The Guardian announces identity of last 5 of the 24 elders

By Janice Franco
Guest Blogger

Upon reading the Guardian's Ridván, 2008, letter a great announcement brought me much joy. Apparently back in November of 1944, Shoghi Effendi's answer to  a letter written by Mrs. George R. True, dated July 22, 1943, was published in the Bahá'í News, No. 171.  In it she had asked him about the twenty-four elders mentioned in the Book of Revelation.  Shoghi Effendi answered as follows:

"Regarding the four and twenty elders: The Master in a Tablet, stated that they were the Báb and the eighteen letters of the Living, and five others who would be known in the future. So far, we do not know who these five others are."

But now, thanks to this great announcement we do finally know the identity of the other five. They are:

`Abdu'l-Bahá -Center of the Covenant
Bahíyyih Khánum -The Greatest Holy Leaf
Shoghi Effendi -First Guardian of the Cause of God
Charles Mason Remey -Second Guardian of the Cause of God
Martha Root -Prominent Teacher

A reference to the 24 elders can be found in Some Answered Questions, Ch. 11 Commentary on St. John:

"In each cycle the guardians and holy souls have been twelve. So Jacob had twelve sons; in the time of Moses there were twelve heads or chiefs of the tribes; in the time of Christ there were twelve Apostles; and in the time of Muhammad there were twelve Imams. But in this glorious manifestation there are twenty four, double the number of all the others, for the greatness of this Manifestation requires it. These holy souls are in the presence of God seated on their own thrones; meaning that they reign eternally.

"These twenty four great persons, thought they are seated on the thrones of everlasting rule, yet are worshippers of the appearance of the universal Manifestation, and they are humble and submissive saying, 'We give thanks to Thee, O Lord God Almighty, which art and wast and art to come, because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power and reigned' that is to say,Thou wilt issue all Thy teachings, Thou wilt gather all the people of the earth under Thy shadow, and Thou wilt bring all men under the shadow of one tent. Although it is the Eternal Kingdom of God, and He always had and has a Kingdom, the Kingdom here means the manifestation of Himself; and He will issue all the laws and teachings which are the spirit of the world of humanity, and everlasting life. And that universal Manifestation will subdue the world by spiritual power, not by war and combat; he will do it with peace and tranquillity, not by the sword and arms; He will establish this Heavenly Kingdom by true love, and not by power of war.  He will promote these divine teachings by kindness and righteousness and not by weapons and harshness. He will so educate the nations and people that notwithstanding their various conditions, their different customs and characters, and their diverse religions and races, they will, as it is said in the Bible, like the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, the sucking child and the serpent, become comarades, friends and companions. The contentions of races, the differences of religions, and the barriers between nations will be completely removed, and all will attain perfect union and reconciliation under the shadow of the Blessed Tree."

Further reading in Chapter 11 of Some Answered Questions reveals the importance of the Covenant and the Will and Testament.

" 'And there was seen in His temple the ark of His Testament.'  That is to say, the Book of His Testament will appear in His Jerusalem, the Epistle of the Covenant will be established, and the meaning of the Testament and of the Covenant will become evident. The renown of God will overspread the East and West, and the proclamation of the Cause of God will fill the world. 

The violators of the Covenant will be degraded and dispersed, and the faithful cherished and glorified, for they cling to the Book of the Testament, and are firm and steadfast in the Covenant.'

'And there were lightnings and voices, and thunderings and an earthquake and great hail,' meaning that after the appearance of the Book of the Testament there will be a great storm, and the lightnings of the anger and wrath of God will flash, the noise of the thunder of the violation of the Covenant will resound, the earthquake of doubts will take place, the hail of torments will beat upon the violators of the Covenant, and even those who profess belief will fall into trials and temptations."

Perhaps the announcement of the remaining elders is an indication that we are advancing toward that day when all the people of the earth will be gathered under the shadow of the Blessed Tree.

Comments

[Jeffrey]

In that passage from Chapter 11 of SAQ, the Master is clearly making a reference to His Will and Testament, even though the persons He addressed would not have known about it. He also seems to be predicting the Great Violation in that passage.

[Vonda turner]

Thank you so much for this very informative essay regarding the Covenant. I appreciate how you presented Abdul-Baha's expositions. This allowed me to open my mind and heart to the voice of Abdul'Baha. We have a great heritage when we consider that the One Religion of God has always had a Covenant. How greatly blessed we are to have recognized that same Religion and Covenant alive and thriving in this day.

vonda