Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: George Townshend, Christ and Baha'u'llah, bahai-library.com.
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Christ and Baha'u'llah

George Townshend

Oxford: George Ronald, 1957

single page

chapter 1

CONTENTS

Chapter Page
Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1 God's Call to the Christians . . . . . . . . . .11
2 The Kingdom in the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . .14
3 Jesus Christ, Herald of the Kingdom . . . . . . 20
4 The False Prophets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
5 Muhammad, Builder of Nations . . . . . . . . . .31
6 Muhammad and the Christians . . . . . . . . . . 40
7 The Violation of Muhammad's Covenant . . . . . .43
8 Christianity and Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
9 The Rise of Modern Europe . . . . . . . . . . . 50
10 The Dawn-Song of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . .57
11 The Bab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
12 Bahá'u'lláh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
13 The Proclamation to the Kings . . . . . . . . . 79
14 'Abdu'l-Bahá . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
15 The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá . . . . .98
16 The Kingdom on Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Epilogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

I wish to acknowledge my debt to my dear son and daughter, Brian and
Una, for their devotion, high enthusiasm and their manifold helpfulness in the
writing of this book.

GEORGE TOWNSHEND.

[page 8]
Since the last edition of this work, the Bahá'í Faith has
further extended its influence and is now represented in 135 independent
nations and approximately 180 significant territories and islands, while its
literature has been published in 434 languages. These figures correct those on
p. 116.

Presently, (1995) the Bahá'í Faith has been extended to
233 countries and dependent territories with over five and one-half million
members worldwide. There are national spiritual governing councils in 174
countries. "Bahá'ís reside in more than 120,000 localities around the
world, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world
citizenship." The Bahá'ís, The Bahá'í International Community,
1994, p. 5.

[page 9]

PROLOGUE

BRIEFLY
but clearly, and with all possible emphasis, facts are given in this little
book to prove that the Kingdom of God, as foretold in the Bible with a thousand
details, has at last come with those details all fulfilled.

In all the revealed world religions the coming of the
Kingdom is identified with the appearance of the Supreme world Redeemer, the
Lord of Hosts, the returned Christ, the Qá’im, the new Buddha. "One fold and one shepherd" is to
replace the many conflicting and separated groups of men.

This outstanding pledge, originally given thousands of
years ago, has never been taken up by any of the Great Prophets until the
nineteenth century, when Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, announced to
the rulers and religious leaders of the world that He was this Redeemer and the
Bearer of God's message to modern man. He proclaimed that He spoke with the
Voice of God Himself, that He was the Lord of Hosts, Christ come in the glory
of the Father, and that this was indeed the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. The
Cause of Bahá'u'lláh and His martyred Forerunner, the Báb, had for twenty years
suffered persecution of every form; yet without investigation the kings and
ecclesiastical rulers whom He addressed ignored His message. He died in 1892 in
the Holy Land, an exile and captive of the Turks. Yet to-day a world-wide
community exists bearing His name and following His teachings.

[page 10]
Twentieth century thought and aspiration are deeply
committed to the social and humanitarian principles which Bahá'u'lláh
announced, though His spiritual message is, as yet, ignored and certainty no
relationship is conceived between the idea of world order and the Kingdom of
God.

This book is directed especially to the Christians whose
age-long prayer, given by Christ Himself, is "Thy kingdom come". Unfortunately the Christian Churches are in
disagreement as to what this means and they are, therefore, powerless to meet
the crisis of our times.

The message of Bahá'u'lláh opens to Christians the one
door leading to the certain prospect of fulfillment of all that is best in
their great tradition, the fairest hope of service and of redemption in the
future.

[page 11]

single page

chapter 1

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Scanned 1995 by Duane Troxel; Formatted 2011-11-28 by Jonah Winters; Proofread 2011-11-24 by Bobbi Lyons.
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