MOVING FORWARD:-
Does this suffering and outward humiliation experienced once again by the Holy One of God, imply that in the Baha'i view history simply repeats itself; that at His Second Coming there has been no more furtherance of God's plan than at His First Coming; that He has returned with no more power or authority than at His first; or that we will not see that peace and justice promised us in God's word at the Second Coming? No. Everything moves forward according to God's will (101:1)

To observe and interpret events with the outer eye of observation and external appearance only is one way to see and understand the world and history; to perceive and interpret events, on the other hand, with the inner eye of insight and discernment is another way, and yields a deeper and more accurate understanding of the world and history as they are (101:2)

Thus, for example, to the outer eye only, a tree, experiencing the winter before its first fruit-bearing season, might seem to have returned to the state of its previous winter - with its leaves fallen, its limbs barren and dormant, and everything about it outwardly dead and lifeless. One, who did not know its potential, seeing with the outer eye only, might think "How futile was its previous growth and flourishing. Now all of its powers and capacity are reduced to nothing, and the promise of life which it held is unfulfilled" However, one acquainted with its true nature would know differently, and realize that the tree, in fact, now possessed a capacity that it not only never possessed previously, but also a capacity and creativity that constituted its true and ultimate inner purpose. Though locked within it and invisible to the outer observer, the tree would possess the power and capacity to bear fruit (101:3)

Now, Baha'u'llah reveals and Baha'is believe that the Second Coming of Christ means simply the Coming of Baha'u'llah Himself and His Revelation. It is not a truth that could have been anticipated beforehand, but one that could only have been revealed by God's appointed and promised Revealer of Truth. To the outer eye of observation and external appearance, however, this interpretation, at first encounter, seems neither credible nor conceivable. To the outer eye, it may appear that the Cause of Baha'u'llah is too insignificant to possibly be identified with or interpreted as identical to the Second Coming of Christ which so many have come to expect will end, or instantly transform forever all life and human history on this planet (101:4)

But when has the outer eye ever been an accurate judge of either nature, history, or prophecy? Although the seemingly dead and barren tree in winter possesses the capacity to yield its first fruit, the outer eye sees nothing but a now lifeless tree. Does the outer eye have any understanding or perception of what that tree will be when it is fully alive, green and blossoming, flourishing, generating shade and protection, and for the first time sustenance for all who seek it? What does the outer eye see but a lifeless form? Does it have any power to perceive the fruit, growing already in silence, in depth and obscurity where all mighty realities are born and nurtured until the hour and time of their outward and public manifestation in the light of suddenly realized awareness and the consciousness of officially acknowledged History? Who, using the outer eye only, can look at the seed and see the mighty tree? Who, using the outer eye only, could have believed that twelve simple men, for the most part uneducated, espousing the Cause of a crucified Jewish carpenter, could possibly have effected in any way whatsoever the world, much less transformed it, completely and irrevocably? As a matter of actual fact, no prominent, public, or official histories - representing as they do the outer eye of social recognition and consciousness - ever acknowledged the existence of Christians or the Cause of Christ until centuries had passed (101:5)

Get Next Page