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To many people, the term "century of Light" is a rather ill chosen description of the century now ending. No one who is honest can deny the unspeakable horrors that will forever be associated with this century. "Century of Darkness" may seem a more appropriate description of this time. However, what the Baha'i writings are referring to in the word "Light" is the hidden, spiritual, inner history of the twentieth century, and the great foundations for the future that have been erected in seed form in the institutions ordained by the pen of the Christ Returned, and in the great discoveries, material and spiritual, released by the potency of His Revelation (168:1) The firm establishment of the Lesser Peace will not come all at once. Although its initial inception will occur very soon, it will experience tests and setbacks as the nations of the world struggle to adjust themselves to this new and momentous stage in the development of human civilization (168:2) War, of course, will end as promised in all the divine scriptures, but the end of war is not the ultimate purpose for which Baha'u'llah has come. In fact, the Lesser Peace will be entered into by the nations of the world while they are yet unconscious of the true source of the impulse under which they have acted. Additionally, the absence of war is meaningless, if humanity still fails to turn its heart to God. Its suffering will linger in a multitude of forms (168:3) Baha'u'llah did not come merely to bring about an end to war and bloodshed, or to provide institutions, however exalted they may be, for the governing of human affairs, or even to transform the nature of society. As important as all these are, they themselves are only a means to a higher end. No, the Order He has come to establish is greater, far greater than these; far beyond, in fact, anything we can at present conceive (168:4) Baha'u'llah has come to connect man with God, to enable him to "see God " with his "own eyes" and to "hear His melody" with his "own ears" . He has come that man may open his heart to His will, that he may fulfill his purpose in the ancient and everlasting Covenant, that he may receive the fullness of His promised divine blessings. He has come to bring the eternal spiritual joy that all of humanity desires, that all peoples know in their inmost being to be absolutely true - that joy and peace of mind and heart of which poets have sung throughout the ages, and which the Prophets have glorified throughout all time. He has come to raise humanity to the exalted heights of purity and sanctity, transforming it into the "image" and "likeness" of God Himself. He has come to establish, in all its potency, wonder and bliss, the Kingdom of the Father (168:5) For this reason did Baha'u'llah sustain the weight of the chains that the sovereigns cast around His neck, and accepted the lifetime of sorrow laid upon Him by an unrepentant humanity (168:6) Baha'u'llah has given in broad outline the distinguishing features of what His Order represents, the pattern of life which will characterize it, and the means by which it will unfold. Such a radical transformation from the present day order cannot come all at once, but will grow in stages, as have all of the civilizations brought by the Holy Ones of God
(168:7)
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