Coming of the Kingdom of God
Amid these troublous times, however, the Cause of God will prosper. The calamities caused by selfish struggle for individual existence, or for party or sectarian or national gain, will induce the people to turn in despair to the remedy offered by the Word of God. The more calamities abound, the more will the people turn to the only true remedy. Baha'u'llah says in his Epistle to the Shah: (157:5)

God hath made afflictions as a morning shower to this green pasture, and as a wick for His Lamp, whereby earth and heaven are illumined.. Through affliction hath His Light shone and His Praise been bright unceasingly; this hath been His method through past ages and bygone times. (157:6)

Both Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha predict in the most confident terms the speedy triumph of spirituality over materiality and the consequent establishment of the Most Great Peace. 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote in 1904: (157:7)

Know this, that hardships and misfortunes shall increase day by day, and the people shall be distressed. The doors of joy and happiness shall be closed on all sides. Terrible wars shall happen. Disappointment and the frustration of hopes shall surround the people from every direction until they are obliged to turn to God. Then the lights of great happiness shall enlighten the horizons, so that the cry of "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha!" may arise on all sides. - Tablet to L.D.B. quoted in Compilation on War and Peace, p. 187. (157:8)

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