Seeking a State of Heaven: The German Templers

Soft Cover
$19.95

Who were the German Templers living in Haifa during the 19th century, and what inspired them to leave their German homeland to build a community in Palestine?


Who were the Bahá’ís living in Palestine during the 19th century, and why had they been banished to the prison city of Acca?


And what connection could there possibly be between two such diverse groups from such different cultures, one from the East and the other from the West?


In October 1868 two families arrived by steamer at the port of Haifa, in Palestine. They had abandoned all they had ever known in their German homeland in order to settle in the Holy Land, and as time went by they were joined by other families, establishing roots at the foot of Mount Carmel. Calling themselves the Temple Society, they had one aim - to gather the Children of God in Jerusalem in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.


The German Templers emerged in Germany during the mid-19th century, their history a legacy of preceding centuries during which various Christian groups bravely undertook to establish the perfect Christian religion in preparation for Christ’s promised return. To find out what influenced and inspired them, the reader is taken on a brief journey through the often extraordinary and colourful lives of some of the prominent figures who undoubtedly influenced Templer philosophy. ­


Two months before the Templers finally achieved their dream and landed in Haifa, a group of exiles had arrived at the prison city of Acca, just a few miles north across the bay. Prisoners of the Ottoman Empire, their arrival in Palestine marked their final destination following fifteen years of successive banishments from Persia. Their leader was Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. The spiritual significance of the encounters between the Templers and the Bahá’ís becomes clear as the history in Seeking a State of Heaven unfolds.

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Average rating 10 out of 10 ( based on 2 reviews )

Seeking a State of Heaven

Review by Duane L Herrmann on 2/27/2023

This book answers many questions I've had for several decades, the main one being: If the German Templars came to Mt Carmel, built buildings and carved significant words on them, where are they now? What happened to them? They just seemed to have mysteriously vanished. They did vanish, but not mysteriously. Their forced removal from the Holy Land was a logical, reasonable, and necessary decision at the time. Was it in some way a Divine response to their failure to recognize Baha'u'llah when He was in their midst? That is a question that no one can actually answer, but one can wonder. This book telling their story answers so many other questions that can be answered. Anyone interested in the return of Christ needs to read this book.

Fascinating details of an early Baha'i-Christian interaction

Review by J. Tyson on 1/1/2021

I found this book to be a fascinating view of one of the earliest chapters in the history of contact between the Baha'i Faith and Christianity. Most Baha'is (especially those who have gone on pilgrimage) have heard of the German Templer colony in Haifa. But it is wonderful to be able to understand, now, the details of their story. And it provides some valuable insights into the approach and patience that may be needed in reaching an understanding with people who have a very different perspective on prophetic fulfillment. "Whomsoever Thou willest Thou causest to draw nigh unto the Most Great Ocean..." --Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 94

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