi partout

Zot pou entour toi avec banne bouquets  d’Extreme contentement et de la joie 

Et  pou chacun dentre  nou   zot pou dire:

Bienvenue   to la vie terreste ine passer 

Astere la to ene inviter banne Anges 

Bientot to pou envoler 

Couma dan reves dans tout les mondes celestes 

Le Paradis de la Paix et de Lamour

 To  pou entourer de lumiere et lobscuriter pas  pou exister labas 

La tristesse ene mot oublier  chagrin et deseespoir jeter dans le vent

Ki to tracasser ki  to bizin per

Papijoon  - Mars   2011

sylvana

When you see the face of anger look behind it and you will see the face of pride. Bring anger and pride under your feet, turn them into a ladder and climb higher. There is no peace until you become their master. Let go of anger, it may taste sweet but it kills. Don't become its victim you need humility to climb to freedom.
~Rumi

see eva in 15 years

Connected for Life

Connected for Life

Do you find yourself pulling away from others, especially if you've experienced a crisis or deep disappointment?  Maybe the most difficult thing we can do is to be with people when we don't feel like being around anybody.  We need other people and we'll never thrive as human beings in isolation.

One woman likes to say, "Laugh and the world laughs with you.  Cry and you cry with your girlfriends."  The presumption is that men are not empathetic, and there is probably some truth there.

But I meet with a small group of men that challenge that assertion.  We meet for one reason only - to support each other in our life journeys.  We ask embarrassing questions like, "How is it with your soul?"  And, "How are you REALLY doing?"  We try to answer honestly and to share what is good in our lives, but also relate what is not going well.  Where possible, we try to admit our failings in a situation as well as what we think we may be doing right.  We use each other for a reality check, for support and, of course, for friendship.

It's the only group in my life where I can be totally honest and know that they will accept me anyway.  We meet only to listen to each other, support one another and, if need be, to occasionally challenge one another.  The point is - we need each other.

A man who lost his wife to cancer found himself wanting to be alone.  In time he dropped out of his worshiping community and curtailed all of the activities he and his wife had shared for so many years.  He increasingly kept to himself.  He quit socializing at work and returned straight home to an empty house.  He turned down invitations from friends and co-workers.  His leisure time was now spent watching television or working in his shop in the basement.

His contact with people dwindled until friends became alarmed that he might live out his life as a recluse.  One came by to visit and to invite him over for supper the next evening.  The two old friends sat in comfortable chairs by a warm fireplace.  The visitor extended the dinner invitation and encouraged him to come.  "You may need to allow others to share your pain."

The man responded that he figured he was better off without being around other people.  After all, others only seemed to remind him of all he had lost.  "And besides," he said, "it's just too difficult to get out anymore."

They sat in silence for a while, watching the wood burn in the fireplace.  Then the visitor did an unusual thing.  He took tongs from a rack by the fireplace, reached into the fire, pulled out a flaming ember and laid it down by itself on the hearth.  "That's you," he said.

The men sat in silence watching the red-hot ember.  It slowly lost its glow.  Neither man looked away as the once-hot coal gradually transformed into a crusty, black lump.  After some moments, the widower turned to his companion and said, "I get the message, my friend.  I'll be over tomorrow evening."

We cannot survive in any healthy way by ourselves.  The leaf needs the branch.  The branch needs the trunk.  The trunk needs the roots. And the roots need the rest of the tree. We are connected.  And in that connection we find life and vitality.

                           ~ Steve Goodier

The Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

On 28th November, at 1 am, Baha’is around the world commemorate the moment that ‘Abdu’l-Baha passed away in 1921. It was a fairly unexpected event, though ‘Abdu’l-Baha had made some comments in the preceding month to the affect that He had completed His work and was ready leave this life. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s last hours on Earth are described in God Passes By as follows:

“Till the very last day of His earthly life ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued to shower that same love upon high and low alike, to extend that same assistance to the poor and the down-trodden, and to carry out those same duties in the service of His Father’s Faith, as had been His wont from the days of His boyhood. On the Friday before His passing, despite great fatigue, He attended the noonday prayer at the mosque, and distributed afterwards alms, as was His custom, among the poor; dictated some Tablets — the last ones He revealed — ; blessed the marriage of a trusted servant, which He had insisted should take place that day; attended the usual meeting of the friends in His home; felt feverish the next day, and being unable to leave the house on the following Sunday, sent all the believers to the Tomb of the Báb to attend a feast which a Parsi pilgrim was offering on the occasion of the anniversary of the Declaration of the Covenant; received with His unfailing courtesy and kindness that same afternoon, and despite growing weariness, the Mufti of Haifa, the Mayor and the Head of the Police; and inquired that night – the last of His life – before He retired after the health of every member of His household, of the pilgrims and of the friends in Haifa.

“At 1:15 A.M. He arose, and, walking to a table in His room, drank some water, and returned to bed. Later on, He asked one of His two daughters who had remained awake to care for Him, to lift up the net curtains, complaining that He had difficulty in breathing. Some rose-water was brought to Him, of which He drank, after which He again lay down, and when offered food, distinctly remarked: “You wish Me to take some food, and I am going?” A minute later His spirit had winged its flight to its eternal abode, to be gathered, at long last, to the glory of His beloved Father, and taste the joy of everlasting reunion with Him.”

(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 311)

As the news spread, cablegrams were sent from around the world expressing sympathy, devotion, praise and anguish to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s family and followers. Sir Winston Churchill , for example, cabled the High Commissioner for Palestine instructing him to “convey to the Bahá’í Community, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, their sympathy and condolence.”

The funeral took place on the morning of 29th November and had no less then ten thousand participants from every class, religion and race in the country. Below is Shoghi Effendi’s description of the procession and burial:

“The coffin containing the remains of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was borne to its last resting-place on the shoulders of His loved ones. The cortege which preceded it was led by the City Constabulary Force, acting as a Guard of Honor, behind which followed in order the Boy Scouts of the Muslim and Christian communities holding aloft their banners, a company of Muslim choristers chanting their verses from the Qur’án, the chiefs of the Muslim community headed by the Mufti, and a number of Christian priests, Latin, Greek and Anglican. Behind the coffin walked the members of His family, the British High Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel, the Governor of Jerusalem, Sir Ronald Storrs, the Governor of Phoenicia, Sir Stewart Symes, officials of the government, consuls of various countries resident in Haifa, notables of Palestine, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Druze, Egyptians, Greeks, Turks, Arabs, Kurds, Europeans and Americans, men, women and children. The long train of mourners, amid the sobs and moans of many a grief-stricken heart, wended its slow way up the slopes of Mt. Carmel to the Mausoleum of the Báb.

“Close to the eastern entrance of the Shrine, the sacred casket was placed upon a plain table, and, in the presence of that vast concourse, nine speakers, who represented the Muslim, the Jewish and Christian Faiths, and who included the Mufti of Haifa, delivered their several funeral orations. These concluded, the High Commissioner drew close to the casket, and, with bowed head fronting the Shrine, paid his last homage of farewell to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: the other officials of the Government followed his example. The coffin was then removed to one of the chambers of the Shrine, and there lowered, sadly and reverently, to its last resting-place in a vault adjoining that in which were laid the remains of the Báb.”

(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 313)

A fuller description of the funeral, including extracts from some of the speeches given there, can be found here. ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent every hour of his life in dedicated service to Baha’u'llah and the teachings of the Baha’i Faith. Even to the cruellest of His enemies he offered the hand of loving kindness. In the following notes, recorded from a talk in New York in 1912, ‘Abdu’l Baha makes his last farewell address to the Baha’is there and instructs them in how to live a Baha’i life:

“These are the days of my farewell to you, for I am sailing on the fifth of the month. Wherever I went in this country, I returned always to New York City. This is my fourth or fifth visit here, and now I am going away to the Orient. It will be difficult for me to visit this country again except it be the will of God. I must, therefore, give you my instructions and exhortations today, and these are none other than the teachings of Bahá’u'lláh.

“You must manifest complete love and affection toward all mankind. Do not exalt yourselves above others, but consider all as your equals, recognizing them as the servants of one God. Know that God is compassionate toward all; therefore, love all from the depths of your hearts, prefer all religionists before yourselves, be filled with love for every race, and be kind toward the people of all nationalities. Never speak disparagingly of others, but praise without distinction. Pollute not your tongues by speaking evil of another. Recognize your enemies as friends, and consider those who wish you evil as the wishers of good. You must not see evil as evil and then compromise with your opinion, for to treat in a smooth, kindly way one whom you consider evil or an enemy is hypocrisy, and this is not worthy or allowable. You must consider your enemies as your friends, look upon your evil-wishers as your well-wishers and treat them accordingly. Act in such a way that your heart may be free from hatred. Let not your heart be offended with anyone. If some one commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him. Do not complain of others. Refrain from reprimanding them, and if you wish

to give admonition or advice, let it be offered in such a way that it will not burden the bearer. Turn all your thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts. Beware! Beware! lest ye offend any heart. Assist the world of humanity as much as possible. Be the source of consolation to every sad one, assist every weak one, be helpful to every indigent one, care for every sick one, be the cause of glorification to every lowly one, and shelter those who are overshadowed by fear.

“In brief, let each one of you be as a lamp shining forth with the light of the virtues of the world of humanity. Be trustworthy, sincere, affectionate and replete with chastity. Be illumined, be spiritual, be divine, be glorious, be quickened of God, be a Bahá’í.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 452)

Tags: 'Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i related, holy day

The Day of The Covenant

November 26, 2006 in Baha'i related | 1 comment

The 26th November marks the Baha’i celebration of “The Day of the Covenant”. The Covenant is the uniting force of the Baha’i Faith, the agreement by which all Baha’is continue to receive divinely ordained guidance by turning to an appointed successor. When early Baha’is wanted to celebrate the birthday of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, which falls on the same day as the Declaration of the Bab (23rd May 1844), ‘Abdu’l-Baha said that it was not permissible to celebrate his birthday but that the followers may instead celebrate the Covenant of which he was appointed the centre by his father Baha’u'llah prior to Baha’u'llah’s passing.

The following text is extracted from this article about ‘Abdu’l-Baha:

The question of religious succession has been crucial to all faiths. Failure to resolve this question has inevitably led to acrimony and division. The ambiguity surrounding the true successors of Jesus and Muhammad, for example, led to differing interpretations of sacred scripture and deep discord within both Christianity and Islam. However, Bahá’u'lláh prevented schism and established an unassailable foundation for His Faith through the provision of His will and testament, entitled “The Book of My Covenant.” He wrote: “When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hast branched from this Ancient Root. The object of this sacred verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [`Abdu'l-Bahá].”

Bahá’u'lláh’s appointment of `Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor was the means for diffusing His message of hope and universal peace to all corners of the world, for realizing the essential unity of all peoples. In referring to `Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u'lláh wrote: “The glory of God rest upon Thee, and upon whosoever serveth Thee and circleth around Thee. Woe, great woe, betide him that opposeth and injureth Thee. Well is it with him that sweareth fealty to Thee.” `Abdu’l-Bahá was, in short, the Center of Bahá’u'lláh’s Covenant –the instrument for ensuring the unity of the Bahá’í community and preserving the integrity of Bahá’u'lláh’s teachings.

As the authorized interpreter of Bahá’u'lláh’s teachings, `Abdu’l-Bahá became the “living mouth of the Book, the expounder of the Word.” Without `Abdu’l-Bahá, the enormous creative power of Bahá’u'lláh’s revelation could not have been transmitted to humanity, nor its import fully comprehended. He elucidated the teachings of His Father’s Faith, amplified its doctrines, and delineated the central features of its administrative institutions. He was the unerring guide and architect of a rapidly expanding Bahá’í community. In addition, Bahá’u'lláh vested in `Abdu’l-Bahá “the virtues of perfection in personal and social behavior, that humanity may have an enduring model to emulate.” As the perfect Exemplar of Bahá’u'lláh’s teachings and the Pivot of His Covenant, `Abdu’l-Bahá became “the incorruptible medium for applying the Word to practical measures for the raising up of a new civilization.”

In retrospect, it became clear that Bahá’u'lláh had carefully prepared `Abdu’l-Bahá to succeed Him. He was born on May 23, 1844, the very night that the Báb had declared the beginning of a new religious cycle in history. As a child, He suffered along with His Father during the persecutions against the Bábis. `Abdu’l-Bahá was eight years old when Bahá’u'lláh was first imprisoned for His role as a leading exponent and defender of the Bábi Faith. He accompanied Bahá’u'lláh throughout His long exile from Persia to the capital of the Ottoman empire, and ultimately, to Palestine. As He grew older, `Abdu’l-Bahá became His Father’s closest companion and emerged as His deputy, shield, and principal representative to the political and religious leaders of the day. `Abdu’l-Bahá’s extraordinary demonstration of leadership, knowledge, and service brought great prestige to the exiled Bahá’í community. He assumed His role as the Head of the Bahá’í Faith following Bahá’u'lláh’s passing in May 1892.

In 1911, after more than four decades of imprisonment and suffering, `Abdu’l-Bahá journeyed to the West and presented with brilliant simplicity, to high and low alike, Bahá’u'lláh’s prescription for the moral and spiritual renewal of society. This “Call of God,” `Abdu’l-Bahá stated, “…breathed a new life into the body of mankind, and infused a new spirit into the whole creation. It is for this reason that the world hath been moved to its depths, and the hearts and consciences of men been quickened. Erelong the evidences of this regeneration will be revealed, and the fast asleep will be awakened.”

Among the vital truths that `Abdu’l-Bahá tirelessly proclaimed to leaders of thought as well as countless groups and masses at large were: “The independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition; the oneness of the entire human race, the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the Faith; the basic unity of all religions; the condemnation of all forms of prejudice, whether religious, racial, class or national; the harmony which must exist between religion and science; the equality of men and women, the two wings on which the bird of humankind is able to soar; the introduction of compulsory education; the adoption of a universal auxiliary language; the abolition of the extremes of wealth and poverty; the institution of a world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes between nations; the exaltation of work, performed in the spirit of service, to the rank of worship; the glorification of justice as the ruling principle in human society, and of religion as a bulwark for the protection of all peoples and nations; and the establishment of a permanent and universal peace as the supreme goal of all mankind.”

He affirmed time and again that He was a “herald of peace and reconciliation,”“an advocate of the oneness of humanity,” and an agent calling humanity to the“Kingdom of God.” Despite the receptivity and acclaim given Him, `Abdu’l-Bahá made clear the Source of His thought and His true station. In a letter to His followers in America He wrote:

“My name is `Abdu’l-Bahá [literally, Servant of Baha]. My qualification is `Abdu’l-Bahá. My reality is `Abdu’l-Bahá. My praise is `Abdu’l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection [Bahá'u'lláh] is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion… No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except `Abdu’l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.”