“The Prophets [of God] have not come to cause discord and enmity.”

All the Prophets of God, including Jesus Christ, appeared in the world for the education of humanity, to develop immature souls into maturity, to transform the ignorant of mankind into the knowing, thereby establishing love and unity through divine education and training. The Prophets have not come to cause discord and enmity. For God has wished all good for His servants, and he who wishes the servants of God evil is against God; he has not obeyed the will and emulated the example of God; he has followed Satanic leadings and footprints. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 38) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Reference in Gospel of St. John to Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (St. John 14:26)

"The passage in the Gospel of St. John 14:26, is a reference to the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, through Whose coming this prophecy was fulfilled." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 21, 1939; Lights of Guidance, p. 478)

Question: How do you prove the year of Baha’u’llah’s coming from the Bible and the places associated?

Answer: by George Townshend, Hand of the Cause and former Canon of Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

As for the year of His Return, Christ said He did not know (Mark 13:32), but He foretold that the Gospel must first be preached in the whole world and then the end would come. Daniel, however, in an abstruse manner gave the very year of the Return when he said, "...Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan. 8:13-14), and added, “... at the time of the end shall be the vision." Dan. 8:17) We now live in "the time of the end" and the vision has been made clear by 'Abdu'l-Baha. In the text of the Holy Book, a day stands for a year. The number given by Daniel therefore represents two thousand three hundred years. These refer to the period of the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem by the Jews in the fifth century before Christ and particularly to the Decree of Artaxerxes issued in 457 B.C., following which edict the Temple was rebuilt and its Holy of Holies desecrated by alien hands, causing the abomination of desolation to which Daniel and Christ allude. From the date of this decree to that of the birth of Christ is 456 years and from the birth of Christ to the manifestation of the Bab is 1844 years which, added together, make 2300 years.

Among the places associated with the second coming are:

Question: What is the meaning of the disciples having spoken in all tongues?

Answer [by ‘Abdu’l-Baha]: The disciples taught in the language of the Kingdom. That language (or tongue) is the equivalent of all languages, for the Word of the Kingdom is an expression of heavenly significances and heavenly mysteries. Whosoever attains it, to him the realities and mysteries of creation are clear. The heavenly significances are the comprehensive reality of all tongues. Therefore, the Holy Spirit having delivered to the disciples the tongue of the Kingdom, they become conversant with the tongues of all nations. With whomsoever among the nations and peoples of the world they conversed, they proved to be co-linguists. Moreover, the known and taught languages of the present exceed a thousand tongues in number. Had the disciples known the literal languages, they should have, at least, transcribed the Gospel in the tongue of some one of the nations, while as a matter of fact it was written only in the Hebraic and the Greek. The Gospel was not even written in the Roman tongue which was at that time an official language, since the government was in the hands of the Romans. As the disciples were not proficient in the Roman tongues they did not write the Gospel therein. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpts from a table talk in Akka in 1907, notes taken by Corine True; ‘Notes Taken at Acca’, booklet published by Baha’i Publishing Society, Chicago 1907)

“The Lord Christ arose as a bright Star in the Eastern sky”

The West has always received spiritual enlightenment from the East. The Song of the Kingdom is first heard in the East, but in the West the greater volume of sound bursts upon the listening ears.

The Lord Christ arose as a bright Star in the Eastern sky, but the light of His Teaching shone more perfectly in the West, where His influence has taken root more firmly and His Cause has spread to a greater degree than in the land of His birth.

The sound of the Song of Christ has echoed over all the lands of the Western World and entered the hearts of its people. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given in Paris in 1912; Paris Talks, p. 33) (To see the entire talk please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

Prophecies from the Bible concernig Baha’u’llah: Deuteronomy chapter 33, verse 2 & Genesis chapter 15, verse 16

• As to the prophecies of the Bible: In the 33rd chapter of Deuteronomy in the 2nd v. God declares: "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from His right hand went a fiery law for them!” This refers to four great Manifestations, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and Baha'u'llah. This is a sufficient prophecy, with its fulfillment, to convince any student of the Bible.

• Abraham has also prophesied that the eventful Return will occur in the fourth cycle. Genesis 15th chapter 16th v. [‘But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.’] contains references to the four cycles (i.e., four generations or ages after Abraham), first to that of Moses; second, Jesus ; third, Muhammad ; and fourth to the cycle of Baha'u'llah, which fulfills the prophecies of all nations.
(Excerpts from a letter by the Israelitish Assembly of the Baha’is of Tihran to the House of Spirituality of  Baha’is of Chicago, dated May 9, 1904; Baha’i World 1926-1928, p. 276)

The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ

The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ. It is the same Temple and the same Foundation. Both of these are spiritual springtimes and seasons of the soul-refreshing awakening and the cause of the renovation of the life of mankind. The spring of this year is the same as the spring of last year. The origins and ends are the same. The sun of today is the sun of yesterday. In the coming of Christ, the divine teachings were given in accordance with the infancy of the human race. The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh have the same basic principles, but are according to the stage of the maturity of the world and the requirements of this illumined age. ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 400)

Jesus was a poor man

Jesus was a poor man. One night when He was out in the fields, the rain began to fall. He had no place to go for shelter so He lifted His eyes toward heaven, saying, “O Father! For the birds of the air Thou hast created nests, for the sheep a fold, for the animals dens, for the fish places of refuge, but for Me Thou hast provided no shelter. There is no place where I may lay My head. My bed consists of the cold ground; My lamps at night are the stars, and My food is the grass of the field. Yet who upon earth is richer than I? For the greatest blessing Thou hast not given to the rich and mighty but unto Me, for Thou hast given Me the poor. To me Thou hast granted this blessing. They are Mine. Therefore am I the richest man on earth.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of the Universal Peace, pp. 33-34)

Some References from the Bible indicating that Jesus was God but not God incarnated

“For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9)

I. Jesus was God:

• “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9
• “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)
• “I am He (the Father)” (John 8:24)
• “I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:11)
• “And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me” (John 12:45)

While based on the Bible, what is the Baha'i conception of the manner of the return of Christ?

Answer: by George Townshend, Hand of the Cause and former Canon of Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland

The Baha'is believe that the Return of Christ in the Bab and in Baha'u'llah is similar to the return of Elijah in John the Baptist, to which Jesus testified plainly in the Gospel. In Matthew 17 verse 12 Jesus said , “ . . . Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed." And verse 13, "Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." John 1 verse 21 records, however, that when he was asked, " Art thou Elias?" John said, "I am not." The explanation of the contradiction is that John was speaking of the individuality and physical substance of Elijah. He was not the same as Elijah in that sense. Christ was speaking of the qualities, the character, the virtues of the two men, which were exactly the same in both. In a similar way we say "spring has returned," meaning that all that was found in last spring exists in this spring; or that the blossoms have come back referrin g to their perfume, color, delicacy and form which are the same as last year. When Baha'is affirm that Christ has returned in the Bab and in Baha'u'llah they mean that the essence of the perfections of Christ are to be found in the Bab and Baha'u'llah though the individualities are different. (George Townshend, Questions About the Second Coming Asked by Baha'is of Kampala, Uganda, Africa: Answers by George Townshend; Wilmette, Baha'i Publishing Committee, 1953)

Reason for the renewal of the Christian Message by Baha’u’llah

The Christian Teaching was illumined by the Divine Sun of Truth, therefore its followers were taught to love all men as brothers to fear nothing, not even death! To love their neighbours as themselves, and to forget their own selfish interests in striving for the greater good of humanity. The grand aim of the religion of Christ was to draw the hearts of all men nearer to God's effulgent Truth.
If the followers of the Lord Christ had continued to follow out these principles with steadfast faithfulness, there would have been no need for a renewal of the Christian Message, no necessity for a re-awakening of His people, for a great and glorious civilization would now be ruling the world and the Kingdom of Heaven would have come on earth.

Proof that Moses was a Prophet of God, an Educator and Trainer

Among the holy, divine Manifestations of God was His Holiness Moses. The sending of prophets has ever been for the training of humanity. They are the first educators and trainers. If Moses has developed the body-politic, there is no doubt that he was a true teacher and educator. This will be proof and evidence that he was a prophet. We shall consider how His Holiness was sent to despair, in the lowest degree of ignorance, and heedlessness, degraded and under conditions of bondage. His Holiness Moses rescued these degraded people of Israel from that state of bondage. He raised them from that condition of ignorance, saved them from barbarism and led them into the Holy Land. He educated them, endowed them with sagacious instincts, made them worthy and honorable. He civilized them, raised them to a higher plane of existence until they were enabled to establish a national sovereignty, the great kingdom of Solomon. This proves that His Holiness Moses was a teacher and an educator. He had neither army nor dominion, neither did he possess wealth. It was only through an idealistic power that he cemented them together proving that he was a prophet of God, an educator and trainer. (From a talk given by Abdu’l-Baha in the Japanese Independent Church, in Oakland California, October 1912, ‘Japan Will Turn Ablaze’, p. 44)

Why is it that the general conceptions about the Day of Judgment are wrong?

Question: Are the terms return, Heaven, earth, death, life, light, darkness, sun, moon and stars etc., to be interpreted symbolically? Could this be proven from the Bible in each case?

Answer: by George Townshend, Hand of the Cause and former Canon of Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

One reason why the general conceptions about the Day of Judgment are wrong is that "the end of the World" with which it is connected is a mistranslation; it should be "the end of the Age" or "the end of the Era." Another is that people do not understand the truth of the succession of Revelators, or the succession of Dispensations. There is a Day of Judgment at the end of every Era when the people to whom the New Revelator comes are tried and tested and judged.

The Jews were judged when Christ came to them and were condemned and cast out of the Kingdom. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman armies and the Jewish people scattered through the whole earth. The Day of Judgment at Christ's Return is similar in a general way but is on a much larger scale since all the peoples of the globe are concerned now and not one nation only.

Christ united the Roman, Greek, Chaldean and Egyptian through the power of the Word of God

… through the supreme efficacy and power of the Word of God He [Christ] united most of the nations of the East and the West. This was accomplished at a time when these nations were opposed to each other in hostility and strife. He led them beneath the overshadowing tent of the oneness of humanity. He educated them until they became united and agreed, and through His spirit of conciliation the Roman, Greek, Chaldean and Egyptian were blended in a composite civilization. This wonderful power and extraordinary efficacy of the Word prove conclusively the validity of Christ. Consider how His heavenly sovereignty is still permanent and lasting. Verily, this is conclusive proof and manifest evidence. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 367)

"Let the dead bury their dead."(Matthew, 8:22); and 'Those that are born of the flesh are flesh and those that are born of the spirit are spirit." (John 3:6)

The third power of man [next to his soul and mind] is the power of the Spirit. It is an emanation from the Divine Bestower. It is the effulgence of the Sun of Reality, the radiation of the celestial world. In short it is the essence of the Spirit of Faith of which His Holiness Christ speaks when He says, 'Those that are born of the flesh are flesh and those that are born of the spirit are spirit." The spirit is the axis around which the eternal life revolves. It is conducive to everlasting glory; it is the cause of the exultation of the world of humanity. Again His Holiness Christ says, "Whosoever has not received a portion of the spirit is as dead. Let the dead bury their dead." In another place Christ says, "You must be baptized with the spirit." This Spirit is the life of the world of humanity; the cause of eternal illumination. It inspires man to attain to the virtues and perfections of the divine world.
May each one of you become the recipient of the Spirit. This is my hope.

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, a talk given on January 30, 1913, at 30 rue St. Didier Paris; from Persian notes, translated by Ahmad Sohrab; Star of the West, vol. IV, no. 2, April 9, 1913)

Through Christianity the greatness of Moses became known among all nations

Through Christianity the greatness of Moses became known among all nations. It is a fact that before the appearance of Christ, the name of Moses had not been heard in Persia. In India they had no knowledge of Judaism, and it was only through the Christianizing of Europe that the teachings of the Old Testament became spread in that region. Throughout Europe there was not a copy of the Old Testament. But consider this carefully and judge it aright: Through the instrumentality of Christ, through the translation of the New Testament, the little volume of the Gospel, the Old Testament, the Torah, has been translated into six hundred languages and spread everywhere in the world. The names of the Hebrew prophets became household words among the nations, who believed that the children of Israel were, verily, the chosen people of God, a holy nation under the especial blessing and protection of God, and that, therefore, the prophets who had arisen in Israel were the daysprings of revelation and brilliant stars in the heaven of the will of God.

Question: What are the signs of His [Christ’s] coming and how are they fulfilled?

Answer: by George Townshend, Hand of the Cause and former Canon of Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

The signs of the Second Coming of Christ given in the Bible are many and various. Some of them seem to contradict others . All however are reconciled and fulfilled in the Baha'i Faith through the Coming of the Bab and Baha'u'llah.

For example: It is promised that Christ will come with power and great glory, (Mark 13:26), that He shall be as the lightning shining across the heavens from the East to the West (Luke 17:24 and Matt.24:27); and on the other hand that He shall come as "a thief in the night" (Luke 12:39 and I Thess. 5:2) and as a "snare," taking people “unawares.”

These signs are fulfilled today through the unique majesty and range of Baha'u'llah's Message, through His giving it to mankind while imprisoned, through its rapid extension around the globe, through its educative effect upon human minds impelling them towards an understanding of the oneness of mankind, through its breaking up the old material world order and creating a spiritual system throughout the globe instead, and in many other ways. He is the first of all the Revelators t o claim that He represents the Glory of God Himself; others were entitled "Friend of God" (as Abraham), "Interlocutor with God" (as Moses), "Son of God" (as Jesus Christ ) .

How can we be sure that the promises of Christ to return are not merely the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Churches?

Answer by George Townshend:

Jesus said to His disciples, "...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:20)

He also said to His disciples. "...I go away and come again unto you... (John 14:28)

These are two distinct promises. The first refers to His continuing presence through the Holy Spirit. The second to His departure and His return. (George Townshend, Questions About the Second Coming Asked by Baha'is of Kampala, Uganda, Africa: Answers by George Townshend; Wilmette, Baha'i Publishing Committee, 1953)

Is there anything in the Bible to prove that religion must be in agreement with our reason?

Answer by George Townshend:

Yes. Isaiah shows that God Himself wishes man to reason with Him. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord ..." (Isa. 1:18)

Peter, too, wrote ". . .be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you . . .” ( I Pet. 3:15)

Paul likewise wrote, "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good." (I Thess. 5:21) He acted accordingly himself when "...he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." (Acts 18:4), and again when he "...three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures." (Acts 17:2)

Jesus Christ taught men to use reason to support fait h when He said, "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field , which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matt. 6:30) (Also see Luke 12:27)
(George Townshend, Questions About the Second Coming Asked by Baha'is of Kampala, Uganda, Africa: Answers by George Townshend; Wilmette,Baha'i Publishing Committee, 1953)

The story of creation in Genesis

… we read in Genesis, in the Old Testament, that the lifetime of creation is but six thousand years. Now this has a meaning. This is not to be taken literally. For instance, it is said in the Old Testament, in the first day such and such a thing was created -- in the first day! Then the narrative shows that the sun was not yet created! How could we conceive of a day if there were no sun created? For the day depends upon the existence of the sun. While no creation of the sun was yet made, how then was the first day realized? Therefore, these things have significance other than literal. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from an address given at the Theosophical Society, 2228 Broadway, New York City, December 4, 1912; Star of the West, vol. VII, no. 8, August 1, 1916)

The verse in the Bible: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness

The truth is that all mankind are the creatures and servants of one God, and in His estimate all are human. Man is a generic term applying to all humanity. The biblical statement "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" does not mean that woman was not created. The image and likeness of God apply to her as well. In Persian and Arabic there are two distinct words translated into English as man: one meaning man and woman collectively, the other distinguishing man as male from woman the female. The first word and its pronoun are generic, collective; the other is restricted to the male. This is the same in Hebrew. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 76)

The Gathering of Disciples after the Crucifixion of Christ

After the departure of His Holiness to the Supreme Paradise, the disciples who had followed His teachings met together in consultation upon the summit of a mountain near Jaffa. Such a consultation was never before held. They said to each other, "His Holiness Jesus Christ has been crucified. He offered His life in this way, gave up His rest and comfort, forfeited His happiness, renounced His possessions, family and life, and quaffed the chalice of martyrdom. He educated us in order that we might arise after Him in His Cause. He sacrificed His life that the oil in the lamps of our souls might become ignited and His Light shine forth from them. He suffered on the cross that we may irrigate the tree of His planting. He consented to a cruel death in order that the seed of His sowing might be cultivated and preserved by us. Now must we be loyal to His Holiness. If we wish to be loyal we must arise to carry out the duties of loyalty. Otherwise each of us will continue to seek after his own livelihood, rest and comfort; each, like other people, find repose, enjoy a family, have a household, provide food and strive to gain glory and power. Shall we do this?”

Some Prophets mentioned in the Qur’an

Verily we have revealed to thee as we revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him, and as we revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and to David gave we Psalms.

Of some apostles we have told thee before: of other apostles we have not told thee - And discoursing did God discourse with Moses.

Apostles charged to announce and to warn, that men, after those apostles, might have no plea against god. And God is Mighty, Wise!

But God is himself witness of what He hath sent down to thee: In His knowledge hath He sent it down to thee. The angels are also its witnesses; but God is a sufficient witness!

(The Qur’an, Surih Women, translated by Rodwell)

Requirement to become a real follower of Christ

"As Christ said to a rich man: 'Go, and give all you have, and take up your cross and come and be My follower.' (Mark 10:24) This saying of Christ's indicates that unless one is free from everything, one cannot be a real follower of Christ." (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, recorded by Juliet Thompson during her visit in Akka, The Diary of Juliet Thompson, p. 36)

Baha'is love and revere Jesus

Our belief in Christ, as Bahá'ís, is so firm, so unshakable and so exalted in nature that very few Christians are to be found now-a-days who love Him and reverence Him and have the faith in Him that we have. It is only from the dogmas and creeds of the churches that we dissociate ourselves; not from the spirit of Christianity. (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís of Vienna, June 24, 1947; Lights of Guidance, p. 159)