More for you Ahang dearest
http://www.twincitiesbahai.org/christian.htm
In just over 100 years, the Bah�'� Faith has become the second most
widespread of the world's independent religions. Embracing more than five
million members from at least 2,100 ethnic, racial and tribal groups, it is
quite likely the most diverse organized body of people on the planet.
The Faith's founder, Bah�'u'll�h (1817 - 1892), claims to be the
latest in a series of Guides through whom the divine Christ-spirit has
shepherded humanity toward redemption, and whose inspiration has been the
chief civilizing force in history. Today, says Bah�'u'll�h, we have at last
entered the "time of the end" foretold in the Bible. Bah�'�s see in today's
worldwide tribulations a divinely driven process that is leading in stages
to the Christ-promised "Kingdom of God on earth". Just as Jesus proclaimed
the gospel of personal salvation through which society (as well as the
individual) will be reborn in the image and likeness of God.
Bah�'u'll�h opens His message to the Christian community with these
words:
"Followers of the Gospel, behold the gates of heaven are flung open. He that
had ascended unto it is now come. Give ear to His voice calling aloud over
land and sea, announcing to all mankind the advent of this Revelation - a
Revelation through the agency of which the Tongue of Grandeur is now
proclaiming: "Lo, the sacred pledge hath been fulfilled, for He, the
Promised One, is come!" (WOB 104)
Many Christians are attracted to the Bah�'� Faith by its openness and
universal vision, as well as by the Christ-like way in which Bah�'u'll�h
withstood 40 years of agonizing persecution. This growing interest naturally
evokes curiosity as to how Bah�'�s view basic Christian doctrines.
Following are some of the questions most frequently asked about the
Bah�'� attitude toward Christianity, along with brief replies base on the
teachings of Bah�'u'll�h. Those seeking more detailed answers will find them
in such Bah�'� sacred texts as The Book of Certitude by Bah�'u'll�h and Some
Answered Questions by 'Abdu'l Bah� (His son and authorized Interpreter).
Useful secondary sources include Preparing for a Bah�'� - Christian
Dialogue, a three-volume work by Michael Sours (Oxford: Oneworld
Publications), and He Cometh with Clouds: A Bah�'� View of Christ' Return,
by Gary L. Matthews (Oxford: George Ronald, Publisher).
Do Bah�'�s believe in the Bible?
What do Bah�'�s believe about Jesus Christ?
Do Bah�'�s believe Christ was the Son of God?
Doesn't the Bible also say Jesus Himself was God?
What about the Trinity?
Do Bah�'�s believe Christ rose from the dead?
So do Bah�'�s believe in an afterlife?
Do Bah�'�s believe in Satan?
What is the relationship between Christ and Bah�'u'll�h ?
when you gp tpo
http://www.twincitiesbahai.org/christian.htm
and click on these questions answers appear which none can dispute with
In over 200 places in the New Testament there is reference to the "end of
the age", the time which Jesus speaks of as the time of His return, or of
the appearance of "The Spirit of Truth". At the same time, Jesus warned that
there would be many false prophets, who would come in His name and would
deceive many. In order that people would be able to distinguish the real
"Son of Man" from the false prophets, Jesus gave a sign:
"Beware of false prophets.... Ye shall know them by their fruits..... Every
good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit.... Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
(Matthew 7: 15-20)
Christ also gave three promises which would mark out the time when His
Spirit would return. These are: that His Gospel would be preached in every
land, that the expulsion of the Jews from Palestine would be ended, and that
Daniel's prophecy about the "abomination of desolation" would be fulfilled.
The First Promise
"And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness ..... then shall the end come." (Matthew 24: 14)
The early part of the nineteenth century saw the foundation of missionary
societies which translated the Bible into many languages and began a huge
operation to spread the news of Jesus into every remaining country. In 1842
missionaries reached China, and organised efforts to proclaim the Gospel in
Central Africa began in 1844.
The Second Promise
"Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the
Gentiles be fulfilled.... And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory." (Luke 21: 24,27)
The Jewish revolt against Roman rule ended in A.D. 70, when Jerusalem fell
to the Roman armies, and the Temple was destroyed. This was the start of the
abomination of desolation, in which the Temple was "trodden down by the
Gentiles". The Jews were expelled from Palestine, and this situation lasted
up until A.D. 1844. In that year, the Turkish Empire proclaimed the Edict of
Toleration, which allowed the Jews to live in their original homeland.
The Third Promise
"The disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these
things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming? [and He answered]
".....When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of
by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him
understand)." (Matthew 24: 3,15)
This refers to chapters 8 to 12 of the Book of Daniel where prophecies can
be found which appear to give the dates for the first and second coming of
Christ. Biblical scholars believe that every "day" referred to in these
texts should be understood as meaning a year. One point of reference given
by Daniel concerns the rebuilding of Jerusalem, long before the Romans again
destroyed it. From 457 B.C., when the decree to rebuild Jerusalem went out,
Daniel prophesies 70 weeks (490 days) until the "cutting off" (crucifixion)
of the Messiah. The exact birth date of Jesus is unknown, but it is believed
that he was crucified in about 33 A.D., which would be 490 years after the
decree.
Daniel also prophesies 2300 "days" until the sanctuary is cleansed, and the
abomination of desolation - the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem - is
ended. From 457 B.C., this arrives at A.D. 1844.
The Place
In the vision which contained these prophecies, Daniel saw himself as being
in the land of Elam, later called Persia. The prophet Jeremiah also states:
"And I will set my throne in Elam (Persia) .... saith the Lord". (Jeremiah
49:38)
Ezekiel likewise looked to the East of Palestine:
"And the Glory of the Lord came into the house by way of the gate whose
prospect is toward the east". (Ezekiel 43:4)
The Fulfilment
On May 22nd, 1844, a young man in Shiraz, Persia, declared to His first
disciple that He was the Gate to God's new age, and that the Promised One of
all religions would soon appear. The young man took the name of the B�b,
(meaning Door or Gate). His radical teachings soon led to His imprisonment,
and He was publicly executed in 1850. Before His execution, the B�b sent His
pen-case and seals to one of His followers, a young nobleman known as
Bah�'u'll�h, ("The Glory Of God"). Bah�'u'll�h in turn was thrown into
prison, and while in the dungeon received a revelation from God that He was
the Promised One of all religions. For the rest of His earthly life, He was
a prisoner and an exile, but every exile served to fulfil further
prophecies. First, he was exiled to Baghdad, in Iraq.
As prophesied in Micah, He was exiled to Palestine "from Assyria" (part of
modern Iraq), passing "from the fortified cities", "from sea to sea", "from
mountain to mountain", and arriving "in a desolate land".
Bah�'u'll�h's own title, "The Glory of the Lord" or "The Glory of God", is
prophesied by Isaiah, by Ezekiel and by St. John. Isaiah says:
"....Behold your God will come .....He will come and save you... the
excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the Glory of God." (Isaiah
35: 4,2)
On His last banishment, Bah�'u'll�h was sent to the Holy Land, to the prison
city of Akka. This faces Mount Carmel, extolled by Isaiah as the "Mountain
of The Lord", which overlooks the plain of Sharon. In His last years He was
allowed a limited freedom, and dwelt on the Plain of Akka, even pitching His
tent on Carmel. In all this, He was fulfilling prophecies of the Old
Testament.
Those who have recognised the B�b and Bah�'u'll�h as fulfilling the
prophecies of the Bible are known by the new name of Bah�'�s. The Book of
Revelation states that there will be a "new name":
"I will write upon him (that overcometh) my new name." (Revelation 3: 12)
Bah�'u'll�h died in exile in the Holy Land, and His mortal remains are
buried near Akka. The Bah�'� World Centre is established on Mount Carmel,
near to the Shrine of the B�b. Pilgrims now flow here from all parts of the
globe, in fulfilment of prophecy. They come from a Bah�'� community which is
now several million strong, and is spread in every single country of the
world.
"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 it shall be
exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it." (Micah 4:1)
By their fruits ye shall know them
Bah�'u'll�h has brought two kinds of fruit: this united, world-wide
community, and His teachings themselves. These include the teaching that all
the prophets of God are one in spirit, and all teach the religion of God.
Each Divine Messenger builds on the teachings already given to us, and then
gives us further guidance for the new age. He teaches that there is but one
true God, that all mankind should worship. He teaches that humanity is one
family, and that all restrictions of nation, race, language and class are
barriers which prevent the will of God being carried out.
"The time foreordained unto the people and kindreds of the earth is now
come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been
fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the law of God, and Jerusalem, and
the hills and lands thereof, are filled with the glory of His
Revelation...This is the Day which the Pen of the Most High hath glorified
in all the Holy Scriptures."
http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/return.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ahang Rabbani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Baha'i Studies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: 06 August 2003 11:52
Subject: Pamphlet for Christians
>
> I'm overseas and have ran into a situation where I need a pamphlet
suitable
> for devout Christians. If you happen to have something electronically
that
> you could email me in the next day, that would be super good.
>
> Also, I want to share a copy of Baha'u'llah's Lawh-i Aqdas with this new
> seeker. Does anyone have a good intro that I could pass along with it?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> ahang.
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