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Baha'u'llah, viewing that old world and seeing it 'at the mercy of rulers so drunk with pride that they cannot discern clearly their own best advantage' declared that '...the strife that divides and afflicts the human race is daily increasing. The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appears to be lamentably defective.' Although painting in sombre tones the 'divine chastisement' which would assail most of those rulers and engulf in ruin the peoples of the world, He nevertheless left no doubt about the outcome. 'Soon', He declared, 'will the present day order be rolled up and a new one spread out in its stead.' Since the ascension of Baha'u'llah in 1892, in the Holy Land, the rolling up of the old order has become the daily experience of mankind and no abatement of this process is discernible. The essence of Baha'u'llah's World Order is the unity of the human race. 'O ye children of men', He writes, 'the fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race...' And He warns, 'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.' The achievement of this unity is Baha'u'llah's declared mission and the aim of all Baha'i activity. Its outline and structure are indicated in the following passage from the writings of Shoghi Effendi, great-grandson of Baha'u'llah and Guardian of the Baha'i Faith:
(2:4)
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