Trailblazer
Veteran Member
As I see it, Christ was the Messiah and Baha'u'llah was the return of the Messiah promised in the New Testament, the Second Coming. Both Jesus and Baha'u'llah were the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, but Jesus only partially fulfilled the OT prophecies. Baha'u'llah fulfilled the remainder of the OT prophecies or they will be fulfilled during the Messianic Age as a result of His Coming. Baha'u'llah also fulfilled the New Testament prophecies, the promises of Jesus.This passage from Hebrews 9:24-28 tells us, I believe, that there is only one Messiah.
'For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.'
Christ came to bear the sins of many. That was necessary for humanity, but now that mission has been accomplished.....So, if you believe that Jesus was resurrected, and that he resides at the right hand of God the Father, why do you need another Messiah?
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.....
So now humanity needs to move on to the next stage of its spiritual evolution, and that is related to what Jesus said:
John 16:12-14 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
What I just posted on another thread explains why humanity needs a new Messenger of God in every age:
According to my beliefs, God has no need for a religion because God has no needs, since God is self-sufficient and self-sustaining. As such, religions are revealed by God through His Messengers solely for human benefit. The following passage describes the nature of religion according to my beliefs.
“And now concerning thy question regarding the nature of religion. Know thou that they who are truly wise have likened the world unto the human temple. As the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it, so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by God. Whenever this robe hath fulfilled its purpose, the Almighty will assuredly renew it. For every age requireth a fresh measure of the light of God. Every Divine Revelation hath been sent down in a manner that befitted the circumstances of the age in which it hath appeared.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 81
I believe that there is only one eternal religion of God which has been revealed in various chapters throughout human history. Whenever a Revelation from God has fulfilled its purpose it is renewed. The way it is renewed is that God sends a new Messenger with a new Divine Revelation that is suited to the age in which it was revealed. Humanity and the world we live in is not static but rather changes over time. Why then would religion be static?