The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh constitutes, indeed, the stage of
maturity in the development of mankind. His appearance has released such
spiritual forces which will continue to animate, for many long years to come,
the world in its development. Whatever progress may be achieved in later
ages—after the unification of the whole human race is achieved—will be but
improvements in the machinery of the world. For the machinery itself has been
already created by Bahá’u’lláh. The task of continually improving and
perfecting this machinery is one which later Prophets will be called upon to
achieve. They will thus move and work within the orbit of the Bahá’í Cycle. - Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated August 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; quoted in
a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual
believer dated 6 January 1998; Online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i
World Center)
