CHAPTER IV
THE REVELATION OF THE GREATEST NAME---THE REVELATION IS NOT YET ENDED
"As soon as men are ready to receive it the Tree of Truth descends from ‘I was a HiddenTreasure.’" Persian Bayan VI:13
In addition to the lack of a Guardian for the future World Order of God’s Cause, a second indication that this Revelation of the Greatest Name is not yet complete is the fact that a vast number of the Writings of Baha’u’llah were deliberately destroyed because mankind was not ready for them at the time they were revealed.
"As to those verses which He either dictated or wrote Himself, their number was no less remarkable than either the wealth of material they contained, or the diversity of subjects to which they referred. A vast, and indeed the greater proportion of these Writings were, alas, lost irretrievably to posterity. No less an authority than Mirza Aqa Jan, Baha’u’llah’s amanuensis, affirms, as reported by Nabil, that by theexpress order of Baha’u’llah, hundreds of thousands of verses, mostly written by His own hand, were obliterated and cast into the river. ‘Finding me reluctant to execute His orders,’ Mirza Aqa Jan has related to Nabil, ‘Baha’u’llah would reassure me saying: ‘None is to be found at this time worthy to hear these melodies.’ Not once, or twice, but innumerable times, was I commanded to repeat this act.’ " God Passes By, p.138
In the following statements, Baha’u’llah indicates that the full extent of this Revelation of the Greatest Name remained concealed from us because the people still did not have the capacity to benefit or to understand these advanced teachings.
"Know verily that the veil hiding Our countenance hath not been completely lifted. We have revealed Our Self to a degree corresponding to the capacity of the people of our age. Should the Ancient Beauty be unveiled in the fullness of His glory mortal eyes would be blinded by the dazzling intensity of His revelation." Baha’u’llah cited in The World Order of Baha’u’llah, 1944 ed., page 116
‘The Revelation of which I am the bearer is adapted to humanity’s spiritual receptiveness and capacity; otherwise, the Light that shines within Me can neither wax nor wane. Whatever I manifest i8 nothing more or less than the measure of the Divine glory which God has bidden me reveal." Ibid., P. 60
Although Baha’u’llah could not, at the time of His Mission, reveal more than a limited number of Teachings, He did promise that the Day is approaching when the Revelation of the Greatest Name would be completely revealed. He prophesied that even if the nations or the rulers opposed the Promised One, He would remain unshaken.
‘The heights which, through the most gracious favor of God, mortal man can attain in this Day. are as yet unrevealed to his sight. The world of being hath never had nor doth it yet possess the capacity for such a revelation. The Day. however. is approaching when the potentialities of so great a favor will, by virtue of His behest, be manifested unto men. Though the forces of the nations be arrayed against Him, though the kings of the earth be leagued to undermine His Cause, the power of His might shall stand unshaken. He, verily, speaketh the truth, and summoneth all mankind to the way of Him Who is the Incomparable, the All-Knowing.’ Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, p. 214
The time that elapsed between the beginning of the Revelation of the Bab and that of Baha’u’llah was only nine years, and in that time mankind was prepared for the next part of the Revelation of the Greatest Name. In the Persian Bayan the Bab states that as soon as humanity is ready, and has the capacity for greater spiritual truth, God reveals Himself through His Prophet.
"As soon as men are ready to receive it, the Tree of Truth descends from ‘I was a Hidden Treasure.’ " Vahid VI:13
"And in every ease the Tree of Truth regards the capacity of His people; whenever He sees that they are ready for the Manifestation in the mirror of their hearts, He reveals Himself." Vahid VII:11
Perhaps the concept of a Revelation coming whenever humanity reaches a certain point of spiritual capacity, whether it be after nine or a thousand years, is new to many believers. During the nine years that elapsed from the beginnings of the Revelations of the Bab and Baha’u’llah only a limited number of souls had acquired the capacity for the immediate acceptance of a new Revelation, others followed later. New levels of thinking and spiritual evolution always seem to shine forth first in a few special, spiritual souls, and then, gradually, the rest of humanity follows.
In 1992 one hundred years elapsed since the Ascension of Baha’u’llah, and the influence of the Word of God has had world-wide effects, causing vast changes in the ways people think and live. World-wide communications have been established, means of travel have been revolutionized, science has made incredible progress, and on the physical plane at least, the ‘oneness’ of humanity is being realized. It is as if a vast nerve structure has been created throughout the world, ready for the coming of a truly spiritual humanity, responsive to the Word of God. Baha’u’llah spoke of the appearance of special, spiritually advanced people who would appear and be prepared by God in these time to serve His Cause,to awaken the body of a new humanity that is being prepared for birth by God.
"There lay concealed within the Holy Veil, and prepared for the service of God, a company of His chosen ones who shall be manifested unto men, who shall aid His Cause, who shall be afraid of no one, though the entire human race rise up and war against them. These are the ones who, before the gaze of the dwellers on earth and the denizens of heaven, shall arise and, shouting aloud, acclaim the name of the Almighty, and summon the children of men to the path of God, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised." Baha’u’llah cited in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 85
"The day is approaching when God will have, by an act of His Will, raised up a race of men the nature of which i~ inscrutable to all save God, the All-Powerful, the Self-Subsisting." Ibid., p. 85
"A race of men incomparable in character, shall be raised up which, with the feet of detachment, will tread under all who are in heaven and on earth, and will cast the sleeve of holiness over all that hath been created from water and clay." Ibid., p. 31
The question of when the next part of the Revelation of the Greatest Name will be made manifest in the world, is discussed in the following chapters of this book. Although most Baha’is today believe that they know when the next Manifestation will appear, that is, sometime a thousand years after 1852 or 1892, no beginning date for the thousand years is given in the authoritative Writings. One of the Teachings stressed in the Writings of Baha’u’llah is the truth that God does whatsoever He wills, which is not always what the people expect, or have arbitrarily decided. When the Babis questioned Baha’u’llah about His claims, saying that he had appeared about one thousand years too soon, He replied:
"For none knoweth the time of the Revelation except God. Whenever it appeareth, all must acknowledge the Point of Truth, and render thanks unto God." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. P. 157