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Chapter 38
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Letter -- a symbolic term used
to refer to a Dependent Prophet/Messenger who promotes the teachings of
the Independent Prophet ("Word").
1)
The twelve Apostles of Christ were Letters (Christ, the Independent Prophet, was the Word):
Emmanuel was indeed the Herald of the Second Coming of Christ, and a
Summoner to the pathway of the Kingdom. It is evident that the Letter
is a member of the Word, and this membership in the Word signifieth
that the Letter is dependent for its value on the Word, that is, it
deriveth its grace from the Word; it has a spiritual kinship with the
Word, and is accounted an integral part of the Word. The Apostles were
even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word Itself; and the
meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a splendour on
those Letters. Again, since the Letter is a member of the Word, it
therefore, in its inner meaning, is consonant with the Word.
-- Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 60
The Spirit and the Word mean the divine perfections that appeared in
the Reality of Christ, and these perfections were with God; so the sun
manifests all its glory in the mirror. For the Word does not signify
the body of Christ, no, but the divine perfections manifested in Him.
For Christ was like a clear mirror which was facing the Sun of Reality;
and the perfections of the Sun of Reality--that is to say, its light
and heat--were visible and apparent in this mirror. If we look into the
mirror, we see the sun, and we say, "It is the sun." Therefore, the
Word and the Holy Spirit, which signify the perfections of God, are the
divine appearance. This is the meaning of the verse in the Gospel which
says: "The Word was with God, and the Word was God"; for the divine
perfections are not different from the Essence of Oneness. The
perfections of Christ are called the Word because all the beings are in
the condition of letters, and one letter has not a complete meaning,
while the perfections of Christ have the power of the word because a
complete meaning can be inferred from a word. As the Reality of Christ
was the manifestation of the divine perfections, therefore, it was like
the word. Why? because He is the sum of perfect meanings. This is why
He is called the Word.
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 206-207
2)
The
Surih of the Temple, an important tablet revealed by
Baha'u'llah, is another place where Baha'u'llah refers to His many
Dependent Prophets ("temples
of the Oneness of God") in separate paragraphs, in addition to other
important themes. In the passage below, Baha'u'llah refers to his
Letters (another symbolic term for His Dependent Prophets) about whom it is
said, "God exalted them above the rest of His creation", "Through
them the believers in the Divine Unity have turned towards Him Who is
the Object of the adoration of the entire creation" -- as they are Manifestations of God.
1.14
We, verily, have ordained this Temple
to be the source of all existence in the new creation, that all may
know of a certainty My power to accomplish that which I have purposed
through My word "Be", and it is! Beneath the shadow of every letter of
this Temple [Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet]
We shall raise up a people whose number none can reckon save God, the
Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Erelong shall God bring forth from
His Temple such souls as will remain unswayed by the insinuations of
the rebellious, and who will quaff at all times of the cup that is life
indeed. These, truly, are of the blissful.
1.14
These are servants who abide beneath the shelter of the tender mercy of
their Lord, and who remain undeterred by those who seek to obstruct
their path. Upon their faces may be seen the brightness of the light of
the All-Merciful, and from their hearts may be heard the remembrance of
Mine all-glorious and inaccessible Name. Were they to unloose their
tongues to extol their Lord, the denizens of earth and heaven would
join in their anthems of praise -- yet how few are they who hear! And
were they to glorify their Lord, all created things would join in their
hymns of glory. Thus hath God exalted them above the rest of His creation, and yet the people remain unaware!
1.15
These are they who circle round the Cause of God even as the shadow
doth revolve around the sun. Open, then, your eyes, O people of the
Bayan, that haply ye may behold them! It is by virtue of their movement
that all things are set in motion, and by reason of their stillness all
things are brought to rest, would that ye might be assured thereof! Through
them the believers in the Divine Unity have turned towards Him Who is
the Object of the adoration of the entire creation, and by them the
hearts of the righteous have found rest and composure, could ye but
know it! Through them the earth hath been established, the
clouds have rained down their bounty, and the bread of knowledge hath
descended from the heaven of grace, could ye but perceive it!
-- Baha'u'llah, Surih of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 6
And of all men, the most accomplished, the most distinguished and the
most excellent are the Manifestations of the Sun of Truth. Nay, all
else besides these Manifestations, live by the operation of their Will,
and move and have their being through the outpourings of their grace.
"But for Thee, I would have not created the heavens." Nay, all in their
holy presence fade into utter nothingness, and are a thing forgotten.
Human tongue can never befittingly sing their praise, and human speech
can never unfold their mystery. These Tabernacles of holiness, these
primal Mirrors which reflect the light of unfading glory, are but
expressions of Him Who is the Invisible of the Invisibles. By the
revelation of these gems of divine virtue all the names and attributes
of God, such as knowledge and power, sovereignty and dominion, mercy
and wisdom, glory, bounty and grace, are made manifest.
These attributes of God are not and have never been vouchsafed
specially unto certain Prophets, and withheld from others. Nay, all the
Prophets of God, His well-favoured, 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."[1] It hath therefore become manifest and evident
that within the tabernacles of these Prophets and chosen Ones of God
the light of His infinite names and exalted attributes hath been
reflected, even though the light of some of these attributes may or may
not be outwardly revealed from these luminous Temples to the eyes of
men. That a certain attribute of God hath not been outwardly manifested
by these Essences of Detachment doth in no wise imply that they Who are
the Daysprings of God's attributes and the Treasuries of His holy names
did not actually possess it. Therefore, these illuminated Souls, these
beauteous Countenances have, each and every one of them, been endowed
with all the attributes of God, such as sovereignty, dominion, and the
like, even though to outward seeming they be shorn of all earthly
majesty. To every discerning eye this is evident and manifest; it
requireth neither proof nor evidence.
[1 Qur'án 2:253.]
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 102
Say: Verily a word hath gone forth in favor from the most great Tablet
and God has adorned It with the mantle of Himself, and made it
sovereign over all in the earth and a sign of His grandeur and
omnipotence among the creatures; in order that, through it, the people
shall praise their Lord, the mighty, the powerful, the wise; and that,
through it, they shall glorify their creator and sanctify the self of
God which standeth within all things. Verily, this is naught but a
Revelation upon the part of the wise, the ancient One!
Say: O people, praise ye God, for its Manifestation,
for verily it is the most great favor upon you and the most perfect
blessing upon you; and through Him every moldering bone is quickened.
Whosoever turns to Him hath surely turned unto God, and whosoever
turneth away from Him hath turned away from My beauty, denied My proof
and is of those who transgress. Verily, He is the remembrance of God
amongst you and His trust within you, and His manifestation unto you
and His appearance among the servants who are nigh. Thus have I been
commanded to convey to you the message of God, your Creator; and I have
delivered to you that of which I was commande His messengers, and then
His holy servants.
-- Baha'u'llah, Tablet of the Branch
3)
"O First Letter of this Temple" is a reference to one of the Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah.
1.37
O First Letter of this Temple [Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet], betokening the Essence of Divinity! We
have made thee the treasury of My Will and the repository of My Purpose
unto all who are in the kingdoms of revelation and creation. This is
but a token of the grace of Him Who is the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting.
-- Baha'u'llah, Surih of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 21
4)
"O Second Letter of this Temple" is a reference to another of the Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah.
1.38
O Second Letter of this Temple [Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet], betokening My name, the Almighty! We
have made thee the manifestation of Our sovereignty and the dayspring
of Our Names. Potent am I to fulfil that which My tongue speaketh.
-- Baha'u'llah, Surih of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 21
5)
"O Third Letter of this Temple" is a reference to another of the Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah.
1.39
O Third Letter of this Temple [Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet], betokening My name, the All-Bountiful!
We have made thee the dawning-place of Our bounty amidst Our creatures
and the fountainhead of Our generosity amidst Our people. Powerful am I
in My dominion. Nothing whatsoever of all that hath been created in the
heavens or on the earth can escape My knowledge, and I am the True One,
the Knower of things unseen.
-- Baha'u'llah, Surih of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 21
6)
"O Fourth Letter of this Temple" is a reference to another of the Dependent Prophets of Baha'u'llah.
1.46
O Fourth Letter of this Temple [Baha'u'llah, the Independent Prophet], betokening the attribute of Grace! We
have made thee the manifestation of grace betwixt earth and heaven.
From thee have We generated all grace in the contingent world, and unto
thee shall We cause it to return. And from thee shall We manifest it
again, through a word of Our command. Potent am I to accomplish
whatsoever I desire through My word "Be", and it is! Every grace that
appeareth in the world of being hath originated from thee, and unto
thee shall it return. This, verily, is what hath been ordained in a
Tablet which We have preserved behind the veil of glory and concealed
from mortal eyes. Well is it with them that deprive themselves not of
this manifest and unfailing grace.
-- Baha'u'llah, Surih of the Temple, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 24
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