This post is about the foundational tenet of the Baha’i Faith, progressive revelation. Herein, a linked 22 page pdf shows the Biblical redemptive plan as it unfolds across the Old and New Testaments by way of covenants. This redemptive history clearly indicates that Abraham, Moses and Christ all belong to Christianity; and that said history was completed in the realization of the new covenant that was inaugurated via the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and His eternal gospel. In other words, three of the proposed Baha’i manifestations must be removed from their lineup. That gaping hole undermines the integrity of the theory of progressive revelation. In addition to this major flaw, several other irrational aspects of the Baha’i theory are revealed via the presentation of elemental Biblical truths.
Baha’i progressive revelation made sense to me when I was a Baha’i, 1979-1983. But at that time, I had not studied the other world religions, nor had I read through the Bible. So, my understanding of God and other religions was very limited. I had never seriously contemplated God, or how God might reveal Himself to mankind; and their claim that God used the world religions to progressively reveal Himself to mankind seemed reasonable. It also justified their claim to be the current religion that God was using to instruct mankind, enabling spiritual and social evolution. However, after having read through the Bible, I began to question all other religions because the Bible starts at creation and is not yet fulfilled, that will occur at the second coming of Christ–which according to the book of Revelation will be a cataclysmic, world-wide event that will terrify all people of the earth.
The people that presented the Baha’i Faith to me, believed Baha’u’llah (the Baha’i founder) to be Christ returned. I found their kindness and morality very attractive qualities. Those qualities likely moved me to believe what they said about Baha’u’llah. I had rejected Christianity because my childhood experience of the church exposed me to many self-righteous and critical people. My Baha’i friends were very easy to be around, I felt accepted, not judged. I presently see that my rationale for accepting the Baha’i Faith was not based on having understood the truth of their claims, but upon emotions related to acceptance.
However, what is presented below is truth from the Bible that undermines Baha’i progressive revelation and the things of the Baha’i faith that depend upon the tenet of progressive revelation. Therefore, if you are like I was, not sure that you have found truth, then what is said below may eliminate your doubts about what truth is and where it is found….
The following are the “manifestations of God” that Baha’i founders claim to have brought God’s revelation to mankind, preceding the current manifestation, Baha’u’llah: Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, Muhammad and the Bab.
The points below are reasons that the Baha’i tenet of progressive revelation cannot be true (based on truth from the Bible, not my opinions):
- Bible covenants eliminate three proposed Baha’i manifestations: God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12, (read Gen. 12 — 22). Abraham is the father of many nations, through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed…Gen 15:6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. (The apostle Paul wrote of the aforementioned in the New Testament:) Gal 3:17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking His promise. Gal 3:23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed… The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. Gal 3:25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. Gal 3:26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. The apostle addresses this topic in Romans also, slightly differently: Rom 3:20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Rom 3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
Rom 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Rom 4:13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
Reader, the linked pdf uses large quotations from scripture to make the aforementioned connections much more clear. I pray that you can see that the Bible states clearly that the covenants with Abraham and Moses were part of the unfolding of the New Covenant which brought the eternal gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the way of faith. - Jesus, according to scripture, is God incarnate. He died for the sins of those who will believe in him. The Bible reveals God’s plan to redeem mankind from sin. Sin is a major Biblical topic from Genesis chapter 3, through Revelation 20. That is, two chapters at the beginning and at the end of the Bible are not about God dealing with sin, doesn’t that speak loudly, or scream that sin is intolerable to God. He hated it so much that He sent His Son to atone for it. That is a picture of agape love from the triune God. Islam is the only other religion above that considers sin a major problem.
- Christianity is also unique in how righteousness is obtained by its adherents: one must submit to Christ’s Spirit and accept, by faith, the righteousness that Christ earned in His earthly ministry; and the atoning work that Christ performed at Calvary. Thereby, via faith he is united to Christ and the covenant benefits are imputed to him by God the Father, when He declares a sinner righteous. Works are prescribed by God for the sinner to do after he is saved by faith. (explained in the linked pdf; also see the 4 minute video on justification in my Study Helps post, it shows the benefits of faith…). The adherents of the other religions are busy working to earn righteousness (many Christians also fall into this error, as it is a human tendency to think about worshiping God and about righteousness in such unbiblical ways). Romans 3 explains how no one can earn salvation by works, by obeying the law. Moreover, consider that Jesus described His Kingdom citizens in the Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3 — 5:11. The first two states of blessedness that Christ declared His kingdom citizens would possess are poverty of spirit and mourning for sin. These are inherent, e.g., in the following verses from Isaiah 57:15 The high and lofty One who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” These attitudes are the foundation stones of the Christian life (they are necessary in that they enable one to accept Christ’s righteousness and give up trying to earn his own); out of them flow the other attitudes declared by Christ: meekness; hungering for righteousness; mercy…. The Holy Spirit brings about these attitudes in the born-again believer with his concurrence (see Beatitude Life posts for more clarity).
- The Baha’i concept of progressive revelation claims that the above manifestations introduced a new revelation of God that led, in a progressive manner, to that which Baha’u’llah proclaimed. Again, if you have a more than superficial understanding of the religions that the above “manifestations” ushered in, then you will quickly discern, for example, that the monotheism of Abraham and Moses, progressing to the polytheism of Hinduism, and then to the atheism of Buddhism and then back to monotheism of Jesus…is not characteristic of an orderly progression. This so called progression does not proceed in a straight line from point A (Abraham) to point B (Baha’u’llah), building on what had previously been revealed, as the phrase “progressive revelation” indicates by definition. That is, the revelations leading to the Baha’i era cannot legitimately be called “progressive revelations.” Baha’i progressive revelation is irrational when viewed in light of only this one aspect: atheism vs monotheism vs polytheism. This is very apparent if you peruse a truly progressive revelation, such as that of the redemptive plan of God the Father revealed in the Old and New Testaments: the monotheistic covenants became more complex, personal, and specific regarding covenantal blessings and curses; the Holy Spirit first began His work in individuals, then families, then the nation of Israel, and after Pentecost, the whole world, e.g. Also, God’s redemptive plan, revealed via covenants, intimately connects both testaments and the three persons in the aforementioned list.
- Genealogies of Christ in the books of Matthew and Luke, record births back to Abraham and to Adam, respectively, to explain the Lord Jesus Christ’s appointed role in the redemptive plan of God the Father. The significance of these genealogies is that there is room for no other religion since creation: Christ is clearly connected to Adam and Abraham and Moses. Moreover, there are numerous other genealogies in Genesis and 1 Chronicles to corroborate these.
- Lastly, the focus of the Baha’i Faith on oneness…, concerns the building of an earthly paradise. This is clearly seen in their letter to the world wherein they discuss the role of the League of Nations which would be to focus on all the measures required to establish this earthly Utopia. The Bible states that Christ’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom; and Christians are to walk their pilgrimages through this earth learning to view it as such. Please consider Jesus’ words about His kingdom and take note of this very great difference that is totally out of line with any progression that supposedly led to establishing an earthly utopia, and sets Christianity apart from all the other religions that make up the Baha’i tenet of progressive revelation. That is to say that Christianity could not have been part of any progression of religions that was to end in an earthly utopia: Joh 18:35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought You to me for trial. Why? What have You done?” Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of this world.” Joh 18:37 Pilate said, “So You are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
- In Genesis 3, the Lie of Satan was introduced into God’s creation, before that, there was only God’s truth. Since then, there have been two messages throughout history, the lie and the truth. Jesus stated that plainly in John 8:44, that Satan has been a liar from the beginning, and that he is the father of lies. The battle between truth and lies runs throughout scripture. The apostles began contending for the truth that was “once” delivered to them by Christ because false prophets attempted to lead seekers astray from truth when the church was in its infancy. That truth given to the apostles is the only truth that the Bible teaches to date. Yet, it is difficult to find a church today that has not strayed in some major ways from it. You would not know that however, if you are not very familiar with the entire contents of the Bible — spiritually, a fatal error! The lie also manifests itself in many forms, the apostles dealt with some of those in the epistles; after their time, church councils clarified Biblical truth as they confronted numerous heresies that sprung up. Currently in the church, heresy abounds and Biblical Christianity is in great decline…that is prophesied by Paul in numerous epistles, including: 2Ti 4:3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2Ti 4:4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
Many more things could likely be said about this foundational aspect of the Baha’i Faith. What I did say, however, is intended to encourage seekers of truth to look more deeply into this matter. If you are a Baha’i, then you take pride in seeking God and finding truth about Him; I challenge you to read through the Bible. The linked pdf (directly below) uses Biblical text to show the progression of covenants that began in Genesis 3:15 with a veiled promise, and that did culminate in the eternal gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing the covenants will give you a framework via which you may mentally organize the Bible; it could make one read through the Bible a very meaningful experience. Furthermore, God may bless you with new birth during your read as He did me.
Covenant with Bible refs.pdf 4.2.20
[If you are viewing this site on a p.c., then you can download this free pdf; I am not sure that smartphone viewers can. It is much easier to read on a pc anyhow.
I spent at least 6 months writing the pdf for some Baha’i friends, after I prayed three months for an appropriate topic to expound. I had previously waded through most of the religions that are part of Baha’i progressive revelation during my own 15 year search for God; but since being born again, I’ve read through the Bible more than a dozen times which moved me to help other seekers find truth. I have presented this post and the pdf as an act of love. It is truth from the Bible. I pray that all viewers might download it and peruse it. Baha’is ought to be thoroughly acquainted with all the religions that are part of their tenet of progressive revelation so as to ensure that their own writ is accurate, don’t you think? May God bless your studies of His word.]
STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS:
[I am sorry that I am unable to turn on the comments function. If you would comment, please use ‘contact me.’ Note if you would prefer to have a response or not from me.]
***Please see the series on Paganism / Neo-paganism (in categories), it shows how, for example, ONENESS and FEMINISM goals (such as Baha’is promote) are being brought about currently in the western world.
***Please see the second video in my post on Study Helps (4 minutes long), therein, a preacher explains Justification, a unique doctrine of Christianity addressed under the third bullet above; and the first video in my post on Christian yoga deals with Hinduism and eastern meditation. It provides an overview on Hinduism while addressing other topics; however, therein, you can see just how different Christianity and Hinduism are, 180 degrees apart. Furthermore, the author states that there are only two worldviews in the whole of religion: the eastern worldview characterized by Hinduism wherein man is inherently good and by developing himself, becomes deity; and that of Christianity, wherein man is separate from God, sinful, helpless to change his condition without God’s intervention. Also in that post, I recommend a study by Dr. Peter Jones, Only Two Religions. In that study, Jones basically describes these two worldviews, using different information than Matriciana. One last point, these two world views may be manifestations of the two messages that are described in the Bible: the truth and the lie.
***Christian Worldview by R. C. Sproul: in 12 twenty minute dvd lectures (on two discs), Sproul succinctly explains the following philosophies that make up the worldviews of people in the western world: Secularism; existentialism; humanism; pragmatism; positivism; pluralism / relativism; and hedonism. He then discusses them as they impact science, economics, government, art and literature. Knowing these philosophies enables one to have deeper insight into his own worldview and that of the religion he subscribes to…it is well worth the time. See Ligonier.org to purchase a copy.
***My posts: See, categories, Christian Walk: Decisionism vs the Doctrines of Regeneration, Repentance / Faith; Can One Find God by Seeking Him? Both of these posts provide scriptural support to indicate that it is not possible to go on a quest for God and to find Him. The Bible’s chief characters could not do so, and it is naive to believe that we can. I provided excerpts from scripture for many of the chief characters of the Bible; and for Christ’s means of building His church.
***Dvd, The Bible – Jeremiah (Patrick Dempsey plays Jeremiah); and The Bible stories: Abraham (Richard Harris and Barbara Hershey star). These movies portray some of the historical events discussed in the covenant document reasonably accurately; and are helpful in understanding how God worked through Abraham and his prophets in His dealings with Israel. These dvds are each around $10 on Amazon.