Signs for our times

[TransmutingSoul]

The purpose of this OP in a debate section is to allow for alternate input, at the same time offer what I see is unfolding in the world as per a Baha'i veiwpoint. (This is not official Baha'i viewpoint but a personal understanding of my observations)

In the early 1990's Abdul'baha gave a future vision of how the Baha'i Faith would unfold. There is foreseen a time where the Faith will face fierce opposition, to which I see is yet to happen. This is in part what was offered;

"..... Ere long shall the clamor of the multitude throughout Africa, throughout America, the cry of the European and of the Turk, the groaning of India and China, be heard from far and near..."

I watch the news this morning and see what is happening as a result of Covid-19 and wonder if the time may be soon that is reflected in that passge. The above passage then continues,

".... One and all, they shall arise with all their power to resist His Cause.... "

So is it the dawn of that time? is RF reflection how people now see the Message given by Baha'u'llah?

It is the passage offered before that sets the scene,

“How great, how very great is the Cause! How very fierce the onslaught of all the peoples and kindreds of the earth."

I have always wondered if that passage unfolds by humanity practicing their own will, rather than what God has will has ordained. I also am amazed of how it unfolds when we read the closing passage of that quote.

"Stupendous as is the struggle which His words foreshadow, they also testify to the complete victory which the upholders of the Greatest Name are destined eventually to achieve. Peoples, nations, adherents of divers faiths, will jointly and successively arise to shatter its unity, to sap its force, and to degrade its holy name. They will assail not only the spirit which it inculcates, but the administration which is the channel, the instrument, the embodiment of that spirit. For as the authority with which Bahá’u’lláh has invested the future Bahá’í Commonwealth becomes more and more apparent, the fiercer shall be the challenge which from every quarter will be thrown at the verities it enshrines.."

So if you are a person of Faith or no Faith, these predictions will be relavant to you, if you see the Baha'i Faith is showing that it has many answers that others are not offering.

There can be 3 positions. For, on the fence and against!

To me the against voice is yet to be heard to the extent I see may be required.

The full quote;
Bahá'í Reference Library - The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, Pages 17-18

Then again, that is just me.

What about you? What do you see unfolding in the near future?

Be safe, be happy Regards Tony

 

[Tambourine]

What about you? What do you see unfolding in the near future?

Just the same old nonsense, over and over. Die ewige Wiederkehr des Gleichen.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Just the same old nonsense, over and over. Die ewige Wiederkehr des Gleichen.

Then would you agree it is time for us to not do the nonsense over and over?

Regards Tony

 

[danieldemol]

To me the against voice is yet to be heard to the extent I see may be required.

So basically it is a prophecy that has largely gone unfulfilled?

 

[Dawnofhope]

Perception about world affairs can be a very subjective matter. The equality of men and women, the oneness of humanity, the removal of barriers and prejudice in regards ethnicities and religion, greater emphasis on human rights and unprecedented levels of international cooperation are all Baha’i principles and positive movements that have gained momentum since ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words. The world early in the nineteenth century was largely ruled by European colonial powers. That state of affairs had dramatically and permanently changed after two world wars and a worldwide economic depression.

 

[MNoBody]

It would be interesting to see what this group has as information about ideas as to potentials.....
If you wish to post it, it would be informative.
Thanks Tony.

 

[Nakosis]

Don't really see the Bahá’í community as much of a force for anything. Other than here on RF I never hear anything about them.

Just not much of a player in the shaping of our future.

 

[Trailblazer]

Don't really see the Bahá’í community as much of a force for anything. Other than here on RF I never hear anything about them.

Just not much of a player in the shaping of our future.

And in my opinion it never will be unless the Baha'is come out from hiding in their own groups and spread the word.

What good are good principles if nobody knows about them?

 

[TransmutingSoul]

So basically it is a prophecy that has largely gone unfulfilled?

I see it can be seen to have been continually fulfilled and may very well be on the way to being further fulfilled.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Don't really see the Bahá’í community as much of a force for anything. Other than here on RF I never hear anything about them.

Just not much of a player in the shaping of our future.

That is a good observation.

I see that God's Will unfolds on many fronts and an interesting thing we can note in history, is that it takes time for many minds to embrace a new Faith.

When that time comes, the Faith then shapes Nations.

I see in this age it will become universal with all Nations participating.

Regards Tony

 

[Deeje]

What about you? What do you see unfolding in the near future?

Since God gave Daniel information about the March of world powers 500 years before Jesus walked the earth, it was hardly a secret to those in the spirit realm as to when the close of the age would come.

Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar saw a huge image in a dream sent by God. It was made of different metals, each less precious than the one before. (Daniel ch 2)

Daniel told the King that he (Babylon) represented “the head of gold”....but this dynasty would be overthrown by a man named years in advance....Cyrus, the king of Medo-Persia (silver) as the Bible describes in detail.

Medo-Persia Fell to Alexander the Great, eager to expand his ever growing empire, (copper) but upon his death at a relatively young age, four of his generals took over a divided empire.

Then came the military superiority of Rome (iron) which was in power when Jesus was present on earth, but he foretold that Jerusalem would continue to be trampled on by gentile nations until those appointed times were fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

Out of the ashes of Rome, came Britannia, and in “the time of the end” Britain would join forces with her former defectors....the USA. These final rulers were portrayed by iron and clay not mixing together.....their rulership in this period would be partly strong but weakened by a democratic approach to government. ‘People power’ sapped the control of government, leaving it to what we see in this day and age....the people themselves at odds with each other. But this is where the line ends....there are no more world powers to come, except an attempt to unite the world in a single government....it will promise “peace and security” but it will fail completely......(1 Thessalonians 5:3)

What happens next is amazing....suddenly and unexpectedly, God will act by sending his son to judge mankind and establish kingdom rule here on earth. (Matthew 24:43-44)

Daniel 2:44...
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever”.

This is the Kingdom Jesus taught his disciples to pray for...
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.

This kingdom has been coming since man’s defection in Eden.
Since that time, every human on earth has been tested as to their qualifying to live in that future kingdom.
Mankind has been vainly trying to find a system of self government that actually brings peace and security to the earth, but each one has failed.

Jesus himself warned about false “christs”.....(Matthew 24:5) He said that they would “mislead many”. What does it mean to be misled?

When Jesus walked the earth, the people living in that region knew who he claimed to be, and by word of mouth, they flocked to hear him speak...sometimes thousands at a time. He fed them and cured all their illnesses....and even raised the dead. As one sent from God, he was hard to deny.

I do not see any connection between Christ and your prophet, whose name I can never even pronounce.

Those who would proclaim Christ’s return would also be well known for participating in the work that Jesus said would be accomplished in this time period. (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20) Who is doing what Jesus commanded? (Matthew 10:11-14)

TBH, I had not really heard about Baha’i until I came here. Most people, I would say, don’t have a clue who you are or what you believe.....but coming here and listening to your views, I have to wonder how Baha’i can claim Jesus as part of their belief system, and how you can claim all the prophets from other faiths are somehow from the same God who demanded that his worshippers have “no other gods but him” (Exodus 20:3)......all I can say is that “the god of this world” would love you to believe that it doesn’t matter what god you worship (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).....because all worship that does not go to the true God, goes to his adversary by default. He is the only other ‘wannabe god’ in existence.

But it’s an invitation only arrangement (John 6:65) The invitation is from Jesus and his Father alone.

What better way to hoodwink a population than to convince them that their enemy does not really exist.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

But it’s an invitation only arrangement (John 6:65) The invitation is from Jesus and his Father alone.

Agreed, 100%

What better way to hoodwink a population than to convince them that their enemy does not really exist.

What greater choice do we have, than to know the enemy is our own self.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

But this is where the line ends....there are no more world powers to come, except an attempt to unite the world in a single government....it will promise “peace and security” but it will fail completely......(1 Thessalonians 5:3)

I see this view fits this OP perfectly, I would say, knowing the views of my JW friends, that the JW would definitely play a part in the unfolding of the verses quoted in the OP post.

Good thing is, you know we will only offer you all peace and goodwill.

Regards Tony

 

[Dawnofhope]

Don't really see the Bahá’í community as much of a force for anything. Other than here on RF I never hear anything about them.

Just not much of a player in the shaping of our future.

There are about 5 million Baha’is worldwide so similar size to a country such as Ireland, Denmark or New Zealand. Its true we are not one of the major religions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism. Then again not everyone lives in the most populated countries. Nonetheless we can and do exert enormous influence at times, sometimes in stark contrast to our relatively small size. Even the big religions were small and obscure once. Many of the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith such as the oneness of humanity, the abolition of all prejudices based on race, religion and nationality, the necessity for global cooperation and development and the equality of men and women are very much mainstream.

 

[Sirona]

Many of the Teachings of the Baha’i Faith such as the oneness of humanity, the abolition of all prejudices based on race, religion and nationality, the necessity for global cooperation and development and the equality of men and women are very much mainstream.

In the privileged countries of the West. And sometimes not even there. See Black Lives Matter.
If I look at the situation of the Baha'is in Iran, and at the situation of dissidents in Muslim countries in general, for example, there's not so much of "abolition of prejudice" or "equality of men and women".

 

[TransmutingSoul]

In the privileged countries of the West. And sometimes not even there. See Black Lives Matter.
If I look at the situation of the Baha'is in Iran, and at the situation of dissidents in Muslim countries in general, for example, there's not so much of "abolition of prejudice" or "equality of men and women".

Baha'u'llah has said the dedication of the Baha'i in Iran, in maintaining the standard of the teachings during the years of persecution would feed the growth of the faith around the world. It was also offered, if the enemies were to continue with the attempt to conceal the Message of Baha'u'llah, that it would be raised in the midmost heart of the ocean.

"Recalling the promise of Bahá’u’lláh “Should they attempt to conceal His light on the continent, He will assuredly rear His head in the midmost heart of the ocean and, raising His voice, proclaim: ‘I am the lifegiver of the world!’” we now witness its fulfillment in the vast area of the Pacific Ocean, in island after island mentioned by the Master in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. How great is the potential for the Faith in localities blessed by these references!" (May 1971 – To the Friends of God assembled in the Conference of the South Pacific Ocean) www.bahai.org/r/674273768

As i see it, It is happening as promised.

Regards Tony

 

[Dawnofhope]

In the privileged countries of the West. And sometimes not even there. See Black Lives Matter.
If I look at the situation of the Baha'is in Iran, and at the situation of dissidents in Muslim countries in general, for example, there's not so much of "abolition of prejudice" or "equality of men and women".

I wouldn’t deny for a moment there is a great deal of work to be done in the areas of gender and racial equality. It is important to acknowledge the enormous progress that’s been made over the last century. Slavery has been abolished in most parts of the world, women are free to participate in most democracies and minority races have freedoms and opportunities at levels not seen before. Access to education and health care has led to vast improvements in socioeconomic development in most places. Life expectancy has increased along with levels of education and prosperity.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

It would be interesting to see what this group has as information about ideas as to potentials.....
If you wish to post it, it would be informative.
Thanks Tony.

I see the potential of man is unlimited, but it first requires a unity of mind and purpose.

"The hallmark of this approaching age of maturity is the unification of the human race. Shoghi Effendi writes that, while unity “of family, of tribe, of city-state, and nation have been successively attempted and fully established” world-encompassing unity is “the goal towards which a harassed humanity is striving.” In another passage, he refers to “the inauguration of a world civilization such as no mortal eye hath ever beheld or human mind conceived.” He asks: “Who is it that can imagine the lofty standard which such a civilization, as it unfolds itself, is destined to attain? Who can measure the heights to which human intelligence, liberated from its shackles, will soar? Who can visualize the realms which the human spirit, vitalized by the outpouring light of Bahá’u’lláh, shining in the plenitude of its glory, will discover?”

Regards Tony

 

[Sirona]

That is a good observation.

I see that God's Will unfolds on many fronts and an interesting thing we can note in history, is that it takes time for many minds to embrace a new Faith.

When that time comes, the Faith then shapes Nations.

I see in this age it will become universal with all Nations participating.

Regards Tony

I see everybody having a flying car, and happily flying around with it. I see cities with 1000-storey skyscrapers, with myriads of people happy flying in between them in their shiny new air-cars. I have no idea how this is going to become true, but it will, because I see it. But maybe I should get myself a better crystal ball.

With all respect due.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

I see everybody having a flying car, and happily flying around with it. I see cities with 1000-storey skyscrapers, with myriads of people happy flying in between them in their shiny new air-cars. I have no idea how this is going to become true, but it will, because I see it. But maybe I should get myself a better crystal ball.

With all respect due.

Yes indeed, a good quality crystal ball would be a good investment.

This one is $175 AU in good old America and $5 AU in good old Brittan

Regards Tony