Even during the cold of winter, the spring is coming. During the dark hours, the dawn is coming. As we live in the present, moment by moment, the end of our life is coming. We plan our lives based upon what we know is coming. During winter, we prepare for spring; during night, we prepare for the dawn. We should live our lives also in preparation for what is coming.

The most important aspect of the future is the arrival of the millennium. Therefore, we should understand the millennium, and what it means for each of us.

According to scholars, 1996 is the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' birth, because Jesus was born in or around 4 B.C. They point out that King Herod conducted a census in the year of Jesus' birth, and Herod died in 4 B.C. In John's Gospel, when Jesus cleared the Temple, those present said that the building of the Temple had begun forty-six years earlier (John 2:20). Herod's Temple was begun in 20 B.C. This means that Jesus was about thirty years old in 26 A.D. (see Luke 3:23). Therefore he must have been born around 4 B.C. Scholars cannot pinpoint the year of Christ's birth. But, do we pinpoint the exact instant the sun dawns? No; the dawn is a gradual transition from night to day. From the point of view of Jesus' birth, we are in the dawn of the new millennium.

People are very interested in the year 2000. At many famous sites around the world, celebrations on the evening of December 31, 1999 are already sold out. If secular people prepare this far in advance, we Christians should be even more serious.

There are scientific predictions concerning the new millennium. But scholars see contradictory trends. Some predict a bright future. Francis Fukuyama predicts that democracy will spread to all nations, bringing economic equality and social justice. Alvin Toffler and Marshall McLuhan foresee technological development making our lives better and bringing a more ethical society.

On the other hand, there are those who see a cloudy future. Authors such as Conor Cruise O'Brien forecast the rise of fundamentalism. They say this will lead to political breakdown and dictatorship. There will be a larger gap between rich and poor, and class struggle. The rampant destruction of the environment will make our world a miserable place. The current decline of moral values will wreck western civilization.

There are also spiritual predications about the coming millennium. The leading spiritualists are Nostradamus in the West and Nam Sa Go in the East. Their predictions concerning the major twentieth-century wars and technological developments were correct. Both predicted that the Messiah will come in the year 2000 from the East.

As Christians, we know that God is beyond the predictions of sociologists and spiritualists. God has revealed His word in the Bible. What does the Bible have to say? Revelation 20:6 says that those of the first resurrection will enjoy a thousand year millennial reign of God and Christ. Does this mean that the new millennium is the period from 2000 to 2999? Will these people live 1,000 years? How will God's kingdom begin? Christians have believed it will come by means of miracles. Others teach that it will be built on earth. But how? If we do not know how, we cannot prepare for it. Let us pursue this by examining Jesus' teachings.

The most important theme of Jesus' ministry was his teaching about the Kingdom of God. Jesus' first recorded words, in Matt. 4:17, were, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." In Luke 17:21, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered that there would be no external signs, for the kingdom is "within you." This is not easy to understand. When asked how the kingdom would come, Jesus taught parables expressing "the secrets of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 13:11). He taught the Parable of the Mustard Seed, explaining that the kingdom is like the smallest of seeds which grows into the greatest of trees. In the Parable of the Yeast Jesus compared the kingdom to the leaven which leavens the entire loaf (Matt. 13:31- 33).

People asked Jesus what the kingdom will be like. Jesus answered with the Parable of the Weeds. The angels will gather the harvest at the close of the age; the righteous will shine like the sun and the evildoers will weep and gnash their teeth (Matt. 13:24-30, 37-43). In the Parable of the Sower, he pointed out that some seeds withered away or were choked, while others brought forth a great harvest (Matt. 13:3-9). In Luke 15, Jesus taught that heaven is a place of joy like the celebration of the shepherd who recovers one lost sheep, or the rejoicing of a woman who finds her lost coin, or like the banquet a father throws for his son who was lost and has returned home (Luke 15:3-32). In Matt. 22:1-14, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a wedding banquet. Those who accept the invitation will dance with joy, but those who reject it will be cast out.

In Matthew chapters 23 to 25, Jesus gave a discourse on the coming of the kingdom. He warned us to prepare seriously, "for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matt. 24:44) He foretold the blessings or curses which will be ours based upon our attendance to God and Christ when the Son of man appears. He repeated warnings concerning the return of the Son of Man like a Master, a bridegroom, and a King. So, the kingdom comes at the transition from the satanic world to God's world, and with it comes judgment.

What is the standard of judgment? We usually think that the standard is our faith in Jesus Christ. But Jesus did not say this. Jesus upheld first the standard of our love for our fellow man. The second standard was our sincere preparation so that we would recognize him when he returns and accept the invitation he offers. This is very important. In Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus revealed that it will not be easy to recognize him, and that many Christians will fail to do so.

Beyond this, we see that Jesus' teachings do not show the practical way to build God's kingdom (Matt. 13:11; John 16:12, 16:25). Therefore, scholars and Christian ministers have been ignorant about God's kingdom. They have decided that it is a mystery. But today, God has revealed greater insight into Jesus' practical teachings about His kingdom:

I. The kingdom of God begins within the individual. It comes through each person following the guidance of God in their conscience. The conscience must listen to God, and the body must follow the conscience. The individual then becomes a divine personality.

II. The kingdom of God grows when a man and a woman of divine personality marry, become one in true love, and create a true family. III. The true family expresses the ideal love relationships. The kingdom of God bears fruit when this living seed grows into a society, nation and world of true freedom and peace.

This truth is very simple, but scholars for 2,000 years have been ignorant of it. This is because Satan has controlled the human personality, marriage, family, society, nation and world. Without the Messiah, we cannot defeat the power of evil and become people of true goodness. Jesus taught that we must be reborn. This means that the Messiah is in the position of our True Parents. God will send True Parents to recreate us as true children of God.

The time of transition from the evil world to the good world is called the Last Days, the eschatological judgment. Between now and the year 2000 is a critical period. King David established his throne in Jerusalem three thousand years ago. Jesus Christ was born two thousand years ago. What is the meaning of the present day?

We can gain insight into today's events in the Book of Revelation. Before we study Revelation in detail, I will state at the outset that the end of Revelation reveals Jesus' standard of judgment in the Last Days. That standard is division between a pure life and an impure life, between a true and a false family. We Unificationists take this very seriously. Therefore, we carry out activities under three major themes.

(1) Activities to promote true family values. God's true love is expressed in four unique categories: as parental love, conjugal love, brother-sister love and children's love. These expressions of love are carried out across three generations. They generate true family values, such as absolute faith, love and obedience, responsibility, filial piety, fidelity, and so forth.

These values enable us to maintain a good society, nation and world. We achieve them fully only through complete devotion of our marriage and family to God. For the first time in history, the opportunity for couples to devote their marriage to God is now available. It comes through the Blessing Ceremony of the True Parents, Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon.

The Blessing is the means to renounce the false family values which lead to adultery, fornication, homosexuality and child abuse. False family life has created a history of suffering throughout the world. The Blessing is the way to move from being a false family to being a true family in front of God and humankind. We must declare our separation from false family life.

(2) Activities to promote sexual purity. Sexual purity means sexual abstinence before marriage, and complete fidelity and true conjugal love in marriage. Sexual purity is the most essential of true family values. It was destroyed by the sexual immorality of Adam and Eve. It is restored by the True Parents in front of God and humankind.

(3) Activities to promote a culture of harmony among races, nations and religions. One strategy is to create sisterhood among the women of the world. This builds bridges for all men to overcome traditional conflicts and work together as brothers. This will help end the history of murder and war which goes back to the conflict between Cain and Abel.

We may refer to this as the true family world movement. I will argue that it was predicted in Rev. 22:12-17. True families can enter the gates; false families cannot. Reverend and Mrs. Moon as True Parents will invite us to create the twelve tribes of blessed families.

Therefore we must maintain the heavenly tradition as families. This is the tradition of life for the sake of others. Rev. 13:8, 17:8 and 20:12 tells us of registration in the Book of Life. This is the greatest privilege of Jesus' followers. To enter the gates means registration into one of the twelve tribes. The conditions for registration are:

(1) Practice true family values, beginning by receiving the Blessing.

(2) Practice sexual purity and marital fidelity; never divorce.

(3) Create substantial bonds of true love with people of all races, nations and religions.

Even the secular world knows that breakdown of the family is the root of our troubles. Religious people in particular understand this. God is preparing all people to receive the Blessing. Reverend Moon said that the family is the textbook of love. On January 1, 1996, Pope John Paul II said the family is the school of peace. American president Bill Clinton, in his 1996 State of the Union Address, stated: "Our first challenge is to cherish our children and strengthen America's family. Families are the foundation of American life. If we have stronger families, we will have a stronger America."

The mission of the Unification Church is to revive and educate the conscience. Luke 17:21 states that the kingdom is "within you." The starting point is the conscience. If we understand these things, we will recognize the precious grace of God in Christ we receive through the Blessing. It is a simple formula and model by which the kingdom of heaven is available.

The Original Kingship in Adam's Family

The original family of Adam and Eve should have established the true spirit of the elder brother, the true quality of parenthood, and God's true authority as king. This spiritual authority crossing three generations would have been the basis for a society, nation and world of true love. Adam and Eve's central family lineage would have represented the absolute standard of God's tradition, as did that of the Levites in Israel. Therefore, the original true family is the foundation for the true nation and world.

Due to the fall, the foundation of three generations was lost to Satan. It was corrupted by the practice of false love. This led to false kings, false husband and wives, and false brothers and sisters. The Messiah, coming as the new Adam (I Cor. 15:45), must restore the original true family. The original true family includes the positions of true elder son, true parent and true king. Once restored, these become the birthright of all humanity. By one true man's work the position, right and authority of true elder son, true parent and true king is established for all humankind. This is the meaning of the terms Elder Sonship, Parentship and Kingship. This why the Bible refers to the Messiah as the Lord of lords and King of kings.

The purpose of Christianity is to prepare for the second advent of Christ. Then Christianity receives and exalts the Messiah as the King of kings. However, when the Messiah, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, appeared in 1945, the Christians from both the east and the west rejected him. He experienced the same rejection as Jesus did two thousand years ago. As a result, the leading Christian nations, America, England and France, failed to fulfill God's will. Christianity has declined, and the world has wandered aimlessly ever since.

Reverend Moon was cast out. He traversed the bitter forty-year wilderness course from 1952 until 1992. He bore untold hardship, betrayal and persecution. He overcame every obstacle by teaching the word of God to the world. He gained recognition as a man of God from representatives of the world's nations (1988 Seoul Olympics), from Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev (1990) and from Kim Il Sung (1991). By sacrificing to save his enemies and winning their love, he broke the spiritual power of communism. Thus he restored the authority of Elder Sonship, centered on God.

This brought Reverend Moon to world prominence. Then he began the next stage, the restoration of Parentship. Reverend and Mrs. Moon as True Parents could grant the marriage blessing to people of all religions for the first time, on April 10, 1992. In this dispensation, Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon took the leading role. On that day she declared the inauguration of the Women's Federation for World Peace and the liberation of women.

The era to restore Parentship was 1992 through 1995. Reverend and Mrs. Moon proclaimed "True Parents and the Completed Testament Age" and "The True Family and I" worldwide. On every continent, in over fifty nations, in the United Nations, the U.S. Capitol, the Great Hall of the People, the Kremlin and the Tokyo Dome, these revolutionary declarations were applauded. Hundreds of leaders of nations and religions were in the audiences. Reverend Moon and Mrs. Moon personally taught the presidents or first ladies of over twelve nations. Further, Reverend and Mrs. Moon officiated the international blessing of 30,000 couples in 1992 and 360,000 couples in 1995. Through these accomplishments, Parentship was restored. Another sign of the times occurred in 1994, when the U.S. Congress and President Clinton united to create Parents Day as a national American holiday.

1996 through 1999 is the era to establish Kingship. True Parents created the elder brother's and true parents' authority worldwide, connecting people of all races, nations and religions into one. This naturally establishes the authority of the true king. Because True Parents represent God, this means that God assumes His rightful authority of true love. God stands as the true ancestor of humankind and King of kings. God's sovereignty is established through true love and Principle.

In this providence, Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon, the literal bride of the Messiah, is the vehicle of the Holy Spirit. She fulfills the mission of the "bride," the fruit of Christianity, representing all women, who can now be restored as true sisters and brides (Rev. 22:17).

This leads to the restoration of humankind as one true family. A mother brings her children together to greet the father. In the same way, the worldwide "mother" is to bring all humankind together by the power of sacrificial love. Together they receive the bridegroom, the Messiah, as everlasting father and King of kings (Isa. 9:6; Rev. 19:11-16). To receive the Messiah means to receive rebirth through the blessing of holy marriage. This even will encompasses the rulers of nations.

The United States is the representative Christian nation. Therefore, it is the "bride" of Christ. This was the destiny guiding the Pilgrims and Puritans to "the new world." It has sustained the American spirit through waves of immigration ever since. America is a unique nation made up of all races, religions and nationalities. Therefore, it is prepared to receive the Lord at his Second Advent and introduce his millennial reign. Every family can inherit kingship through God. We receive divine love, divine life and divine lineage as a family. We experience the true love of parents, husband and wife, brothers and sisters, and children. We call this the "four great realms of heart." Every generation has its own special dignity and authority in relation to the others. Therefore, we establish kingship across three generations: grandparents' kingship, parents' kingship and children's kingship. This qualifies us to participate in the love, life and lineage of the original true family, what we call, "royal familyship." Ultimately the entire world is part of God's Royal Family. We are kings and queens, princes and princesses. This is the millennial reign of three generations. It is spoken of in Rev. 22:3-5: God, the Lamb, and His servants (children).

The Book of Revelation is controversial because of its symbolism. But its fundamental message is clear and should be heeded by all Christians. In light of the preceeding teachings, I would like to discuss the Bible's final predications, which appear in Revelation 22:12-17.

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood. I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the Bride say, `Come.' And let him who hears say, `Come.' And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.

Let us study how these verses are being fulfilled today.

Rev. 22:12a: "Behold, I am coming soon." Christians today, as always, live with the realization that the providence could come to a conclusion at any time. As the wise virgins, we must be prepared.

Rev. 22:12b: ". . . bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done." Christ must render judgment upon those who are following him. He will recognize those who persevere in God's providential work. Jesus foretold, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt. 19:28) Also, Rev. 7:1-8 foretells of the registration of the twelve tribes of Israel. I discussed above how God will establish these twelve tribes in reality.

Rev. 22:13: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." The original True Parents and True Family, which should have been established at the beginning, are now established. This sets the standard of true family values. This is the standard of judgment for humankind.

Rev. 22:14: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates." Those who receive the Blessing of marriage have washed their robes. The Blessing of True Parents washes our sin. The Blessing removes the original sin. Blessed husbands and wives may become true men and women (tree of life and tree of knowledge), establish true families and enter the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and in spirit world. Rev. 7:14 states: "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Rev. 14:4 explains about sexual purity: "It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are chaste; it is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb."

Rev. 22:15: "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood." Those who reject the Blessing follow the false family tradition. False family values cannot control homosexuality and free sex. False family values create the sinful secular society. Those who live this way are excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven. The "dogs" symbolize those who practice and exalt homosexuality and free sex. The fallen secular world cannot control murder, drug abuse, alcoholism and materialism because fallen people listen to the lies of Satan (Rev. 17:1-6, 15-18).

Christians fear the external work of Satan. But Satan's most dangerous and destructive work is the unseen motivation to commit adultery. Revelation chapters 8 and 9 prophesy diseases such as AIDS and other STDs, which spread through homosexuality and free sex. It states that these will destroy one-third of humankind. We need not fear earthquakes or other external signs. We should fear the destructive power of immorality. This divides the satanic family from the true family.

Therefore we promote true family values, sexual purity and the culture of harmony. These resolve the original parents' loss of true parenthood, Adam and Eve's problem of self-centered love, and Cain and Abel's problem of anger and murder.

If you cannot enter the city, you will go to hell, which means that you remain lost in the fallen world.

Rev. 22:16a: "I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches." In this Pentecostal era, the angelic world can assist righteous people to do God's work. The Holy Spirit sends good angels to help us in everyday tasks, teaching, witnessing, healing and giving energy to work tirelessly for God's will.

Because of our low spiritual state in the past, humankind was under the authority of the angelic world. Therefore, angels both good and bad interfered in our lives. Now blessed couples have risen above the angelic world. Therefore, good angels can help us. Also, evil angels can dominate people through sexual immorality (Jude 6-7). Thus the wicked are judged the angels, and the righteous judge the angels (1 Cor. 6:3). Angels announced the birth and resurrection of Jesus. Today, angels are increasing their activity. This explains the current interest in angels in the popular secular culture.

Rev. 22:16b: "I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." Reverend and Mrs. Moon have declared the establishment of a new era of kingship. "The offspring of David" signifies the inheritance of the throne of King David. This is the establishment of true kingship. "The root of David" signifies the coming of a new ancestor. Christianity does not recognize the significance of lineage and ancestry. But the word "generation(s)" appears eighty times in the Bible. Matthew and Luke pay great attention to Jesus' lineage. This is because Jesus' kingship until now has been spiritual only. With the restoration of true love on earth, we can realize the significance of lineage.

The "morning star" is the source of true light. This means that darkness is overcome. The spiritual authority of "false kingship," which results in corrupt governments, is coming to an end. In every nation, the people are restless. They are seeking more godly and just leadership. God's guidance must come from true kingship, which is serving with nobility, in the authority of true love.

Rev. 22:17a: "The Spirit and the Bride say, `Come.' And let him who hears say, `Come.' And let him who is thirsty come . . ."The "Spirit" is the True Mother of all humankind; the "Bride" is all of our sisters. Eventually Christianity will fulfill its responsibility as the bride of Christ. In the first family, it was Eve who started the trouble with Adam, leading to the conflict between Cain and Abel. Therefore, the restored Eve, the substantial Holy Spirit, must unite Cain and Abel and bring them to Adam. To resurrect the satanic world, through the Blessing, the Spirit and Bride say, "come" three times. Therefore our sisters have a very grave responsibility.

Rev. 22:17b: ". . . let him who desires take the water of life without price." The Spirit and Bride call everyone to the Blessing without price. Rev. 7:17 tells us that "the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water." In the past, the Blessing was reserved for core members of the Unification Church. They served as pioneer missionaries for many years. Now, the Blessing is granted to all humankind, "without price."

In the Parable of the Laborers, Jesus explained this (Matt. 20:1-11). He said the kingdom of heaven is where those who come early and work all day, those who come in the mid-day, and those who come at the end of the day all receive the same reward. He asks of those who come early and complain, "Do you begrudge my generosity?" Jesus concludes, "So, the last will be first, and the first last."

The seven-year period of tribulation is 1992 through 1999. It is a time of persecution and judgment but also of the great Blessings. The first half of this period has already passed, but three and a half years remain. The Blessing is the ultimate condition for God to dwell with man in the kingdom of heaven on earth, the direct dominion of God (Rev. 21:3).

How will this come to pass? We do not have access to major media or money. But we have spiritual and moral power through the true family world movement. Let us all exemplify God's Blessing by being true parents in our own families. Let us work on the local level to make the spiritual conditions for God to work at the national and world level. If we succeed on the local level, we naturally bring national, world and cosmic level blessing.

Jesus Christ calls everyone to bring about this great transformation of the world. This means a personal victory in each of our lives. We bring the fruits of goodness with our families as holy sons and daughters of God. Truly, we live "in the kingdom." We are aware that the authority of the living God is ruling our lives and working through us. It means we will establish the tradition of true parents, true teachers and true kings, based upon the guidance of conscience. Therefore, our life is one with God's life. The Father dwells in us as He dwelt in Jesus on earth (John 14:9-10). This indwelling of God is the essence of kingship.

Jesus' movement was very poor, but through them, God changed the world. Today, his foundation embraces 160 nations. Heads of state and leaders of religion are studying these teachings of God directly from Reverend and Mrs. Moon. An international Blessing of 3.6 million couples will take place in 1997 in America. This is the work of God, not of man. But the destiny of every man and woman depends upon their response to this call of God today at the dawn of the new millennium.

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