Posted by Arjen (194.134.215.112) on February 14, 2003 at 00:09:38:

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Let there be no doubt that what we are witnessing is the gathering momentum of that process of the entry of humanity into the Cause by troops, foreshadowed by Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the King of Persia, eagerly anticipated by the Master, and described by the Guardian as the necessary prelude to mass conversion.

(Letters of The Universal House of Justice, 2003 Jan 17, Progress of Five Year Plan -- Learning in Action, p. 1)

According to me the following paragraph is meant here:

1.270
What armour hath not been pierced by the arrow of destruction, and what regal brow not divested by the hand of Fate? What fortress hath withstood the approach of the Messenger of Death? What throne hath not been shattered to pieces, what palace not reduced to rubble? Could the people but taste that choice Wine of the mercy of their Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, which lieth in store for them in the world beyond, they would assuredly cease their censure, and seek only to win the good pleasure of this Youth. For now, however, they have hidden Me behind a veil of darkness, whose fabric they have woven with the hands of idle fancy and vain imagination. Erelong shall the snow-white hand of God rend an opening through the darkness of this night and unlock a mighty portal unto His City. On that Day shall the people enter therein by troops, uttering what the blamers aforetime exclaimed,48 that there shall be made manifest in the end that which appeared in the beginning.

[48] cf. Qur'án 12:31.

(Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 134)

In Traveller's Narrative:

What buckler hath not the arrow of destruction smitten, or what pinion hath not the hand of fate plucked? From what fortress hath the messenger of death been kept back when he came? What throne hath not been broken, or what palace hath not been left desolate? Did men but know what pure wine of the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, was beneath the seal, they would certainly cast aside reproach and seek to be satisfied by this Servant; but now have they veiled Me with the veil of darkness which they have woven with the hands of doubts and fancies. The White Hand shall cleave an opening to this sombre night. On that day the servants [of God] shall say what those caviling women said of yore, that there may appear in the end what began in the beginning.

(Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 81)

In E.G. Browne's translation of Traveller's Narrative there is no mention of a City, neither of 'enter therein by troops'. Does anyone have an idea why? Did he just leave it out, or is it possible to interpret the original text (Suriy-i-Haykal, Lawh-i-Sultán, Traveller's Narrative) in different ways?

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