In 1959 I attended a two-week seminar on the Book of Revelation presented by Ruth Moffat, a devoted student of the Bible. Ruth, over a period of twenty years, had made many trips to Haifa Israel to find answers to questions by talking to Shoghi Effendi, the great grandson of Baha'u'llah and the appointed Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Over the subsequent years I have treasured my notes from that course and have continued to study the subject.
There are innumerable Christian books published about The Book of Revelation and there has been a wide spectrum of ideas and interpretations of what it means - but nevertheless for most, it has remained "a sealed book". The concepts presented here are from a very different paradigm than those written by authors with a conventional view of Christianity.
Fortunately, in addition to Ruth Moffat's book, there are now beginning to appear a number of books by other Baha'i author's dealing with this subject from a Baha'i perspective, and I have been able to also avail myself of those. What I feel is different about my particular effort is the manner in which the material is presented. I have tried to organize it in such a way that a person with a sincere interest can scan the book and see the distinctive overall concept that is the Baha'i view.
My goal while being completely thorough, by examining every verse of the Book of Revelation, has been to make this book accessible to the reader with as little time as they may wish to invest. One can always study deeper and deeper on any aspect of this subject - that may interest them.
Without the release of the Spirit this Age which involves the "Opening of The Seals", found in the Baha'i Writings, which explain the many symbols, plus 'Abdu'l-Baha's explanations for verses in many of the chapters, we would still not understand it. Time also is a factor so that as the prophesied events continue happen, there will be still greater awareness about the meaning of many of the verses.
I wish to acknowledge the decades of dedicated support that my husband has given to this project.
Jean Beach
2015
"God has given man the eye of investigation by which he may see and recognize truth. He has endowed man with ears that he may hear the message of reality and conferred upon him the gift of reason by which he may discover things for himself. This is his endowment and equipment for the investigation of reality. Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another's ears nor comprehend with another's brain. each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God. Therefore, depend upon your own reason and judgment and adhere to the outcome of your own investigation; otherwise, you will be utterly submerged in the sea of ignorance and deprived of all the bounties of God. Turn to God, supplicate humbly at His threshold, seeking assistance and confirmation, that God may rend asunder the veils that obscure your vision. Then will your eyes be filled with illumination, face to face you will behold the reality of God and your heart become completely purified from the dross of ignorance, reflecting the glories and bounties of the kingdom."'Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 293