a few historical prophecies

[Dawud]

Baha'u'llah made historical prophecies that were subsequently fulfilled:

1. The Fall of Napoleon III
2. The Defeat of Germany (twice)
3. The Success of Queen Victoria
4. Sultan and Minister of Turkey warned
5. Breakup of the Ottoman Empire
6. Downfall of the Persian Monarch
7. Constitutional Government for Persia
8. Massive decline in World Monarchy
9. End of Caliphate
10. Communism, its Rise and Fall
11. Rise of Israel as Jewish Homeland
12. Jewish Persecution
13. America's Racial Struggles
14. Baha'u'llah's Release from Prison
15. Destruction of Baha'u'llah's House

[Dawud]

These prophecies aren't vague... Baha'u'llah wrote directly to world leaders and told them what could happen if they worked for unity and justice and what would happen if they didn't. For instance, "Baha'u'llah warned Napoleon III, emperor of France, that 'thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands... Commotions shall seize all the people in that land... We see abasement hastening after thee...' This dire prediction, defying conventional wisdom, came true with a year of its publication, as a result of the Franco- Prussian War of 1870. Napoleon's empire did indeed 'pass from' his hands; he himself was taken prisoner and exiled to England, where he died in 'abasement' two years later.
"After rebuking the Emporer for his insincerity and lust for war, Baha'u'llah wrote: For what thou hast done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a punishment for that which thou hast wrought. Then wilt thou know how thou hast plainly erred. Commotions shall seize all the people in that land, unless thou arisest to help this Cause, and followest Him Who is the Spirit of God [Jesus] in this, the straight Path. Hath thy pomp made thee proud? By My Life! It shall not endure; nay, it shall soon pass away, unless thou holdest fast by this firm Cord. We see abasement hastening after thee, while thou art of the heedless... (PDC 30)." -Gary Matthews, He Cometh with Clouds

[Alex P]

If it is not too much of a pain could you expand/share the details on all of these? Or point me in the direction where I can read up on it. I wasn't aware of this.

[arthra]

It would be hard to give a detailed response to all of them..in one post but the first several:

1. The Fall of Napoleon III
2. The Defeat of Germany (twice)
3. The Success of Queen Victoria
4. Sultan and Minister of Turkey warned
5. Breakup of the Ottoman Empire
6. Downfall of the Persian Monarch
7. Constitutional Government for Persia
8. Massive decline in World Monarchy

Are related to the Tablets to the kings and rulers of the earth between 1868 and 1871...

While Baha'u'llah was imprisoned by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire He addressed Tablets to the rulers such as Napoleon III, the Kaiser, the Tsar, Queen Victoria the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire the Shah of Persia and so on.. They were delivered to the various consuls representing the powers and sent through the diplomatic channels of the time.

These Tablets were gathered together recently in a book called "The Summons of the Lord of Hosts" and essentially He admonished each of those noted above for excessive armaments and high taxes to pay for large military budgets. He advised them to set up a representative world government and international court of arbitration...

The text of these Tablets can be found at:

Bahá'í Reference Library - The Summons of the Lord of Hosts

He also addressed the rulers in His Kitab-i-Aqdas which was revealed in Akka around 1871.

He also in specific terms warned about that the Rhine would be covered with gore:

O banks of the Rhine! We have seen you covered with gore, inasmuch as the swords of retribution were drawn against you; and you shall have another turn. And We hear the lamentations of Berlin, though she be today in conspicuous glory.

(Baha'u'llah, Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 21)

and this at a time when the German Empire was considered quite powerful... built of "iron".

Here's a summary:

The significant summons issued to the Presidents of
the Republics of the American continent to seize their
opportunity in the Day of God and to champion the cause of
justice; the injunction to the members of parliaments
throughout the world, urging the adoption of a universal
script and language;

His warnings to William I, the
conqueror of Napoleon III;

the reproof He administers to
Francis Joseph, the Emperor of Austria;

His reference to "the
lamentations of Berlin" in His apostrophe to "the banks of the
Rhine";

His condemnation of "the throne of tyranny"
established in Constantinople, and His prediction of the
extinction of its "outward splendour" and of the tribulations
destined to overtake its inhabitants; the words of cheer and
comfort He addresses to His native city, assuring her that
God had chosen her to be "the source of the joy of all
mankind";

His prophecy that "the voice of the heroes of
Khurasan" will be raised in glorification of their Lord;

His
assertion that men "endued with mighty valour" will be raised
up in Kirman who will make mention of Him;

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 15)

See also:

Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era: Chapter 14

- Art

[Dawud]

Hello Alex and Arthra!

The Summons of the Lord of Hosts is, of course, the primary source for these prophecies. There were excerpts from it previously complied in the Proclamation of Baha'u'llah. Another great book that goes into detail about many of these is the Challenge of Baha'u'llah, which is a lot like the book, the Prisoner and the Kings, by William Sears. The list I gave above can be found at Baha'i by Subject if you click on End-Times.