Baha'i Prophecies about Iran, Israel, the United States & future Baha'i Commonwealth

Nor should a survey of the outstanding features of so blessed and fruitful a ministry omit mention of the prophecies which the unerring pen of the appointed Center of Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant has recorded. These foreshadow the fierceness of the onslaught that the resistless march of the Faith must provoke in the West, in India and in the Far East when it meets the time-honored sacerdotal orders of the Christian, the Buddhist and Hindu religions. They foreshadow the turmoil which its emancipation from the fetters of religious orthodoxy will cast in the American, the European, the Asiatic and African continents. They foreshadow the gathering of the children of Israel in their ancient homeland; the erection of the banner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Egyptian citadel of Sunni Islam; the extinction of the powerful influence wielded by the Shí'ah ecclesiastics in Persia; the load of misery which must needs oppress the pitiful remnants of the breakers of Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant at the world center of His Faith; the splendor of the institutions which that triumphant Faith must erect on the slopes of a mountain, destined to be so linked with the city of 'Akká that a single grand metropolis will be formed to enshrine the spiritual as well as the administrative seats of the future Bahá'í Commonwealth; the conspicuous honor which the inhabitants of Bahá'u'lláh's native land in general, and its government in particular, must enjoy in a distant future; the unique and enviable position which the community of the Most Great Name in the North American continent must occupy, as a direct consequence of the execution of the world mission which He entrusted to them: finally they foreshadow, as the sum and summit of all, the "hoisting of the standard of God among all nations" and the unification of the entire human race, when "all men will adhere to one religion ... will be blended into one race, and become a single people." (God Passes By, p. 314-6)

(Bahá'í Answers, compiled by Olivia Kelsey, 1947, APPROVED BY THE REVIEWING COMMITTEE OF THENATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA)

https://bahai-library.com/kelsey_bahai_answers

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community assembly hall, schools, a university, a library, scientific research laboratories, hospitals and auxiliary medical units, homes for the aged, the orphaned and the handicapped.

Each town or village would have a community centre at the heart of which would stand the place of worship, a domed, nine-sided building, surrounded by trees, fountains and gardens. This house of worship is known as the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar or Dawning Place of God’s Praise. Other public buildings in the town or village would be the seat of the Local House of Justice, the community assembly hall, schools, a university, a library, scientific research laboratories, hospitals and auxiliary medical units, homes for the aged, the orphaned and the handicapped.

“The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar has important accessories which are accounted of the basic foundations. These are : school for orphan children, hospital and dispensary for the poor, home for the incapable, college for the higher scientific education, and hospice. In every city a great Mashriqu'l-Adhkar must be founded after this order. ... When these institutions, college, hospital, hospice and establishment for the incurables, university for the study of higher sciences, giving post-graduate courses, and other philanthropic building are built, the doors will be opened to all the nations and religions. There will be absolutely no line of demarcation drawn. Its charities will be dispensed irrespective of colour or race. Its gates will be flung wide open to mankind; prejudice towards none, love for all. The central building will be devoted to the purpose of prayer and worship. Thus...religion will become harmonized with science, and science will — be the handmaid of religion, both showering their material and spiritual gifts on all humanity.”

— ‘Abdu 'l-Baha.'

(The Earth Is But One Country - New Revised Edition By John Huddleston)

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Dr. Leland Jensen is the authentic establisher of the Baha'i Faith

As John the Baptist was the forerunner for Jesus the Christ, and as the Bab was the forerunner to Baha'u'llah, likewise, the forerunners for Dr. Leland Jensen were George Williams and the Morrisites. The Deer Lodge Valley was pioneered and settled specifically for his coming. This was so all the people of the world could be assured through this proof, that Dr. Leland Jensen is the authentic establisher of the Baha'i Faith, authorized to re-establish what the Covenant-breaking Hands threw out.

(Over The Wall Of Oppression by John Ardent and edited by R.J. Konczyk and J. Daniel)

https://archive.org/details/over-the-wall-of-oppression

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What is Bada?

Bada is defined as the failing of fulfilment of a prophetic announcement resulting from a change in Divine purpose, though the term literally translates to "appearing in the mind". This concept is illustrated through the story of the Prophet Noah, who repeatedly promised his followers victory at an appointed time; when these promises were not fulfilled as expected, they became "bada". Such occurrences serve as Divine tests to distinguish between those who possess true faith and those who are swayed by outward non-fulfilment, often causing the latter to turn away from the Prophet.

(Extracted from Kitáb-i-Íqán: The Book of Certitude, by Bahá'u'lláh, Translation of Ali Kuli Khan, 1904)

Shoghi Effendi translates "Bada" to "non-fulfillment of the divine promise"

https://bahai-library.com/pschaida_kitab-iqan_interlinear_translation

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Kings and rulers of the world will cast their crowns upon the ground, prostrate themselves to kiss its fragrant earth

This beautiful and majestic path, which extends from the Shrine of the Báb to the City of Haifa in line with the greatest avenue of that blessed city, which is adorned with trees and verdant plants and illumined with bright lights, which is the object of the admiration of the people of this region and a source of joy and pride to the authorities in this land, will subsequently be converted, as foreshadowed by the Centre of the Covenant, into the Pathway of the Kings and Rulers of the World.

These mighty embodiments of kingly power, humble pilgrims to the Sanctuary of the Lord, will, upon their arrival in the Holy Land, first proceed to the Plain of ‘Akká, there to visit and circumambulate the Qiblih of the People of Bahá, the Point around which circle in adoration the Concourse on High. They will then make their way to this august and venerated city, and climb the slopes of Mount Carmel. With the utmost rapture, ardour and devotion, they will hasten towards this Sacred Spot and, with reverence and submissiveness, humility and lowliness, ascend these terraces to approach the luminous precincts of the sanctified and holy Shrine. Reaching the threshold of the Sanctuary of Grandeur, they will cast their crowns upon the ground, prostrate themselves to kiss its fragrant earth and, circling around its hallowed arcade, call out ‘Here am I, here am I, O Thou Who art the Exalted, the Most Exalted One!’ and recite in tones of fervent supplication the perspicuous Verses of the Tablet of Carmel.

Thereafter they will walk over the spacious lawns and through the wondrous gardens of this sublime and holy spot, this garden of the Exalted Paradise, will inhale its fragrant scents and taste of its choice and luscious fruits. They will, with tearful eyes and burning hearts, call to mind the pain and suffering, each affliction and calamity, the duress, imprisonment and martyrdom which befell that Wronged One of the world, will behold, with their own eyes, on every hand in this exalted Spot, the glory of Carmel and the evidences of the compelling might and greatness, the invincibility, the all-encompassing dominion of the Conqueror of the worlds, and will praise and glorify the Lord of Carmel.

- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated Naw-Ruz 108 B.E. to the friends in the East, authorized translation from the Persian; Baha’i News, October 1990)

(Quoted in SHOGHI EFFENDI: THE RANGE AND POWER OF HIS PEN by ‘Ali Nakhjavani, 2006)

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establishing a Baha'i Court in the Holy Land... this goal remained unfulfilled.

Shoghi Effendi, towards the end of 1950, appointed a body of men and women to support him in his work. He named this institution the International Baha'i Council. He assigned the members of the International Baha'i Council such duties as forging ties with the government of the newly emerged state of Israel, helping him in the construction of the Bab’s Shrine, and conducting negotiations with the civil authorities about the possibility of Baha'i laws of personal status being officially recognized in the Holy Land. Shoghi Effendi explained that the appointed International Baha'i Council would pass through several stages in its evolution. The appointed Council was to become an appointed International Baha'i Court. The appointed Court would cease to exist, and then the Universal House of Justice would be elected.

[... after the death of Shoghi Effendi]

One of the duties that the Hands of the Cause gave to this International Baha'i Council was to continue the work of investigating the possibility of establishing a Baha'i Court in the Holy Land. The members had to bear in mind that Shoghi Effendi had repeatedly said that we would have a religious court on one condition only: it should have the same rights as the other religious courts, as the Baha'is should have equal status with the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims in the country. If we weren’t given equal status, we wouldn’t accept. The members of the elected International Council started going to Jerusalem. They must have gone about 20 times to meet with different ministers, the Prime Minister, and the President. However, it was not possible to establish a Baha'i Court that would have equal rights with the others. Shoghi Effendi had been correct in his anticipation of this outcome, and so this goal remained unfulfilled. However, this does not mean that we have given up. If at any time it would be possible to do so, no doubt the Universal House of Justice will take action.

(SHOGHI EFFENDI: THE RANGE AND POWER OF HIS PEN by ‘Ali Nakhjavani, 2006)

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A mutual language - prophecy?

A mutual language will become the mightiest means of a universal progress toward the union of the East and the West. It will make the earth one home, and become the divine impulse for human advancement. It will upraise the standard of oneness in the world of humanity, and make the earth a universal commonwealth. It will be the cause of love between the children of men and create good fellowship between the various creeds.

(Abdul Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 111)

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Apocalyptic concerns and the Baha'i faith

‘Abdu’l-Bahá had predicted World War I and called it “Armageddon,”…a number of Baha’is in the 1950s evidently had apocalyptic concerns (Piff 2000, 122–30;Piff and Warburg 2003), the extent of these beliefs is unknown, and there is no evidence that such concerns dominated the community as a whole (Collins 2002b, 10–11). By contrast, the small (mostly American) sectarian Remeyite Baha’i splinter groups that developed after Shoghi Effendi's death in 1957 often held strong apocalyptic millennialist beliefs. [These groups originated with the claims of a senior Baha’i leader, Charles Mason Remey (1874–1974) to be Shoghi Effendi's successor (hence the rubric “Remeyite”). …Remey began to stress the immediacy of a final “great global catastrophe” (Johnson 1974, 362–64). His followers soon split into several contending sects, the most studied of which were the Baha’is Under the Provisions of the Covenant headed by Leland Jensen (d. 1996) from Missoula, Montana… (Balch, Farnsworth, and Wilkins 1983; Balch et al. 1997)] A third episode of apocalyptic expectation developed in the final years of the twentieth century in association with the widespread belief that the Lesser Peace would be established by the year 2000, and the anticipation by some Baha’is that this would be preceded by catastrophic events. While it is not possible to assess the number of Baha’is who held such views, it is of note that the Universal House of Justice felt it necessary to discourage Baha’is from speculating on the subject (Collins2002b, 12–13,17–18).

(Babi and Baha’i Millennialism by Peter Smith, William P. Collins)

https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34365/chapter-abstract/327336096?redirectedFrom=fulltext

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‘Abdu’l-Baha indicated to him that the Shah would be assassinated

When Mirza Mahmud-i-Furughi, an outstanding teacher of the Faith, was on pilgrimage, ‘Abdu’l-Baha indicated to him that the Shah would be assassinated and told him to warn the believers to be on their guard.

In 1896 Nasiri’d-Din Shah was indeed struck down by an assassin on the very eve of his jubilee celebrations. The Baha'is had nothing whatever to do with this deed but memories of the assassination attempt made by three deranged Babis in 1852 were still powerful. In its report the London Times supposed that the murderer was a 'Babi'. Only gradually was it realized that the Baha'is were not responsible.

(Servant of the Glory - The Life of 'Abdu'l-Baha by Mary Perkins)

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India will become a beautiful garden of believers.

Abdul-Baha has said that Bombay will surely advance and that India will become a beautiful garden of believers.

(Star of the West - Oct. 16, 1910)

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Abdul Baha's prophecy about Israel

In the afternoon of February 13th, the American pilgrims held a special memorial meeting, for the departure of Mirza Abul-Fazl, at the holy threshold of the Bab, on Mount Carmel. Abdul-Baha attended the meeting and spent that night at the home of Abbas Kuli, near the blessed tomb. In the morning of February 14th, Abdul-Baha went to the hospice (the home of the pilgrims) close to the tomb of the Báb and sat in the parlor, facing the tomb of Baha'o'llah. He said: "The view from this hospice is very beautiful, especially because it faces the tomb of the Blessed Beauty and Acca. In the future it will all be built up between Acca and Haifa. Acca and Haifa will be joined together and will take the first place in the world. Now, as I glance into the future, I see the greatest port in the world here. This semi-circular bay will be a large harbor for ships, so that the entering boats may be protected from the waves and winds of the storm. This harbor will be filled with ships of the nations. All of these regions will be decorated by buildings and lofty palaces. Many gardens and flower beds will be made. There will be electric lights and from here to Acca will be flooded with them. It will be a wonderful sight, especially at night, for those who come from the sea or who look from the summit of the mountains. From all of these regions, the cry of 'Ya-Baha-el-Abha!', (O Thou Glorious of the Most Glorious!) shall rise. All the souls will come in a state of supplication, imploring and chanting the communes. In every town, the melodies from the Mashrak-el-Azkar on this Mount Carmel, will be most pleasing to the ears.

"It is wonderful! Consider where this Cause was at first and where it is now! And where is Shiraz, Teheran, Bagdad, Roumelia, Constantinople and Acca! These events took place only for the fulfillment of the prophecies of the prophets. God's ways are wonderful. For 2,000 years, he has made the Cause travel here and there, until it reached the spot in which it would fulfill all the prophecies. God will, unquestionably, declare openly the Prince of Peace, of whom he spoke, through the prophets, and he will not erase a single letter."

(Star of the West, Volume 9 - Issue 3)

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Abdul Baha's prophesy

‘Abdu’l-Baha prophesied that Majdu’d-Din (a covenant-breaker) would live a long life to see the triumph of the Cause and the frustration of his evil plots. This prophecy was fulfilled: he lived to be over a hundred years old and saw the birth of the Administrative Order, the child of the Covenant, and the strengthening of its foundations by Shoghi Effendi. Majdu’d-Din died in 1955, two years after the Ten Year Crusade was launched by the Guardian...

(The Covenant of Baha’u’llah by Adib Taherzadeh, p 164)

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UHJ will rule over mankind.

And it is that institution which is assisted today by all the powers of earth and heaven to rule over mankind. And it shall rule over mankind. And a time will come that the kings and rulers of the world will go there and pay homage to the House of Justice. Already, we are told by Shoghi Effendi that this thing will come in its own time. He describes the story of the pilgrim kings in his Persian writings in such eloquent manner that how these kings and rulers of the world will discard their kingdoms. Some of them. Or they will bring their crowns to the thresholds of Baha'u'llah. How they will surrender themselves to Him. How they will pray with the utmost devotion. And how at the end of their pilgrimage, they will go to the House of Justice to receive their instructions of what to do. And this is why when you go to the building of the House of Justice today, there is a magnificent hall, a banquet hall, for the reception of the kings and rulers of the future. And mankind is absolutely asleep about this. Doesn't know what is happening at all. But this is a body that Baha'u'llah has said in His Writings will establish upon this earth the sovereignty of Baha'u'llah. The sovereignty of Baha'u'llah will come into being through the instrumentality of this great institution which has to guide us because Baha'u'llah is guiding it step by step. Every step that they take is guided by Baha'u'llah and we can see it in daily life.

(Adib Taherzadeh, Longtime member of the UHJ)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjuM3JwPy1I

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the cry of 'Ya Baha'u'l-Abha' will be raised from every direction

"Know thou that hardship and privation shall increase day by day, and the people shall thereby be afflicted. The doors of joy and happiness shall be closed on all sides, and terrible wars shall occur. Frustration and despair shall encompass the people until they are forced to turn to the One True God. Then will the light of most joyful tidings so illumine the horizons that the cry of 'Ya Baha'u'l-Abha' will be raised from every direction. This shall come to pass."

('Abdu’l-Bahá: from a Tablet to Isabella D. Brittingham, Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, p. 248, Wilmette 1980, corrected in a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies, January 16, 1984)

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The Bab designates 'Abdu'l-Baha in His writings!

"He who will appear after Him who will appear." This is a reference to 'Abdu'l-Baha in the Báb's writings.
-Moments with Baháʼuʼlláh: Memoirs of the Hand of the Cause of God By Ṭarāz Allāh Samandarī

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"Ex-Baha'is" will spread the message of Baha'u'llah!

Therefore, my purpose is to warn and strengthen you against accusations, criticisms, revilings and derision in newspaper articles or other publications. Be not disturbed by them. They are the very confirmation of the Cause, the very source of upbuilding to the Movement. May God confirm the day when a score of ministers of the churches may arise and with bared heads cry at the top of their voices that the Bahá’ís are misguided. I would like to see that day, for that is the time when the Cause of God will spread. Bahá’u’lláh has pronounced such as these the couriers of the Cause. They will proclaim from pulpits that the Bahá’ís are fools, that they are a wicked and unrighteous people, but be ye steadfast and unwavering in the Cause of God. They will spread the message of Bahá’u’lláh.

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PUP/pup-126.html

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Muslims will suffer for denying Baha'u'llah

March 11. On this date in 1953, Shoghi Effendi said "Just as the Jews have crucified Christ - they suffered 2000 years of persecution - so also will the Moslems suffer a similar fate. The Jews rejected Christ - the Moslems Bahá'u'lláh and His Cause."

https://bahai-library.com/levy_pilgrims_1953

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Baha'u'llah's prophecy of establishment of a Jewish State

Fulfillment of prophecies uttered by Founder of Faith and Center of His Covenant culminating in establishment of Jewish State, signalizing birth after lapse of two thousand years of an independent nation in the Holy Land, the swift unfoldment of historic undertaking associated with construction of superstructure of the Bab's Sepulcher on Mount Carmel, the present adequate maturity of nine vigorously functioning national administrative institutions throughout Baha'i World, combine to induce me to arrive at this historic decision marking most significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in course of last thirty years. Nascent Institution now created is invested with threefold function: first, to forge link with authorities of newly emerged State; second, to assist me to discharge responsibilities involved in erection of mighty superstructure of the Bab's Holy Shrine; third, to conduct negotiations related to matters of personal status with civil authorities.

- Shoghi Effendi

http://www.holy-writings.com/?a=SHOWTEXT&d=%2Fen%2FBahai+Faith%2F1+-+Primary+Sources%2FShoghi+Effendi%2FMessages+to+the+Bahai+World+-+1950-1957.txt

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Men of ill will

There are several statements in the Sacred Scriptures of our Faith which are related to this general subject, and one in particular is found in "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh", ("The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh", p. 117) as follows: "My fears are for Him Who will be sent down unto you after Me Him Who will be invested with great sovereignty and mighty dominion". When a National Assembly wrote to the Guardian, asking about this reference, the following reply was sent on his behalf.

"...this refers to the Manifestation Who is to come after a thousand or more years, Who like all previous Messengers of God will be subjected to persecutions, but will eventually triumph over them. For men of ill will have been and will always continue to be in this world, unless mankind reaches a state of complete and absolute perfection a condition which is not only improbable but actually impossible to attain."

As you see, the persecutions to which the next Manifestation will be subjected will be carried out, according to the above statement, by "men of ill will" who, alas, "will continue to be in this world". There is nothing in the Writings to support the view that the opposition or persecution will be instigated or inflicted by the Universal House of Justice.

https://bahai-library.com/uhj_recognition_next_manifestation

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One thousand years should not be taken literally.

"...as to the meaning of the passage in the 'Íqán' in which Bahá'u'lláh refers to the renewal of the 'City of God' once in about a thousand years: this, as the word about implies, is simply an approximate date, and should not therefore be taken literally."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 29, 1938: Dawn of a New Day, p. 202 & Lights of Guidance, p. 482)

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