Alice A. Bailey's Prophecy of Christ's Return as Maitreya

Alice A. Bailey, a 20th-century British-born author and a key figure in the New Age spiritual movement, declared that "the reappearance of Christ is imminent." In her work, especially in "The Reappearance of the Christ" (1948), she asserted that the global crises post-World War II necessitate the manifestation of a savior figure, Maitreya. Bailey's understanding of Christ diverges from traditional Christian views, depicting Him not as a divine figure but as a member of a spiritual Hierarchy, embodying the Second Ray force of Love-Wisdom. She aligns Him with various religious traditions, noting He is recognized as the Bodhisattva in Buddhism and the Imam Mahdi in Islam. The concept of Maitreya in Buddhism represents the future Buddha who will restore the Dharma when it becomes forgotten. Similarly, Hinduism speaks of the Kalki Avatar, expected to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga to restore order and justice. While echoing Christian themes of the Second Coming, Bailey emphasizes that Christ's return will not be in a dramatic fashion but as a figure engaging actively in world affairs, aiming to establish right human relations and respond to humanity's spiritual needs during transformative times.