1.   Baha claiming to be the return of the Primal Point

1.5    Bayan’s Verdict
The Point's station is crystal clear in the Bayan. According to Bayan, God is unknowable except through His Manifestation, whom the Primal Point designates as 'He-Who-Has-Appeared' (Man-Zahara), and 'He-Whom-God-Will-Make-Manifest' (Man-Yuzhirihullah). By this designation, the Primal Point intended to remove the difference as to human personality of the manifestation. The manifestations are in essence one being and reveal one evolving truth; but a later manifestation and his revelation are more "exalted" or eminent than a preceding manifestation and his revelation.

The Primal Point, according to him was the "Gate of God," the "place of the manifestation of the Primal Volition, the "Manifestation," namely "Him-Who-Had-Appeared in the Bayanic dispensation under the name of BÂB-hood (BÂBiyyat)," the bringer of a new revelation, the 'Bayan,' and greater than all the preceding manifestations. The Primal Point was treated as an impostor and was martyred. This is however, no impediment to an examination of Bahaism on the authority of the Bayan, from whose bosom, derived its strength, and on which Baha's pretensions hinge.

Man's spiritual and social evolution, according to the Primal Point, proceeds in cycles of 1500 to 2000 years. As 'Him-Who-Had-Appeared' in his 'First Coming' in 1844 the Primal Point promised his 'return' as 'Him-Whom-God-Will-Make-Manifest' in the next 'Resurrection' and fixed a limit of time of 'Not less than 1511, and not more than 2001 years' for his 'Second Coming' to permit of the prevalence of the faith founded by him, and its adoption as the State Religion by Kings and Rulers. Therefore Baha's pretensions that he was the BÂB returned again is untenable. The Primal Point was the 'Manifestation of the Primal Volition in the Bayanic Dispensation. Baha's claim to office of He-Whom-God-Shall-Make-Manifest overlapped with the Bayanic dispensation. According to Bayan there shall be only one Sun of Truth at any manifestation. The concept of two Manifestations co-existing in One Cycle is inconsistent with, and repugnant to teachings of Bayan.

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