Directives From the Guardian
21 BAHÁ'Í DISPENSATION (Duration of)
"Concerning your question relative to the duration of the
Bahá'í Dispensation. There is no contradiction between
Bahá'u'lláh's statement in the Íqán about the renewal of the
City of God once every thousand years, and that of the
Guardian in the Dispensation to the effect that the Bahá'í
cycle will extend over a period of at least 500,000 years. The
apparent contradiction is due to the confusion of the terms
cycle and dispensation. For while the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh
will last for at least one thousand years, His Cycle will
extend still farther, to at least 500,000 years.
"The Bahá'í cycle is, indeed, incomparable in its greatness.
It includes not only the Prophets that will appear after Bahá'u'lláh,
but all those who have preceded Him ever since Adam.
These should, indeed, be viewed as constituting but preliminary
stages leading gradually to the appearance of this supreme
Manifestation of God."
Directives From the Guardian
pages 7-8
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