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Stephen Gray asks:
<<Does the Baha'i Faith have a stance on wether or not there will be Baha'i
dependent prophets like during the Old Testament times (ie Issiah, Jeremiah,
Ezra, Nehemiah, Obadiah, Zafaniah, Zekariah,=A0Samuel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel,
etc.)of the Dispensation of Moses? Jensenites say yes, but I do not know
if the Universal House of Justice has ever discuccesd the issue of dependent
prophecy in the Baha'i Faith. >>
While to my knowledge in the literature I have read, the Baha'i Writings
do not expressly answer the question you have asked, the answer is
clearly given by implication.
After many Major Prophets, there is often a series of Minor Prophets,
such as those you have listed. However, in this Day, guidance is instead
provided by the Covenant of Abdu'l-Baha, which directs the believers to
seek their guidance from the Guardian and the Universal House of
Justice. "All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause
and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is
indeed in grievous error." These are the last words of the Will and
Testament of Abdu'l-Baha. I understand this to clearly state that there
will be no other sources of guidance during this Dispensation, other
than the House of Justice and the Guardian.
“As regards the meaning of the Baha'i Covenant: The Guardian considers
the existence of two forms of Covenant both of which are explicitly
mentioned in the literature of the Cause. First is the covenant that
every prophet makes with humanity or, more definitely, with His people
that they will accept and follow the coming Manifestation who will be
the reappearance of His reality. The second form of Covenant is such as
the one Baha'u'llah made with His people that they should accept the
Master. This is merely to establish and strengthen the succession of the
series of Lights that appear after every Manifestation. Under the same
category falls the Covenant the Master made with the Baha'is that they
should accept His administration after Him....” (From a letter on behalf
of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer dated October 21, 1932, US
Baha'i News #80, January, 1934, pp. 5-6)
In the Dispensation of Moses, the Lesser Prophets were guided by Him,
i.e. by Moses.
In this Dispensation, the House of Justice and Guardian are guided by
both the Bab and Baha'u'llah.
“The Guardian's infallibility covers interpretation of the Revealed Word
and its application. Likewise any instructions he may issue having to do
with the protection of the Faith, or its well being must be closely
obeyed, as he is infallible in the protection of the Faith. He is
assured the guidance of both Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb, as the Will and
Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá clearly reveals." (From a letter written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, August 20, 1956;
Lights of Guidance, 2nd edition, p. 313, #1055)
(The passage to which Shoghi Effendi refers, quoted here, also states
that the Universal House of Justice is assured the guidance of both
Baha'u'llah and the Bab:)
/The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of God as
well as the Universal House of Justice, to be universally elected and
established, are both under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty,
under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One
..." /(The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Baha, p. 11)
I hope this is of service to you.
Brent
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