-----Original Message----- From: Brent Poirier ... I also agree with Khazeh, that the Lesser and Greater Covenants of the Bab may be conflated into one, in the sense that turning the believers eyes towards Him Whom God will manifest was designed both to lead the Babis to the next Manifestation, and also to keep His community united for the duration of the Babi Dispensation.
Dear Brent, Regarding The Lesser and Greater Covenants of the Bab perhaps merging or coinciding in Baha'u'llah's leadership of the Babi community, I think I read somewhere that the vast majority (maybe over 95%) of Babis ended up accepting Baha'u'llah, and that this was a great Babi proof of the veracity of Baha'ullah's claim, since the Bab had written that no one except the true "Him Whom God will make manifest" could possibly succeed in such a claim. The Bab was able to describe Baha'u'llah as One who would be made "manifest", or clearly visible. And, in accordance with the request of the Bab, Baha'u'llah delayed the declaration of His mission until nineteen years after the declaration of the Bab, apparently in order to maximize the number of Babis who would be enabled to recognize and accept Baha'u'llah: "And though no doubt is there about it, do Thou grant a respite of nineteen years as a token of Thy favour so that those who have embraced this Cause may be graciously rewarded by Thee." --- Vaughn Referring to those who might arise and announce themselves as the Promised One of the Bayan, the B�b confidently asserted that should anyone falsely claim this station He would be powerless to sustain it, as he would be unable to reveal the Word of God which is the greatest proof of 'Him Whom God shall make manifest'. Nevertheless, for the sake of honouring the station of 'Him Whom God shall make manifest', He ordained that if �301� a person were to claim this station, he should be left to himself; no one should oppose him or object to his words. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 1, p. 300) This is a letter from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, unto God, the Almighty, the Best Beloved, to �<7>� affirm that the Bayan and such as bear allegiance to it are but a present from me unto Thee and to express my undoubting faith that there is no God but Thee, that the kingdoms of Creation and Revelation are Thine, that no one can attain anything save by Thy power and that He Whom Thou hast raised up is but Thy servant and Thy Testimony. I, indeed, beg to address Him Whom God shall make manifest, by Thy leave in these words: 'Shouldst Thou dismiss the entire company of the followers of the Bayan in the Day of the Latter Resurrection by a mere sign of Thy finger even while still a suckling babe, Thou wouldst indeed be praised in Thy indication. And though no doubt is there about it, do Thou grant a respite of nineteen years as a token of Thy favour so that those who have embraced this Cause may be graciously rewarded by Thee. Thou art verily the Lord of grace abounding. Thou dost indeed suffice every created thing and causest it to be �8� independent of all things, while nothing in the heavens or on the earth or that which lieth between them can ever suffice Thee.' (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 6-7) ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
