THE GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT
TO MANKIND
110
110
111
The time fore-ordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth
is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all
been fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and
the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation. Happy
is the man that pondereth in his heart that which hath been revealed in the
Books of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Meditate upon this, O ye
beloved of God, and let your ears be attentive unto His Word, so that ye may, by
His grace and mercy, drink your fill from the crystal waters of constancy, and
become as steadfast and immovable as the mountain in His Cause.
Verily I
say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice,
of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His
countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behoveth every man to blot out the
trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open
and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission,
and the tokens of His glory.
Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made
to it in all
111
112
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. No sooner, however, had the Day Star of His Revelation manifested
itself in the heaven of God's Will, than all, except those whom the Almighty was
pleased to guide, were found dumbfounded and heedless.
O thou that hast
remembered Me! The most grievous veil hath shut out the peoples of the earth
from His glory, and hindered them from hearkening to His call. God grant that
the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, `the Kingdom
is God's', may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.
O ye children
of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is
to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to
foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a
source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path,
the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the
changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the
revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure. Our hope is that the
world's
112
113
religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for
the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them,
after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and
full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the
remedy it requires.... It is incumbent upon them who are in authority to
exercise moderation in all things. Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of
moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence. Consider for instance
such things as liberty, civilization and the like. However much men of
understanding may favourably regard them, they will, if carried to excess,
exercise a pernicious influence upon men.... Please God, the peoples of the
world may be led, as the result of the high endeavours exerted by their rulers
and the wise and learned amongst men, to recognize their best interests. How
long will humanity persist in its waywardness? How long will injustice continue?
How long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men? How long will discord
agitate the face of society? The winds of despair are, alas, blowing from every
direction, and the strife that divideth and afflicteth the human race is daily
increasing. The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned,
inasmuch as the prevailing order appeareth to be lamentably defective. I beseech
God, exalted be His glory, that He may graciously awaken the peoples of the
earth, may grant that the end of their conduct may be profitable unto them, and
aid them to accomplish that which beseemeth their station.
113
114
O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces
towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye
together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of
contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world's great Luminary
envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city,
and the occupants of one and the same throne. This wronged One hath, ever since
the early days of His life, cherished none other desire but this, and will
continue to entertain no wish except this wish. There can be no doubt whatever
that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their
inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The
difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to
the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed.
All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were
ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Arise and, armed
with the power of faith, shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings, the
sowers of dissension amongst you. Cleave unto that which draweth you together
and uniteth you. This, verily, is the most exalted Word which the Mother Book
hath sent down and revealed unto you. To this beareth witness the Tongue of
Grandeur from His habitation of glory.
114
115
The Great Being, wishing to reveal the prerequisites of the peace
and tranquillity of the world and the advancement of its peoples, hath written:
The time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an
all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized. The rulers and
kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its
deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of
the world's Great Peace amongst men. Such a peace demandeth that the Great
Powers should resolve, for the sake of the tranquillity of the peoples of the
earth, to be fully reconciled among themselves. Should any king take up arms
against another, all should unitedly arise and prevent him. If this be done, the
nations of the world will no longer require any armaments, except for the
purpose of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining internal
order within their territories. This will ensure the peace and composure of
every people, government and nation. We fain would hope that the kings and
rulers of the earth, the mirrors of the gracious and almighty name of God, may
attain unto this station, and shield mankind from the onslaught of tyranny....
The day is approaching when all the peoples of the world will have adopted one
universal language and one common script. When this is achieved, to whatsoever
city a man may journey, it shall be as if he were entering his own home. These
things are obligatory and absolutely essential. It is incumbent upon every man
of insight
115