AN OPEN EPISTLE TO A SCHOLAR OF THE BAHA'I FAITH
“To none is given the right to protest against anyone concerning that which hath befallen the Cause of God.”
- Baha'u'llah, Tablets, p. 212
Dear Professor,
Thank you very much for writing to us and sending your address.
Enclosed you will find several copies of previous volumes of our Newsletter, as well as “The Most Mighty Document” by Dr. Jensen.
Also at our recent Council meeting, your correspondence was read and another one of the members had mentioned that they had read a recent e-mail of yours on a discussion board pertaining to the Baha'i Faith, which they then shared with us all. We were all very happy to see your deep concerns for the progress of the Faith, and your stated leanings and open-mindedness toward the important issues of the Covenant and successorship.
Recently we have been very busy with many important and deep inquiries from educated thinkers of a Christian background and persuasion who have shown great interest in the Cause as we have shown it to be from a Judeo-Christian background (as Baha'u'llah is the Ancient Root of David's throne- line) opposed to that of the Islamic cultural milieu from which it apparently arose in Persia, as the Bab was a descendant of Muhammad and was the prophet-forerunner for Baha'u'llah, the Davidic King of Kings and Lord of Lords come in the potency of the Everlasting Father seated upon David's throne which is to last forever.
I do not know how familiar you are with the Baha'i writings of Baha'u'llah, ‘Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi which pertain to the Davidic origin and Davidic Kingship of the line of Aghsan that shall continue for ever, or the facts surrounding the legal adoption of ‘Abdu'l-Baha's only son – aghsan – through which this line continues. However, if you are interested, we can send you recent material along the lines of this Christian-Baha'i dialogue from the perspective of our Holy Writings as sent to the inquiring mind of a very educated and scholarly Christian researcher, theologian and academic on the history and tenets of the Faith.
Briefly, Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu'l-Baha are Jews whose ancestors were taken into captivity at the time of Nebuchadnezzar along with the throne of King David. Subsequently Cyrus the Great, as mentioned in the Bible at the time of Daniel, relocated the royal family to Persia (Iran) from Babylon (Iraq) and it is from this line of male descendants of King David that Baha'u'llah Himself claims descent and the right to the throne of David as his inheritance from His father Mirza Buzurg:
“Behold! The Ancient Beauty ruleth upon the throne of David. Thus has my pen spoken that which the histories of bygone ages have related.” (Proc. Baha'u'llah, page 89).
We are the only Baha'i people in the world in possession of the full history and genealogy of Baha'u'llah. Also we are the only Baha'i people in the world who are under the provisions of the Covenant that has BOTH the Universal House of Justice in full functioning working order as well as the Guardian of the Davidic Kingship as its head as per the explicit requirements of the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, which is the CHARTER of the Kingdom – that Kingdom being the World Order of Baha'u'llah (See “World Order of Baha'u'llah” page 144 for more).
In your e-mail you had written:
“I wonder, what, really, is the bottom line? What is the basic, essential gem of the Baha'i Faith? What it is, I think, transcends any group, theory, or organization. I don't think the Guardianship issue was closed by Shoghi Effendi's death, and I think it still needs to be addressed. After all, one Baha'i writer said that the Guardianship “is necessary to avoid divisions in the faith.” Look what we have. Maybe, even more than the Guardianship, we need to find the inner core of the Faith itself. What does the faith really mean, and what message is God trying to tell us through it?”
Here I agree exactly with your thoughts and sentiments, as I know did my father, Pepe, as the written testimony of his many letters on these deep spiritual subjects surely confirms. Pepe's deliberate actions for why he chose to couch his announcement of himself in the manner that he did; as well as the specific manner in which he choose to adopt and appoint his only son as his successor thus bringing the test of the Covenant full circle all demonstrate his concordance with these same thoughts and sentiments that you have written in your letter.
I feel that the central issue, as you have pointed out, is not really the “guardianship” in as much as it is the chaos in which glaring and mean-spirited opposition to the “guardianship” as a revealed institution has produced. This chaos, in reality can be attributed to nothing else, as out Holy and sacred writings proclaim and the history of the Cause itself demonstrates, than wholesale and uninhibited jealousy and envy spewed forth against God by the great throng of rebels that rose up against God to oppose Him (Will and testament, page 11) and continuously attempt to overthrow the Kingdom for usurpation (as the Pen of Baha'u'llah Himself has put it) of their own satanic ends and personal aggrandizement. ‘Abdu'l-Baha explains: “These do not doubt the validity of the Covenant but selfish motives have dragged them to this condition. It is not that they do not know what they do-- they are perfectly aware and still they exhibit opposition.”
“O thou who art firm in the Covenant! Thy letter was received. Thou hast expressed satisfaction with the Convention, that this gathering hath been the means of the elevation of the Cause of God and the demonstration of the power of His Word. The greatness of the Cause will clear away these differences and may be compared to health in the body of man which, when established, cureth all disease and weakness. Our hope is that no trace of opposition may remain; but some of the friends in America are restless in their fresh ambitions and strive and seek under the ground and in the air to discover anything that breedeth dissension.
“Praise be to God, all such doors are closed in the Cause of Baha'u'llah for a special authoritative Centre hath been appointed--a Centre that solveth all difficulties and wardeth off all differences. The Universal House of Justice, likewise, wardeth off all differences and whatever it prescribeth must be accepted and he who transgresseth is rejected. But this Universal House of Justice which is the Legislature hath not yet been instituted.
“Thus it is seen that no means for dissension hath been left, but carnal desires are the cause of difference as it is the case with the violators. These do not doubt the validity of the Covenant but selfish motives have dragged them to this condition. It is not that they do not know what they do-- they are perfectly aware and still they exhibit opposition.
“In short, the ocean of the Covenant is tumultuous and wide. It casteth ashore the foam of violation and thus rest ye assured. Be engaged in the furtherance of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár [and its Nine Auxiliary Institutions for the betterment and education of all humanity] and prepare the means for the diffusion of the divine fragrances. Be not engaged in anything but this, for otherwise thou shalt dissipate thine attention and the work will not advance.” (‘Abdu'l-Baha, Selections #187, p. 215-216).
The flack and debris spread out all over the world in the wake of the rebellion against the revelation of the Davidic Kingship of the throne-line of David continuing in the guardianship of the Baha'i faith as an institution that heads the faith as the presidency of the true UHJ on the surface plainly appears to have done much much more damage than any real and palpable good for anyone or anything, least of the all the very persons of the actual guardians themselves who remain at the center of the persecution of the violators. However it is the mechanism of opposition that propels the Cause forward, yet “inequity must come but woe betide him by whom it comes!”
“From what Mason told me about Shoghi Effendi's experience as Guardian and how it affected him…..plus what I experienced in the first person regarding what the Guardianship did to Mason, believe me, I wouldn't wish that role on my worst enemy.
“Nevertheless, If I were convinced that coming forth and taking a definite stand as Mason Remey's successor would result in peace and harmony amongst all the Baha'is, I should not hesitate one minute to do so…. Mason awaited the day when the masses of Baha'is (now termed sans-guardian Baha'is) would WANT a Guardian. Should the time come when those masses should turn to me, I could NOT refuse to fulfill the role, for not to do so would be a violation of the faith and trust that Mason Remey placed in me.... I am dedicated to that end.”
(SIGNED) Faithfully, Joseph Pepe-Remey.
(Pepe, 9 May 1992)
“Mason was confident that in time the masses of Believers would come to the conclusion that they NEEDED and WANTED a Guardian. Had they done so during his lifetime, I should not have objected to being his successor. Mason would have delighted in [the] conclusion regarding the Afnan and Aghsan branches and if it is true that Mason was, in fact, the adopted Aghsan son of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, and if that fact were to be generally accepted, then I should not be able to refuse being his only possible successor.... The fact will always remain that IF THE BAHA'I FAITH MUST HAVE A GUARDIAN TO PROGRESS, then ONLY MASON REMEY COULD HAVE FULFILLED THAT ROLE, and Mason Remey intended me as his successor and named Donald on my prodding and he did so to pacify me and to placate my anxieties.”
(Pepe, 25 July 1991)
“If Mason had been recognized by the masses of believers as both spiritual and administrative head of the Faith then I would naturally have fallen in line as his successor. I have encouraged confused individuals to turn to Donald Harvey (as you pointed out).
“I have never considered Donald the Spiritual Successor to Baha'u'llah.”
(SIGNED) Respectfully, Pepe.
(Pepe, 18 January 1994)
The amount of broken families, injustices, atrocities and horror stories committed by the Covenant-breakers in the name of “Baha'“ which at the same time Whose writings declare it to be the salvation and unity of the world is almost mind-bending in the very reality of their censured actions and apparent baffooneries and their twisting and misapplication of principles at best. To quote Dr. Jensen, “It would be hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic.”
Obviously, if a rabid monkey were to get a hold of the wheel of a Rolls Royce and total it, that travesty would in no way fall upon the design or engineering of that vehicle, and all would see that the simian was to blame. As matter of fact the amount and power of the destructive force unleashed would actually demonstrate the tremendous power, design and engineering of the vehicle itself. Again the fact that it was unleashed improperly is no fault of the car, or of its Maker, but is the blame of those who hijacked it wrongly, or allowed the rabid monkey to “seize control” even as Ruhiyyih Khanum confessed in her writings that she an the “Hands” “seized the helm of their faith” in their great usurpation of the Baha'i World Center Properties in Haifa, Israel (Ruhiyyih Khanum, Ministry of the Custodians, Preface, p. xix.)
This could not have happened if the majority would not have allowed it. Thus it is through the hijacking of great faiths, such as true Christianity, true Islam, true Judaism and true Baha'i, by those who are unqualified and not authoritative, that the problems arise, the true inner core and message is lost for both usurpers and those under their repression of their usurpation, and the majority of the people are foolish to go along with these hijackings and hijackers themselves.
This is really the entire point of the Book of Certitude in which Baha'u'llah elaborates on this theme of the corruptions and hijacking of the Cause since time immemorial to the present day – a rampant case of history repeating itself. A theme of hatred and evil directed toward the rightful heirs and true successors that God has sent into this world, altruistically and in the essence of humility in that He lets the people do what every they want with them, burn them, kill them, crucify them, take away their children, imprison them, impoverish them, beat them torture them behead them etc, etc. Thus these pure souls and distinguished personages bear the brunt of the burden of hatred and injustice and malice from the very same people they have been into the world to save, and in the end of whom these very same people benefit from them and their revelations and free education the most! Then when these people die and go into the next world and have to eat the fruit of their deeds for all eternity, who can they blame but their very own selves?
Thus in the Book of Certitude, Baha'u'llah educates us in this reality of the rampant case of history repeating itself. A glaring case of repetition, in which instead of falling away, by being educated to the Root cause, we are brought into greater Certitude in our faith, for the contrast of the darkness of error, therefore distinguishes us on the path of truth and light in the most glaringly simple of ways. This is therefore the mercy of God: That the sky should be black as night with corruption and error, so that no one could possibly have any excuse for missing the radiant sun upon its appearance, appearing with proofs and evidences in conformity with the criteria explicitly established within the texts of the Covenant and in accordance with all the books of God.
"O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor...
“Thus should the first-born of the guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of words: - “The child is the secret essence of the sire,”... and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he, (the guardian of the Cause of God) choose another branch [Persian: AGHSAN, ghusn, singular] to succeed him.” (W&T, p. 12)
Thus in order of necessity he must be aghsan (Davidic lineage of Baha'u'llah through ‘Abdu'l-Baha) first and appointed second. This is the Law of Primogeniture and the continuation of David's line. As Shoghi had no biological son of his own, he placed ‘Abdu'l-Baha's only son at the head of the future UHJ. From him comes only one son, and only one grandson, the great grandson of ‘Abdu'l-Baha that can possibly inherit and fulfill the criteria as given explicitly in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, which is infallible.
Thus the real power of the Covenant and the explicit provisions of the sacred Will and Testament is in their SIMPLICITY and CLARITY. Any group or people without a living aghsan at the head of the true UHJ are to be rejected by the explicit text of the book immediately as false: plain and simple. For the true believers there is no mistake and the path is wide and clear that leads to the truth. For those in error it is narrow and easily missed by them who are of those that doubt, or who willfully have their eyes closed refusing to use their intellect to see the truth.
To make that point plain and simple, as we live in the world of opposites – night and day, up and down, back and forth, etc. – we MUST have violation and oppression. Therefore the Point of Unity IS plain and simple so that the violation of the Covenant should also be made plain and simple and glaringly clear, so we could choose to avoid it and its negative spiritual repercussions that follow the people through this world and into the next for all eternity. In fact Baha'u'llah tells us that this “oppression” or violation is the ESSENTIAL FEATURE of EVERY revelation including His Own. Obviously if something is an “essential feature” of the Revelation, than: “To none is given the right to protest against anyone concerning that which hath befallen the Cause of God” because what has befallen the Cause of God is preordained as the essential feature to promulgate and manifest that very same truth of it all.
“What “oppression” is greater than that which hath been recounted? What “oppression” is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied. This “oppression” is the essential feature of every Revelation. Unless it cometh to pass, the Sun of Truth will not be made manifest. For the break of the morn of divine guidance must needs follow the darkness of the night of error.” (Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 31)
Thus we see Jesus deliberately appointing Judas “knowing one of them was a devil”. This shows that like Baha'u'llah who could have easily avoided imprisonment and banishment, Jesus too, allowed these things to occur so that the Divine Purpose of the Almighty Creator should be fulfilled. The same is true for the Baha'i Faith and Baha'u'llah.
Mirza Yahya never would have been in a position to oppose Baha'u'llah had he not been nominated by the Bab to fulfill that position. Baha'i scripture tells us that in fact it was at the suggestion of Baha'u'llah that Yahya was so nominated. Thus we see that like Jesus who chose Judas, the Bab and Baha'u'llah chose Yahya for his role.
Likewise it was Baha'u'llah himself that chose Muhammad-Ali and named him in the text of the Kitab-i-Ahd. Had He not done this, Muhammad-Ali would not have been in a position, like Judas, to oppose. God is the All-Wise and the All-Knowing Lord. We are not.
It was ‘Abdu'l-Baha who arranged the marriage between Shoghi Effendi and Ruhiyyih Khanum, Shoghi's wife, that later became the cause of his death and the arch-violator of the Covenant in his days. Likewise ‘Abdu'l-Baha's support and stipend for Ahmad Sorhab encouraged him to oppose Shoghi Effendi after the ascension of the Master, when his funds were cut off and his services were no longer required by Shoghi Effendi.
Shoghi Effendi appointed all the “Hands” of the Cause including elevating Ruhiyyih Khanum to that position as well as giving her the top ranking slot as “liaison officer” even above that of ‘Abdu'l-Baha's son, the first president of the IBC/UHJ. Thus Shoghi Effendi nominated and appointed, like Jesus who chose Judas, those “Hands” and “members” of the first IBC, who would oppose and protest against Mason Remey being the adopted aghsan son of ‘Abdu'l-Baha. This they knowingly opposed having read the Master's Last Tablet to America sent through his son Mason in which ‘Abdu'l-Baha proclaims the adoption to all the world:
“The Divine Gardener cuts off the dry or weak branch from the good tree and grafts to it, a branch from another tree. He both separates and unites.” (`Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 438)
“I have adopted you [Mason] as my son [Aghsan]. You have to appreciate this favor very much indeed. One should see that you are living according to the requirements of this sonship. You should be aware of your responsibilities. My prayers will help you. I always pray for you.” (‘Abdu'l-Baha to Mason, Folio 2, “Reminisces of the Master, 1921”, pp. 127-129. New York Public Library Collection)
In such a way did Mason and Pepe continue the testing of this Cause in the creation of three decoy or false guardians, none of whom were aghsan. In the case of Mason, this became Joel, Rex and Donald, and for Pepe following suit, he nominated his three decoys as well, all of which, like those of Mason, Pepe made sure that none of whom were aghsan.
The main point here is that the violations and testing of this Great Cause with a Covenant so strong as to unite the entire world, so clear and glaring, has been deliberately orchestrated by God Himself, through the leadership of our faith, so that the false should be distinguished from the true, and the believers from the hypocrite, as Baha'u'llah has written: “The wisdom of every command shall be tested.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablet of Ahmad); and the apostle John has revealed:
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19 RSV).
Misconceived as “schism” by those outside the understanding of our faith, this same strange mystery of God and mystery of the Kingdom as to why Jesus would not only allow his own crucifixion to take place, but appoint, knowingly, the very one who would betray him to accomplish it, is a powerful truth and spiritual connection bonding both Jesus and Baha'u'llah, linking both Christianity and Baha'i even as the bond between a true Father and his true Son in an indissoluble and unbreakable connection and link. This indissoluble bond and unbreakable connection is nothing less than the everlasting Covenant of God through which we have received the ecstasy of an inestimable Grace, eternal and everlasting, as well as forgiveness of sins through as a free gift, even for the violators themselves, would they so choose to turn again an be forgiven!
In this truth we see a glimpse of the greatness of God and His connection between us all, even as a loving Father guides his children and raises them up to be independent of all save God. A necessary mystery that leads to the salvation of all mankind and the forgiveness of sins through the power of the Covenant of the Cross, that is, those who crucified the truth, and violated it, only exalted it in the eyes of all men in the end.
This fulfills our inheritance to both love and know God, and though this testing within the Divine Plan of the Ages our faith is perfected and made true. Thus Judas betrayed Jesus, and the Covenant-breakers have opposed and protested against the true line of succession (Davidic) in the Baha'i Cause under the orchestration of God Himself. “Say all are created by God. All are servants and all abide by his biding!” (The Bab)
For example, Mirza Yahya did not appoint Muhammad-Ali. No. Muhammad-Ali did not appoint Ruhiyyih Khanum and the “Hands”. The “Hands” did not appoint and empower the ones to oppose Mason and Pepe and myself as the current president. No. It was the Bab, Baha'u'llah, ‘Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi, Mason and Pepe, who raised up and created the very ones who would oppose and contrast them and their successors according to the explicit provisions of the Will.
Thus the violators have no “line of succession”. The line of succession is in the line of the Covenant the aghsan only, and in this way do we now recognize our true Universal House of Justice that has that very same line of aghsan, the line of David, as its living president.
So in the Baha'i Cause the leadership has always appointed the “Judas” as in the same case as Jesus 2000 years before. Thus Jesus was the herald of this Kingdom. There is no line of succession for the violators, but the line of succession is in the Covenant, and this line has its opposite of antipodes. And that antipodes is the Center of Sedition.
“The Center of Sedition, Mirza Muhammad Ali, in accordance with the decisive words of God and by reason of his boundless transgression, hath grievously fallen and been cut off from the Holy Tree. Verily, we wronged them not, but they have wronged themselves!”
“He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His Word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition.” (Will and Testament, pp. 9, 12)
So it is that the antipodes exists, but the Kingdom is empowered over it.
Many people have it in their minds that good will “win” over evil or that light will “win” over dark meaning in their minds that darkness or evil will cease to exist. This is the case in the next world which is only a world of light, but is not the case; obviously in the physical universe where we will always have the world of opposites. The truth is that dark and light are really two phases of the same thing, and that the darkness is really defined as the absence of the light.; and it is the light and not the darkness, which does exist. Thus as people choose to embody the light, and this becomes the majority who choose freely, darkness will vanish into relative obscurity even on this mortal plane.
The truth about the triumph of good over evil, therefore or “unity” over “disunity”, is that at some point in the material history of this world, the forces of light become the majority which wins out over the forces of darkness, even as peace will replace the void of war, and knowledge fill the vacuum of ignorance and overflow it, and universal love consume the abyss of apathy and hate, wealth shall replace poverty, etc; these forces of light shall be in ascendancy of those of error. In other words where as the people are united in mischief and opposition and united in their opposition and rebellion to the Covenant and their manifold rejection of this Cause, soon shall we see this reversal where the people are untied in harmony with the will of God, and this harmony with the will of God is the ultimate rebellion of rebellions against all that is unjust and wrong with the things of this world. This great unilateral victory on the party of God will be accomplished not by any plan or design or scheme of man, but by the Almighty Providence of God Himself that controls both the destiny and affairs of all the people of his world, the rise and all of nations and states, as well as the rise and fall of the fortunes of the Faith as well.
Thus God remains in control as always and His Kingdom is empowered over the opposition to it.
This reversal is fulfilled in the Baha'i Covenant when Baha'u'llah appoints ‘Abdu'l-Baha to be “over” or “above” or “greater than” Muhammad-Ali. Unlike aforetime where God allowed “satan” to be appointed over Job, or that of Muhammad that announced the “letters of denial” before the “letters of acceptance” (There is no God, but God), Baha'u'llah appoints the Center of the Covenant before and above the Center of Sedition who is seated upon the throne of hate. Thus in this way and because of this provision in the Kitab-i-Ahd, “satan” and his “manifestations” – referred to and mentioned throughout all the Baha'i writings – will be bound and placed into the “pit” for a full 1000 years, only later to be released to be destroyed, that is people will no longer succumb to violation of the Covenant on this planet ever again. As a result, this world shall become an heavenly paradise upon the earth, and the antipodes shall be subdued and routed out from ascendancy in the minds, souls and hearts of all mankind for evermore. This is even as it is written that Jesus himself was tempted, but did not succumb. Spiritual death shall have no power over the people.
This sublime truth and verity of our faith has been misconstrued as “schism” as Shoghi Effendi explains:
“This crisis, misconceived as a schism, which political as well as ecclesiastical adversaries, no less than the fast dwindling remnant of the followers of Mirza Yahya hailed as a signal for the immediate disruption and final dissolution of the system established by Baha'u'llah, was precipitated at the very heart and center of His Faith, and was provoked by no one less than a member of His own family, a half-brother of Abdu'l-Baha, specifically named in the book of the Covenant, and holding a rank second to none except Him Who had been appointed as the Center of that Covenant.” (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 246)
Whereas the builders of “Christianity” produced the inquisitions and crusades in the name of Jesus, “world orderism” and almost dehumanizing servilism, usurpation, and rampant violation of the Covenant has run amok in the so-called “Baha'i world” – really the world outside the Baha'i City of the Covenant - as the “people” or “groups” have became slaves sacrificing their own intellects and thoughts to some weird and perverse form of what the violators have misconstrued – all this the principles, as written about and spoken of, by the three main figures of Baha'u'llah, ‘Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi surely reveals.
Baha'u'llah explains this using a “comb” as a symbol of His Covenant, as the Covenant is sent to make the path straight even as the comb makes straight the hair, and even as the comb straightens out the hair so the Covenant straightens out our thoughts on the truth of God, His Covenant and His true Religion:
“The comb, too, have I given thee that thou mayest dress My raven locks, and not lacerate My throat.” (Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, p. 79)
And so in their violation these usurpers have completely misconstrued the role of the true Baha'i, as in example this well overlooked statement of Shoghi Effendi pertaining the “twofold crusade” of what he terms the “warrior Baha'i”:
“Dearly beloved friends! A rectitude of conduct which, in all its manifestations, offers a striking contrast to the deceitfulness and corruption that characterize the political life of the nation and of the parties and factions that compose it; a holiness and chastity that are diametrically opposed to the moral laxity and licentiousness which defile the character of a not inconsiderable proportion of its citizens; an interracial fellowship completely purged from the curse of racial prejudice which stigmatizes the vast majority of its people - these are the weapons which the American believers can and must wield in their double crusade, first to regenerate the inward life of their own community, and next to assail the long-standing evils that have entrenched themselves in the life of their nation. The perfection of such weapons, the wise and effective utilization of every one of them, more than the furtherance of any particular plan, or the devising of any special scheme, or the accumulation of any amount of material resources, can prepare them for the time when the Hand of Destiny will have directed them to assist in creating and in bringing into operation that World Order which is now incubating within the worldwide administrative institutions of their Faith.
“In the conduct of this twofold crusade the valiant warriors struggling in the name and for the Cause of Baha'u'llah must, of necessity, encounter stiff resistance, and suffer many a setback. Their own instincts, no less than the fury of conservative forces, the opposition of vested interests, and the objections of a corrupt and pleasure-seeking generation, must be reckoned with, resolutely resisted, and completely overcome. As their defensive measures for the impending struggle are organized and extended, storms of abuse and ridicule, and campaigns of condemnation and misrepresentation, may be unloosed against them. Their Faith, they may soon find, has been assaulted, their motives misconstrued, their aims defamed, their aspirations derided, their institutions scorned, their influence belittled, their authority undermined, and their Cause, at times, deserted by a few who will either be incapable of appreciating the nature of their ideals, or unwilling to bear the brunt of the mounting criticisms which such a contest is sure to involve. “Because of Abdu'l-Baha,” the beloved Master has prophesied, “many a test will be visited upon you. Troubles will befall you, and suffering afflict you.”“The present Plan, embodying the budding hopes of a departed Master, must be pursued, relentlessly pursued, whatever may befall them in the future, however distracting the crises that may agitate their country or the world. Far from yielding in their resolve, far from growing oblivious of their task, they should, at no time, however much buffeted by circumstances, forget that the synchronization of such world-shaking crises with the progressive unfoldment and fruition of their divinely appointed task is itself the work of Providence, the design of an inscrutable Wisdom, and the purpose of an all-compelling Will, a Will that directs and controls, in its own mysterious way, both the fortunes of the Faith and the destinies of men. Such simultaneous processes of rise and of fall, of integration and of disintegration, of order and chaos, with their continuous and reciprocal reactions on each other, are but aspects of a greater Plan, one and indivisible, whose Source is God, whose author is Baha'u'llah, the theater of whose operations is the entire planet, and whose ultimate objectives are the unity of the human race and the peace of all mankind.
“Reflections such as these should steel the resolve of the entire Baha'i community, should dissipate their forebodings, and arouse them to rededicate themselves to every single provision of that Divine Charter [the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha] whose outline has been delineated for them by the pen of Abdu'l-Baha. (Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 41-42, 72-73)
Here we see the true Baha'i person as a “warrior Baha'i” and social activist empowered and fighting for justice and freedom through every educational means possible. A person in activity dedicated to ALL the provisions of the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha. We do not see either the image of inept servileness nor the image of feigned piety or belief, but rather real faith in real action. We find this definition of the true Baha'i also given again in Baha'u'llah and the New Era:
“He [‘Abdu'l-Baha] defined a Baha'i as ‘one endowed with all the perfections in activity.'” (BNE, Ch. 5 “What is a Baha'i”.)
The idea of the true Baha'i, defined in the text of the Covenant and Book of the Law as “rijal” - meaning men and women both - is one whose power and unique authority as a human being comes directly from being created by God Almighty Himself, as it is written:
“Let Us make men in Our image and after Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26)
And again:
“O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.” (Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, p. 3)
Furthermore the individual Baha'i is further empowered and emboldened in his personal teaching effort on page 10 of the sacred Will in which he is given the inalienable right of the franchise to teach, upon which ‘Abdu'l-Baha then confers upon the individual Baha'i this inalienable right:
“Let them who are men of action follow in their footsteps!” (W&T, p. 11)
From the very beginning the monster of perverted “Baha'i administration” has been the very enemy of personal Baha'i action. Shoghi Effendi as “Guardian” was veritably “rubbed out” by the forces of darkness from WITHIN in the faith, as he strove to uphold the individual and his rights and freedoms:
“Evidences of increasing hostility without, persistent machinations within, foreshadowing dire contests destined to range the Army of Light against the forces of darkness, both secular and religious, predicted in unequivocal language by Abdu'l-Baha” (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World, p. 123)
Here we see a contest between light and dark not only outside the faith as it seeks to transform and revivify the outward world of man, but also a struggle and contest within the ranks of the faith itself. If this battle over darkness cannot be won within the ranks of the Faith, beginning within the souls of those who claim to espouse this very Cause, then how can it overcome the same obstacle outside the faith itself and transform the rest of the darksome world of mankind?
Of course this question is semi-rhetorical like the ones you have offered as well. But really can anyone challenge these questions and assertions?
Pat answers will not work here, but only truly deep reflection and thought. Why?
Plain and simple: the Covenant of God through the guardianship and the administration simply brings out the worst in men, and the worst in women too—but the BEST in others, who are resurrected from the dead as the true angels of light foretold in the scriptures. These angels are the elect that remain firm in the covenant today, and are clothed with the white raiment of LOYALTY!
And this is the whole point, for Baha'u'llah covenanted it to be so, for in the Book of the Covenant, the Kitab-i-Ahd, He commands:
“Whatsoever was hidden in man is today revealed.”
And thus it is the power of the Covenant which is that light that reveals such a thing. The point of contention for the violators is the point of unity for the faithful: the Davidic Kingship, and the very person of the living Davidic King; the result is the Best and Worst of men. And “To none is given the right to protest against anyone concerning that which hath befallen the Cause of God.” Thus the teaching effort or “two-fold crusade” of the true ”warrior Baha'i” is those true believers who champion this Cause loyal to the Covenant and true administration to rid the world of darkness from both within and without the Cause as well as from both within and without their respective nation, starting with from both within and without their very own selves by taking up arms to TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, and thereby this is removed from both within and without their very own culture from which they were raised up from by none other than God Almighty Himself.
The Baha'i Faith is not a faith made out of people, but it is a Revelation of the perfection of God, the Revelation of the Kingdom. The Revelation of God is made out of laws, ordinances and teachings; legal documents, a Constitution and a Charter from God (WOB, p. 144). The Baha'i Faith is not anymore made out of people than the United Sates of America is. The United States is government of law, constitutions and institutions – it exists as a legal entity. Therefore, thought people be wayward, and may abuse the name “Baha'i” applying it to themselves when they are not under the provisions of the Covenant, the legal Charter – even as they do making war in the name of God and “Jesus” – it is certainly not that the Baha'i faith is corrupt, anymore than it would be true that God is corrupt or that light is dark, but simply that light brings out and accentuates the darkness and shadow in us all – chiaroscuro – in stark contrasts. Isn't that what is prophesied to occur? Isn't that simply what Jesus promised and was spoken aforetime in the Gospels? That light (Arabic “Baha”) has entered the world:
“And this is the judgment, that the light [Baha'i] has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light [Baha'i], because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light [Baha'i], and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light [Baha'i], that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.” (John 3:19-21 RSV)
So here we read in the Light Verse of the Bible, really as far as I am concerned the whole bottom line, and the justice of God is the central gem of this revelation of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. A “justice” which the people of darkness hate and revile and of which the lovers of the light whole heartedly confirm and love.
Therefore, the issue is not about the Guardianship, the living Davidic King seated upon David's throne – but it is about us: people. People tested, divided, separated and sifted: the spiritual from the infidel, the believers, from the hypocrite, the learned from the ignorant, the just from the unjust, the merciful from the tyrant, the jealous, the hateful, the envious: The wise from the fools.
Yet Paul said we shall all be fools for Christ (1 Cor. 4:10) Why?
Because Christ refers to the male-sperm descendant of King David. The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos which literally means “anointed one”. In Hebrew “anointed one” is messiah. But anointed one of what? This refers to the “anointed sons of King David” and by definition “Christ” refers to the physical genealogy of both Jesus and Baha'u'llah back to King David. But whereas Jesus was come in the potency of the “son of God” not seated upon the throne of David, Baha'u'llah comes in the potency of the everlasting Father who is seated upon David's throne. This is the touchstone of faith. We may not all know what is hidden inside the hearts of men, but God knows. And we can see with our outward eyes how Jesus, Baha'u'llah and the Davidic kingship after Baha'u'llah has been reviled, dismissed and treated by the majority of the people. Thus the Bible tells us that the “Christ” referring to the Davidic Kingship, which is continued in the Covenant of Baha'u'llah, is the rock that is a stumbling stone, the stone the builder rejected that returns to crush them all, as it is written:
“Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?… And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one it will crush him.” (Matt. 21: 42, 44 RSV see note q)
And again:
“For it stands in scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion [the place of David's throne] a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” (1 Pet. 2: 6-8 RSV)
“and the ROCK was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4 RSV)
The builders are the builders of Christianity and the builders of the Baha'i faith, that is the many groups and people who call themselves “Baha'is” or “Christians”. The Christians do not teach the meaning of the word Christ or the truth of Jesus genealogy back to King David through his father Joseph. The Bible preserves this truth, but the people teach God as the physical father of Jesus, something which violates the written testimony of the scripture which states that Jesus is the “sperm-child” of his father Joseph “according to the flesh” (see Romans 1:3-4 KJV “seed” in Greek is “sperma”: the male-seed). Likewise the “builders” of “Baha'i” no longer teach Baha'u'llah's genealogy back to King David or the fact that Baha'u'llah passed the throne of David on down to His son ‘Abdu'l-Baha and through ‘Abdu'l-Baha to the Davidic Kingship continued through his adopted son as the presidents of the true UHJ of Baha'u'llah. The “builders” of both Christianity and Baha'i as practiced in both mainstream groups, have one and all rejected this “stone” or “rock” which is “Christ” and refers to the genealogy of King David of both Jesus and Baha'u'llah. Thus they do not teach the “gospel” – good news –of the Kingdom (Davidic). But instead have a different “message” that they give that promotes their very own selves. The message of the Baha'i Faith, the message that God has for the world through the Baha'i faith, is the message of the JUSTICE of Kingdom of God on earth, through the Universal House of Justice that has the living Davidic King as its president and irremovable member for life of that body (W&T, p. 15). This is so we can recognize Baha'u'llah's true UHJ from fakes, frauds and imitations.
The Christ, therefore, is the rock or touchstone of faith. The “sign of God” by which we recognize the true faith and true community of believers that has this member amongst them. It is like the philosophers stone which is precious, that can transform us into gold or not. Yet of the philosophers stone Baha'u'llah has written:
“A true believer is likened unto the philosopher's stone.” Addressing subsequently his listener, he saith: “Hast thou ever seen the philosopher's stone?” Reflect, how this symbolic language, more eloquent than any speech, however direct, testifieth to the non-existence of a true believer. Such is the testimony of Sadiq.” (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 79)
Thus we see what is really rare, and what this is really all about. It is about the man, the individual, the true believer. Where is he?
It can't be the guardian or the guardianship, and cannot be the successors in the Covenant or the Manifestations of God or ‘Abdu'l-Baha for they are in the leadership positions who are servants in action. No! It must be the person who is not in that role of leadership but who is in that role of belief – service in action – that is the real believer who is faithful, loyal and true. Loyal to what? The person of the Guardians above God? NO! GOD FORBID. Loyal to God first and to His Will second. And of the Will of God we cannot separate this from God. This is what Jesus tells us: “Not my will O Lord but thine!”
Thus the bottom line is really about us and our relationship with our Maker, our Father, that which the Baha'is call the “Beloved One of All the Worlds”!
Is that not the spirit of the Faith? Yet the people who claimed to espouse it were made fools for Christ, that is, in their violation and rejection of the line of David and His throne, they were espoused as fools. Even as Paul was espoused as a fool in his rejection and persecution of Jesus and the true church, that is until he was struck by lightening on the road to Damascus and his own resurrection from the dead.
Yet if they were lovers, as Paul was really a lover of the light, they would be happy, as Paul became happy, for what lover cares if he is a fool in the arms of his beloved? No true lover cares at all. No, not one wit. But the hater cares, and puffs up and remonstrates “I am NO FOOL!” But the lover of God revels in being made a fool in his love for his Beloved even as Baha'u'llah has revealed:
“Perish that lover who discerneth between the pleasant and the poisonous in his love for his beloved!” (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations, p. 11)
Thus we are all made fools for Christ – Baha'u'llah in the potency of the everlasting Father seated upon the throne of King David (Is. 9:6-7). Fools fro Christ friend and foe alike! And in this foolishness we find a wisdom more wise that all the wisdom of the ages and ancients of all the world combined throughout all time. So the Cause of God is the forgiveness, the mercy, the perfection and redemption of all mankind.
Does not Paul declare this WISDOM of the Kingdom in a similar vein? Did he not laugh as they chopped off his head as Peter hung a cross, crucified like the fool upside down for all to see, and Nero fiddled away while Rome burned to the ground?
The Most Great Spectacle has returned!
And Behold us all standing amidst it while the nations rage and the cities burn with fire – a fire that Baha'u'llah states rages and blazeth forth from the midmost heart of the world. A fire which Baha'u'llah warns will eventually “devour the cities” (God Passes By, p. 218) of which He Himself prophesied:
“Split the atom's heart, and Lo! within it thou wilt find a sun.” (7 Valleys)
and again:
“A strange and wonderful instrument exists in the earth; but it is concealed from the minds and souls. It is an instrument which has the power to change the atmosphere of the whole earth, and its infection causes destruction.” (Baha'u'llah, Lights of Guidance, #1585)
Shoghi Effendi has explained this “instrument” is the radioactive material to cause such a thing, which is the prophesied scenario given in the Book of Revelation that shall befall mankind at the time of the Advent of Christ and His Kingdom. Because “men loved darkness rather than light [Baha'i], because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
So it is prophesied that one third of mankind shall die in one hour of thermonuclear war, every city in the United States of population 100,000 or more to be destroyed. This is the Advent of Divine Justice.
So the spirit is revealed and made manifest but as it is written” the son of man hath no place to rest his head” it is really all for nothing, unless and until this Spirit – not of anti-Christ – but of Christ, can incarnate in a visible order. Shoghi Effendi writes:
“Few will fail to recognize that the Spirit breathed by Baha'u'llah upon the world, and which is manifesting itself with varying degrees of intensity through the efforts consciously displayed by His avowed supporters and indirectly through certain humanitarian organizations, can never permeate and exercise an abiding influence upon mankind unless and until it incarnates itself in a visible Order, which would bear His name [Davidic], wholly identify itself with His principles, and function in conformity with His laws [i.e. the Covenant and explicit provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha].” (Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 19)
Thus the main purpose of the descendants of King David continued through Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu'l-Baha in the aghsan line, is so we can RECOGNIZE the true UHJ of Baha'u'llah from fakes frauds and imitations. This is the administrative order of the incarnation here spoken of. Yet again he states it is no substitute for the faith. It is no substitute for the Spirit. It is no substitute for the inner core that animates the faith itself! This is why ‘Abdu'l-Baha tells us that if the people were spiritual then any system would work and if they are not spiritual then no system will work. That includes the Baha'i system.
“I need not dwell upon what I have already reiterated and emphasized that the administration of the Cause is to be conceived as an instrument and not a substitute for the Faith of Baha'u'llah, that it should be regarded as a channel through which His promised blessings may flow, that it should guard against such rigidity as would clog and fetter the liberating forces released by His Revelation.” (Shoghi Effendi: World Order of Baha'u'llah, Page: 9)
Thus this is where they all went wrong. In a perverted idolatry substituting the “administration” for the faith, and fashioning what God meant to give as Universal House of Justice and the executive branch of that administration, the guardianship, into a veritable golden calf blocking the path between God and man, either in the argumentation against it continuing in the false “idol” of the false “UHJ” or for it continuing in false pretenses and imposter wannabes. Yet the true believer sees through all of this to the inner core of Faith, and remains firm in the everlasting Covenant of God, and the true guardianship guards the faith from false forms of idolatry, through the power and potency of education to the truth. The truth of what? Truth of the ALL the provisions of the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Baha. For we are loyal to the CHARTER first, and the Institution of the Guardianship and Universal House of Justice second, i as much as we form the membership of that august Body (body and head both) and in that we place God first and foremost above all else, as precious sacred and true. So we are guarded from error and preserved from the mistake of men who have made idols out of their vain imaginations and bow down and worship to that of their own making.
Is not this what happened to all faiths? That they were all corrupted and consumed by men and greed? The Baha'i Faith was no exception, but the Covenant continued through the generations until today; and “To none is given the right to protest against anyone concerning that which hath befallen the Cause of God” as the true believer is as rare as the philosopher's stone.
So you see the answer to these questions is simple. Where is the TRUE BELIEVER in all these things? The true believers and true people as rare as the philosopher's stone. Who can arise and champion this Cause, united under the actual banner of the Covenant who themselves have become “living stones” in the single mystical “body of Christ” come in the Father seated upon David's THRONE.
There will always be a Davidic King – but when will there always be “a great multitude that no man can number” from out of every national, language and tongue of the true believers?
When will these believers always elect their true Supreme Tribunal of the House of Justice to bring peace to the world? When will these true believers arise to “guard” the Cause (W&T, p. 22) and “teach” the faith (W&T, p., 10), and fend off the violators (W&T, p. 20, 24) who only masquerade as “Baha'is”?
I know when – on the day that God shall look down and see His own reflection in the hearts and minds and souls of everyman.
You mentioned a “gem.” ‘Abdu'l-Baha has written:
“It should be borne in mind that the institution of the Guardianship has been anticipated by Abdu'l-Baha in an allusion He made in a Tablet addressed, long before His own ascension, to three of His friends in Persia. To their question as to whether there would be any person to whom all the Baha'is would be called upon to turn after His ascension He made the following reply: “As to the question ye have asked me, know verily that this is a well-guarded secret. It is even as a gem concealed within its shell. That it will be revealed [as the Davidic Kingship of Christ seated upon David's throne] is predestined. The time will come when its light will appear, when its evidences will be made manifest, and its secrets unraveled.” (Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 150)
Thus this GEM refers to the successorship. Yet the successorship in the Baha'i Faith is not limited only to the Guardianship but includes ALL the believers who winning their stations succeed the Manifestation of God in authority as it is written: “ALL shall be priests and kings unto God.”
No other religious dispensation in the history of the all the world has ever made such a strong covenant ultimately appointed the true believer himself (in the from of the elected body of the Universal House of Justice) as the successor to the Manifestation of God and vouchsafing to him the inalienable right to elect his representative to sit on the World Council to decide ALL the difficult problems of the world. The successor to Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu'l-Baha is the true UHJ, that is the temple or tabernacle in which the spirit of JUSTICE remains incarnate after His ascension. The Davidic King entitled the Guardian is the head of that Temple, but alone he is not the entire temple himself. No. By this gem we recognize the true UHJ and this UHJ is actually the necessary extension of our own spiritual selves through the elective process of extraction in which all people assemble and allow God to rule the world as directed from the inner most core of His Ineffable Spirit. Men deprived of this spirit have no place in this Kingdom and by the power of the Covenant of God, and the method of passing on the Davidic throne, they are all self-removed, fallen and material.
“Verily we wrong them not but they have wronged themselves!” (W&T, p. 9).
Far, far from mindless drones led by Pope, Imam or Priest, ALL MEN are to become Priests and Kings unto God, and the servant of the true shepherd is to be that World Council of Humanity with a Davidic King as the executive, to guide the people to the living water of the explicit texts and the adjudications and legislations of his fellow council members of which he is restricted and only has a vote of one. Thus is the basic and essential GEM of the Baha'i Faith: JUSTICE. And the sign or symbol of this Justice – not its substitute – is David's throne.
May this letter find you in good health and high spirits. I don't know if you will really understand all of this, but that is why we have dedicated ourselves to preserving the true school of ‘Abdu'l-Baha that he established through his son in America in 1912 during His visit here to the States. You have an open invitation, as do all people, to receive this education and, medicine and knowledge free of price, here at our school in the Rocky Mountains.
We support all the diverse groups of people claiming to be “Baha'i”, as it is written:
“For the break of the morn of divine guidance must needs follow the darkness of the night of error.” (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 31)
God is the Most Glorious of Glories. And May God be with you for ever, even as He Himself has covenanted with all mankind, heirs of Abraham's promise, Jew and gentile alike!
Yours, in El Abha,
Your servant,
signed //Neal Chase//
Neal Chase
ben Joseph Aghsan,
on behalf of the true UHJ of Baha'u'llah.