Divine Principle 1973 (Black Book) - Won Hyo Eu

The "providence of restoration" means God's providence of restoring fallen man to his original state endowed at the creation, thus fulfilling the purpose of creation. As already demonstrated in Part One, man fell in the perfection level of the growth stage and has remained ever since under the dominion of Satan. In order to restore such men, God must first work the providence of separating Satan from man.

As discussed in detail in "Christology", in order that fallen man may be separated from Satan and restored to his original state before the fall, he must remove the original sin. But, man cannot remove the original sin unless he is born anew through (Page 221)the Messiah as his True Parent. Therefore, fallen man, having been separated from Satan, must first restore himself to the perfection level of the growth stage; that is, to the standard to which Adam and Eve had grown. On that foundation he may receive the Messiah and, through rebirth, be restored to the position before the fall of Adam and Eve. Then finally he will come to fulfill the purpose of creation. Since the providence of restoration is the providence of recreating man so he can fulfill the purpose of creation, God must work this providence according to the Principle. This principle through which restoration is worked is called the "principle of restoration". Let us further inquire into the question of how the providence of restoration is fulfilled.

Before discussing the questions concerning the principle of restoration through indemnity, we must first know in what position man, due to the fall, is placed in relation to both God and Satan.

Originally, if the first human ancestors had perfected themselves without having fallen, becoming one with God in heart, they would have been in the position where they could communicate with God. But, because of their fall, through their blood relationship with Satan, they were placed in a position where they had to deal with Satan, too. Accordingly Adam and Eve, who, though with the original sin after the fall, had not yet performed anything good or bad, were placed in the mid-position between God and Satan where they could deal with both. Their descendants were placed in the same midway position. (Page 222) Consequently, those of the fallen society who lead conscientious lives cannot be taken into Hell even by Satan, even though they may not have faith in Jesus, since they are in the midway position. On the other hand, however conscientious a life one may lead, God cannot bring him into Paradise, unless he believes in Jesus. Therefore, such spirit men have to remain in the midway spirit world which is neither Paradise nor Hell.

How, then, does God separate from Satan those fallen men who are in the midway position? Satan dominated fallen man, with whom he has a blood relationship, so even God cannot restore man to the side of Heaven unconditionally, unless man himself establishes the conditions which enable God to claim him.

Satan, likewise, cannot take man to Hell unconditionally, unless there is some condition in the man himself, through which Satan may invade him. Thus, fallen man can be placed on the side of God when he sets up good conditions, while he may be placed on the side of Satan when he sets up evil conditions.

It was for the purpose of placing Adam and Eve in a position where God could work the providence of restoration through their offering acceptable sacrifices, that God commanded them to offer sacrifices when Adam's family was in the midway position. However, Cain killed Abel, thus producing, on the contrary, the condition which permitted Satan to invade them. God sent Jesus to fallen men in order that they might stand on the Heavenly side by believing in him. However, against God's will, they did not believe in Jesus, and thus they stayed on Satan's side. This is the reason that Jesus is called "master of judgment", as well as the Savior.

What, then, does "restoration through indemnity" mean? When anything has lost its original position or status, certain conditions must be established in order for the original position or status to be restored. The setting up of such conditions is called "indemnity". For example, in order to restore lost honor, (Page 223)position, or health, we must set up the necessary conditions of sincere efforts, good qualification, and sufficient medical care. Suppose there are two people who have loved each other but who are now on bad terms. In order for them to restore the original state of loving each other, they have to set up the condition of apologizing to each other.

In like manner, man, who lost the original position or status endowed at the creation, must set up certain necessary conditions in order to restore himself. This act of restoring the original position or status endowed at the creation is called "restoration through indemnity". The condition to be set up for restoration through indemnity is called the "condition of indemnity".

Further, the providence of restoring fallen men to their original positions endowed at the creation by setting up the "condition of indemnity" is called the "providence of restoration through indemnity".

To what extent must we set up the condition of indemnity? We can give the following three instances:

The first is to set the condition of indemnity at the same amount; that is, to restore the original status by setting the condition at a value identical with that which was lost from the original position and status;. For example, compensation for repayment belongs to this category. It is said (Ex. 21:23-25): If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. signifying this kind of condition of indemnity.

The second is the case of setting up the condition of indemnity at a lesser price; that is, to restore the original status by setting the condition at a value less than what was originally (Page 224)lost. For example, we may give the case of liquidating the entire amount of a debt through the creditor's grace to the debtor of a heavy debt. According to this principle, we receive the great benefit of salvation (resurrection after spiritual death), identical with that of Jesus, by setting up the condition of indemnity that we believe in the redemption through the cross. We can restore the position of having been born anew through Jesus and the Holy Spirit by setting up the condition of indemnity through baptism, merely by the sprinkling of a few drops of water on our heads. Furthermore, we may receive the valuable benefit of eating Jesus' body and drinking his blood merely by taking a piece of bread and a cup of wine at the Sacrament of Holy Communion. These are examples of lesser indemnity.

The third way is to set the condition of indemnity at a price greater than that which was originally lost. This means that when one has previously failed to meet the condition of indemnity at a smaller price, he may restore the original status by setting a condition of indemnity at a greater price. For example, Abraham, when he had failed in offering the sacrifices of dove, ram, and heifer, had to offer his only son Isaac because of the additional price of the condition of indemnity. In the days of Moses, when the Israelites had failed to meet God's will in their 40 days of spying in the land of Canaan, their condition of indemnity increased and they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, calculated on the basis of one year for every day (Num. 14:34).

Why then, do we have to set a greater condition when we set the condition of indemnity the second time? This is because when a central figure in the providence is to set the condition of indemnity again, he must include what was left undone due to the failure of previous persons, in addition to what he himself had to set originally. (Page 225)

The next thing we must know is how to set the condition of indemnity. When we are to restore anything to its original status from the circumstance of having been perverted from the original position and status, we must set a condition of indemnity, taking a course to reverse what we have gone through. For example, the chosen nation of Israel has been punished for the sin of rejecting Jesus and crucifying Him. Therefore, in order for them to be restored to the position of the elect, having been saved from sin, they must reverse their position, love Jesus, and even bear the cross and follow him (Luke 14:27). This is the reason Christianity became a religion of martyrdom. As another example, man caused grief to God by rebelling against Him and falling into corruption. Therefore, in order to be restored through indemnity, man must reverse his fallen nature and console God by restoring himself to the status of a man of the original nature endowed at the creation, by practicing God's will. The first Adam rebelled against god, thus compelling his descendants to fall into the bosom of Satan. Jesus, who came as the second Adam, therefore had to serve and honor God from the position of being abandoned by Him, in order to be able to restore mankind from the bosom of Satan to that of God. Herein lies the complex reason that God has to forsake Jesus when he was crucified (Matt. 27:46). Seen from this angle, even a nation's criminal law is a method of setting up the condition of indemnity to maintain the nation's security and order by imposing punishment on the criminals.

Who must set up the condition of indemnity? As already clarified in the principle of creation, man originally was to dominate even the angels, after having perfected himself by fulfilling his own portion of responsibility. The first human ancestors failed to do so, and, in reverse manner, fell under Satan's domination. Therefore, in order for man to be restored to the position of dominating Satan from the position of being under Satan's (Page 226)domination, man himself must set up the due condition of indemnity by fulfilling his own portion of responsibility.

The Messiah must come as the True Parents of mankind. He must come as the True Parent, because he must redeem mankind, born of fallen parents, from the original sin (cf. Part I, Ch. 7, Sec. IV, 1.1 -- 214). In order for fallen men to be restored to the status of the original men of creation, they must receive the Messiah on the "foundation to receive the Messiah", and thus eliminate their original sin.

Then, what kind of condition of indemnity must be set up in order for fallen men to lay the foundation to receive the Messiah? To learn this, we must first understand in what way Adam failed to accomplish the purpose of creation. The condition of indemnity must be set up through a process which will reverse the process through which man lost his original position and status.

Adam was supposed to set up two conditions in order to fulfill the purpose of creation. First he was supposed to lay the "foundation of faith", that is, he should have obeyed God's commandment not to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Then, Adam should have passed his growth period during which time he was supposed to fulfill his own portion of responsibility by setting up this condition of faith. Meanwhile, this period represents some number of divine significance. Therefore, this period can also be called the "period of completing the number".

The second condition Adam was supposed to set up in order to fulfill the purpose of creation was to lay the "foundation of substance" (incarnation). If Adam had laid the foundation of (Page 227)faith by passing his growth period in faith and obedience to God's words, he could have become one body with God on that foundation. In other words, he could have laid the foundation of substance (incarnation), thus realizing the "perfect incarnation of the Word", having attained the status of a man of perfected individuality, which was God's first blessing to man. Naturally, fallen man must lay the foundation of substance (incarnation) on the foundation of faith, through the same process, before laying the foundation to receive the Messiah.

(1) The Foundation of Faith

Adam fell due to his disobedience of God's words, so he failed to lay the foundation of faith. Having thus been unable to become the perfect incarnation of the Word, he could not attain the purpose of creation. Therefore, in order for fallen men to be restored to the basis on which they may fulfill the purpose of creation, they must first restore, through indemnity, the foundation of faith, which the first human ancestors failed to establish. Before they restore the foundation of faith, they must set up the following three conditions of indemnity.

First there should be a "central figure" to work through. Since Adam fell without becoming the person to lay the foundation of faith, God has looked, up to the present moment, for a central figure capable of restoring the foundation of faith. It was because of God's intention to set up such central figures that He had Cain and Abel offer sacrifices in Adam's family, and that He called Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the Kings and John the Baptist.

Second, in order to restore the foundation of faith, there should be "conditional objects" for it. Through disbelief, Adam annulled God's Word, which He had given him as the condition to establish the foundation of faith. Man, who has thus fallen, (Page 228)was in the position where he could not directly receive God's Word for the restoration of the foundation of faith; therefore, conditional objects became necessary in place of the Word. However, fallen men were situated in the position and status in which they were deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9), so in the age before the Old Testament, men were supposed to establish the foundation of faith by setting up the conditional objects from the created things such as offerings or the ark substituting for offerings. Therefore, the foundation of faith can also be the foundation to restore all things that were invaded by Satan because of man's disbelief. In the Old Testament Age, the conditional objects to lay this foundation were the words of the Law or the ark of the covenant, the temple, or the central figures, substituting for the Word. Further, in the New Testament Age, the Gospel and Jesus, who was the "word in substance", were the conditional objects to establish the foundation of faith. Such conditional objects which became necessary after the human fall, are for the restoration of the foundation of faith when seen from man's side. But seen from God's side, it is to decide the ownership.

Third, fallen men must have a "mathematical period of indemnity". Why, then, must there be a mathematical period of indemnity in the providence and what is it? This will be later discussed in detail (cf. Part II, Ch. 3, Sec. II, 4 -- 381). (2) The Foundation of Substance

In order that a fallen man may fulfill the purpose of creation, he must realize the perfect incarnation of the Word, which the first human ancestors failed to fulfill, on the restored foundation of faith. But fallen men can never become the perfect incarnation without removing the original sin through the Messiah. A fallen man cannot receive the Messiah until he stands on the foundation to receive the Messiah, which is to be realized by establishing the foundation of substance on the restored (Page 229)foundation of faith. Fallen man may become a perfect incarnation (substance) only after removing his original sin through the Messiah, thus restoring the position before the fall of the first human ancestors, and then becoming one body with the Messiah, centering on God's heart; and finally passing through the growth period, which the first human couple left unaccomplished due to their fall.

Even in laying the foundation of substance, there are certain conditions of indemnity necessary for the fallen man to set up; that is, "the condition of indemnity to remove the fallen nature". The first human couple came to bear the original sin due to the fall, thus failing to realize the original nature endowed at the creation, and coming to bear the fallen nature. Therefore, in order for a fallen man to establish the foundation of substance for the restoration of his original nature by the removal of his original sin through the Messiah, he must first set up the condition of indemnity to remove the fallen nature. How to set up such conditions will be later discussed (cf. Part II, Ch. 1, Sec. I, 2 -- 243).

The Ages In The Course Of The Providence Of Restoration

We will present a general overview of the ages in the entire course of history from Adam's day up to the present.

God's providence to fulfill His purpose of creation by having fallen man lay the foundation on which to receive the Messiah began with Adam's family. However, Cain's killing of Abel frustrated the providence and God's will was shifted to Noah's family after ten generations. (Page 230)

The purpose of judging the evil generation by a 40-day flood was to accomplish the providence of restoration, by having Noah's family lay the "foundation on the family level to receive the Messiah". Due to Ham's fall, the ten generations and 40 days which God had set up to elect Noah's family with the ark were invaded by Satan.

God's will was then shifted to Abraham, after the 400 years which was the period to restore through indemnity all the lost conditions to the Heavenly side. If Abraham had laid wholesomely the foundation on the family level to receive the Messiah, the "foundation on the national level to receive the Messiah" could have been established centering on the family level. Then on the foundation of the national level, he could have received the Messiah. However, the will was frustrated again by Abraham's failure in the symbolic offerings.

Therefore, the 2,000-year period after Adam, during which time God had looked for the "father of faith" to receive the Messiah, was invaded by Satan. Abraham differed from Noah in that, though he failed in the symbolic offering, he finally succeeded in laying the foundation on the family level to receive the Messiah by prolonging the duration covering three generations including Isaac's and Jacob's generations. Centering on this foundation, he multiplied God's elect in Egypt, and later he could extend nationwide the foundation to receive the Messiah. This is why Abraham is called the "father of faith".

The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham may well be called "the age to lay the foundation on which to start the providence of restoration by setting up Abraham, the father of faith". This is why the work of the providence of restoration is said to have started with Abraham.

Due to Abraham's failure in the symbolic offering, the 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was invaded by Satan, therefore there must follow the period to restore through indemnity this lost period back to the heavenly side; this is (Page 231)the 2,000-year period from Abraham to the coming of Jesus. If Abraham had not failed in the symbolic offering, the Messiah could have come on the foundation on the national level to receive the Messiah which would have been laid by his descendants; so the providence of restoration would have been accomplished at that time. Likewise, if the Jewish people had set up Jesus as a living offering before God by believing and serving him, the providence of restoration could have been accomplished at that time centering on the Messiah, who had already come on the foundation on the national level, which they had laid.

However, the Jewish people failed in the offering on the national level by crucifying Jesus, just as Abraham has failed in his symbolic offering. Therefore, the 2,000-period from Abraham to Jesus was again invaded by Satan. Then, there was to be another necessary 2,000-year period to restore through indemnity the lost 2,000-year period from Jesus to the present day. During this period, Christians must lay the "foundation on the worldwide level to receive the Lord of the Second Advent", in the providence of restoration through the cross.

1. Division Of The Ages From The Standpoint Of The Providence According To The Word

A. The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was the period in which man could not yet set up the condition of indemnity enabling him to receive directly God's World for the providence of restoration. Therefore, this was the period in (Page 232)which fallen man laid the foundation for the next period when the providence through the Word would be possible, by their merely setting up the condition of indemnity through offerings; so this period is called the "providential age for the foundation of the Word".

B. Again, the 2,000-year period from Abraham to Jesus was the period in which man's spiritual standard and degree of intellect grew to the formation stage through the Old Testament Word; therefore, this period is called the "Old Testament Age in the formation stage".

C. On the other hand, the 2,000-year period from Jesus to the period of the Second Advent is the period in which man's spiritual and intellectual standard should develop to the growth stage through the New Testament Word; therefore, this period is called the "New Testament Age in the growth stage".

D. The period for the completion of the providence of restoration after the Second Advent is the period in which man's spiritual and intellectual standard should grow to the perfection stage through the Completed Testament word; therefore this period is called the "Completed Testament Age in the perfection stage".

A. The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was the period in which man established through offerings the foundation for the Old Testament Age enabling the future providence of resurrection. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the foundation of resurrection".

B. The 2,000-year period from Abraham to Jesus was the period in which man could resurrect to the form-spirit stage through the Old Testament Word and through the benefit of the (Page 233)age in the providence of resurrection. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the formation stage resurrection".

C. The 2,000-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent is the period in which man is resurrected to the life-spirit stage through the New Testament Word and through the benefit of the age in the providence of restoration. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the growth stage resurrection".

D. The period for the completion of the providence of restoration after the Second Advent is the period in which man is completely resurrected to the divine-spirit stage through the Completed Testament Word and through the benefit of the age in the providence of restoration. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the perfection stage resurrection".

A. The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was the period in which man laid the foundation for the Old Testament Age, enabling the restoration through indemnity of the Satan-invaded period back to the Heavenly side, by setting up Abraham. Therefore this period is called the "providential period for the foundation of restoration through indemnity".

B. The 2,000-year period from Abraham to Jesus was the period in which to restore through indemnity the 2,000-year period from Adam (which was invaded by Satan due to Abraham's failure in the offerings) back to the Heavenly side centering on the Israelite nation. Therefore, this period is called the "providential age for restoration through indemnity".

C. The 2,000-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent is the period in which to restore again through indemnity the 2,000-year period of the Old Testament Age (which was invaded by Satan due to the crucifixion of Jesus) back to the (Page 234)Heavenly side centering on the Christians. Therefore this period is called the "providential age of the prolongation of restoration through indemnity".

D. The period for the completion of the providence of restoration after the Second Advent is the period in which to restore through indemnity the entire course of the providence of restoration, which was invaded by Satan, completely back to the Heavenly side. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the completion of restoration through indemnity".

A. The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was the period in which God had man establish the foundation on the family level to receive the Messiah by setting up Abraham's family through the offering. Therefore, this period is called the "providential age for the family level foundation to receive the Messiah".

B. The 2,000-year period from Abraham to Jesus was the period in which God intended to establish the foundation on the national level to receive the Messiah by setting up the Israelite nation through the Old Testament word. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the nationwide foundation to receive the Messiah".

C. The 2,000-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent is the period in which to establish the "worldwide foundation to receive the Messiah" by setting up the Christians worldwide through the New Testament Word. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the worldwide foundation to receive the Messiah".

D. The period for the completion of the providence of restoration after the Second Advent is the period in which to complete the foundation on the macrocosmic level to receive (Page 235)the Messiah by working the providence on the cosmic level through the Completed Testament Word. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the completion of the cosmic foundation to receive the Messiah".

A. The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was the period in which God laid the foundation for the providence of His own portion of responsibility to be done in the following age of the Old Testament. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the foundation of God's portion of responsibility".

B. The 2,000-year period from Abraham to Jesus was the period in which God worked the providence of restoration on the formation level, centering on the prophets, by taking the responsibility in the Principle of His having created man, and thus taking the first responsibility of directly making Satan surrender. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for God's portion of responsibility".

C. The 2,000-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent was the period in which Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who were to fulfill the mission of Adam and Eve (who are responsible for the fall), worked the providence of restoration in the growth degree among fallen men by taking the second responsibility of making Satan surrender. Therefore this period is called the "providential age for the portion of responsibility of Jesus and the Holy Spirit".

D. The period for the completion of the providence of restoration after the Second Advent is the period in which the saints, both on earth and in heaven, should complete the providence of restoration by taking the third responsibility of making Satan, the fallen angel, surrender according to the (Page 236)principle of creation that man was made originally to dominate even the angels. Therefore, this period is called the "providential age for the saints' portion of responsibility".

A. The 2,000-year period from Adam to Abraham was the period in which the conditions of indemnity to restore the foundation to receive the Messiah were set up symbolically. Therefore this period is called the "age of symbolic time-identity".

B. The 2,000-year period from Abraham to Jesus was the period in which the conditions of indemnity to restore the foundation to receive the Messiah were set up in image and likeness. Therefore this period is called the "age of image time-identity".

C. The 2,000-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent is the period in which the conditions of indemnity to restore the foundation to receive the Messiah have been set up substantially. Therefore this period is called the "age of substantial time-identity".

The individual body called "I" is, after all, a product of the history of the providence of restoration. This "I", therefore, is the personage who is to fulfill the purpose history is headed for. Therefore, "I" must stand for the will of history. In order to do this, "I" must set up horizontally, centering on "myself", all the conditions of indemnity which are demanded by the history of the providence of restoration through a long period. (Page 237)

Only by doing this, can "I" become the fruit desired by the history of the providence of restoration. Therefore, "I" must horizontally restore through indemnity, in my generation, centering on myself, all the missions of all the ages which the prophets and saints, elected for the purpose of the providence of restoration in the course of this history, have left unaccomplished. Otherwise, "I" cannot become the individual body having accomplished the purpose of the providence of restoration. In order for "me" to become such an historical victor, "I" must know precisely God's heart when He worked with the prophets and saints, the fundamental significance of His calling them, and the providential missions He entrusted to them.

There is no one among fallen men who can really stand in such a position all by himself. Therefore, we must understand all these things through the Lord of the Second Advent, who is to come as the completion of the providence of restoration. By believing in him and becoming one body with him, we must be in the position to set up, horizontally, all the vertical conditions of indemnity in the history of the providence of restoration.

In this manner, the way which all our predecessors, who have come to fulfill God's will in the providence of restoration, have hitherto trodden is what we ourselves must walk again today. Besides, we must walk even the ways they have left untrodden. Fallen men can never find the way of life without knowing the particulars and content of the providence of restoration. Herein lies the reason that we must know the principle of restoration in detail. (Page 238)