The Baha’i Faith

“Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One…Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God attest its greatness. The soul of every Prophet of God, of every Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this wondrous Day. All the divers kindreds of the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain it.”
-Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 10

All major world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, speak of a “Promised One.” Baha’is believe that Baha’u'llah is the most recent Messenger of God and that He has revealed Teachings that will help unite the world and create the Kingdom of God on earth.

An aim of this blog is to demonstrate the oneness of religion and show how Baha’u'llah fulfills prophecy of scripture revealed throughout human history.

Below, Robert Henderson, member of the National Spiritual Assembly, eloquently speaks of a perspective of the oneness of mankind developed as a child and through adulthood from study of the Teachings of Baha’u'llah.

(Photo by Marco Abrar - bahaipictures.com)

Interview with Robert and Paula Henderson

Last modified on 2007-11-24 04:47:40 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Robert and Paula Henderson were interviewed by the hostess and producer of a television show aired on the Chicago Access Network TV. A portion of the the full one-hour interview is available below, and the show was broadcast in the Chicago area on Friday, Nov. 2, and Sunday, Nov. 4. Robert Henderson currently serves on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States.

The Return of Christ - “Ye Shall Know Them by Their Fruits”

Last modified on 2007-11-26 17:53:18 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Baha’u'llah has announced that He is the Promised One foretold in the world religions revealed throughout human history. There is a vast amount of scripture available to investigate such a claim. A plan is to periodically publish posts on “Arise” that highlight the connections between the Baha’i Faith and the Teachings sent from God throughout the ages. A useful resource to help search and read scripture is the Ocean World Religions Research Library, which is available free online and contains searchable electronic copies of religious texts of the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikh, Tao, and Zoroastrianism.

Passages in the New Testament provide criteria by which to judge whether One Who Claims to be a Messenger of God is a false prophet or true: “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” A video is below that includes excerpts from the Baha’i Writings and pictures of activities that support that Baha’u'llah has brought fruits of the Spirit referred to in the Bible. Underneath the presentation is a series of Biblical passages that define fruits of the Spirit and admonish seekers to evaluate the fruits brought by Messengers of God.

The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

(King James Bible, Ephesians)

Ye shall know them by their fruits

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

(King James Bible, Matthew)

For every tree is known by his own fruit

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

(King James Bible, Luke)

For the tree is known by his fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit…A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

(King James Bible, Matthew)

His leaf also shall not whither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

(King James Bible, Psalms)

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age.

(King James Bible, Psalms)

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

(King James Bible, Psalms)

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

(King James Bible, Proverbs)

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

(King James Bible, Mark)

The husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our’s.

And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

(King James Bible, Mark)

admin @ November 23, 2007