Individual Preparation For His Coming Kingdom |
|||
by Sang Chul (David) Kim |
Chapter One - Introduction
Look at this planet earth! Nearly four billion persons, all races, white, yellow and dark now live here with human tragedies such as disease, sorrow, wars, poverty, murders, adultery, and evil features too numerous to mention. This has been the past history of all mankind.
We cannot say that Almighty God, the creator of man and the universe, originally planned that this world would be the sinful, sorrowful Earthly Hell in which mankind lives today.
If God, our Father, were the creator of all these evil things, who would believe in such a God of imperfection and suffering? Our God is not imperfect and our God is not the author of hell and misery.
When we examine our hearts and minds through human conscience, which God has given every human being on earth., all are longing for a better world, a world different from this present world where wars, misery, and chaos exist today.
In times past many saints, philosophers, idealists, and religious leaders such as Socrates, Mohammed, Confucius, and Buddha through their teachings in their respective ages, have tried to purify the world and direct mankind to a better world by showing the example of a good life. The two elements of individual conscience and historical endeavor show that mankind is longing for an ideal world, a Utopia which could be called a Garden of Eden, the symbol of a paradise on earth, where peace, love, and joy abound.
What is the purpose of the creation of this world and man? What is God's original plan? God originally planned that man should attain an ideal world, an Earthly Kingdom where perfect men and women might live having only goodness, love, righteousness and beauty. Because of sin., man does not now have this ideal world, so God set up a plan to restore this sinful world to His original ideal world as this diagram shows:
What is the meaning of the perfect man and woman? The pattern for God's original creation of man was that man become God's temple after perfection, then man would possess deity, have direct communication and oneness with God. Because of the fall this goal was not accomplished. The mind (including the spirit) and body of perfect man will have complete reciprocal harmony and oneness centering in God, for he will be the very temple of God. The Spirit of God shall. dwell in perfect man.
If there had been no fall, every individual would have found a vertical relationship, having direct communication with God. There would have been a horizontal relationship from one man to another of mutual loves respect and cooperation for all mankind.
With the fall of man, God began the Restoration Providence, His promise to restore His sinful children on earth to sinless children. What is the condition whereby sinful man can be restored to a sinless state in the eyes of God? In order to accomplish the Restoration Providence, God uses His Word as His means of restoring mankind. The Word was lost by Adam and Eve, our ancestors, when they violated God's Word, "not to eat of the forbidden fruit". This is the reason for restoring the sinful nature of mankind to the original sinless nature.
God uses His Word, the Bible, some sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as the textbook of truth, to provide the way by which fallen mankind can discern and know the will and purpose of God by the Word and then fulfill God's will by believing the Word. Knowing the Word of God, believing and accepting it for one's self is the means of attaining perfection. This
1) restores the individual mind,
2) the body should surrender to the mind, resulting in
3) a restored perfect man and thus
4) a restored original ideal world.
God wants to restore perfect man and the perfect world by means of His Word recorded in the Bible. However, God does not give all of His Word to man at any one time.
(Progressive Revelation)
God has given His Word to humankind throughout the ages in accordance with man's spiritual and intellectual advancement in a particular or designated time. For example: God commanded Abraham to offer sacrifices through which man, at that time, could be justified and accepted by God. Four hundred years later, God gave Moses His Word in the Law, the Ten Commandments, which men must observe in order to be justified or acceptable to God. Sixteen hundred years later, Jesus was sent. Through faith in Christ, mankind was and is justified and restored to God.
God revealed His Word through men to mankind by progressive revelations or messages according to the age and development of human history in order to meet the needs of the specific age. Mankind, from a primitive people, has gradually grown and developed in spirit and intellect. According to this growth, God gives a new, or a further revelation. In this twentieth century space age, mankind has developed highly in intellect and spiritual growth and seeks for a deeper understanding of God and all things. The Word is the means by which man can approach God; therefore, God will again give further revelation and an advanced message to meet the needs of this modern scientific age.
This diagram shows the progress of God's revelation through new truth thereby accomplishing God's Restoration Providence. It is clear that God's will, or providence, follows and makes human history.
So we can safely say, with the historical facts of God's progressive revelation throughout the ages, we should continuously search for new and deeper truths to explain and fully interpret the mysteries and unknown facts in the Bible. The Bible is filled with proverbs, parables, symbols and allegories, some so strange and hard to understand that many people disregard the Bible. True interpretation and true revelation must appear in the time of the Second Coming. It will clarify misunderstandings, prejudice and the lack of love in many religious groups today which exclude many of God's loving children. As God reveals His Truth to mankind today, it will bring all mankind to a unity and oneness centering in one God, one Christ, and one world under God.
Jesus knew many new truths which were not in the Old Testament. He could not tell His disciples these truths, and they are not in the Bible. Let us look at the scriptures in reference to the New Truth to come.
John 3:12 "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"
John 16:25 "These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father."
When the Second Coming is near, God will reveal to His chosen servants these hidden things which are not in the Bible.
Rev. 10:10-11 "And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings."
To eat the little book, means to digest it and preach it. The little book is a symbol of new revelation from God; when God begins a new work through His prophets.
The book of Revelation is the futuristic prophecy of the Second Coming. To prophesy again means that new revelation will be given to fulfill and explain many things we do not know concerning the mysteries contained in the Bible and His Coming Kingdom. These new prophesies are not recorded in our present Bible. This message will be sweet in the mouth but bitter to receive because it will be different from the ways of men and will change the entire world.
How shall we recognize the new message from God? The new message or deeper truth which is to come must fulfill five conditions or characteristics.
First, the fundamental questions must be answered fully, such as:
1) How did God create the universe?
2) Why did God create the universe?
3) Why did God create man?
4) What is the fall of man? What is the original sin which affects all mankind?
5) How can God restore the sinful nature of man today to the original sinless state?
6) What is the true meaning of the last days? Fire judgment?
7) What is the true meaning of Resurrection?
8) When will be the fulfillment of the Old Testament and New Testament? How?
9) When and Where will the New Heavens and New Earth be established? (Revelation says there will be a new heaven and a new earth coming down out of Heaven from God.)
Second, the unknown facts in the Bible must be explained:
1) What is the tree of life and tree of knowledge spoken of in the book of Genesis?
2) What is the true meaning of the virgin birth of Christ?
3) Was Jesus' crucifixion predestined by God?
4) Was the curse and fate of the Jewish people caused by their rejection and disbelief?
5) If Judas Iscariot played an important role in God's plan, why was he a wretched and cursed man "Woe unto that man who betrays the Christ." Was it God's will?
6) What is the true meaning behind the use of the numbers 3, 4, 7, 8, 12.
7) How did Abraham fail in his offering? What was the significance of the offering given by Cain and Abel? Why would God put Cain in the position of evil and Abel in the position of good?
8) What was the great sin in Moses striking the rock two times?
9) Why is God, the God of three generations, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
10) How much of the book of Revelation has been fulfilled?
11) What is the true meaning of the Second Coming?
Third, there must be a logical explanation of spiritual phenomena:
We cannot ignore or disregard spiritual phenomena. The Bible, itself, is a record of visions, clairvoyance, clairaudience, prophecy, messages from angels, and many mystical experiences. Man cannot fully understand the book of Revelation and the book of Acts which contain the records of many supernatural things. Paul writes of supernatural experiences in:
II Cor. 12:2-4 "I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (Whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
Verification of experiences that are happening today can be found in:
Acts 2:17-18 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out, in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
The Old Testament is also filled with strange things which should be logically explained. Disbelief and skepticism of spiritual things in the Bible and in our present day are merely the result of ignorance or misunderstanding, and lack of finding proper understanding. Unfounded fear comes when there is a lack of wisdom and from the lack of a logical explanation of the facts. God made it possible for man to have such experiences.
From 1740 to 1840, a surge of emotionalism appeared in America -- which was manifested by crude forms of experiences such as shouting, laughing, ecstasy, joy, dancing, etc. This emotionalism caused people to disbelieve and become skeptical of all spiritual phenomena which they placed in the same category. These crude forms of emotionalism actually had caused them to deny all spiritual phenomena and even eliminated every facet of the close spiritual relationship with God. The effect of this period caused a split in religion which left only two groups: The Pentecostal type groups, and those who regard all phenomena as emotionalism and a work of the devil. Why? Because they do not understand God's spiritual laws.
There must be a spiritual relationship between God and man. Today people from almost every faith, in addition to the Pentecostal type groups, are experiencing spiritual phenomena. This is not "spiritualism" and should not be mistaken as such. Today we can logically and systematically explain this strange phenomena which has been misused and abused by so many people in the past. Let us not be so foolish and so fearful as to disregard this spiritual phenomena. Let us seek to understand this blessing God has given. The New Truth must explain why this spiritual phenomena happens, the meaning, and how this phenomena can be controlled.
Fourth, this Now Truth must bring a revolutionary change in every individual: How will the individual be changed? The fallen nature of mankind will be changed into a heavenly personality by understanding and experiencing both the spirit and truth of God which transforms the mind and spirit of man.
John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit mid in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him."
Rev. 21:3 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."
Man will be changed into a heavenly personality, spirit, mind, and flesh. Man shall worship on the earth and shall reflect the image of God, the Father.
Fifth, and finally, the New Truth must be open minded and embrace all religions and denominations; all people, nations, and peoples. It will logically answer questions over which theologians split hairs and argue, and will bring unity and harmony instead of confusion and disharmony among the Christians. It will gather the non-believer, the agnostic, and the skeptic. All men shall know the truth by the deep understanding and fulfillment of the scriptures through the new revelation.
I. Cor. 12:4-31 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the work of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the workings of miracles; to another prophesy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
I Cor. 13:11-12 "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
Jesus said "The time shall come when I shall show you plainly of the Father." There will be no more mystery, no more parables, and no more religious confusions. Only by understanding, only by the Word is there any possibility for the peaceful existence of all men. Only a new and deeper understanding and truth can bring this to pass.
God is giving logical answers today for all those who are seeking and want the truth. God does not stop or sit still. God is progressively advancing toward the fulfillment of all things.
Chapter One -- Summary
1. Although mankind lives in a sinful world, he has shown through individual conscience and historical endeavor that he desires an ideal world, where peace, love and joy abound.
2. God originally planned for man to have this utopia, or kingdom, on earth, but man fell, and thus the kingdom on earth will only come after the completion of God's Restoration Providence. Man must first be perfect in himself. Man's mind and body must first correspond, have harmony and oneness; then this perfect man will have the same reciprocal relationship with God. Every individual would form a vertical relationship with God having direct communication with God and at the same time form a perfect horizontal relationship with his fellow man.
3. God has given His Word to mankind through the ages according to their advancement. In Abraham's day man offered sacrifice, 400 years later man lived by the law given to Moses, 1,600 years after that Jesus was sent so that men might be restored to God through faith in Christ. Mankind from a primitive people has grown in spirit and intellect and according to this growth, God gives further revelation -- progressive revelation. Therefore, we can imagine that even more truth will be shown us in our present "space age". So we can safely say, with the historical fact of God's progressive revelation throughout the ages, we should continuously search for new and deeper truths to explain and fully interpret the mysteries and unknown facts in the Bible.
4. Further, the Bible indicates that New Truth and new revelation shall come out in this age. Jesus said to his disciples in:
John 3:13 "If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, bow shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?"
But Jesus also said in:
John 16:25 "These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs; but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs but I shall show you plainly of the Father."
The Book of Revelation is the futuristic prophecy of the Second Coming. The book of Rev. chapter 10:10-3.1 clearly says prophecy on new things and Now Truth shall appear in the Day of the Second Coming:
Rev. 10:10-11 "And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and an soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings."
5. The New Truth God will reveal must fulfill these five conditions:
1) Fundamental questions regarding the universe and man must be answered.
2) Unknown facts in the Bible must be explained.
3) A logical explanation for spiritual phenomena must be given.
4) A revolutionary change will occur in every individual.
5) And finally, it must be open-minded and embrace all religions, denominations, peoples and nations.
God is giving answers to people all over the world who are seeking the truth. God is advancing rapidly toward the fulfillment of all things.
Download entire page and pages related to it in ZIP format
Table of Contents
Information
Tparents Home