Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:9-14 and 21-27

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me saying, `come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.' and in the spirit he carried me away to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper clear as crystal. It had a great high wall with twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were inscribed. On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates and on the west three gates. The wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the lamb. The twelve gates were twelve pearls and each of the gates made of a single pearl and the streets of the city were pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it for the glory of God is its light and its lamp is the lamb. By its light shall the nations walk and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it and its gates shall never be shut by day and there shall be no night there. And they shall bring into it the glory and honor of the nations, but nothing unclean shall enter it nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood but only those who are written in the Lambs Book of Life.

By way of preparation I would like to explain briefly that the latest generation is sometimes referred to as the Thirteenth Generation or Generation X. Since the founding of the United States there has been by some counts approximately thirteen generations. This current generation has been entitled Generation X by Douglas Copland, who wrote a novel by the same name. The book is about the first generation in America to be raised without religion. Young people today are aimless in a certain sense, morally, culturally, religiously aimless. There are a number of books on the market discussing the current state of affairs and the moral and emotional state of being of this generation that has been raised after the Woodstock Generation. We are the ones who are guilty of throwing away all religion and cultural norms. Therefore the children of our generation are being raised in a moral vacuum. This is Generation X and Rev. Pak's sermon is on the topic of inviting this generation to meet True Parents. Let us welcome Rev. Joong Hyun Pak.

Good Afternoon brothers and sisters. This is a historic celebration because in the past two months brothers and sisters here in New York, and throughout America, have been following Father's direction to reach 100 university campuses, including the world famous universities of this country. They all opened their doors and we entered there with True Mother and True Children. Together we declared True Parents and the Completed Testament Age.

Last year was a historic year. As you know, for thirty three years Jesus Christ dedicated his life to God's ideal of establishing True Parents on earth. During this time we really fulfilled with True Parents and True Family and brothers and sisters all over the world. Very clearly, before Heaven and earth, in the name of God and True Parents, we declared the Completed Testament Age. That means all the dreams of God and Jesus Christ are being fulfilled.

This is not easy work. Last year, in declaring the good news we held major events seventy times in six months. However, this year we reached one hundred universities in only one and half months. Was this easy or not? Not easy. Therefore, I truly appreciate each one of you for your absolute loyalty and faith to God. Last year True Mother spoke on Capitol Hill and the United Nations and then throughout forty nations. This year is even more important than last year. We have been thinking that Capitol Hill or the United Nations are the most important for God's work because they represent power. In actual fact, power, knowledge and prestige are all external. Satan is an unseen, spiritual being. Our enemy is invisible. We are presently engaged in a battle with our unseen enemy, Satan. Religious movements throughout history have been the ones standing on God's side for righteousness and justice. They really practiced truth and love and fought against Satan.

Last year's dispensation was a Cain-type dispensation, external. This year we accomplished one hundred universities which is Abel-type dispensation, internal. Why? Who established America? The Pilgrim Fathers. They established churches and divinity schools. The divinity schools educated and trained ministers, who in turn established churches and congregations. These congregations expanded into communities, cities, states and a nation. This year Harvard, Yale and Princeton all opened their doors to welcome True Mother and listen to her message. At the Harvard event many well known world-wide scholars were present. This year we brought internal victory through this. You were the ones who opened these gates and so I really appreciate and praise you for this.

America is God's especially chosen country. Four hundred years ago God sent the Pilgrim Fathers to build a special community centered on the dream of Jesus Christ and Bible. This is the root and background of this United States of America. America also trained so many missionaries who went out all over the world. Especially Korea, True Parents' country, received many American missionaries. Korean Christianity is like a branch of American Christianity; there is a sister relationship. Upon this foundation our True Parents appeared on earth.

Last year we accomplished an external victory. Based upon America's victory we could reap victory throughout the world. This year America brought internal victory and based upon this worldwide victory will come. Father has already instructed Japan to cover 1600 universities and colleges. Korea has 260 universities and colleges to cover. The world will follow. Why then is Father's most important dispensation beginning here in America? The Completed Testament is based upon the foundation of the Old Testament and New Testament. The new covenant came, and the Completed Testament Age encompasses both of these within it. Father and Mother had to work here in America and receive persecution, misunderstanding and so much difficulty. Father invested so much of his heart, sweat and tears and all of the resources of our worldwide church into America, because from America we can really begin the Completed Testament Age.

Father's teaching to us is we have True Father and True Mother, and True Mother stands in the position of the bride. True Mother has to restore Abel and Cain and bring them back to True Father, who is the bridegroom. Then with True Father and True Mother together Cain and Abel will receive rebirth. This is the final goal of God for the salvation of humankind.

Father and Mother are achieving John's Revelation. The Book of Revelation is a prediction of the Second Coming. When John received this dream and vision 2000 years ago he recorded it, for the sake of the Second Coming, which means for True Parents. In my experience of thirty five years of pioneer life with True Parents, Father achieved Revelation chapter 1, 2, 3 and on step by step. Today our True Parents are fulfilling chapter 21 and soon they will be fulfilling chapter 22.

John's Revelation ends with Chapter 22. From Genesis to Revelations is like Alpha and Omega. Now True Parents have achieved chapter 21 and chapter 22 will be achieved soon. I hope that it can be achieved before the year 2000. If you study the Bible you will be able to see that we are in the time to fulfill the Book of Revelation. The work we are engaged in, Women's Federation for World Peace, church activities, CARP and so forth are not Unification Church strategy. They are the Divine Principle point of view and the biblical point of view.

(Rev. Miller reads from Revelation 21:) "Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues." This is equivalent to seven years of tribulation. The period 1945-1952 were years of tribulation and judgment and a time to return to God through True Parents. Christianity, the bride church, did not accept True Father, so from 1993-2000 is another final seven years of tribulation. This is equivalent to the last part of John's Revelation. Please read on:

"(The angel) spoke to me saying, `Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.'"

Who is the bride? True Mother. Not only True Mother but Christianity also is the bride and also the Women's Federation for World Peace is in the position of the bride. Please read verses 10-12:

"And in the spirit he carried me away to a great high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel; like a jasper clear as crystal. It had a great high wall with twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed."

The angel shows what is to be the new Jerusalem. But this new Jerusalem is symbolic of the Church, the Women's Federation for World Peace and True Mother. The new Jerusalem means the dominion of God and True Parents, True Love, True Life and True Lineage. This new Jerusalem has twelve pearl gates. These gates are True Mother, the Church, and the Women's Federation for World Peace. Please read verses 22-23:

"And I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it for the glory of God is its light and its lamp is the Lamb."

In the world are two types, Cain-type people and Abel-type people; men, women, the young generation and old people. The pearl gates are symbolic of True Mother , the Church and the Women's Federation for World Peace. We have to invite people to pass through the gates. Once inside the city there is no more temple; it is the dwelling place of the Lamb. This is True Father, the bridegroom. Please read verses 24- 27:

"By its light shall the nations walk and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it and its gates shall never be shut by day and there shall be no night there. They shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood but only those who are written in the Lambs Books of Life."

The gates are True Mother and True Mother's organization, the Women's Federation for World Peace, and the Church. The gates offer an invitation to enter and the people come into the city and arrive at the place where the Lamb, True Father, the bridegroom, is waiting. Then they are to receive rebirth through True Father and True Mother. That means the Blessing ceremony. They inherit God's True Love, never-ending, eternal life, and true lineage. Immoral people cannot be written in the Book of Life, only pure people. We have to become God's children and tribes who dwell eternally with God on earth and in heaven.

The work of True Parents here on earth today is actually the achievement of John's Revelation. True Mother is the bride, but the bride cannot work all alone. In this world there are billions of people who need to receive our invitation to pass through the pearl gates and come in front of True Father as the bridegroom. This is not an easy work for one single person. True Mother needs our partnership. The Unification Church is international, with thousands of members who are all representing pearl gates prepared to usher in the people of the world. Each one of you in this room represent a pearl gate, so please do not close your door. To close your door means that your heart is not open, your mouth is closed, your two hands are not serving and at that time your pearl gate is permanently closed. Throughout the next three years all six million people world-wide should pass through these gates and come before True Father who is the bridegroom. This bridegroom is like an electrical line to God. True Father is the generator to whom we need to connect the people of the world in order for them to receive pure eternal life, true love and true lineage. At that time we can become the children of God, the image of God.

Father began the Women's Federation for World Peace in 1992, because in 1993 began the era of True Mother, the living Holy Spirit. True Mother has to go to the world and embrace Cain and Abel and bring them back to True Father. This is the responsibility of the bride. All throughout the world we have chapters of Women's Federation for World Peace with the same mission as True Mother, working to embrace the children and bring them back to True Father.

Now we realize that all the work that we have been engaged in is biblical. This year Father has asked us to bring all the Cain and Abel people back to True Father. Who has this responsibility? The Church and the Women's Federation for World Peace. This year then the Church, Women's Federation for World Peace, and CARP working together declare the True Parents and the Completed Testament Age. Witness and bring them to workshop and Sunday Service. We should serve them and invite them to our homes. Everything that you have done in the past two or three months have been according to the biblical prediction. This is a very exciting moment in history.

God has a clear timetable. The seven years course, 1993-2000, has been divided into two. The half way period will be August 25, 1995, when True Parents will hold a Blessing ceremony in Korea. Then in the next three and a half years until the year 2000 we have to bring the victory. The victory is coming step by step not in one miracle. Every day, every week, every month, every year is very important. This is God's timetable so we cannot delay it. We need really to make this timetable work, this is our responsibility.

The title of my sermon today is, Inviting Generation X to Meet True Parents . The symbol of "X" symbolizes mystery, as in Madam X for example. Why did Malcolm X use that symbol? Because he really didn't like his past personal history and completely denied it. It means to deny the traditions of the previous generation.

Generation X never received religious education, which means they do not belong to any religion or any church. They are completely non- sectarian. Father returned from Korea on April 13 and at East Garden he held an American-Canadian Leadership Conference. Father instructed us to witness to young people. If we are to witness to this new generation it means that we have to understand them first. I have five children and as blessed children they are growing up amongst Generation X. Sometimes it isn't easy to understand the mind, heart and consciousness of this blessed second generation. I feel a generation gap. If we are to witness university and senior high school students, we need to understand them clearly. Without understanding them we cannot guide them. Many scholars have stated that Generation X has certain characteristics:

1. Individuality. They are very self-centered.
2. Uncertainty.
3. Materialism.

These are three qualities specific to Generation X. First, in regard to individuality, today's clothes factories do not produce great quantities of any particular item. The reason for this is that today's generation are very picky. They don't follow the trend of other young people in dress, rather they have their own sense. They select a variety, with nothing really matching. Even ten years ago all young people would follow one particular trend in clothing but today's generation are different. This is one sense in which this individuality is expressed. Second, their sense of uncertainty comes from the fact that they have no belief in any particular faith or religion. They don't trust any institution. They also struggle about this too, so they talk and talk but there is never any solution. Third, they are materialistic, because they feel that only in material, in money, can they feel a sense of certainty and security.

This trend has a spiritual cause. We now live in the time of the seven years of tribulation, the time of the Last Judgment. I believe that the trend of today's generation, their lifestyle and mind and heart, is in fact a seed for the dawning of a new culture and new Kingdom of Heaven on earth and in Heaven. This is hopeful. Parents always feel anxious that their children don't follow them, but Unificationists see this trend as God's preparation for us. We need to understand clearly that this is not hopeless but rather very hopeful. It is a very spiritual and godly phenomena and it is a foundation for the new culture. Also it parallels the restoration of the three great blessings, the purpose of creation. This new generation is filled with frustration and is very hungry in spirit. They are truly searching for True Parents in order to become reborn children of God.

Individuality is equal to the restoration of the first great blessing.

Uncertainty is equal to the restoration of the second great blessing.

Materialism is equal to the restoration of the third great blessing.

Individuality: This new generation do not know clearly their own identity; in a way, they are completely empty. However, they still respect the Self because they somehow have the feeling that this Self is really very important. This young generation are very concerned about the individual Self and also the spirit world. They deny all established religions and political leaders but at the same time are always seeking after role models for their individual perfection. We have the answer for them in Divine Principle. The first great blessing teaches us that we have two bodies, our physical body and our spiritual body. This physical body has within it the essence of the entire cosmos. One strand of hair has the elements of light, air, water and soil. This one strand of hair also contains special elements from Mars, Jupiter, even far away galaxies. This small physical body is truly a microcosm. This cosmos is enormous, many light years in distances with so much richness contained within it. However, it does not have what is contained within this small human body. The intimate relationship that is shared between husband and wife, parents and children is not shared by the cosmos. Only human beings have this quality. Size and quantity is not what is important. Even though human beings are small in size compared to the cosmos, we are a complete reflection of the enormous cosmos. This is our special identity. Generation X wants to know this kind of content.

Inside of our small physical self dwells our spiritual self. This mysterious spiritual personality is in the image of God and is connected to God. Our physical body is small but our spiritual body is wide and large. One is internal and one is external. This internal self is made in the image of God and it is our eternal self. Some day this internal spiritual self will become a second God. This is who we are individually. Generation X is seeking this kind of content and ideology. They are so hungry for it. Only the Divine Principle, Father and Mother's teaching, contains eternal truth. Generation X is completely uninspired by the content of all of the books in all of the libraries. They have not found the answer of the meaning of their lives there. They want to know the truth of truth, their personal individual identity; who they are and where they come from and what is the purpose of life. We have all the answers for Generation X.

True Mother spoke at New York University and Columbia University. My plan is to have Dr. Baughman schedule the next meeting at these universities and teach the Divine Principle. We need to go to deeper and deeper levels of teaching for the students. A Jewish rabbi, Columbia's campus minister, holds a meeting and not more than ten Jewish students attend. He heard that Mrs. Moon was coming to Columbia University and so he was very curious about it. He was very surpassed at the large attendance for Mother's speech and was impressed with Unificationists. From now on I want Dr. Baughman to go and teach Divine Principle so they may realize how meaningful the teaching of the Unification Church is.

Uncertainty: The new generation feel uncertain about the future because they had expected that when the Cold War ended, peace would automatically come. The Cold War is over but there are many other problems and wars around the world. Therefore the idea of eternal peace on earth seems impossible in their minds. Also the world is divided into many camps. Therefore today's young generation don't believe in any religious or political leaders. But we have the answer to all of their doubts. As individuals we receive the Blessing of God then form God-centered families, tribes, nations and world and cosmos. This is the way of true eternal peace. Students and young people are very interested in marriage and ideal family life. This topic is very popular and so if we teach this content they will listen. They are really seeking to find ideal families. The Kingdom of Heaven is coming through the ideal family; this is the starting point. They don't realize this.

Many scholars are researching Genesis chapter 1:28 because today we are facing environmental problems. This has become a very serious issue and point of concern. Genesis 1:28 describes the three great blessings; individual perfection, family perfection and perfection of dominion. Today's Bible scholars misunderstand. They make the first and second blessing into one. Divine Principle teaches very clearly that before we receive the second blessing we need to perfect our individuality. Judeo-Christian scholars interpret our purpose as having to multiply children. They overlook the importance of the first blessing. True Father has taught the importance of man and woman's individual perfection.

Materialism: Generation X like money and material things. They like technology and so they go to medical school and computer science field. They rarely want to go to Divinity School. They are usually very concerned about the environment also. We understand through the Divine Principle that this entire cosmos is apart of us and we are a part of it. We came from cosmos and someday we will return to cosmos. We borrowed our life from the air, water, soil and fire. After our physical body dies it will return to the cosmos and what will remain will be the Image. What kind of image, True Love Image or self-love image? True Love image is what must remain. We are one body with the cosmos, inter-connected. Therefore we cannot misuse the material things of this world because all is apart of us.

This morning at Belvedere, True Father taught us that the central responsible person has to take responsibility, provide protection, and educate to perfection. This is our responsibility to all living things. Today's Generation X, before the year 2000, will be witnessed to this way of life and it will guide them. Together with True Mother, the Church and Women's Federation for World Peace help them enter into the new Jerusalem to where True Father is. There they will receive True Love, True eternal Life, and True Lineage and become children of God. Their names will be recorded in the Book of Life. This is our challenge and our work today.

In conclusion I want to say that True Father has given us the goal of 3,000 universities. Is this a big or small number? (Big) Certainly it sounds like big trouble. However, Father's guidance is never burden but always blessing. If we faithfully stand in front of Father's direction this is not a burden but a blessing. In a few moments, Dr. Baughman will explain to you how we plan to fulfill this goal. It is very hopeful, you will be suprised. After you hear Dr. Baughman's explanation you will all go back home whistling. You will all become joy-makers, I guarantee to you.

Brothers and sisters truly we can bring victory. From now on we reach out to Generation X with True Mother's heart, true sister's heart, true brother's heart, we sincerely guide them and bring them to True Parents, entering the new Jerusalem which is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is our work. The next few years are very important. This is the time of the Last Judgment, so do you honestly expect to have an easy life? (No) As Unificationists, never expect to have an easy life. However, our challenging and difficult life is not a burden but a blessing. Our service today is a very meaningful one. God, True Father and True Mother trust America and this mission is not given to Russia and other countries, but it has been given to America first. When America brings victory then the world will follow America's pattern of victorious success. Please let us give a big hand of appreciation to Father and Mother. (Applause) Each one of you is a pearl gate to the new Jerusalem. Do you like being a pearl gate? Then please be an open gate and enter. Pearl gate means unchanging peace, love and beauty.

Dr. Baughman will now come and explain to you the meaning of the 3,000 universities and the plan. His explanation is not for New York region alone, this is national guidance for all regions to follow.

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