The Manifestations: one light, distinct missions

The Manifestations of God are as the heavenly bodies. All have their appointed place and time of ascension, but the Light they give is the same. If one wishes to look for the sun rising, one does not look always at the same point because that point changes with the seasons. When one sees the sun rise further in the north one recognizes it, though it has risen at a different point.

The Manifestations of God are like so many different mirrors, as They each have Their own distinct individuality, but that which is reflected in these mirrors is one and the same sun. Thus, it is evident that the reality of Christ is different from that of Moses.

Nay, all the Prophets of God, His well-favored, His holy, and chosen Messengers, are, without exception, the bearers of His names, and the embodiments of His attributes. They only differ in the intensity of their revelation, and the comparative potency of their light. Even as He hath revealed: "Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others."

… The other is the station of distinction, and pertaineth to the world of creation and to the limitations thereof. In this respect, each Manifestation of God hath a distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined Revelation, and specially designated limitations. Each one of them is known by a different name, is characterized by a special attribute, fulfills a definite Mission, and is entrusted with a particular Revelation.

… Viewed in the light of their second station -- the station of distinction, differentiation, temporal limitations, characteristics and standards -- they manifest absolute servitude, utter destitution and complete self-effacement.

All that We have mentioned concerning unity between them, and concerning the gems of oneness and the realities of singleness, pertaineth only to the station of revelation, for they all began from God and will return unto Him, and they judged by His command and spoke by His leave. Therefore the decree of unity is established for them in this station. Thus do We expound the verses unto you that ye may be of those who are certain. However, in the station of distinction, God hath preferred some above others, as the master is preferred above the servants. In this station, behold the station of some as the Point above the letters, and just as the letters are derived from the Point and revolve around it, likewise know thou the ranks of the Prophets. And We bear witness that He Who came unto you by the name of 'Ali is the Point, around which revolve the spirits of the Messengers. Therefore say within thyself: "Blessed be God, the best of creators!"

These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.

… In truth I say, and for the sake of God I declare: This Servant, this Wronged One, is abashed to claim for Himself any existence whatever, how much more those exalted grades of being!

The Chief of the Israelites had His way, the Star of the Christians had His radiance, the Pride of the Arabs had His commandments, and the Sun of the supreme heaven had His religion and effulgence. The words, deeds, religion, way and commandments of each one were different.

It should first be noted that in one sense the stations of the Prophets of God differ one from another. For instance, consider Moses. He brought forth a Book and established ordinances, whilst a number of the Prophets and Messengers who arose after Him were charged with the promulgation of His laws, insofar as they remained consonant with the needs of the age.

The measure of the Revelation with which every one of them hath been identified had been definitely foreordained.

The measure of the revelation of the Prophets of God in this world, however, must differ. Each and every one of them hath been the Bearer of a distinct Message, and hath been commissioned to reveal Himself through specific acts. It is for this reason that they appear to vary in their greatness.

The other station is that of distinction, which pertaineth to the ranks and conditions of the Holy Manifestations. In this station it is said: "We have caused some of these Messengers to excel others." The similitude of this station is like unto the zodiacal signs, wherein the sun hath in each a special influence and different degrees of heat - as in Leo where the sun's heat is most intense, and in Aquarius and Pisces where it is moderate.

The sun hath ever had diverse manifestations and influences. The sun that riseth from the sign of Aquarius is, upon its appearance, effaced before the sun that ariseth from the sign of Leo. Every person of insight observeth countless differences.

It has an appearance, emergence, radiance, flame, ray, power, light, influence, arrangement and destiny at each divine dayspring and horizon of the All-Merciful. But in this Manifestation the constellation is divine and all-merciful, and the star is the Most Great Luminary, brilliant, radiant, apparent, evident and glorious.

One branch bears fruit and others are not laden so abundantly. All the Prophets are lights, they only differ in degree; they shine like brilliant heavenly bodies, each have their appointed place and time of ascension. Some are like lamps, some like the moon, some like distant stars, and a few are like the sun, shining from one end of the earth to the other. All have the same Light to give, yet they are different in degree.

The question is that to the Jews Moses is the last, to the Christians it is Christ, to the Muslims it is Muhammad and to the Parsis it is Zoroaster. But their differences are only those of names. If these names are set aside, it is evident that their aim is one.

Each Manifestation was alike great in himself, each spoke with the same authority, each alike breathed the spirit of God. The same fundamental truth underlies the doctrines of each. The differences between them were not in themselves, but in the evolutionary stages of the peoples whom they taught. When Christ appeared, the people among whom he came were in a low state of intelligence there was little or no discussion of abstruse questions among them. Buddha, though earlier, came to a part of the world where civilisation was much more advanced, which was ripe in philosophical and metaphysical speculations. Mahomet found wild tribes and hordes of uncivilised barbarians.

On the one hand, each of these great teachers had to meet a problem peculiar to himself-that of guiding and satisfying his contemporaries and associates; and, on the other, the condition of the world's advancement in general-the state of communication between different parts of the world-was such that the teachings of each were confined to the people of that region to which they came and for whom they were especially adapted.

Adam is the symbol of the childhood of the race of man. Childhood has not a great capacity, therefore when he put out his hand to take the apple, he had not the capacity to receive such great knowledge as the apple symbolizes. Moses taught only the material things and Christ of the Spiritual. So if Adam attempted the knowledge of Jesus Christ, he was bound to fail.

The Manifestations are greater or less in degree according to the Message they are able to reveal. Muhammad was preceded by a Forerunner or Announcer. Before the Manifestation of this Day, as it is the full Reality of Revelation, there were two Heralds, Ahmad and Kazim.

It will be a long time before the rise of another Manifestation.

Mr. Meakin asked, "Are not all the Prophets Manifestations reflecting the Word?"

'Abdu'l-Baha: "Yes, but the Word as reflected in Jesus has a special meaning. The sun shines in all the months, but in July it is brightest. Speak to Me, Mr. Gregory."

I stated that I was glad to hear this explanation, as the Christians would be glad to know that He had thus spoken of Jesus the Christ.

Know that the attributes of perfection, the outpourings of divine grace, and the effulgences of divine revelation shine resplendent in all the Manifestations of God, but that the all-encompassing Word of God--Christ--and His Most Great Name--Baha'u'llah--have appeared with a revelation beyond all conception. For not only do they possess all the perfections of the former Manifestations, but they also evince beyond those such perfections as to make all others even as their followers.

… Pause then to reflect upon the difference between the virtues and perfections of Christ and the splendours and effulgences of Baha'u'llah on the one hand, and the virtues of the Prophets of House of Israel, such as Ezekiel or Samuel, on the other. All were the recipients of divine revelation, but between them there is an immeasurable distance.

In some ages there hath been a single Soul, and in other times multiple Temples have appeared from the Dayspring of the Cause, as is recorded and evident in all the Books of old and recent times. Were this servant to undertake a detailed exposition, a lengthy volume would need to be written.

And if in certain utterances of the Manifestations of the Cause and holy Dawning-places thou perceivest limitation to one, be not veiled thereby but consider the origin of the divine Tree and holy Sapling, for the Cause of God hath ever appeared and shall ever appear without limit or number.

If I call upon Thee by Thy Name, the All-Possessing, I am compelled to recognize that He Who holdeth in His hand the immediate destinies of all created things is but a vassal dependent upon Thee, and is the creation of but a word proceeding from Thy mouth.

the Muhammadans were accustomed to think Mahomet the greater because of his title "Seal of the Prophets," but in the time of Jesus spirituality and spiritual life was far greater.

The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.

Verse 27: The Lamb's Book of life is only one book that of the Lamb (Abdul-Baha). Chapter 12, verse 10: Christ and Baha'u'llah are mentioned as being One in degree of power.

As far as their spiritual nature is concerned all Prophets can be regarded as Sons of God, as they all reflect His light, though not in an equal measure, and this difference in reflection is due to the conditions and circumstances under which they appear.

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