Baha’u’llah Warns Germany, Russia–and the Pope

In his tablets to the kings, Baha’u’llah also sent a warning to the German Kaiser, Wilhelm I, who had triumphed over the French—just as he had warned Napolean before his defeat. Calling to mind Napoleon III’s fate, Baha’u’llah challenged Kaiser Wilhelm to meditate upon the fleeting sovereignty of this world and to behave with due humility towards God:

. . . King of Berlin! . . . Take heed lest pride debar thee from recognizing the Dayspring of Divine Revelation, lest earthly desires shut thee out, as by a veil, from the Lord of the Throne above and of the earth below. Thus counseleth thee the Pen of the Most High. He, verily, is the Most Gracious, the All-Bountiful. Do thou remember the one [Napoleon III] whose power transcended thy power, and whose station excelled thy station. Where is he? Whither are gone the things he possessed? Take warning, and be not of them that are fast asleep. He it was who cast the Tablet of God behind him, when We made known unto him what the hosts of tyranny had caused Us to suffer. Wherefore, disgrace assailed him from all sides, and he went down to dust in great loss. Think deeply, O King, concerning him, and concerning them who, like unto thee, have conquered cities and ruled over men. The All-Merciful brought them down from their palaces to their graves. Be warned, be of them who reflect. – Baha’u’llah, The Most Holy Book, p. 51.

Baha’u’llah predicted that the current prosperity of the German nation would be followed by dire ordeals:

O banks of the Rhine! We have seen you covered with gore, inasmuch as the swords of retribution were drawn against you; and ye shall have another turn. And We hear the lamentations of Berlin, though she be today in conspicuous glory. – ibid, p. 53.

As Baha’u’llah’s prediction implies, the Kaiser remained deaf to his call.

The Czar of Russia, Alexander II, a mighty potentate and absolute ruler of vast dominions, received a similar divine summons. In his message to that king Baha’u’llah remembered the kindness of the Russian minister to the Persian government, which had led to his release from prison in Tehran. He assured the king that God had destined for him a great reward on that account, provided that he would now heed his call–however, he did not.

Baha’u’llah also addressed Pope Pius IX in majestic language, calling upon him to recognize in this day the fulfillment of the promises of Jesus Christ:

Pope Pius IX

. . . Call thou to remembrance Him Who was the Spirit [Jesus], Who, when He came, the most learned of His age pronounced judgement against Him in His own country, whilst he who was only a fisherman believed in Him. Take heed, then, ye men of understanding heart! Thou, in truth, art one of the suns of the heaven of His names. Guard thyself, lest darkness spread its veils over thee, and fold thee away from His light. . . . Consider those who opposed the Son [Jesus], when He came unto them with sovereignty and power. How many the Pharisees who were waiting to behold Him, and were lamenting over their separation from Him! And yet, when the fragrance of His coming was wafted over them, and His beauty was unveiled, they turned aside from Him and disputed with Him. . . . None save a very few, who were destitute of any power amongst men, turned towards His face. And yet today every man endowed with power and invested with sovereignty prideth himself on His Name! In like manner, consider how numerous, in these days, are the monks who, in My Name, have secluded themselves in their churches, and who, when the appointed time was fulfilled, and We unveiled Our beauty, knew Us not, though they call upon Me at eventide and at dawn. . . . . . . The Word which the Son concealed is made manifest. It hath been sent down in the form of the human temple in this day. Blessed be the Lord Who is the Father! He, verily, is come unto the nations in His most great majesty. Turn your faces towards Him, O concourse of the righteous! . . . This is the day whereon the Rock [Peter] crieth out and shouteth, and celebrateth the praise of its Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most High, saying: “Lo! The Father is come, and that which ye were promised in the Kingdom is fulfilled!” – Summons of the Lord of Hosts, paragraphs 106, 108, 112.

The supreme pontiff did not respond.