Re: End of the world?

Where was the "major event" that is supposed to happen when
new cycles begin?

I presume that the "major event" of which you speak is the
expected material "calamity" anticipated by Christian writers-the
widespread famine, disease, wars, etc.

One particular verse from the Bible upon which this expected
physical calamity is based comes from Matthew 24:29 which states,
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken."

Christ, Himself, when He returned in the Glory of the Father and
assumed His new name, Bahá'u'lláh, explained what He meant by that
statement. This is what He said.

"As to the words-'Immediately after the oppression of those days'-
they refer to the time when men shall become oppressed and afflicted,
the time when the lingering traces of the Sun of Truth and the fruit
of the Tree of knowledge and wisdom will have vanished from the midst
of men, when the reins of mankind will have fallen into the grasp of
the foolish and ignorant, when the portals of divine unity and
understanding-the essential and highest purpose in creation-will have
been closed, when certain knowledge will have given way to idle fancy,
and corruption will have usurped the station of righteousness. Such a
condition as this is witnessed in this day when the reins of every
community have fallen into the grasp of foolish leaders, who lead
after their own whims and desire. On their tongue the mention of God
hath become an empty name; in their midst His holy Word a dead letter.
Such is the sway of their desires, that the lamp of conscience and
reason hath been quenched in their hearts, and this although the
fingers of divine power have unlocked the portals of the knowledge of
God, and the light of divine knowledge and heavenly grace hath
illumined and inspired the essence of all created things, in such wise
that in each and every thing a door of knowledge hath been opened, and
within every atom traces of the sun hath been made manifest. And yet,
in spite of all these manifold revelations of divine knowledge, which
have encompassed the world, they still vainly imagine the door of
knowledge to be closed, and the showers of mercy to be stilled.
Clinging unto idle fancy, they have strayed far from the Urvatu'l-
Vuthqa of divine knowledge. Their hearts seem not to be inclined to
knowledge and the door thereof, neither think they of its
manifestations, inasmuch as in idle fancy they have found the door
that leadeth unto earthly riches, whereas in the manifestation of the
Revealer of knowledge they find naught but the call to self-sacrifice.
They therefore naturally hold fast unto the former, and flee from the
latter. Though they recognize in their hearts the Law of God to be one
and the same, yet from every direction they issue a new command, and
in every season proclaim a fresh decree. No two are found to agree on
one and the same law, for they seek no God but their own desire, and
tread no path but the path of error. In leadership they have
recognized the ultimate object of their endeavour, and account pride
and haughtiness as the highest attainments of their heart's desire.
They have placed their sordid machinations above the divine decree,
have renounced resignation unto the will of God, busied themselves
with selfish calculation, and walked in the way of the hypocrite. With
all their power and strength they strive to secure themselves in their
petty pursuits, fearful lest the least discredit undermine their
authority or blemish the display of their magnificence. Were the eye
to be anointed and illumined with the collyrium of the knowledge of
God, it would surely discover that a number of voracious beasts have
gathered and preyed upon the carrion of the souls of men.
"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." Kitab-i-Iqan, pp. 29-31

As you can see the great "tribulation", which Bahá'u'lláh refers
to as a great "oppression", was/is spiritual in nature and therefore
those who were/are looking for it in the physical realm didn't/don't
see it. Beyond that what event can one anticipate that is greater
than the return of Christ in the Glory of the Father? That happened
with the coming of Bahá'u'lláh in the 19th Century!

Carl Brehmer



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