THE BOOK OF REVELATION


SEVEN CHURCHES

Revised Standard Version
(Unless Otherwise Indicated)

THE Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3 are symbolic of 7 groups calling themselves "Baha'i", only one of which is the true Baha'i faith. Shoghi Effendi provided only one criteria in order to determine who was and who was not a true Baha'i:

"Regarding the very delicate and complex question of ascertaining the qualifications of a true believer,...[I only state]...the principal factors that must be taken into consideration before deciding whether a person may be regarded a true believer or not.

"Full recognition of the station of the Forerunner, the Author, and the True Exemplar of the Baha'i Cause, as set forth in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Testament; unreserved acceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of our Beloved's sacred Will; and close association with the spirit as well as the form of the present-day Baha'i administration throughout the world—these I conceive to be the fundamental and primary considerations that must be... ascertained before reaching such a vital decision.""[1]

This criteria was used as the Baha'i faith membership card in the days of Shoghi Effendi. A true believer was someone who had loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha. An administration that does not incorporate all the elements of that Will and Testament cannot be said to embody "loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of our Beloved's sacred Will." Such an administration is not composed of true believers and thus is not the true Baha'i faith.

Six of the seven churches described in chapters two and three of the Book of Revelation, are not in accordance with every clause of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Will and Testament and thus are false claimants to the name "Baha'i." Five of these six false groups came into existence after the passing of Shoghi Effendi when the Baha'is were scattered by the inaugural Covenant-breaking of the "Hands" of the Cause. The sixth one is a dissident group which broke off later from the true Baha'i faith.

The principal factor at issue in Covenant-breaking is always the matter of successorship. At the passing of Baha'u'llah some did not want to accept His successor 'Abdu'l-Baha. At the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha some did not want to accept his successor Shoghi Effendi. At the passing of Shoghi Effendi the entire Baha'i world was in the dark concerning his successor, some not comprehending to this day that he even had a successor.

The successor to Shoghi Effendi was his lineal descendent, the first International Baha'i Council (IBC). This IBC was the embryonic stage of the Universal House of Justice (UHJ) and thus was that same entity of the UHJ, as in the stages of growth of human beings and other life-forms. The membership of this council was directly appointed by Shoghi Effendi, thus it is his lineal descendant, coming from him in a straight line. Shoghi Effendi's successor was alive and in the world 6 years before he died in 1957.

At the head of this council, Shoghi Effendi placed as the president and member-for-life Charles Mason Remey. This, and the fact that Mason was 'Abdu'l-Baha's adopted son, qualified Mason as a guardian. This is in accordance with the clause on page 12 of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha—that the succeeding guardian must be a son and appointed by the preceding guardian in his lifetime. Page 14 gives us the clause that the guardian of the Cause of God is the head of the UHJ.

Shoghi Effendi's interpretation of his unique station was that even though he was the Guardian of the Cause of God he was not a member and not the president/head of the IBC/UHJ. This is because the very last part of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha—Part Three, on the very last page, provided that Shoghi Effendi was the "Center of the Cause." The Center of the Cause is a station in addition to being the Guardian of the Cause. The Center of the Cause provision places Shoghi Effendi in the position to infallibly guide and rule the Baha'i faith by himself, without assistance from any other individual or administrative body.

As the infallible Center of the Baha'i faith, Shoghi Effendi was restricted from membership on that IBC in any of its stages, including the final stage—the Universal House of Justice. This is because 'Abdu'l-Baha stated in Some Answered Questions [2] that no single member of the UHJ has infallibility but only the general body. Thus, the head or president, the member-for-life, does not have infallibility, and therefore Shoghi Effendi could never be the head, or any other member of that institution, as it is not possible for him to abdicate his station of infallibility as the Center of the Cause.

Another reason why Shoghi Effendi could not be the president of the UHJ was that, as he was not descended from Baha'u'llah in the male line, but was the son of 'Abdu'l-Baha's daughter, he did not inherit the Davidic Kingship. The Davidic Kingship passes down through the male line only, so it was passed down to 'Abdu'l-Baha's adopted son, Mason Remey.

So Shoghi Effendi's placement of Mason as a guardian who fulfills the role of the president of the UHJ does not give Mason, or any succeeding guardian, the station of Shoghi Effendi, as Shoghi Effendi's station began and ended with him in the same way that 'Abdu'l-Baha's station began and ended with 'Abdu'l-Baha. Only the entire body of the IBC/UHJ has a similar position of being the center of authority, the center that wards off differences, as provided on pages 11, 14 and 20 of the Will and Testament.

The institution of guardianship, now restricted to the presidency of the UHJ, remains the "Sign of God" on earth, meaning that whatever Baha'i administration has this sign from God, the guardian, at its head, that is the true Baha'i administration, and any other is false.

Only one of the 7 churches adheres to the true Guardian and Institution of Guardianship and every clause of the Will and Testament. The other six have broken off from the Guardianship in various degrees and their status is determined according to their theology about the Institution of Guardianship and their adherence to the true Guardianship.

Four of these groups are identified in the Covenant-breaking publication Bibliography of English-Language Works on the Babi and Baha'i Faiths, by William P. Collins, George Ronald Press; and Encyclopedia of American Religions, 3rd Edition.

The messages to each church cite what counts in their favor and what counts against them. At the end of each message is a general announcement: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches" regarding those "who conquer". I will just quote the passages specific to each church, thereby identifying it.

In the Book of Revelation events are not always recorded in chronological sequence, in order to address the churches chronologically as they emerged in time we depart from the order in which they are recorded in Revelations.

The six false groups:

CHURCH OF THYATIRA

Those who followed the "Hands." Today they accept the illegitimate UHJ, and constitute the "mainstream" of Covenant-breakers calling themselves the "Baha'i World Faith." This largest group is divided into two parts. The first part of the message is to those who accept the lies of the "Hands" of the Cause, the illegitimate UHJ, and have no love for the truth. The second part of the message to Thyatira is for those who will come out of them, the 144,000.

Revelation 2:19-23: "I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve."

The latter works that exceed the first means the works of the 144,000 exceed the works of those people among the Covenant-breakers who were in the Faith before 1957. These 144,000 will have to re-establish the Faith in all the countries of the world as in the 10-year world spiritual crusade.

But the main body of Covenant-breakers adores the Jezebel, Ruhiyyih Khanum. Historically, Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab of Israel—the Northern Kingdom. She instituted paganism among the 10 northern tribes, who had split off from the Kings of David. This is descriptive of Ruhiyyih, the wife of the Guardian, instituting false teachings among the modern day Israel (those that strive by the word of God) that has split off from the Kingship of David, which is the guardianship.

Jezebel had the prophets of Israel put to death. Ruhiyyih has put to death the spirit of the faith among the group that follows her. Eventually Elijah rose against Jezebel's pagan priests putting them to death at the foot of Mt. Carmel. Jezebel was put to death with trampling by chariots, then her body was thrown outside the city and consumed by dogs. The body of Ruhiyyih Khanum is the body of that false UHJ and the dogs (infidels) that consume this are the followers of that body. They are outside the city of the Covenant and outside the Faith.

The Nicolaitans [3] were a sect that brought paganism into Christianity, they were identified as those who ate food sacrificed to idols. The mainstream Covenant-breakers are the Nicolaitans, it says God hates their works in Revelations 2:6. The food sacrificed to idols is that they should all take part in that false administration fashioned by their own hands (idol), seeking spiritual sustenance from it rather than the Revelation, and expecting that their salvation is found in being members of it.

Those who follow Jezebel are those who commit adultery, which is symbolic for idolatry. This is connected with Revelations 18:7. Ruhiyyih Khanum, Jezebel, is like the adulterous harlot of Rev. 18 who says: "A queen I sit, I am no widow, mourning I shall never see."

The sickbed of Jezebel indicates that spiritual disease of Covenant-breaking, which is a blood-disease that they contract from intercourse with the harlot, as blood in scripture is a symbol of the Covenant. Her child is the false UHJ she created and its followers, they are "struck dead" spiritually by accepting her false teachings.

Revelation 2:24-28: "But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come. He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; and I will give him the morning star."

For those who disown this false group great things are in store. They have "power over the nations" meaning it is the 144,000 who will teach the nations, bringing them into the Kingdom. These nations shall elect the body of the UHJ which then rules over each nation with the iron rod of its authority. This iron rod breaks up the earthen pots of the man made governments, including the man made UHJ of the "Hands."

The city of Thyatira was different from the others in that it was populated by a large mixture of races. The mainstream Covenant-breakers, unlike any of the other groups, are of all different races and nationalities all over the planet.

It is written that if the Baha'is should deviate from the Covenant there would arise in a short period of time many opposing "Baha'i" sects. The result of the violation of the "Hands" was that it initiated the birth of other "Baha'i" sects all of which is divisive and confusing. The group following the "Hands" and their illegitimate UHJ is itself, in essence, divided up into 1,000s of sects as each person has their own interpretation of what is a "Baha'i." They say: "I'm a Christian Baha'i," or "I'm a Buddhist Baha'i," or even "I'm a pagan Baha'i." They do not have the understanding that Baha'i is not just a social movement, such as Secular Humanism or other philosophies, but that it is the Religion of God and when you enter the Religion of God you leave your past ways behind. The veil has not been removed for these people.

At the council of Badasht, Tahirih appeared in public without her veil, her face exposed to all eyes. This demonstrated graphically to the Babis that they were no longer Muslims. There was no such thing as a "Muslim Babi". You were either a Babi or something else, but not both. Likewise, you are either a Baha'i—who accepts absolutely the Covenant—or something else. You cannot, in your heart, be a member of another religion and be a Baha'i also. Baha'u'llah said in the Persian Hidden Words #26 and #27 that we should cast the stranger out of our hearts so that the Friend might abide there.

Why did this Happen ?

In 1961, when Dr. Leland Jensen visited the Guardian, Mason Remey, in Washington D.C., this question came up amongst the believers assembled there. Mason explained that this was a test—that iniquities must come, as it says in the Bible, but woe betide them by whom they come. In the Book of Certitude Baha'u'llah makes this clear: "Even as He hath Revealed: "Do men think when they say 'We believe' they shall be let alone and not put to the proof?"[4] The purpose of the test is not so that God should know where the people are at, He already knows where they are at. The purpose of the test is so that the people should know where they are at. The history of the Faith demonstrates that these tests always come on the Covenant. Adib Taherzadeh in his book, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah, explains this very well, although he himself did not pass the test:

"They (Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha) interpreted the Scriptures of the past, explained many of their abstruse passages and statements, elucidated divine mysteries, expounded the Teachings of God for this age, delineated the features of a New World Order and gave the details of the application of the laws and ordinances of Baha'u'llah.

"However, on the subject of succession they remained silent and only at the end of Their lives did They disclose the identity of Their successors. There are many wisdoms in this. Such an action may be likened to that of a teacher who is always ready to answer questions and help his pupils solve their problems. Only on one occasion does he remain silent and refrain from helping them, namely, on the day of examination. On that day the students alone will have to find the answers. It is their test and it is also the day of separation. Those who pass are elevated to a higher class and those who fail are not.

"The history of the Faith demonstrates that the Covenant has always provided the testing-ground for the believers. The Bab gave the glad-tidings of the appearance of 'He Whom God shall make Manifest' but did not explicitly disclose the identity of Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah established a mighty Covenant appointing 'Abdu'l-Baha as the Centre of that same Covenant but kept this appointment a well-guarded secret until, shortly before His Ascension, He handed the Kitab-i-Ahdi (Book of My Covenant) to 'Abdu'l-Baha. This document, in the terms of the above analogy, became the examination paper for the entire body of Baha'u'llah's followers. Some passed and others failed the test. Similarly, the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha in which Shoghi Effendi was appointed as the Guardian of the Faith was kept a secret. It was after His passing that this document was read. Again, this produced tests for the believers. Some who had ambitious ideas and a lust for leadership opposed Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian of the Faith."[5]

Either the Baha'is knew the Covenant and were pure of heart and therefore they passed the test; or they didn't know the Covenant (as was the case with the majority of the believers), or they didn't have a pure heart (as was the case with the "Hands"), and so they failed the test.

In the Tablet of Ahmad it says that the wisdom of every command will be tested. These tests are essential so that some time down the line after the Kingdom is established these violations will not be repeated—because of this test, when so many millions of people have perished because the "Baha'is" broke the Covenant and took over the control of the administration and corrupted it, leading the world into the great catastrophe. The reason God allowed this to happen was for a learning experience, so that in the future, for a full thousand years, no one will violate even a hair's breadth to the right or to the left. Because of the severity of the catastrophe no individual or group would be able to hijack the Kingdom away from the people, under any pretext, artifice and stratagem, in the future.

The Baha'i faith had a message for the world, but the Covenant-breakers don't give that message: that the descendant of King David must be the president of Baha'u'llah's Universal House of Justice so we can recognize the true UHJ from fakes, frauds and imitations. Either you know the Will and Testament (W&T) of 'Abdu'l-Baha and are pure in heart—PASS the test—Or don't know the W&T—don't have a pure heart—and FAIL the test.

Mason explained to those gathered that they had already passed the first test: that now they knew that the Guardianship would never end. Then he told them that he was going to test them again and that this time they would not know who the next guardian was. He then showed them a medallion that he had made for Shoghi Effendi saying that he never had an occasion to give it to him while he was alive. He said that the one that they would see wearing this medallion after his passing would be the next guardian. They asked him, "Is that how you are going to appoint him?" and he said, "No." Thus Mason said, he was going to test them again, and then he gave away the test. Passing these tests is as easy as falling off a log.

After stating this, Mason Remey proceeded, over the course of several years, to appoint several different persons to be decoy "guardians" for his test. For instance, after stating that the head cannot create the body and that the body cannot create the head, he appointed an IBC, naming the different members of it "vice president number one," "vice-president number two," and so forth, with the implication that the highest one left on the list to survive the common catastrophe after his death would be the next guardian. As none of them were his son, and as he had already stated that the head cannot create the body and that the body cannot create the head, they should have all realized that this was a test. Instead they all started fighting with one another, calling each other Covenant-breaker, etc..., arguing about who would survive and be top of the list. It was such a debacle that Mason dissolved that council. He then appointed "elders" (naming only four or five) with the same program, that the one to survive at the top of the list after his death would be the next guardian, again none of these were his son. In addition, he wrote a letter to Joel Marangella who was also not his son.

Finally all the believers fell away, following after different decoy "guardians," many even while Mason was still alive! But none of these supposed "guardians" were adopted by Mason Remey as his son, with the exception of Joseph Pepe. Mason said they wouldn't know who the guardian was, and this was because they didn't know the Covenant. In the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, it gives the criteria for recognizing the guardian: that he should be a son, and that he should be appointed by the previous guardian.

Instead of going by this criteria of the Sacred Will, the followers of these ones looked at the personal qualities, or something else, of the candidates for guardianship, thinking they could judge by how "spiritual" they were. This was the test, whether or not they would follow the Covenant (W&T) in trying to discern who the guardian was—that they should know that the guardian has to be a son and appointed. Despite their knowledge of the violation of the "Hands," these Baha'is still hadn't learned to follow the Covenant. After Mason passed on, Dr. Leland Jensen wrote to Joseph Pepe Remey asking about the medallion. Pepe wrote back that (as Mason's only son he had inherited everything of Mason's "both material and spiritual") in fact he was wearing that very medallion around his neck as he wrote the letter.[6] Only Pepe Remey fulfilled both criteria to be a son and to be appointed by the previous guardian.

The people should have stuck with the provisions of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha and not turned to something else. They must be a son and be appointed during the lifetime of the reigning guardian. Instead of going by criteria they looked at qualities. The Covenant-breakers go into the fire! Despite their knowledge of the violation of the "Hands," these Baha'is still hadn't learned to follow the Covenant.

Since then these followers have split off into different groups as follows.

CHURCH OF LAODICEA

Those who followed "the Man," Jamshid Ma'ani, who claimed an independent prophethood. The group was organized around John Carre and called itself the "Faith of God", the "House of Mankind" and the "Universal Palace of Order".

Revelation 3:15-17: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

This church hasn't even a semblance of the Baha'i administration. They centered around the "Man," who claimed independent prophethood and threw out the teachings of 'Abdu'l-Baha. They are lukewarm because they no longer care about the guardianship or the Baha'i faith and are no longer active (listed as "defunct" in Encyclopedia of Religions). They have their own plan, which may or may not include a guardian. The guardianship is not of particular importance in their teachings.

CHURCH OF EPHESUS

Those who followed Joel Marangella, organized as the "Orthodox Baha'i Faith," and the "Mother Baha'i Council."

Revelation 2:2-6: "I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."

At the urging of Rex King, Joel Marangella claimed the guardianship, abandoning Mason Remey while the Guardian (Mason) was still alive. This is the "abandoned the love you had at first," meaning this group is not firm in the Covenant. Still, they teach and accept that Mason was the guardian of the Faith so they have not fallen as far as four of the other churches. Marangella, however, is not a son and does not qualify. They are also very active against the mainstream Covenant-breakers (Nicolaitans).

CHURCH OF PERGAMUM

Those who followed Rex King as the regent guardian now organized as the "Orthodox Baha'i Faith Under the Regency."

Revelation 2:13: "I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is..."

Rex King tried to usurp the guardianship from Mason, wanting Mason to name him as a regent guardian. Mason Remey designated him the Satan of this period. Rex King split a large group of believers away from Mason in the Marangella group, then he split off from Marangella, thus forming his own private sect. Like Satan of old he turned the people away from the true Faith. Rex is neither a son, nor appointed and does not fulfill either criteria of the Will and Testament. He is an usurper. Today, this group rejects that Mason was a guardian and also rejects the administration as set up by Shoghi Effendi; instead they have a council of regent guardians until such time as a descendent of Baha'u'llah appears and assumes the guardianship.

This is despite the fact that in the Covenant, Kitab-i-Ahd, Baha'u'llah only appointed the Davidic line (throne of David/Aghsan) to continue through 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Center of His Covenant, disqualifying anyone else, with the rest, like Muhammad-Ali and the family of Shoghi Effendi disqualifying themselves by violating the everlasting Covenant and being removed from the Cause of God for Covenant-breaking. 'Abdu'l-Baha makes this point clear in his Last Tablet to America: "Consider! The Divine Gardener cuts off the dry or weak branch from the good tree and grafts to it, a branch from another tree. He both separates and unites. This is that which his Holiness Christ says: that from all the world they come and enter the Kingdom, and the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out."[7] This also shows their ignorance of the Covenant, as being a son is only one of the necessary criteria for guardianship, the son must also be appointed in the lifetime of the previous guardian. Thus there is no one else other than the line of David (Aghsan/Branches) continued through Baha'u'llah and His son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, and his son, Mason Remey, and his only son, Joseph Pepe Remey Aghsan, that he appointed to succeed him.

CHURCH OF SMYRNA

Those who accepted Donald Harvey as guardian after Mason Remey's death loosely affiliated in the "Charles Mason Remey Society" of Francis C. Spataro.

Revelation 2:9-11: "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Donald Harvey did not arise to claim the guardianship until after Mason's death when Joseph Pepe Remey, Mason's adopted son, directed the people to follow Harvey. Pepe had convinced Mason to write a letter making Harvey the guardian. Thus his followers are "rich," they believe in the guardianship but also they are "poor," they don't actually have a guardian. Francis C. Spataro was the one who endured the slander of the synagogue of Satan when he was rejected by the Rex King group.

Today they follow Jacques Soghomonian as the guardian.

CHURCH OF SARDIS
Dissidents to the Lamb and the Covenant

Those who believed in Dr. Leland Jensen as the return of Jesus, the High Priest based on His proofs, but broke off from him to form a loose knit group having individual interpretations of the meaning of the Covenant and united only in their opposition to Jesus on his return. At first they accepted the Guardianship of Joseph Pepe Remey, but since then some of them have signed a document declaring allegiance to Jacques Soghomonian, who was not a son. They are loosely organized through "The Friends Newsletter."

This newsletter contains the editorial statement: "The Friends Newsletter is a way for Baha'is to stay in touch and become unified in the Revelation, and still feel free to express their thoughts, whatever they may be;" and, "It [the newsletter] strives to foster unity..." Comparing this with the Sacred Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, we find this motto to be in violation of the Covenant:

"To none is given the right to put forth his own opinion or express his particular convictions. All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause [Shoghi Effendi] and the House of Justice [with the guardian as its president]. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error." (Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p. 26)

And this group continues to use unity ("It [the newsletter] strives to foster unity...") as their excuse for violation:

"... and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and perturbed and poisoned others. No doubt every vain glorious one that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly declare his evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, would he seize upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the gathering of the people of Baha." (Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p. 12)

Revelation 3:1-5: "I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels."

This group claims to be the true Baha'is having the "true spirituality", and the true understanding of the Covenant. This is the "name of being alive." But they are spiritually dead because they knew more of the truth than the other groups and turned against it. What they received and heard is the proofs of prophesied name, date, address, and mission to recognize the Promised Ones. None of the other groups go by proofs.

The "few names" are those who were poisoned by the twisted thinking and doctrine of Sardis, and because of that left the Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant (BUPC), but they don't swallow the lies of Sardis either, and aren't actively attacking the Baha'i faith, thus they have not "soiled their garments." This is like the story of Snow White: the evil queen gave her a poison apple which was supposed to kill her but it got caught in her throat and she didn't swallow it. But the poison made her fall into a deep, deep sleep, until a Prince (Knight on a white horse) came along and giving her a kiss (voicing the teachings) revives her. The Knight on the white horse is the Knight of Baha'u'llah, Dr. Leland Jensen.

Then it says: "I will not blot his name out of the book of life." The only names written into the Lamb's book of life are the names of those who accepted the return of Jesus, the Lamb. Having a name blotted out means that name was written in the book to start with and then had to be erased. So this clearly identifies the dissident group, as they are the only group who originally accepted the Lamb and then turned against him, thus being under the threat of having their name blotted out unless they repent. None of the other groups have accepted the Lamb and then rejected him, most have yet to discover him. Muhammad said: the worst thing that could happen to a person is to know the truth and then to go against it. This is the unforgivable sin. Jesus said it would have been better if he had never been born.

The seventh church is the true one continuing the Baha'i faith as Revealed by Baha'u'llah, interpreted and delineated by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and first instituted by Shoghi Effendi.

CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

Those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes, known as "Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant."

Revelation 3:7-11: "The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown".

This is the only group that knows the meaning of "Christ," and the true meaning of the guardianship, the Christ of the Baha'i World Order, thus is mentioned the "key of David." Because of this knowledge they know that the other groups are false. The term "Christ" designates a male-sperm descendant of David. The "key of David" is the meaning of the word "Christ". Baha'u'llah came from this genealogy and so did His son 'Abdu'l-Baha, who adopted Mason Remey. Mason Remey became the next Davidic King after 'Abdu'l-Baha. Shoghi Effendi then appointed Mason as the president-head of the IBC/UHJ making him the next Guardian, thus the Davidic Kingship continues on in the Institution of Guardianship. There are two criteria for a claim to the Guardianship, the first is that he must be, physically or legally, a son; the second is that he must be appointed by the previous guardian.

The "opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens" refers to the doors of interpretation, of that of Dr. Leland Jensen, who fulfilled the prophecies for the return of Jesus, the Lamb, Jesus the High priest after the Order of Melchizedec, Jesus that had the stone with seven eyes before him in Zech. 3:9, Who began his mission in 1963, the date given by Daniel, the seventh angel, "Blessed is he who comes to the 1335 days", and many, many more. He is the one who gave us these interpretations of this book of Revelation.

The "having but little power" is the power of large numbers of people which we do not have; this is because God wants the people to know it is by His power that the Kingdom will be established.

The "synagogue of Satan" is the Rex King group. When Dr. Jensen was released from Deer Lodge Prison he traveled around the country amongst the different Baha'i groups hoping to educate them. After he had visited the Rex King group they asked one of their followers, Francis Spataro, to write a refutation of Dr. Jensen's claim. Instead of doing that, this person wrote a refutation of the Rex King group! They threw him out for that and afterwards he started the "Mason Remey Society" uniting the loosely affiliated Donald Harvey group through a newsletter. In the early 90's, he became an Episcopalian minister, but in his last newsletter he declared that Dr. Jensen was the Knight and the true establisher of the Baha'i Faith and that the true line of guardianship was just as Dr. Jensen said, going from Mason to Pepe Remey, and not from Mason to Donald Harvey to Jacques Soghomonian.

Philadelphia is the only church of which nothing negative is said, unlike the other groups it hasn't gone against God in any way whatsoever.

Smith's Bible Dictionary states that the present day city at the site of the ancient Philadelphia is named the "City of God."

The ones that are firm in the Covenant of Baha'u'llah are "He who conquers".

Revelation 3:12-13: "'He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.''"

"pillar in the temple of my God" is the ones who support the Covenant. These are the "Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant" who are guided by the return of Jesus the Lamb. Those who don't have this guidance have gone astray.

"I will write on him the name of my God," is the greatest name of God given to those that become Baha'is. When one prays to God by calling on Him by His name He hears his prayers. When you become a Baha'i you will be given that name.

"and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven," is Baha'i.

"and my own new name" is Baha'u'llah

SYNOPSIS
OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF
THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Only one of the 7 churches adheres to the true Guardian and Institution of Guardianship and every clause of the Will and Testament. The Institution of Guardianship, now restricted to the presidency of the UHJ, remains the "Sign of God" on earth, meaning that whatever Baha'i administration has this sign from God, the guardian, at its head, that is the true Baha'i administration, and any other is false. The other six have broken off from the guardianship in various degrees and their status is determined according to their theology about the Institution of Guardianship and their adherence to the true Guardianship.

Let us sum up our examination of the claims of each group according to this criteria:

Church of Thyatira

1. The mainstream Covenant-breakers of "Baha'i World Faith" threw out the guardianship entirely and are adamantly opposed to any talk of the guardianship. Their "Hands of the Cause" claimed to be in "succession" to the powers of the guardianship, but they don't even remotely meet any of the criteria. Their administration is completely divorced from the Covenant.

Church of Laodicea

2. The scattered individuals of "The Man" and his ex-promoter John Carre, have nothing to say about the guardianship one way or another. "The Man's" doctrine on the guardianship was that he would abrogate it or not as he chose. This exposes him as Covenant-breaker because the Covenant to David of Psalms 89 states that the lineage (never lack for a descendant) and the institution (the throne) of the Davidic Kingship is to last forever.

Church of Ephesus

3. Joel Marangella did not fulfill the first criteria of being an adopted or biological son therefore he could not be the guardian even though he had a letter of appointment from Mason Remey.

Church of Pergamum

4. Rex King was not an adopted or biological son and did not even have an appointment to guardianship from Mason Remey written or verbal, therefore his claim is completely spurious. Currently the Rex King group awaits the appearance of a male descendent of Baha'u'llah separate from Mason to assume the guardianship, this shows their ignorance of the Covenant as being a son is only one of the necessary criteria for guardianship, the son must also be appointed in the lifetime of the previous guardian.

Church of Smyrna

5. Donald Harvey was also not an adopted or biological son, therefore his claim to the guardianship was invalid even though he was the last person appointed as a guardian before Mason Remey died.

Church of Sardis

6. The dissidents to the Lamb, even though they know who the real guardian is (because the Lamb taught them all of this), do not know the true institution of guardianship, and have instead inserted a fictitious, impostor institution in the place of the role of the Davidic Kings as the President of the House of Justice.

Church of Philadelphia
Brotherly Love

7. The "Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant" know that Joseph Pepe Remey, being a legally adopted son and being appointed by Mason, fulfills the criteria of the guardian. They also know that this does not put him in the lineage of the infallible Afnan guardianship of Shoghi Effendi as Mason Remey was not adopted by Shoghi Effendi, and was not given conferred infallibility by Baha'u'llah (He conferred infallibility on 'Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi and the elected Universal House of Justice). Mason Remey was only given the presidency of the UHJ and was not the representative of Shoghi Effendi on that body (Shoghi Effendi had a Liaison Officer), also he was never made the head of the Faith as was Shoghi Effendi. Therefore Mason Remey, and the Aghsan guardians descending from that lineage, have no claim to the station of Infallible Interpreter of the Baha'i Revelation. The station of infallible interpretation continues with the general body of the House of Justice.



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ENDNOTES

1
Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Community. [back]

2 Some Answered Questions, Part III, chapter 45, Explanation of the Verse of the Kitab-i-Aqdas: "There is no Associate for the Dawning-Place of Command in the Supreme Sinlessness," page 173 some editions, page 199 others. [back]

3 Smith's Bible Dictionary, in its explanation of Nicolaitans, refers the reader to 2 Peter chapter 2, here it says (verses 1, 17, 19-22): "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master..." Jezebel calls herself a prophetess. The Master is 'Abdu'l-Baha. "These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved." "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped... they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment [Will and Testament] delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire." This group turned away from the Will and Testament and spewed out their own version of the faith, then, forgetting that it was their own invention, they turn back to it, imagining it to be real, thus eating their own vomit. [back]

4 Koran 29:2 cited from, Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan, pp. 8-9. [back]

5 Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah, Volume One, pp. 136-137. [back]

6 "Thursday, 24 July, 1975: My dear Leland Jensen: ...about Mason's medallions. The one he always wore around his neck, I myself am wearing at this moment. I treasure that. He removed it from his own neck several weeks before dying. It seemed to burden him to wear it. Yet, he would never be without it in previous times. One of the larger medallions he had made (Silver with gold-plate) I placed in his coffin along with a small vial of attar of roses and a Baha'i prayer book and a photograph of the two of us. It is so sad even to remember! The other ones (I believe I have a photograph of Mason wearing the one you were particularly interested in).....are surely amongst the things he left me." Joseph Pepe Remey to Dr. Leland Jensen, Thursday, 24 July, 1975 in response to Dr. Leland Jensen, July 19, 1975. [back]

7 Baha'i World Faith, p. 438. See also Genesis 49:10—Shiloh prophecy. "All must regard the other Branches with affection, but God hath not decreed unto them any right to the people's property." Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Ahd (Book of the Covenant) cf., Baha'i World Faith, p. 210. [back]


Part 2
Revelation Ch 14
Revelation Ch 15
Revelation Ch 16
Revelation Ch 17

Revelation Ch 18
Revelation Ch 19
Revelation Ch 20


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