pressive as the course of events since the
dawn of the Baha'i era in 1844. Year by year, the power of a dead past
prolonged through outworn ideas, habits, attitudes and institutions has
weakened, until at present every intelligent man and woman on earth
realizes that humanity is passing through its most terrible crisis. On the
one hand we see the new creation arising as the light of Baha'u'llah's
teaching has revealed the true path of evolution. On the other hand we see
naught but disaster and frustration in all realms where that light is
resisted or ignored.

Yet, to the faithful Baha'i, these and countless other evidences,
impressive as they are, fail to give the real measure of the spiritual
majesty of Baha'u'llah. His life on earth, and the irresistible force of
His inspired words, stand as the only true criterion of the will of God.

A study of the more detailed prophecies of Baha'u'llah and their
fulfillment will give powerful corroborative evidence. Of these prophecies
we shall now proceed to give a few examples, about the authenticity of
which there can be no dispute. They were widely published and known before
their fulfillment came about. The letter which He sent to the crowned
heads of the world, in which many of these prophecies occur, were compiled
in a book which was first published in Bombay in the late nineteenth
century. Several editions have since been published. We shall also give
some examples of noteworthy prophecies by 'Abdu'l-Baha.

Napoleon III

In the year 1869 Baha'u'llah wrote to Napoleon III, rebuking him for his
lust of war and for the contempt with which he had treated a former letter
from Baha'u'llah. The Epistle contains the following stern warning:--

For what thou has done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into
confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a
punishment for that which thou has wrought. Then wilt thou know
how thou has plainly erred. Commotions shall seize all the people
in that land, unless thou arisest to held this Cause, and
followest Him Who is the Spirit of God (Jesus Christ) in this, the
Straight Path. Hath thy pomp made thee proud? By My Life! It shall
not endure; nay, it shall soon pass away, unless thou holdest fast
by this firm Cord. We see abasement hastening after thee, whilst
thou art of the heedless.

Needless to say, Napoleon, who was then at the zenith of his power, paid
no heed to this war