The coming of peace on earth.

 

170. The coming of peace on earth is a promise made by all the great world religions of God: Baha’i Faith: “In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of mankind.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 19)

In the Bahá’í Faith, the current God founded religion for this day and time, Bahá’u’lláh outlines the process by which this great world peace will be achieved. Baha’i Faith: “Bahá’u’lláh declared the coming of the Most Great Peace. All the nations and peoples will come under the shadow of the Tent of the Great Peace and Harmony — that is to say, by general election a Great Board of Arbitration shall be established, to settle all differences and quarrels between the Powers; so that disputes shall not end in war.” Of note, Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed this message to mankind well over a hundred years ago.

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 28)

As Bahá’ís we read in the writings that with the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, mankind will eventually bring about the age old promise of world peace into a reality:  Judaism: Ezekiel 37:26 “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.’”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Discord will change to accord, dissension to unison. The roots of malevolence will be torn out, the basis of aggression destroyed. The bright rays of union will obliterate the darkness of limitations, and the splendours of heaven will make the human heart to be even as a mine veined richly with the love of God.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 19)

It needs to be understood that this is not just an idle dream, but the fulfillment of promises made in the bible in both the old and the New Testament.  Judaism: Psalms 29:11 “The LORD will give strength unto his people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.” Psalms 37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalms 76:9 “…..God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth.” Isaiah 2:4 “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” This statement hints at the formation and establishment of the Great Board of Arbitration that Bahá’u’lláh promises is to come which shall judge among the nations of the earth and rebuke the peoples of the earth for their unscrupulous actions towards one another. Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:18 “And My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;” Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith The LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Micah 4: 3 “And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” This statement also hints at the formation and establishment of the Great Board of Arbitration which shall be elected of the world and shall settle the differences of the world nations so that disputes don’t end in warfare.

BAHA’I FAITH: “As the East and the West are illumined by one sun, so all races, nations, and creeds shall be seen as the servants of the One God. The whole earth is one home, and all peoples, did they but know it, are bathed in the oneness of God‘s mercy. God created all. He gives sustenance to all. He guides and trains all under the shadow of His bounty. We must follow the example God Himself gives us, and do away with all disputations and quarrels.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 38)

 BABI RELIGION: “O PEOPLES of the earth! Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace and, by the leave of God, step out of the darkness into the light and onto this far-extended Path of Truth.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 60)

 CHRISTIANITY: Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  Judaism: Isaiah 26:12 “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.” Isaiah 54:13 “And all thy children shall be taught of The LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”  Christianity: Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” 1 Corinthians 7:15 “God hath called us to peace.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of The Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” 4:3 “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 4:4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” 4:5 “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”  Judaism: Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  The bible is pretty clear on this subject, there will be peace in the world, and the Bahá’í Faith tells us this is true, and how it will be eventually achieved.

BAHA’I FAITH: “When perfect equality shall be established between men and women, peace may be realized for the simple reason that womankind in general will never favor warfare. Women will not be willing to allow those whom they have so tenderly cared for to go to the battlefield.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 167)

Clearly the bible and the Bahá’í Faith promise that peace will come to this earth soon, but what is not so readily realized is that the other religions of God also make the promise of peace eventually coming to this war beleaguered world as well:

 ISLAM: 7. “Let there be peace and tranquility for all the creatures of Allah (God).” “enter not into conflict,”

(Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh, Masnavi Vol 1)

Islam: 224. “Make not Allah’s (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; for Allah is one who heareth and knoweth all things.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: 15. “There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.” 16. “Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His Will, unto the light, guideth them to a Path that is Straight.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   5)

Islam: 25. “Allah doth call to the Home of Peace: He doth guide whom He pleaseth to a way that is straight.” 24. “Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience!”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 10 and 13)

Islam: 55. “Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (?), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion — the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘They will worship Me alone and not associate aught with Me.”’ He will establish their religion, one which He chooses for them, and they shall live in security and peace, as those who inherited the land before them. This is a prophecy if I have ever heard one and it promises a future of peace. 59. “Say: Praise be to Allah, and Peace on His servants whom He has chosen (for His Message).

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 24 and 27)

Islam: 58. “Peace! — a Word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  36)

Islam: 73. “And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened: and its Keepers will say: ‘Peace be upon you! Well have ye done! Enter ye here, to dwell therein.”’ This is also a prophecy, I believe, promised to those people who accept the Bahá’í Faith who will dwell in the peaceful teachings of the faith.

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  39)

Islam: 31. “And the Garden will be brought nigh to the righteous — no more a thing distant.” 32. “(A voice will say🙂 ‘This is what was promised for you, for everyone who turned (to Allah, God) in sincere repentance, who kept (His law).’” 33. “Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him):” 34. “Enter ye therein in Peace and Security; this is a Day of Eternal Life!”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  50)

Islam: 27. “And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord. For their Lord’s displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquility.” or The Lord’s displeasure is violence and chaos.

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  70)

Islam: “My Lord hath forbidden filthy actions whether open or secret, and iniquity, and unjust violence,”

(The Qur’an (Rodwell tr), Sura   7 – Al Araf)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: 10. “(Zarathushtra:) Do ye, O Ahura (God), grant them strength, and O Asha, and O Good Thought, that dominion, whereby he (the Savior, the future deliverer) could produce good dwellings and peace. I also have realized thee, Mazda, as the first to accomplish this.” Zarathushtra is praying to Mazda (God) for a savior to bring about peace and stating that this deliverance of peace to humanity is going to be accomplished by Mazda at sometime in the future. But the thing is, peace is going to happen on this earth. “making straight the paths for the Religion of the future Deliverer which Ahura ordained.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 29 and 53)

 Zoroastrianism: 9. “I pledge myself to the Mazdayasnian religion, which causes the attack to be put off and weapons put down;” “And we worship the victorious Peace.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Visperad and Yasna 12)

 Zoroastrianism: 1. “I ascribe all good to Ahura Mazda, and all the best, whose is the light, whose blissful areas be filled with light.” “I pledge myself to the good Mazdayasnian religion, which causes the attack to be put off and weapons put down; which upholds (peace) – which of all religions that exist or shall be, is the greatest, the best, and the most beautiful: The Ahuric, Zoroastrian. I ascribe all good to Ahura Mazda. This is the creed of the Mazdayasnian religion.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 12)

 Zoroastrianism: 7. “Violence must be put down! against cruelty make a stand,”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 48)

 Zoroastrianism: 5. “May Sraosha (Obedience) conquer disobedience within this house, and may peace triumph over discord here, and generous giving over avarice, reverence over contempt, speech with Truthful words over lying utterance. May the Righteous Order gain the victory over the Demon of the Lie.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna)

 HINDUISM: “The world is overcome- aye! even here! By such as fix their faith on Unity. The sinless Brahma dwells in Unity, And they in Brahma. Be not over-glad Attaining joy, and be not over-sad Encountering grief, but, stayed on Brahma, still Constant let each abide! The sage whose soul Holds off from outer contacts, in himself Finds bliss; to Brahma (God) joined by piety, His spirit tastes eternal peace.” The promise of peace obtained eternally for the believers that join themselves piously to Brahma, overcome the world, in unity and with constant peace being achieved.

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 5)

 Hinduism: 2.30 “Self-restraint in actions includes abstention from violence, from falsehoods, from stealing, from sexual engagements, and from acceptance of gifts.” 2.35 “When one is confirmed in non-violence, hostility ceases in his presence.” And, peace reigns supreme.

(Hindu, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali )

 Hinduism: “Krishna uttered words of wisdom pregnant with his peaceful thought, For in peace and not by bloodshed,” “Yield to Krishna’s words of wisdom, for Thy weal he nobly strives, Yield and save thy friends and kinsmen, save.”

(Hindu, Mababharata (R. Dutt, abridged tr))

 Hinduism: “May union and peace be ours.” Peace earned through a united world.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda VII)

 BUDDHISM: “The primary cause of pure unity of enlightenment that has existed from the beginning of time is compassion, purity, harmony, likeness, permanency and peace.” “Cast away Restlessness and Mental Worry; dwell with mind undisturbed, with heart full of peace,” “There is no Happiness greater than peace.” (The Eightfold Path, Dhammapada and Buddha, Surangama Sutra)

 Buddhism: 1. “Occasions of hatred are certainly never settled by hatred. They are settled by freedom from hatred. This is the eternal law.” “15. There is no happiness greater than peace.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 20. “Pluck out your desire, like one does an autumn lotus with one’s hand. Devote yourself to the path of peace, the nirvana proclaimed by the Blessed One.” 26. “Abandoning violence to all living creatures moving or still, he who neither kills or causes killing – that is what I call a brahmin.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “There is no happiness greater than peace,” and no greater happiness then world peace achieved.

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: 8. “Better than a thousand meaningless words is one sensible word if hearing it one becomes peaceful. Better than a thousand meaningless verses is one word of verse if hearing it one becomes peaceful. Better than reciting one hundred verses of meaningless words is one poem if hearing it one becomes peaceful.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “Joyful and faithful in the doctrine of the Buddha, the mendicant finds peace, the joy of ending natural existence.” “The mendicant who lives in friendliness with confidence in the doctrine of the Buddha will find peace, the blessed place where existence ends.” “There is no joy higher than peace.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 SABEANISM: “Bliss and peace there will be on the road which Adam attained,’ “My vigilance and praise,’ ‘Go in peace, chosen, pure and guiltless one in whom there is no spot.”’ (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 74)

Sabeanism: “We will pray with Thee the ‘uthras’ prayer and ask of Thee, of The Great (Life, Haiyi, God), a petition for ourselves, for our friends, for our friends’ friends and for those who love the great Family of Life.” “Praise Thee, for amongst them all hatred, Envy and dissensions exist not. The Place which is all portals of radiance, light and glory Praiseth Thee.” Here there is no dissension, violence or disorder; peace reins in this house. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 75 and 76)

 BABI RELIGION: “The Day is approaching when God shall bring the faithful together. In truth no God is there other than Him.” “May the peace of God be with those who have been guided aright through the power of divine guidance. He is God, the Supreme Ruler, the Sovereign Truth, He Whose help is implored by all.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 160)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Fierce as may seem the onslaught of the forces of darkness that may still afflict this Cause, desperate and prolonged as may be that struggle, severe as may be the disappointments it may still experience, the ascendancy it will eventually obtain will be such as no other Faith has ever in its history achieved. The welding of the communities of East and West into the world-wide Brotherhood of which poets and dreamers have sung, and the promise of which lies at the very core of the Revelation conceived by Bahá’u’lláh; the recognition of His law as the indissoluble bond uniting the peoples and nations of the earth; and the proclamation of the reign of the Most Great Peace, are but a few among the chapters of the glorious tale which the consummation of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh will unfold.”

(Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 667)