The Mission of Bahá’u’lláh/A vision of the day of judgment
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132 THE MISSION OF Bahá’u’lláh
21 A Vision of the Day of judgment
ONE touched my eyes. I looked and saw above the Mountain of Holiness the light break. And a Voice above the Mountain called to me and said:
“That thou seest is the Dawning of the Judgment. Therefore, repent, lest thou be found among the workers of inquity.
“Woe to them that have thought to hide their evil deeds in the gloom of their misbelief, and to keep their wickedness secret from their Lord.
“Woe to them who through My long forbearance have imagined Me forgetful, and ignorant of their guilt.
“Woe to the oppressors, and to them that wrong the poor, though it be in ever so little.
“Woe to them that have made My Holy Name a cloak for injustice, and have stamped on My Truth the image of their own base desire.
“Woe to them that misguide My people, reviling My Messengers and traducing My Gifts.
“Woe to them that lift their strength against My strength, and utter blasphemy against My Word.
“Woe to them that turn away from My Light, and seek the shelter of the darkness.
“Their hour is come, and the Seal of My Covenant is set upon their doom.”
The Voice ceased. I watched the dawn grow clear, and the risen Sun pour its beams from the east to the uttermost west, paling the last lone star of morning. The glory of the light ran burning through the sky. At its caress the hidden beauty of the world came forth unveiled. The air instinct with fire trembled in ecstasy. The Winds, the seas joining in nature’s hymeneal ioy chanted the bridal song of Earth and Heaven.
But man, afar, alone, lay unaware, dreaming of vanities, drugged in sleep.
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MEDITATIONS AND DEVOTIONS 133
22
JOY is from Eternity!
10'] is more ancient than Time—vast as infinitude!
Out of joy doth all proceed, and in the arms of joy is Creation upheld!
Joy is in the Beginning, Joy is before the founding of the worlds!
Joy is the mighty, the impregnable, the everlasting.
Joy is the life and light of all; and naught exists that is not filled with the breath of joy.
The voice of joy breaks forth on every hand in water, in wind, in rustling leaf and singing bird; and listening night lays her hand upon the earth’s wild heart to hear the universal chant of joy float from the fiery stars.
O God, O God, the dawn of joy is broken!
The flood—gates of light are open, and joy descends in torrents on the earth.
The frosts of life melt in the sunshine of Thy joy. Thy kiss of joy has touched all, sweetened all!
Thy joy triumphant conquers the heart of man, and in the depth of our being joy awakes.
There is no room for sadness, for doubt. Within, without, joy fills all space, all time, all thought.
The prophet’s voice, the lover’s heart, proclaim the victory of joy. Far and wide, in every clime, in every land, the soul of man wakens to join at last that triumph-song of praise which for long ages Truth, unheard of men, has sung to God in solitude.
