The Way of the Spiritual Leader

by Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Section 2 - Subject and Object, Cain and Abel [Part 2]

2. Cain and Abel

1) Cain and Abel in the History of the Dispensation

You may think that when Cain and Abel both made an offering, God's position of receiving the offering of Abel was different from His position of rejecting the offering of Cain, but this is not true. If there were even a trace of willingness in Cain to go through Abel, who represented God, then God would have surely accepted the offering. Although there may have been a difference in regards to when, God tried to deal with them fairly. (3-205)


If Cain did not really care about the offering that he made to God, then it would not have mattered to him so much whether or not God received the offering of Abel. However, what made him furious and resentful was the thought that his devotion was less than that of Abel. Cain must have thought that the devotion with which he prepared the offering was at least equal to, if not better than that of Abel. Don't you think this is how it was? It is human nature to want one's own to be received first, even if the offering had the same content and was made from the same position.

Cain cannot complain if Abel's offering deserved to be accepted. If they can be compared, how can he raise a complaint? However, won't he complain if the offering was not accepted, even if they were offered from the equal positions? Therefore, you have to be better when you are exerting yourself. You have to offer it after preparing the devotional heart that is better than the offering.

When you look at it centering on Abel, Abel made the offering with the same degree of devotion as Cain. However, because Abel was on the side of God from the beginning point God accepted it. For this reason, Abel should have been grateful and humble even if God accepted his offering. Then would Cain have tried to kill him? Nevertheless, since God only received his offering, Abel must have expressed great joy to the extent that aroused intense feeling of jealousy in Cain. It would have been good if he just kept the feeling of happiness to himself and not expressed it, but he boasted to his older brother. Don't you also want to boast about some happy events in your life? Don't you want to brag about it? Similarly, Abel must have boasted to his brother. In the process, he must have gone overboard and said, "God did not receive older brother's offering and just accepted mine. Therefore, I am better than my older brother." Thus, Cain's face must have grown red, and he must have felt intense anger. It is reasonable to have this kind of thought.

Abel should not have bragged that he felt happy because he received the blessing from God. Instead, when he received the blessing, he should have realized his shortcomings and said, "Older brother, I am sorry." If he did that, would Cain have beaten him to death? He probably would not have killed him. This is the mistake of Abel. (34-51)


Do you like Abel or do you like Cain? [Abel] I like neither Cain nor Abel. Why? Abel made the offering together with his older brother Cain, so even when God accepted only his offering and rejected his older brother's, he should have been nice to his older brother. He should have been more considerate toward his brother. What do you think God would have done if at that moment Abel wept and make a havoc protesting, "Father, why did you only receive my offering?" and then go to his older brother and say, "I dislike God who only accepted my offering." God would have had to love Cain for sure.

Cain and Abel probably made the same preparation to make the offering to God. Cain prepared grains and Abel prepared lamb for one year, and with greatly devout attitude they offered them. It is good that they both put in great effort. However, without considering the question of who put in more effort, and just looking at the question of receiving or rejecting the offering, God accepted the offering of Abel because He had to.

However, since God accepted only his offering, Abel thought that this was because he was better and God only liked him. Thus, he must have bragged to his older brother, "Older brother, see, my offering was accepted." This must be what he did. Otherwise, why should Cain, who did not do anything, grow red in his face? Do you think this took place even when Abel did not do anything? For sure, Abel went before Cain to mock him, "What are you. My offering was received." Abel must never be arrogant. He must be humble. For this reason, he deserved to be beaten to death. There was no choice but to be beaten to death.

Unification Church members have to become Abels, right? [Yes] Then have you become Abels yet? Perhaps you are in the process of becoming one, but you are repeating the mistakes of Abel who was beaten to death. If you act arrogantly and say, "What is a Christian minister? How did the Fall take place? What? It was committed by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? You ministers cannot solve these questions without us, right?" If you do that, then Unification Church will face difficulties. Did you do this or not? I told you not to do so, but you have been doing it anyway outside. (34-272)


After the offering was made, Cain hated and beat Abel to death when he found out that God only received the offering of Abel, but you have to understand that even from when they were making preparations for the offering, Cain held grudges against Abel. It is not the case that he beat Abel because he was suddenly overwhelmed with hatred when God did not receive his offering, but rather, even before that took place, Cain felt the hatred that wanted to kill Abel.

What do you, who have inherited this fallen lineage, have to do to climb over the hill of universal sorrow? Now, you are not to build the attar that will set the condition of unfaithfulness and conflict before God, but build the victorious altar of Able that can return glory and happiness to heavenly father.

For this reason, your life today must not be limited to yourself. It is a life to be led on behalf of the whole. The times that you lie down before God and the lifestyle that is centered on the principle, your life must not be limited to these moments and lifestyle. This is where it is determined whether one stands in the position of Abel or Cain. In other words, you stand at the incredible historical crossroads where you might easily become either Cain or Abel.

Knowing this, you should be able to distinguish, centering on the church, who is the Cain figure and who is the Abel figure. If there are two people, one of them is certainly Abel and the other is Cain. If there are three people, then two people might be Cain or Abel, but what you must understand is that there is always the most central Abel and Cain, and you should be able to distinguish them clearly.

Moreover, Cain and Abel must never be separated. One side is the right hand and the other side is the left hand. Accordingly, you must have a faithful heart to understand that God is your God as well as the other's God. God not only loves you but also loves the other. Then, you must always seek and serve the Abel type figure and try your best to avoid the position of Cain. You must clearly understand that unless you can become such person, one-day God will surely judge you.

When we look at the Unification Church today, there is also Cain and Abel. So, God reveals His words through Abel and wishes that every one will become one with the Abel. However, there is one person that prevents this unity with the Abel, and this is Satan. For this reason, in order for you to lead the right life of faith, you have to be able to discuss everything with someone who is more Abel-like than you are and become one with him. (3-206)


The fact that we, the Unification Church, are raising the issue of Cain and Abel shows that the era of Jesus has passed. Moreover, when we talk about Cain and Abel who can stand in front of the parents, we are talking about the restored Adam's family, in other words, the position of brothers that is not invaded by Satan. Do you understand what I am saying?

I told you that in order to stand in the position of Abel you must find Abel. Then, what did God do to find Cain? God carried on the dispensation on the national level by putting Jesus in the Abel position in order to find the Cain figure through Jesus. For this reason, there is a Cain type nation, Cain type religious denomination, Cain type tribe, Cain type family, and Cain type individual. (34-54)

2) What You Need to Become Abel

Abel has to take on the most important mission in the course of restoration. The reason that the position of Abel has been created was because of the fall. If there was no fall, then there was no need for the creation of the Abel figure for the dispensation.

Establishing Abel cannot be done with Abel alone. Before Abel comes into being, there must be a Cain. The first prerequisite for Abel is Cain. Abel cannot become Abel without Cain. Moreover, in order for Abel to be chosen as the true Abel figure, he needs a preparation period. In other words, he needs a period during which whether or not he can stand on the side of God is decided. In our Unification Church we call this time the period to establish the foundation of faith, but this is the period during which offering is made.

The meaning of making an offering is mending and linking through the heart of faith the separation between God and man, and it also means building a relationship externally. For this reason, without achieving this, one cannot become an offering. We know that a sacrifice always exists for the sake of one who makes the offering and the one who offers it. We know that this process of sacrifice has been extended through the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Completed Testament. (56-74)


In order to become Abel, one needs Cain. Abel cannot become Abel alone. Cain is absolutely needed. However, among Cain figures, there are those on God's side and those on Satan's side. For Jesus, John the Baptist was the Cain on God's side. Restoration was possible because John the Baptist was made the Cain figure on God's side. Isn't this true? [Yes] Cain on the satanic side will bite and hit. This is the fundamental Principle and the original nature of Satan.

In order for you to become Abel, you must first become one with God and then have Cain. Then who is Cain? Who is your Cain? In order for Cain to rise to the position of Cain, he has to start from the position of servant of servant, then rise to the positions of servant, adopted son, and then son. The son here will not receive accusations. Only by passing through this position can he rise to the position of Cain who can stand before God. However, Cain alone cannot rise to such a position. Someone must raise him up. Then who is to raise him up? The one who raises him up does the mission of messiah. Then on whose behalf is he raised up? He is to be raised in place of father. In other words, he is to be raised in place of God's heart. For this reason, you can raise Cain only when you have a parental heart.

In order to become Abel, you must look for Cain. You cannot become Abel before finding Cain. Accordingly, standing in the position representing God, you have to pass through the position of servant of servant and the position of adopted son to rise to the position of son. By doing so, you have to set the condition of having subjugated Cain centering on Abel. Only then you can complete your responsibility as the son who can stand before God, and from there when you stand on the position that Cain cooperates, then you can move toward the position of parent. Do you understand what I am saying?

Therefore, the purposes of your witnessing activities are first to create a Cain figure, and then to establish the Abel position. So, you who witness from the Abel position stand as the representative of God. Moreover, centering on God and on behalf of Jesus, you are restoring what the ancestors did not fulfill in the period when the position of servant was being restored. By doing so, you are to progress on, from the era of Adam to the eras of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Only after arriving at the period of Jesus will Cain and Abel will be determined. Before the era of Jesus, all stand in the position of adopted sons. (34-53)


Now, the rule to decide the Abel figure . . . In determining the Abel figure, who has the first responsibility? [Heavenly father] Then? [Good spirits] After that? [Angels] Next? [Satan] You heard this for the first time?

Why is this so? When Satan accuses, saying, "He has no qualifications to become Abel," then it cannot be done. Satan is very clear about what conditions a man has to set to become Abel. When Satan argues, "He should be like this and like that, but he has not set such conditions," what can God say? Can He assert, "You Satan! I say I am going to do it; who are you to object?" [He cannot] When the prosecuting attorney makes the accusation before the judge, "This person committed such and such crimes," can the judge say, "You! I am making the decision; who are you to raise your voice?" Can he do that? [No] It is the same thing. God is the judge and Satan is the prosecuting attorney who makes the accusations. It is the same. Then, who plays the role of the defense lawyer? It is the good ancestors and angels. It is the good ancestors and angels who have been restored like us that play this role.

However, can you make the decision? Can you insist, "God! Ancestors! Angels! Satan! Since I have chosen myself as Abel, you should recognize me." Can you do this yourself? [No] You can stand on the side of Abel. You must clearly understand that you can stand on the Abel side but you cannot become the Abel figure on the side of Abel. You have to be clear about this. Do you understand what I am talking about? [Yes]

In order to be chosen as Abel, you have to be called upon by God. It must be that chosen when God decrees, "You, so and so, you have to fulfill this mission," then you say, "Yes." If God calls upon you like that, then your good ancestors who stand on the side of God will be happy or not? [They will be happy] (89-121)


What does Abel have to do? First he has to become one with God, and second he has to love the archangel. He must win the archangel's recognition. The archangel must acknowledge, saying, "You are truly the son of God, and therefore the heir apparent." At this moment, the person in the position of archangel is Cain, and one in the position of Adam is Abel. You have to understand this clearly.

Are you Abel or Cain? [Abel] Have you become Abel? You cannot become Abel unless you receive the love of God, yet are you receiving the love of God? Do you think that you are? Have you ever said to your hands as you look at them, "This hand is receiving the love of God. How beautiful it is." Have ever felt, "God loves every part of my body." Have you ever felt, "Inside my blood and flesh, God's blood and flesh exists, and in my love, the life element of God operates." You have to be able to feel this kind of feeling. However, all of you are not like that. Do you understand?

What do you have to do first? You must understand this clearly. First, you must receive the love of God; second, you must love the archangel. You must be able to do both of these things.

False parents came into being because man fell. For this reason, they are to be divided between Cain and Abel to carry on the work of restoration. In other words, restoration is done with Abel as the representative of Adam and Cain as the representative of the archangel.

Then what do you have to do to become Abel? First, I have said that you must become one in heart with God. When you become one in heart and are pleasing to God, then God cannot but love you. Moreover, because you become God's child when your heart becomes one with His, He will give you specific commands in your life, "You should live like this and do like that." Then would you follow the directions? [We must follow] You must follow the orders to fulfill God's purpose. By doing so, your unity of heart will be manifested as external oneness. You have to understand these principles clearly. (34-85)


Where is the position of Cain and Abel decided. This is the crucial problem. Cain and Abel will not be decided in some good and comfortable position.

Why do we need Cain and Abel? Think about it. They are needed for the sake of the restoration through indemnity. Isn't this so? Then, what do we have to do to undertake the restoration through indemnity? We have to become a sacrifice. (34-91)


Where does God decide upon the Abel figure? He makes the choice at the place where Satan cannot accuse. Then, what is the position where Satan will not accuse? It is the position where unity with God is achieved, yet this position is not a position of joy, but the most sorrowful and difficult position. In other words, in the position where one is willing to die, in the most miserable position, there you can become one with God. (34-51)


For the Principle perspective, what is Abel? He is the center. God has to enter the middle of the center. However, have you become Abel? [We have not] Why have you not? In order to become Abel, one must obey. One must obey God and become one with Him. In order to become one with God, must you do everything that God tells you to do? [We must] You cannot be an Abel unless you can do all that God tells you to do. Even if you did ninety-nine percent of them, if you fail to do the last one, you cannot become the Abel figure. (34-46)


When I ask you, "Have you become individual Abel?" -- in order for you to become Abel, you need three Cain figures. Then, when I ask, "Who is your Cain?" you should be able to say, "My Cain is so and so." Then, this kind of individual can indemnify horizontally the vertical history centering on that Cain. For this reason, in regards to this vertical standard, if that kind of individual stands on the central position, then through that one person, horizontal indemnity can be carried out; however, if you cannot become that kind of individual, then you must pass through three eras, three stages.

For this reason, the ones you can present as shields before heaven as "so and so" when you are asked for your Cain, are what we in the Unification Church call the spiritual children. Three spiritual children are not enough. With three sons, you must lay the foundation of a family. When you have formed a family, you can enter the kingdom of heaven. (56-98)


Now, when we talk about Cain and Abel in the Unification Church, is it correct to say, "I am Abel because I joined first?" [Not correct] This would instead cause him to become Satan. He might easily become Cain. Those who joined the Unification Church first are those who might easily become the vanguard of satanic side.

Then, the only one with the qualification to become Abel is one who has the victorious foundation of having become Abel. In the Unification Church, those who are born first are Cain, and those who came out later are Abel. Accordingly, if one who joined first can command angels like God and become like Adam who did not fall, then he can always be Abel; however, those who assert their position and fail to show example in regards to the will of God, will all become Cain. This is the way things are tied together in Unification Church, but even if you look at the world after dividing it centering on the Unification Church, you will find that because this world came out first, it is Cain. This is how we see it. In other words, we can be the Abel side.

Now, when you look at the external world, you will find that there is also Cain and Abel here. Among evil people, there are those who are more evil, and those who are less evil; there are Cain and Abel. Even in the external world, democratic world and the communist world are fighting, and in the internal world, the Unification Church is fighting with the Christian Churches . . . This kind of phenomena will take place. Christianity is older brother and we are younger brother. Christianity who came first is the older brother, so it is in the Cain position; we are younger brothers, and for this reason they must submit to the younger brother. If they don't, then they will be cut off. (76-329)

3) Who is Abel and who is Cain

Among the members of Unification Church today, there are those crazy ones who say, "I am Abel because I joined earlier and those who joined later are Cain; so you should serve me!" There are many such crazy people. What kind of person is Abel? Abel is one who lives according to the will of God. One who is more public is Abel. You have to understand this. Who is Cain? He stands on the side of Satan. Who is Satan? Satan starts off from selfish thoughts. Abel begins from thinking not about himself but about God. You should understand this.

Even if you joined earlier, one who is satisfying one's own greed is Cain. One who thinks about oneself first is Cain. This kind of person must be chased out. This is the Principle that I use when I am dealing with people.

No matter how long one has been in the church, if one is living selfishly, I completely ignore him or her. I cannot do anything about it now, but when the time comes, I will tell him to pack up and leave. You are not Abel just because you joined earlier. Do you understand? One who pursues personal agendas more is Cain and one who thinks more about the public matters and heaven than about oneself is Abel. You have to understand this clearly. (58-68)


In deciding upon the brotherly order among the members of the Unification Church, one who joined first stands in the Abel but is at the same time also Cain, and one who joined later is in the position of Cain but is also Abel simultaneously. (24-348)


Centering on the Cain-Abel problem . . . You might say, "I am the regional leader, area leader or district leader sent by the headquarters, so you should listen to me." But, this is not how it is. This is God's side and that is Satan's side, so would Satan's side listen to you? He won't. To make him listen to you, you must put in three times more effort. When you put in three times more effort, then a third of that will return. Why is this? Since the number of completion arrived at after passing through the formation and growth stage belongs to God, so in order to save Cain in the course of restoration today, we are to put in three time the effort to take one. This is how it is. However, ignorant of this Principle, you just order people and do not know how to receive orders. This attitude is wrong.

This is not how the principles of Cain and Abel are. Abel is supposed to shed blood and tears . . . The difference is that he is shedding tears to open the way through which Cain can survive. This is where the precious thing, the foundation of victory is. You are the same. How much did all of you fulfill the responsibility of Abel for the sake of the members? Sacrificing for the sake of that one life . . . You must reflect and answer to yourself the question, "How much you have exerted yourself to raise the life of one person considering it as the ultimate goal of your life?" (70-149)


Among the members of the Unification Church, ones who assert themselves are all Cain. Wasn't Cain born first? Abel was not one who was born first. Because one who was born first is Cain, those who think of themselves highly just because they joined early and scorn those who joined later are people who have inherited the lineage of the Cain tribe. These types of people have to receive training all over again in the spirit world. There is no other way. You just wait and see.

I will not use the service of those who assert themselves just because they joined earlier. If I were to use them, then we will surely be ruined. This type of person stands on the side of Satan.

For this reason, you are to respect people until the end; you are to love and revere people until the end. Those who sleep until late in the morning, despite my waking them up at dawn, will all be chased out. You have to understand that there exist such principles. Do you understand?

Among the members of the Unification Church, what kind of person is Cain? Those who raise their heads high and order others around are Cain. Then who is Abel? Those who are trying to complete their responsibility are Able. Do you understand? [Yes] Despite the fact that those who joined first are originally Cain, they try to act like Abel. This is like falling into a trap set by oneself. For that kind of person, no matter what he does and how hard he tries, unless he does things according to the principle, I will not use him. (49-214)


What kind of being is Abel and what kind of being is Cain? According to our Divine Principle, the being called Cain is one who tries to put the burden of his problem and concerns on the shoulders of others. While Abel is one who is trying to reach out and take care of problems of others even if he himself is also facing difficulties. That is the difference. (62-189)


What kind of person is Abel? He is one who receives God's love first, then sets on doing the mission to the degree that equals the love, and then makes contributions to the dispensation as much as the love he received. Because Abel received the love of God, he must even sacrifice himself in order to walk the way of dispensation. He has no other alternative but to move forward because he has the duty to establish the reciprocal foundation to receive love that is equal to the foundation of dispensation, even if he has to offer up his life. This world is not a world of correspondence but a world of conflict. The fact that we still hope to destroy the world of conflict and build a world of correspondence shows that the world is not the world that we have now. The new era is going to dawn upon us. (51-82)


What kind of person is Abel? He is one who is liked in any environment. Who likes him then? God must first like him and then the environment must like him. When reflecting with this perspective, we can understand that Abel did not fulfill his responsibility to the full extent in Adam's family.

Suppose that two people hold intense animosity toward each other, as if toward an enemy, and no longer able to hold it in, they get into a fight. Among the two, what kind of person will prevail at the end? Here, revenge is not an ironclad rule. If on the other side of revenge there is a condition, a room for forgiveness, then there can be no excuse for undertaking revenge. Everything will be absorbed when it comes before something that is better. Here, which one is the subject and which one is the object? That which is better is subject and that which is worse is the object.

Then, what kind of person is one who is trying to become a good person? He is one who has established the absolute standard before God, the absolute being. Within that absolute standard, the world, nation, and people as well as all the institutions and ideologies of the society will be included. This is how it should be. You must create the absolute environment in which this can take place. You have to become someone who has the capacity to give and extend oneself, regardless of what society and system you are in. (34-233)


Up until now, you have failed to understand the tactics of God and Satan. The road of Abel is being hit first and then taking it away. At first, it seems that Satan is winning because he is striking first, but in the end, he has to return everything adding unto it all that is good in him. Do you understand what I am saying? For the evil side, even if it conquers others, it will not be triumphant; instead, even the goodness within the evil will be seized. In other words, the way God works is much like how God strikes rice cake and then hands it over, but then when He takes it back, there is powdered beans added on top of the rice cake. For a short period evil flourishes and stands in the position to strike goodness, but that does not mean that heaven will decline.

Then you have to understand how to distinguish Cain and Abel. Even among the Unification Church members, if there are two people, then among the two there is Cain and Abel. To define which one is Cain and which one is Abel, the one who is struck is Abel and one who strikes is Cain. Even if you call out rudely to someone who has brought no harm to you, you become a Cain. Let's take an example and say that there are two sons before parents, and the age difference between the two is quite substantial. However, even if for consultation or in any other aspect the older brother can act on behalf of the parents, if the older brother hits the younger, that is without any fault, then the parents will stand on the side of the younger son. People do not understand that this is the criterion for judging good and evil that applies to today's society. The one who is harming others always becomes the Cain figure.

Among the Unification members, if you mock one who is working hard and exhibiting great devotion for the sake of the church, "Why does he act so special?" then you become Cain. You must understand this. This is how Cain and Abel set themselves apart from each other. One who is being criticized and being harmed without having committed any sin is always Abel, while one who criticizes and strikes others always becomes Cain.

This is how it is even when saying just one word. Even when you are speaking, one who speaks words that are beneficial is Abel, and one who speak words that harm others is Cain. In other words, when you benefit someone you are not striking him, but when you are doing something for someone for your own sake, it is the same as harming the other person. For this reason, the public position is the place whose purpose is to benefit others, and the private position is the place where one lives for the sake one's own benefit. In this way, centering on public and private, Cain and Abel as well as good and evil are differentiated. You have to understand this. (56-85)


One who is more public-minded is Abel. Among the members of the Unification Church, there are those who believe that they are Abel because they joined first, but even if they joined early, if they cannot be public-minded, then they are Cain. They are Cain for sure. Cain was born first, but because he could not be more public than Abel could, he had to follow Abel. There might be those among the members of Unification Church who insist just because they joined early, "Because I joined early, I am Abel." However, what are those who cannot be more public-minded than those who joined later? [Cain] They are Cain. If they claim to be Abel, then they are thieves. The Abel figure is one who stands in more public position. (31-165)


Within the Unification Church, you are all linked up together as Cain and Abel. According to the principle, we have to restore the individual, family, tribe and people, but if you try to make horizontal relationships, then you will come into conflict with one another. Even while you are like that, you have to silently cast your head down and live for the sake of others.

Therefore, there are many people who seem to be apathetic to each other. However, you have to understand that one who sacrifices for the sake of the whole is the Abel. Do you understand. No matter how early you joined, that is all of no use. Because the vertical history is composed in the three stages of formation, growth, and completion, the horizontal history also is composed of the three stages, formation, growth, and completion. The time period can be shortened or extended. You have to understand this. (49-217)


You will naturally come to admire me because I have offered my life to sacrifice more for the sake of the public cause than for my own benefit and invested the materials and quantity. This is the principle. This is the heavenly fortune.

When you go back this time, I hope that you can become someone whose memory will dwell in the hearts of many people. This is the only way that you can become Abel. Do you understand? The will of Abel will not be realized in the rebellious position, but when one sincerely bows the head down and lives for the sake of others. This is how one is connected to the foundation for the perfection of Abel.

The restoration of the worldwide kingdom of heaven cannot come into being unless the foundation for the perfection of Abel on the individual level, family level, tribe or people level, national and world level can be linked up. We who understand this must apply this Principle centering on each day regardless of night and day, and for the sake of the development of this fundamental principle, we have to be on the run without rest. We can say that this type of person is a man of God. Do you understand? (64-81)

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