Disclaimer: This is quite a long post! :p



The minute I grasped the doctrine of progressive revelation, I began to ponder what the next Manifestation would be like. A lot of questions arose in my mind that I've never really thought to ask, so here are my thoughts and questions, if anyone is willing to answer :)

Firstly, the obvious fact, stated numerous times on numerous boards (not only those of B-net) is that the next Manifestation will occur in one thousand years from Bahá'u'lláh 's time (that is, roughly 850 years from our current lives).

For quotes from Bahá’í texts,

"The meaning of this is that any individual who, before the expiry of a full thousand years -- years known and clearly established by common usage and requiring no interpretation -- should lay claim to a Revelation direct from God, even though he should reveal certain signs, that man is assuredly false and an impostor.

This is not a reference to the Universal Manifestation, for it is clearly set forth in the Holy Writings that centuries, nay thousands of years, must pass on to completion, before a Manifestation like unto this Manifestation shall appear again"

    (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 67)

"The substance is, that prior to the completion of a thousand years, no individual may presume to breathe a word."

    (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 68)


"Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God, ere the expiration of a full thousand years, such a man is assuredly a lying impostor. We pray God that He may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim. Should he repent, God will, no doubt, forgive him. If, however, he persisteth in his error, God will, assuredly, send down one who will deal mercilessly with him. Terrible, indeed, is God in punishing! Whosoever interpreteth this verse otherwise than its obvious meaning is deprived of the Spirit of God and of His mercy which encompasseth all created things. Fear God, and follow not your idle fancies. Nay, rather follow the bidding of your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Wise."

    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 344)

(Thank You Ocean!)

When it comes to identifying this person (or persons?), I found this link, which is a response from the UHJ in regards to a question, http://bahai-library.com/file.php5?file … nguage=All

To summarize, the next Holy Being will suffer persecution (which may or may not, hopefully and probably not, be related to the UHJ), and the UHJ, after the preiod of one thousand (now 850) years, will being searching for this Being (or Beings?).

So, my question can't be answered given the limited knowledge we have today, but I do love speculation! What is everyone's thoughts on the next Manifestation? Maybe my meager research skipped over links that someone could provide to me that delves further into the subject? I basically question whether anyone will be able to identify the next Messenger, because history tells us what happened to the last great reformers and Prophets.

Oh, it's not that I'm worried about it, and I don't regard it as central to my faith.

It's just one of those things that comes to the surface of my mind when I read about past Manifestations, somthing I'd enjoy learning of.


But I was unaware multiple texts still remained untranslated. Shows how much I know, huh? Though, multiple untranslated texts do give me other things to speculate about...:)



...almost forgot that Ipod comment. I don't think they could've speculated on somthing that...wonderful? But it does go to show the magnitude of our current speculations, and serves as a symbol of what amazing wonders somthing like God could put into a Manifestation.

Haha, yes, that metaphor truly shines light on the wonders of God

You know, I have thought about this as well and I'll tell you the reason I think it's important that Baha'is today consider this:

The day that the Lord Christ came, the Jews were woefully unprepared and unaware. This lead to the suffering and torment of Christ, and caused the Jews to cling to vain imaginings for thousands more years.

But the Christians prevailed and grew and the faith of Christ spread across the globe. But when the Dawning Place of Revelation appeared in the form of His Holiness Muhammad, the Christians, forgetting the suffering of Christ and the denial of their faith by the Jews, denied Him as well, leading to generations of bloodshed and horror, and creating a violent rift that exists to this day.

The people of the Quran received persecution from all sides in the beginning, and their Book just as strongly warned against perverting the teachings of the faith of God, and foretold just as explicitly as any faith before it the coming of the next Manifestation. And yet, even in the time when they were eagerly awaiting Him, and even when the signs were fulfilled more eloquently than ever before, and even when some of the greatest and most respected religious minds in the world pledged their lives to the truth of His cause, the hands of those who professed themselves to be believers laid hold on His Manifestation, the Mahdi whom they had all prayed would come, and exiled, tortured, and eventually martyred Him.

The Babis were blessed in that the vast majority of them recognized Baha'u'llah and followed Him, and many of those holy souls shed their life's blood in His path. But even then, the hardship and suffering inflicted on the Blessed Beauty and the Master at the hands of the covenant-breakers was too grievous to imagine.

After the course of at least one thousand years, God will send another Messenger to guide humanity. And there will be those of us who will fail, those whose faith will be shaken, and those of us who (God forbid!) will persecute and attack this beloved Personage.

We have a more complete understanding of the lives and suffering of the messengers of the past than humanity has had previously. Nonetheless, we cannot even imagine what kind of world it will be in a thousand years.

So we must lay the groundwork. We must make the world ready, and live by what Baha'u'llah has taught us. Today.

I am of the opinion that the best thing we can do to serve the future Manifestation is to work to establish Baha'u'llah's world order, and do it the right way, and not repeat the sins and iniquities of the past when doing so.

The House of Justice makes infallible decisions.  The House of Justice would be the source of the decision verifying the identity of the next manifestation.  We have never had an infallible source to turn to in making such a decision prior to the establishment of the Administrative Order.

The person Who would be the next manifestation would likely be known for demonstrated spiritual qualities and abilities beyond the typical person.  Such a person in service to the Cause of God would rise to levels of Service where their special reality would be the example to the rank and file believers.  It is likely that they would eventually be elected to the Universal House of Justice due to their humility, knowledge and service.  Baha'i elections are a spiritual act, and all those participating would be responsive to that person's spiritual reality.  However, if the Person was serving on the House of Justice, it might appear to those who don't understand the spiritual process that a conflict of interest would exist if the UHJ, with that member on its body, identified one of its own members as the next manifestation.

Since a female cannot serve on the UHJ, they would never be on the body that would make that decision.  So, the next manifestation could be a female, which would obviate that issue.

However, the UHJ could also identify a male at a young age who wouldn't have had the time to establish a reputation and be elected to high office.  Perhaps we can watch from the next world when this actually takes place to enjoy the moment when it happens and pray for all to "see".

Speculation is futile, but it is interesting to consider the possibilities.  If the UHJ did identify one of its member as the next manifestaion, then perhaps that would be the test for the followers of that age.