ess of the Movement They founded--surely these constitute proofs of
Prophethood as convincing as any which the history of religion can show.

A Glorious Prospect

The Baha'i glad tidings disclose a vision of the Bounty of God and of the
future progress of humanity, which is surely the greatest and most
glorious Revelation ever given to mankind, the development and fulfillment
of all previous Revelations. Its purpose is nothing less than the
regeneration of mankind and the creation of "new heavens and a new earth."
It is the same task to which Christ and all the Prophets have devoted
Their lives, and between these great teachers there is no rivalry. It is
not by this Manifestation or by that, but by all together, that the task
will be accomplished.

As 'Abdu'l-Baha says:--

It is not necessary to lower Abraham to raise Jesus. It is not
necessary to lower Jesus to proclaim Baha'u'llah. We must welcome
the Truth of God wherever we behold it. The essence of the
question is that all these great Messengers came to raise the
Divine Standard of Perfections. All of them shine as orbs in the
same heaven of the Divine Will. All of them give Light to the
world.

The task is God's, and God calls not only the Prophets but all mankind to
be His co-workers in this creative process. If we refuse His invitation,
we shall not hinder the work from going on, for what God wills shall
surely come to pass. If we fail to play our part He can raise up other
instruments to perform His purpose; but we shall miss the real aim and
object of our own lives. At-one-ment with God--becoming His lovers, His
servants, the willing channels and mediums of His Creative Power, so that
we are conscious of no life within us but His Divine and abundant
life--that, according to the Baha'i teaching, is the ineffable and glorious
consummation of human existence.

Humanity, however, is sound at heart, for it is made "in the image and
likeness of God," and when at last it sees the truth, it will not persist
in the paths of folly. Baha'u'llah assures us that erelong the call of God
will be generally accepted, and mankind as a whole will turn to
righteousness and obedience. "All sorrow will then be turned into joy, and
all disease into health," and the kingdoms of this world shall become "the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever" (Rev. xi, 15). Not only those on earth, but all in the