Jesus has already returned, at least according to social media post authored by a proponent of the Baha’i faith. If Jesus did indeed return, did the world even notice? This was a question I sometimes asked of Full Preterists who assured me that Jesus returned in 70 AD – who even noticed?
According to the social media article:
I am quite convinced that this momentous event [Christ’s return] did occur in the middle of the 19th century…Christ’s return is well-nigh obvious to anyone who cares to examine the circumstances, history and character of Baha’u’llah, the Bab and their followers. The event itself was nothing like the spectacular visions of stars falling to the ground and a luminous being descending physically to Earth that some people imagine. These sorts of popular and fantastic images are part of the common understanding of this promised event, a literal, non-metaphorical interpretation of the New Testament.
In other words, one shouldn’t appeal to a literal biblical understanding of Christ’s Second Advent (Zech 14, Matthew 24 and Revelation 19). It is too “popular” and “fantastic.” Over the years spent in the New Age I often came across references to the Baha’i faith. I vaguely understood that it was an offshoot of Persian Shia Islam, but I never investigated further than that.
Extraordinary claims regarding special revelation about Jesus Christ (and Scripture for that matter) are extant throughout the differing New Age perspectives. The things which they all had in common was the appropriation of the name Jesus Christ, the denial of His atoning work on the Cross, and His unique relationship to the Father.
These are all marks of a cult and the Baha’i faith appears to be no different. In case one misses the nuance, GotQuestions clarifies it further. Jesus isn’t the only manifestation of God:
The Baha’i faith also denies the sole sufficiency of Christ and of Scripture. Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah were all manifestations of God, and the latest of these would have the highest authority since he’d have the most complete revelation of God, according to the idea of progressive revelation. (Emphases mine)
Notice that I underlined part of the last sentence. Progressive revelation is different to abrogation. Progressive Revelation should involve additions to, and clarifications of, previous revelations. If Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna and Muhammad are all “manifestations of God” then they should never contradict Jesus’ teachings. Yet they do just that.
As one person notes: “…that these prophets…contradict each other is paradoxically overlooked by Baha’ism.” Moreover:
The Baha’i plan of salvation is faith in Baha’u’llah plus their own good works…The doctrines of the Christianity regarding the absolute authority of the Bible, doctrines on the Godhead, deity of Jesus Christ, His Virgin Birth, vicarious atonement, bodily resurrection, and the Second Coming are rejected by Baha’ism. (Link is mine)
What might draw people to the Baha’i faith today?
Lou Whitworth (Probe Ministries) gives us an insight into its appeal by summing up the Twelve Principles of Baha’i philosophy: “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” These twelve principles are as follows:
Oneness of God
Oneness of Religion
Oneness of Mankind
Elimination of prejudice of all kinds
Individual search after truth
Universal auxiliary language
Equality of men and women
Universal education
Harmony of science and religion
Elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
World government
Protection of cultural diversity
Aren’t most, if not all, of these points attractive today? Doesn’t everyone want the elimination of prejudice and poverty? Don’t we all want equality and peace? Isn’t world peace etc the Zeitgeist-goal of this Age?
Whitworth observes that one of the Baha’i goals is World Unity. While most would heartily concur, he raises some concerns. How is this unity to be brought about? Would it be enforced upon individuals at the expense of personal rights and freedoms? How would it deal with dissidents?
While the Baha’i membership is currently relatively small, Whitworth notes:
After the historian Arnold Toynbee examined the Baha’i faith, he came to believe that it could be the future world religion. Others have expressed similar thoughts. Though Baha’i seems small and innocuous at present, if it grows in size and influence to the point that it could succeed in its aims of unifying the world under its own terms, it could be a sinister force.
Of course, as far as Baha’i is concerned, this may never happen. Interestingly enough, though, the Baha’i World Center is located in Haifa, Israel. I don’t really know what one does with that information.
Conspiracy theories aside, the desire for a New World Order (along the lines of the Baha’i model) has been expressed among elite leaders (secular and religious) and thinkers for a long time. In fact Donald Trump’s “nationalism” has been a deep thorn in their sides.
No less leaders than the likes of Pope Francis have called for global unity in a number of areas as outlined in the Baha’i principles. There is a pervading global interfaith element in the Document on Human Fraternity co-authored by the pope and Ahmed el-Tayeb. It mentions God, but Christ isn’t there.
The “Higher Committee of Human Fraternity” has instituted a project called the Abrahamic Family House. The first of which is to be located in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. A church, mosque and synagogue will share a designated space. I wonder if they’ll have plans for one in Jerusalem.
Finally, Pope Francis has also called for an “authority” to enforce UN goals:
Pope Francis made a strong new push for globalism on Thursday, calling for a supranational, legally constituted body to enforce United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and implement “climate change” policies.
Whether it’s the Baha’i, professing–compromising Christian organizations or something else, history and Scripture inform us that man will never bring peace and harmony to this earth. The King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ is glaringly missing from the equation.
What does God think of all this? Psalm 2 is an appropriate response HERE. And this:
Sing to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:5-9
Come quickly, LORD
Further reading:
What is the Gospel?
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