Advancing the Process of Advancing the Process of Entry by TroopsEntry by Troops

The Five Year Plan that follows (FYP 2001-2006) will initiate a The Five Year Plan that follows (FYP 2001-2006) will initiate a series of worldwide enterprises that will carry the Bahá'í series of worldwide enterprises that will carry the Bahá'í community through the final twenty years in the first century community through the final twenty years in the first century of the Faith's Formative Age. These global Plans will continue of the Faith's Formative Age. These global Plans will continue to focus on advancing the process of entry by troops and on its to focus on advancing the process of entry by troops and on its systematic acceleration.systematic acceleration.

(The Universal House of Justice, 1999 Nov 26, p. 1)(The Universal House of Justice, 1999 Nov 26, p. 1)

Entry by TroopsEntry by Troops

Erelong shall the snow-white hand of God rend an opening Erelong shall the snow-white hand of God rend an opening through the darkness of this night and unlock a mighty portal through the darkness of this night and unlock a mighty portal unto His City. On that Day shall the people enter therein by unto His City. On that Day shall the people enter therein by troops…troops…

(Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 134)(Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 134)

The people will enter into the religion of God by troops with The people will enter into the religion of God by troops with great enthusiasm and attraction…great enthusiasm and attraction…

(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 680)(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 680)

Troops will FlockTroops will Flock

Premonitory signs can already be discerned in far-off Premonitory signs can already be discerned in far-off regions heralding the approach of the day when regions heralding the approach of the day when troops will flock to its standard, fulfilling the troops will flock to its standard, fulfilling the predictions uttered long ago by the Supreme Captain predictions uttered long ago by the Supreme Captain of its forces.of its forces.

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World - 1950-1957, p. 101)(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World - 1950-1957, p. 101)

Troops Shall be MarshalledTroops Shall be Marshalled

I beg of God to strengthen these spiritual bonds as day I beg of God to strengthen these spiritual bonds as day followeth day, and make this mystic oneness to shine followeth day, and make this mystic oneness to shine ever more brightly, until at last all shall be as troops ever more brightly, until at last all shall be as troops marshalled together beneath the banner of the marshalled together beneath the banner of the Covenant within the sheltering shade of the Word of Covenant within the sheltering shade of the Word of God; that they may strive with all their might until God; that they may strive with all their might until universal fellowship, close and warm, and unalloyed universal fellowship, close and warm, and unalloyed love, and spiritual relationships, will connect all the love, and spiritual relationships, will connect all the hearts in the world. hearts in the world.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 19) (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 19)

Steady Flow of ReinforcementsSteady Flow of ReinforcementsSuch a steady flow of reinforcements is absolutely vital and is of extreme Such a steady flow of reinforcements is absolutely vital and is of extreme

urgency…urgency…

This flow, moreover, will presage and hasten the advent of the day which, as This flow, moreover, will presage and hasten the advent of the day which, as prophesied by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, will witness the entry by troops of peoples of prophesied by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, will witness the entry by troops of peoples of divers nations and races into the Bahá'í world -- a day which, viewed in its divers nations and races into the Bahá'í world -- a day which, viewed in its proper perspective, will be the prelude to that long-awaited hour when a proper perspective, will be the prelude to that long-awaited hour when a mass conversion on the part of these same nations and races, and as a mass conversion on the part of these same nations and races, and as a direct result of a chain of events, momentous and possibly catastrophic in direct result of a chain of events, momentous and possibly catastrophic in nature, and which cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will suddenly nature, and which cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will suddenly revolutionize the fortunes of the Faith, derange the equilibrium of the revolutionize the fortunes of the Faith, derange the equilibrium of the world, and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical strength as well as the world, and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical strength as well as the material power and the spiritual authority of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.material power and the spiritual authority of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.

(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 117)(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 117)

Gathering MomentumGathering MomentumLet there be no doubt that what we are witnessing is the gathering Let there be no doubt that what we are witnessing is the gathering

momentum of that process of the entry of humanity into the Cause by momentum of that process of the entry of humanity into the Cause by troops, foreshadowed by Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the King of Persia, eagerly troops, foreshadowed by Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to the King of Persia, eagerly anticipated by the Master, and described by the Guardian as the anticipated by the Master, and described by the Guardian as the necessary prelude to mass conversion. necessary prelude to mass conversion.

In the vanguard of the process are those clusters which, although still In the vanguard of the process are those clusters which, although still relatively few in number, are now ready to launch intensive programmes relatively few in number, are now ready to launch intensive programmes of growth. The scale of expansion that is to mark the next stage of growth of growth. The scale of expansion that is to mark the next stage of growth in these clusters calls for an intensity of effort yet to be achieved. May the in these clusters calls for an intensity of effort yet to be achieved. May the prodigious output of energy devoted to this mighty undertaking be prodigious output of energy devoted to this mighty undertaking be reinforced by the power of Divine assistance.reinforced by the power of Divine assistance.

(The Universal House of Justice, 2003 Jan 17)(The Universal House of Justice, 2003 Jan 17)

A Sea ChangeA Sea Change

There is every reason for confidence that the period of There is every reason for confidence that the period of history now opening will be far more receptive to history now opening will be far more receptive to efforts to spread Bahá’u’lláh’s message than was the efforts to spread Bahá’u’lláh’s message than was the case in the century just ended.case in the century just ended.

All the signs indicate that a sea change in human All the signs indicate that a sea change in human consciousness is under way.consciousness is under way.

(The Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith, pg 1)(The Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith, pg 1)

Propogation of His FaithPropogation of His FaithThat the continued strengthening of the community should be That the continued strengthening of the community should be

matched by a further decline in the old world order comes as matched by a further decline in the old world order comes as no surprise. Indeed, the friends should be on their guard, lest no surprise. Indeed, the friends should be on their guard, lest development of capacity in the community not keep pace development of capacity in the community not keep pace with the rise in receptivity of a disillusioned humanity.with the rise in receptivity of a disillusioned humanity.

Let them not underestimate the power inherent in the system Let them not underestimate the power inherent in the system they are putting in place for the propogation of His Faith, nor they are putting in place for the propogation of His Faith, nor mistake the true purpose of the global enterprise on which mistake the true purpose of the global enterprise on which they have embarked.they have embarked.

(The Universal House of Justice, 20 October 2008)(The Universal House of Justice, 20 October 2008)

Mounting ReceptivityMounting ReceptivityThat such receptivity will increase as the agonies of humanity deepen is That such receptivity will increase as the agonies of humanity deepen is

certain. Let there be no mistake: The capacity building that has been set certain. Let there be no mistake: The capacity building that has been set in motion to respond to mounting receptivity is still in its earliest stages. in motion to respond to mounting receptivity is still in its earliest stages. The magnitude of the demands of a world in disarray will test this capacity The magnitude of the demands of a world in disarray will test this capacity to its limits in years ahead. Humanity is battered by forces of oppression, to its limits in years ahead. Humanity is battered by forces of oppression, whether generated from the depths of religious prejudice or the pinnacles whether generated from the depths of religious prejudice or the pinnacles of rampant materialism. Baha’is are able to discern the causes of this of rampant materialism. Baha’is are able to discern the causes of this affliction. affliction.

““What ‘oppression’ is more grievous”, Baha’u’llah asks, “than that a soul What ‘oppression’ is more grievous”, Baha’u’llah asks, “than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it?” There is should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it?” There is no time to lose. Continued progress must be achieved in the activity and no time to lose. Continued progress must be achieved in the activity and development of the three participants in the Plan.development of the three participants in the Plan.

(The Universal House of Justice, 20 October 2008)(The Universal House of Justice, 20 October 2008)

Such an Opportunity is IrreplaceableSuch an Opportunity is Irreplaceable

There is no time to lose. There is no room left for There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given. God's own Plan has been set in motion. It is given. God's own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to insure ultimate assertions. To try, to persevere, is to insure ultimate and complete victory.and complete victory.

(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America, p. 17)(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America, p. 17)

What the Cause RequiresWhat the Cause Requires

"What the Cause now requires is not so much a group "What the Cause now requires is not so much a group of highly cultured and intellectual people who can of highly cultured and intellectual people who can adequately present its Teachings, but a number of adequately present its Teachings, but a number of devoted, sincere and loyal supporters, who, in utter devoted, sincere and loyal supporters, who, in utter disregard of their own weaknesses and limitations, disregard of their own weaknesses and limitations, and with hearts afire with the love of God, forsake and with hearts afire with the love of God, forsake their all for the sake of spreading and establishing His their all for the sake of spreading and establishing His Faith.Faith.

(Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 75)(Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 75)

Sacrifices are NeededSacrifices are Needed

May they one and all be endowed with constancy and May they one and all be endowed with constancy and fidelity and be granted the courage to make fidelity and be granted the courage to make whatever sacrifices are needed to ensure the whatever sacrifices are needed to ensure the resounding success of the Plan.resounding success of the Plan.

That they may recognize the profound implications of That they may recognize the profound implications of their mission is our fervent hope.their mission is our fervent hope.

(The Universal House of Justice, 20 October 2008)(The Universal House of Justice, 20 October 2008)

Tablets of the Divine PlanTablets of the Divine Plan

The full measure of your success is as yet unrevealed, The full measure of your success is as yet unrevealed, its significance still unapprehended. Erelong ye will, its significance still unapprehended. Erelong ye will, with your own eyes, witness how brilliantly every with your own eyes, witness how brilliantly every one of you, even as a shining star, will radiate in the one of you, even as a shining star, will radiate in the firmament of your country the light of divine firmament of your country the light of divine Guidance, and will bestow upon its people the glory Guidance, and will bestow upon its people the glory of an everlasting life.of an everlasting life.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 39)(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 39)

The Building ProcessThe Building Process

Above all, the friends need to remain ever conscious of Above all, the friends need to remain ever conscious of the magnitude of the spiritual forces that are at their the magnitude of the spiritual forces that are at their disposition. They are members of a community disposition. They are members of a community “whose world-embracing, continually consolidating “whose world-embracing, continually consolidating activities constitute the one integrating process in a activities constitute the one integrating process in a world whose institutions, secular as well as religious, world whose institutions, secular as well as religious, are for the most part dissolving.are for the most part dissolving.

The ‘building process’, to which they are consecrated, is The ‘building process’, to which they are consecrated, is ‘the one hope of a stricken society’.‘the one hope of a stricken society’.

(Universal House of Justice, 27 Dec 2005)(Universal House of Justice, 27 Dec 2005)

Illumined SoulsIllumined Souls

And remind them that they are the illumined souls And remind them that they are the illumined souls envisioned by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His prayer: “Heroes envisioned by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His prayer: “Heroes are they, O my Lord, lead them to the field of battle. are they, O my Lord, lead them to the field of battle. Guides are they, make them to speak out with Guides are they, make them to speak out with arguments and proofs. Ministering servants are arguments and proofs. Ministering servants are they, cause them to pass round the cup that they, cause them to pass round the cup that brimmeth with the wine of certitude. O my God, brimmeth with the wine of certitude. O my God, make them to be songsters that carol in the fair make them to be songsters that carol in the fair gardens, make them lions that couch in the thickets, gardens, make them lions that couch in the thickets, whales that plunge in the vasty deep.”whales that plunge in the vasty deep.”

Universal House of Justice, 27 Dec 2005Universal House of Justice, 27 Dec 2005