God's Will and the World |
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by Rev. Sun Myung Moon |
Chapter 38
The Necessity for the Day of Victory of Love
January 15, 1984 -- Tarrytown, New York
The Unification Movement has not only a horizontal connection with the world but also a vertical connection. The term "fall of man" denotes a falling down from the original state; therefore, the work of God has been the work of trying to bring people back up to their formerly high level of existence.
Because of an illicit relationship of love the fall occurred. The Last Days predicted by the Bible will be the culmination of selfish, individualistic love. When most people live solely for themselves, it must be the Last Days, because that is the completion stage of the fallen act. Such a world scorns anything other than individualistic love. There is no room for the love of country, love of humanity, and certainly no room for the love of God.
Such a trend began among adults, but it has now come down to the realm of teenagers. This is the so called "me generation" in today's society Thus you know that we have arrived at the end of this world. There is virtually no way of restraining the immorality and promiscuity of many of today's young people. Parents cannot control them, teachers are powerless, and society can do nothing either. Certainly the nation and the world have no power to control them.
Why does Satan lead the world to such an extreme? God, in His will for restoration, has been promoting altruistic, unselfish love starting from the individual, family, nation, and moving toward the worldwide level. Thus Satan has become desperate. He knows that he is being defeated, so he takes the opposite direction, the position farthest away from God, trying to hold mankind on his side.
Satan's ultimate goal is to destroy any ideal form of love. God is leading mankind toward the ideal, wholesome form of love. Those who are the most susceptible to Satan's temptations are Americans. The central nation for the Christian culture, the United States has become morally degraded, particularly in love. There is a certain biblical basis for this, because Jesus said that those closest to us can be our worst enemies. Thus, within the Christian culture, in what is supposedly the central nation for accomplishing God's will, the worst enemy can creep in. So Satan has grounds to create the worst possible evils in this Christian nation.
The decline of America
The 40 years after World War Il are a wilderness period, from God's dispensational point of view. America was supposed to have taken responsibility to lead the world toward the land of Canaan. But no such idealism predominated; instead most Americans simply sought to have fun and forget the war, plunging into self-indulgence.
The victory of the: Allied side in World War II was not an end in itself; From the providential point of view, it had the purpose of preparing America and the world for the Second Coming of the Messiah.
After World War II, the United States was supposed to center upon God and realize that the world was moving toward the "great and terrible day to the Lord." There should have been a prevailing attitude within this country that the greatest goal was to love not only oneself or even one's own nation, but to embrace the world and to serve God. People should have been inspired to pioneer the coming great era. The United States was supposed to propagate such a vision through the world. People would have recognized it as a favorable sign of the Last. Days and could have started preparing for that time. Such an awakening after World War II would have prevented the current tragic situation in America.
What has happened? The United States did not grasp such a vision. For 40 years, this country has been drifting down the path of self- indulgence, fun, and destruction. Drugs have infiltrated the whole country; young people have been corrupted and turn more and more toward delinquency; free sex has become a way of life. But this has not been limited to the United States. As the leader of the free world, the United States has infected the world with its ills. As Americans try to make light of everything, wanting merely to have fun in life, their attitudes have spread around the world.
Unless something stops this trend, this nation and the whole world are destined to collapse. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God's judgment for their immorality and pursuit of luxury. Rome was in the same situation. It did not collapse from external invasion but from the weight of its own corruption.
The most important substance is not life itself; it is love. A society permeated by pure, strong and altruistic love will prosper no matter what. But when people do not practice love for humanity, for country, and for their fellow man, that society will eventually fall. Unfortunately, the United States is following the historical pattern of decline. Red danger lights are blinking all over America today. This is the reality.
God's new tradition
What is God doing about this? God must be working for restoration, trying to create a turning point to pull this nation from its current situation and move it toward His ideal. The fundamental block is man's relationship with Satan; unless we can resolve this, no other problems of society can be permanently solved. The basic relationship between people and Satan rests on the illicit love relationship -- self- centered love. Such immoral love always shatters people and separates them from any ideal.
The love of God is exactly the opposite; it is pure, it creates unity, and it uplifts people and allows them to transcend selfishness. Love is the key element over which Satan and God have been struggling. So far, God has appeared to be losing the battle. Satan has become very arrogant, taunting God. "Even you have no have no power to stop my love. It will take over the whole world, so why don't you surrender?"
When people live with satanic, self-centered love here on earth, can they possibly go to spirit world with the capacity to love God? Self- centered individuals have created a spirit world full of division and disintegration. The original spirit world is one of genuine, altruistic love; thus the elements of selfish love found on earth are foreign to the spirit world. This earth has produced such an unmanageable product and has sent it up to spirit world. Now the spirit world is a mess, divided into multitudes of compartments each trying to repel anything which differs from it.
The same phenomenon happens in the physical world. It is full of divisions. People have their own little compartments, striving to preserve their own indulgent way of life. Satan is very proudly mocking God, "Can you handle this world? I have divided people thoroughly. You have guided all the major religions to bring the world into your ideal, but look at them. They are infiltrated by my ultimate satanic power, communism. Your Christian churches have become houses for bingo and disco; they are like supper clubs now. Can you make yourself at home, God, in those churches?"
Satan is also challenging God: "Where can you find any champion, someone whom you can claim and who can take charge of the world? God, you promised the world that you would send your Messiah. Where is he? The Messiah is supposed to bring unity to the whole world, including all races, and all cultures. But even you, God, have not been able to promote such unity. How could any human being do such a thing, even if he is the Messiah?"
There is only one answer to this problem. A new religious movement must emerge which centers on love and nothing else; it must bring a revolution by totally redirecting man's love to become altruistic and centered upon God. Only by bringing a strong, unifying love, starting with the individual, family, society and expanding up to the world level, can God do something about this world today. Satan has known that God needs to do this and that He would send His Messiah to accomplish it. Satan himself correctly understands what the Messiah's task is.
Why are you here? What is your mission? You are the very group of people who are going to set the new tradition of love, centered upon God rather than on the self You are going to bring purity of love to the world. You will sacrifice anything and everything in order to build that new tradition of love, as a way of life.
Sandbag of love
When a person trains to become. a boxer, he has to spend many hours throwing punches at a big sandbag. Our way of life is similar. It is as if we God gave us a big sandbag which says, "Go ahead and hit me. Everybody is hitting me but so far nobody has been able to: really knock me to the ceiling." The sandbag is looking for a true champion who will throw it around in a 360 degree circle, up to the ceiling. The sandbag will be most inspired if someone comes along who can hit it hard enough to break its chain and knock it loose. It will say, "I surrender to my master!"
That sandbag from heaven has been waiting for the ultimate heavenly boxer, whom we call the Messiah. God has been expecting that at least one person could gain the victory over that sandbag, knocking it loose from its chain. Because of Satan's dominion, no one even attempted to hit it before. No one had ever discovered God's love sandbag; the only sandbag of love ever seen had been Satan's.
How can you hit that sandbag of God's love? You can hit it only with the love club. Only then will the sandbag feel anything. Those who love their families, nation, world and humanity can come with the club of love and hit that sandbag. You might assume that God's sandbag of love will come looking for you, so you are waiting for it to find you. Will some angel bring it to you? The Principle teaches that such a thing will never just come to you. You must go after it, reaching out to that love sandbag.
There are many strings behind you that Satan can pull on. Old strings, new strings, strings from your past, from dating -- all kinds of junk that Satan can draw on. Does anyone here think he has absolutely no satanic strings attached? Then how can anyone speak with true pride in himself? Perhaps you have a Ph.D. degree, but that wouldn't confer any greater value on you in this sense. You must make enormous effort to cut off those strings from Satan and cross over the boundary into the new area.
The true Unification members are those who have declared war against satanic love, from the individual to the family, tribal, racial, national, and worldwide levels. This is Satan's greatest fear. We shall be the ones who conquer satanic love and win heavenly love. That is what the Unification Church is all about.
Perhaps if I hit this person here, she would think to herself, "Why did Father hit me?" Without even knowing the reason, she might get angry. That is the way society is. You should search for the reason or motivation behind something; after learning the reason if you have some justification, then you may get angry about it. Satan is always trying to inspire you to reject God's true love out of rashness and thoughtlessness.
All of mankind needs to be completely shaken up. Individuals must totally deny all the love which has come from Satan on all the different levels of living -- family, society, nation, etc. God has allowed such persecution to come to you. He permits it as shock treatment.
In the face of persecution, many people have retreated. Now they are hanging from a cliff and crying out. Some say, "Mom and Dad,. please come and get me. Save me from this!" Others are saying, "God and my Messiah, I'm trying to remain on your side so please help me and pull me into your domain!" Which cry have you made? What kind of cry are you making through the deeds of your own life?
There is only one crazy man who is trying to shake up the entire world and clear it of satanic love. That one man is Reverend Sun Myung Moon. All the powers of Satan, from family, society, tribe, world levels are mobilized to push me off the cliff and finish me. However, I have one big secret. While everyone is trying to push me over the brink, I am is holding onto that sandbag of God's love. Therefore, when people push me they are also pushing against that sandbag.
What is happening? This no ordinary sandbag; it is an incredible magnet with tremendous pulling power. Thus any decent, conscientious young people who touch it and feel its goodness are automatically stuck, holding on for dear life. Young people are like little pieces of metal floating around freely. They are subjected to the magnetism of their families, their society and all the enticements therein. But the sandbag of God has an enormous power to pull them and young people are following. The power from that sandbag can attract people anywhere.
I have always been fighting through that sandbag on every level and winning victory step by step. I have come to the final level now.
The North Pole and the South Pole are two extremes, yet they are like lovers, constantly pulling each other. The magnetic field connecting the two poles is like a love field. Magnetism creates an electric wave flowing from one pole to the other, enveloping and affecting everybody who comes within its field. Just like magnetism, love can penetrate anywhere. Let's say the love of God is like the North Pole and the love of man like the South Pole, connected by the magnetic field of love. Once they achieve vertical unity, horizontal unity automatically results, just as there are lines of both latitude and longitude on the globe.
Satanic love is like winter while God's love is like spring. When springtime comes, people can feel comfortable and take off their heavy clothing. They feel like opening up their whole bodies to. spring. But in winter, we have to protect ourselves and cover up completely, wearing heavy zippered coats. In the same kind of spiritual situation, the love of God cannot be received.
The situation of the world today is like the severest winter. The Unification Church is trying to bring spring weather to the universe -- warmth and thawing of the ground. The battle between your parents and your allegiance to the church is something like this. Your society is telling you, "Stay home!" but you protest, "No, it's like winter here -- too cold! I want to go where I can take off my jacket and coat, to the Unification Church." When they hear you saying such things, however, they can only label it "brainwashing." From the viewpoint of God, we are righteous, healthy and happy people, but from Satan's point of view, we seem to be crazy.
Although you are standing on God's side now, you are not quite godly men and women yet. Perhaps you are standing with only one foot on the borderline, yet you want to say, "I am on the side of God!" Where are you standing? Are both of your feet securely planted within God's side? If you still feel nostalgia for what you loved before hearing the Principle, then you automatically have one foot still on the side of Satan.
There are many different types of members. Some people are always complaining, "Why does the church keep urging me to go out and do things?" Others think, "I can't stand that person. It's impossible to think of him as my director!" At such a point you are really straddling the line between God and Satan.
Today you may admit you are only 70 percent on God's side. Or on Sunday you might record, "Today I was 90 percent because I went to Belvedere." Some of you might feel like completely turning your back on the boundary line and marching directly toward the center point of the Unification ideal. You will claim that you are 100 percent on God's side.
Those of you who keep a diary should record your positions each day. Be completely honest with yourself and record how you do.
Each person knows where he is standing in relationship to God's side and Satan's side. That ability to know is a most important aspect of human beings. Even though you are immersed in the fallen world, each person has that element of God's influence within him. Because of that element within, each person can travel back to God, guided by his own internal compass.
Where do you want to be, on the side of God or Satan? How fast would you want to travel to God's side? You must gain victory over the satanic world. Only after you have scored some points over the satanic world can you move completely to the side of God, no matter how much you may desire to be with God. Have you won those points yet?
The spiritual Super Bowl
The Washington Redskins are playing in the Super Bowl again this year. How do you think they got to where they are -- by just declaring that they wanted to be there? Suppose they had refused to fight any lesser contest but had claimed the right to fight in the Super Bowl. Would anybody accept such a thing? No, people would say, "You have to win the victory, step by step, in order to qualify for the Super Bowl!" That means they have to win one game after another, defeating one team after another. Is that an easy way? No, it is most difficult, even miserable.
Many people say, "We only live once, so why shouldn't we enjoy life, eating and sleeping at will? Why shouldn't we just cheat when it's expedient and make life easy?" Is the Unification Church wrong in living a sacrificial life? I have declared war against Satan on every level, moving up step by step. Now 1 am declaring, "Let the worldwide Satan come forward and meet me in the spiritual Super Bowl!"
I have confronted the champions of satanic power on every level, from the individual to the national, and now we are at the worldwide level. I am at the level where the democratic world as well as the communist world is confronting me, along with the world of Christianity and religion. But I am absolutely sure that nobody can ever take away my sandbag of God's love. Anybody who wants to challenge me for that sandbag, please come forward.
I will hit that sandbag and it will fly around, 360 degrees. There is no resistance to the motion of true love, just as everything moves freely in a vacuum. Therefore, once the motion of God's love has been initiated, that motion will continue. That sandbag will hit Moscow and continue to circle.
I have engaged and married people of all five different colors of skin. You don't realize how great you are. Marriage is the most supreme and important event in a person's life. Nowhere else in this society will men and women let somebody else take care of their marriage. They won't give that right to their parents, their country, or anybody. Everyone feels, "I must be the one to decide." Yet you people are giving that right to me. Why is that? You trust that you can connect yourself to the love of God that way. You have that uncompromising faith because you are smart enough to understand the importance of God's love.
The means and speed of travel in spirit world are very different from here on earth. Each individual enters the spirit world with a different level of accomplishment in love, a different love record. Thus each has a different quality of power in his movements. Do you want to be able to travel with me in spirit world? How will you be able to do that? You must inherit the same love vibration as mine; your love vibration must be the same height and depth in order to travel with me.
Although the distances between the stars and planets in the universe are vast, you can still traverse them within one second, if you are moving at God's speed. It is the power of God's love that enables Him to move so rapidly. Beyond this world and beyond all human limits, people pursue the world of love. That is the greatest gift which God has devised for people; there is nothing better.
When I travel, I am constantly confronted by opposition from earthly powers. In North Korea, I was confronted by the communist regime. The government of South Korea confronted me as well. The same has been true here in America. Internationally, the leader of the Soviet Union is confronting me in the ultimate battle. The communist world knows me better than the free world does. They know me as their greatest threat, a menace they never expected.
Changes have come to the free world. The news media as well as the religious world are seeing that my fight as one which also involves them. They are announcing that they want to help us because they recognize a threat to their own freedom.
Who are the Moonies? You are smart people because you are sensitive to original love; you recognize true love when you see it. You have gained an understanding of the world situation that enables you to make sense out of the chaotic things going on every day.
Renowned scholars and theologians are lamenting the loss of vision in the United States. Although America is materially well off, spiritually it is poverty stricken. People here are seeking any kind of spiritual nourishment they can find. This nation is like a parched desert, without even a blade of grass. But there is an oasis in the middle of that desert where people are finding shade, water, and green grass. That oasis is the Unification movement.
Some might say, "That's only the opinion of Reverend Moon. Since he's the leader of the Unification movement, he has to say good things about it." But now, you can tell me. Do you agree with my opinion? When spiritually hungry people come to you, don't you have water and nourishment to give to them? Or are you a spiritually hungry person yourself, with nothing to share?
Spring water needs to have great strength to gush out of the ground. Sometimes it has to push its way through a big rock. Do you have that kind of power? Spring water is never blocked or stopped. It can always find a way to come out of the ground. That kind of water truly gives life to people.
Why do you like to come to Belvedere? What if I were not here to speak to you? As long as you have your own spring, it shouldn't matter. Individually you must become a person who has plenty of spring water - - enough to nourish yourself and enough left over to give away to others. No matter where I go, people are following after me as if they wanted to connect a hose to the spring water within me.
The most serious war
We must be victorious over the world's challenges in order to cross the boundary line to God's side. How does World War II compare to world restoration? In size and seriousness, bringing the world back to God is a larger war. Millions of people died on the Allied side in order to win World
War II. Today we are engaged in the largest and most serious war in all of history -- against the entire satanic realm. In this final war, our commander-in-chief is God Himself.
God has been preparing an army to fight this war, namely the forces of Christianity. When the Messiah appeared, he was to mobilize those forces and win God's war However, at that time organized Christianity opposed the will of God. Even at this time, many people are opposing the Unification Church. Thus I erected my own foundation, without the help of Christian leaders. Starting from the individual and family level I have been waging war against Satan and gaining the victory.
At the same time, God has been manipulating the situation of the world. The United States has lost confidence and lacks a solution for its problems. Likewise, the communist world is virtually at a stalemate. There is no group within the United States that has the confidence to say, "Let's save the country," nor any such group within the communist bloc. Although there is a proliferation of religious organizations, none has the confidence to take a true leadership role in the world.
However, there is one group of people who are saying, "We can lead this nation and world toward salvation." Ironically, they. are the accused and persecuted Moonies. I have two special capabilities. The first is that I have come to the world representing God and loving the world. The second is that I can even love Satan and liberate him. Within the satanic realm, no such phrase as "love everyone" exists. Only within the realm of God's love is such an achievement possible.
My own native land of Korea has opposed me. Japan, too, has declared me an enemy. Therefore, I might consider them my enemies as well. However, I have reciprocated with an attitude of love toward them. Our movement invested a tremendous amount of money in the production of the movie Inchon. We did that for the sake of this country. Therefore, the United States is indebted to the world because our movement used money raised from other countries to educate young people toward greater patriotism and love of God.
We created The Washington Times for the purpose of serving this nation's capital. We certainly did not have a lot of money to throw away on a gamble. Even though this is such a difficult time financially, we will use more money for the purpose of projects dedicated to this nation. We must commit ourselves wherever necessary. Because average people are always striving to gain something for themselves, they look at me and accuse me of trying to exploit others or take money away from this nation. On the contrary, I have been bringing in millions of dollars for the sake of this country. Although this is supposedly the richest country on earth, our movement in the United States has been supported by millions of dollars from other countries. The idea that I would try to cheat this country out of $50,000 in taxes is mind boggling to those who understand the truth.
When young people learn the truth, they will explode in righteousness. You are that kind of young people. Therefore, you must go out into the world and save others, bringing them back to life. You can't let them remain in misery.
Many people believe that the election of even one misguided president would bring an end to this country. My goal is to secure God's world; therefore, no one worries more about this country than me. Can you Moonies just sit back and expect something good to happen? No, you must get down to work. You must not be weak skeletons but people of flesh and bone who get out and fight God's fight. Don't just talk but show God what you can do.
The champion for mankind
No one is capable of leaving the realm of Satan on his own power. Therefore, mankind needs a champion to lead the way across the boundary. As that champion crosses, the rest of the people can support him and follow him. How about you blessed couples, what realm are you in -- the fallen realm or God's realm? You are not completely out of the fallen realm because you don't have your own sovereign nation. We have a church and church tradition, but no national tradition. This is why I declared the "Creation and Building of the Fatherland" as our motto for this year.
The sole purpose of the worldwide foundation of Judaism and Christianity was to accept the Messiah. The victory of World War II was to prepare the foundation for the work of the Messiah on the earth. After that time, the United States was in the position to lead the world. Korea was completely united with America. Under such circumstances, if Christianity had accepted the Messiah, great victory would have come. The sovereign government of Korea at that time was Christian. Don't you think the creation and building of the fatherland could have occurred then? We were very close to such a spectacular victory, but the officials of several Christian Korean universities rejected God's will.
At that time, God wanted to see the Christian world grafted totally into the Messiah. But the messianic world was rejected and thrown out of the Christian world and had to begin anew in a far distant position, rebuilding the necessary foundation. At that time, I went voluntarily to North Korea and ended up in prison. There is nothing lower or more miserable. Everyone thought I would die because is was virtually impossible to survive such conditions. Thus it was a crucifixion for me, one which I wanted to go through without dying. Instead of losing my disciples during that time, I gained them. Jesus' public life lasted two years and eight months. I spent the same time period in prison, gaining rather than losing disciples.
Upon the victory of my prison experience, I can claim the foundation for the fatherland. After being liberated by United Nations forces, I carried Mr. Chun Hwa Pak 600 miles from North to South Korea. Most people aren't even able to go beyond their own needs, but I showed the example of serving others by carrying Mr. Pak for that distance.
From the earliest days, people have accused me and even tried to kill me. At the same time, I was helping many people. I was always hungry because I was always giving my food and money to others -- for their school expenses, for hospital bills, and so forth. That is how I started, from the tribal and national level.
Because they failed to accept the Messiah, the Christian world was surpassed and even encompassed by satanic forces; this is why they declined. Now the Unification Church is rebuilding the Christian foundation, moving to the worldwide level. Satan would never give up his domain easily. I knew that every level of victory over Satan would have to be paid for with incredible sacrifice. The Unification Church took the Abel position within Christianity. The younger brother is always a source of discomfort to the older brother. Although we started on the smallest level, no one can deny that the Unification Church is now operating on the worldwide level.
The ideological offensive
Now Unificationism or Godism is gaining a more prominent ideological position than any other understanding. It is taking the ideological offensive, not only against communism but also against every other way of thought within the democratic world. Last year I knew that this international foundation, which extended to 130 countries, had to be linked with Korea. Since that is where the movement began, Korea must be connected with the world. The Korean people are in the Cain position to me. Korean Christianity opposed me and the Korean government did the same, but once the Korean nation welcomes me, those who formerly rejected me will join in.
The court battle will be over this year, so this is a crucial year. The relationship between Korea, Japan, the United States and Germany. will crystallize and be clarified during this year. Once the United States has vindicated my name, there will be an irresistible avalanche of positivity on the international level. The young people will be the ones most awakened to the goodness of Reverend Moon and the Unification movement. First, they will see that we are truly patriotic, second, that we are adamantly opposing communism, and third, that we have confidence that the ideal world is going to happen: we are optimistic about the future.
The International One World Crusade (IOWC) is going everywhere to disseminate this optimism and patriotism. That is your purpose in meeting mayors and governors. Instead of being influenced by them, we will influence those leaders in a positive way. Scholars will be affected as well. Americans will wonder how Reverend Moon arid his movement could have possibly survived these past 10 years of constant attacks from the media and others. But they will see that not only have I survived, I look stronger than ever. All the blows we have been receiving only served to make us more resolved.
I knew that thinking American people would eventually come to our movement, asking for guidance and seeking to be a part of us. Wherever they look throughout this country, people cannot find true guidance in any other quarter. They are telling me that our movement is the only hope for America. People are flabbergasted to see that I will lend my support to projects which they designed to help this nation and world.
Some of you may be thinking, "Father is really a great performer," and you don't really take me seriously. But I want you to understand that you have the opportunity to hear me speak every Sunday not because you are worthy, but because it is my providential duty to come here. Whether or not you understand and appreciate my value, I come here every week for the sake of posterity, history and mankind. Do you follow?
The turning point
We have come this far and now we can cross over. The nation of Korea is in the most crucial position in the worldwide fight against communism. Panmunjom is the small village where the representative forces of North and South Korea, including the United Nations forces, meet every day to trade verbal abuses. Written in Chinese characters, Panmunjom signifies a place where enemies meet and try to hurt each other. By changing one character, Bun Munjom, you signify a place where people meet and reconcile, respecting each other. There is no other place in the world such as Panmunjom, where the communists and the free world speak to each other every day.
Kim Il Sung's name signifies the following: Kim means gold, Il means sun, and Sung means success. The people of North Korea call him Father. When the name Sun Myung Moon is written in Chinese characters, Moon represents truth, or the word; Sun means beauty or clarity; Myung means light. My name is prophetic.
No other nation is divided between north and south, each side with a key figure people call Father. Do you think mankind can have two fathers? No, only one father is the true one; the other must be a false father. Am I afraid of Kim Il Sung? On the contrary, he is afraid of me because he knows deep inside that his rule is based on lies, and he knows that the truth will expose him. This is the real reason why communism hates and fears me. I have been exposing the lies and deceptions which they have been spreading under the cover of darkness. But once the light comes and exposes them, they will have no more power over men.
The sovereignty of heaven
So far, America has misunderstood and mistrusted me, but once that changes, they will come to truly respect and love me. That tuning point will bring in the final stage. The time will come when American people will feel, "I cannot trust politicians or other people in power; but I know I can trust that man, Reverend Moon." The sovereignty of any president can last eight years at the most, but when people align themselves with me they can enjoy the sovereignty of heaven for eternity.
People are beginning to change their perspective, looking for higher values than before. Don't you think my teaching can inspire people to become better lawmakers and leaders for this country? Ultimately, there is no reason why someone with the understanding of the Principle couldn't become president. For the same reason, I have been working with the academic community for many years, seeking to inspire scholars in this country toward righteousness.
After listening to me, you feel like running out to do your work. The wise American sitting here today might think, "I want to figure out what Father will do in the future. Since he will be going to Moscow soon, I want to go there now to prepare and lay a foundation for him." However, be careful. Don't call me "Father" in Moscow; you'd better just say "Mr. Moon!"
Since the free world and established Christianity opposed me, indemnity must be paid. Who shall be responsible for the debt incurred in rejecting the Messiah? America or Christianity? The Unification Church must take responsibility because you are in the Abel position. Abel must pay the indemnity.
This is the reason why those in the second position within the Unification Church are always in the sacrificial position. Mr. Hyo Won Eu, the late president of the Korean Unification Church, was the second of the first three couples in the 36 Blessed Couples. He died in a hospital, not in his own home, about 13 years ago. At that time, our church was facing tremendous opposition from other Korean Christian churches, as well as from the government.
As you know, our second son, Heung Jin, died recently in a car accident. In True Parents' family there was another daughter named Hye Jin, who died in 1964. She was the second daughter. Heung Jin was born right after Hye Jin.
. I want you to understand that this is the Principle way of the dispensation.. This has been true throughout history and for our movement as well. Likewise, it is true for the True Parents' family. You can see for yourself that the Principle is not just something I made up, but it is the true principle which has guided history.
For last year's Victory Over Communism (VOC) rallies in Korea, I invited distinguished scholars and leaders of the academic communities in 72 different countries. The 72 heads of the Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA), representing the 72 disciples of Jesus, were asked to come to Korea, but were not given a clear explanation why. So they came on faith, knowing that when they got there, they would find out the reason. That's a very unusual way to treat scholars.
Those scholars had attended the recent International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences in Chicago. They had all left Chicago by Nov. 29 and were returning to their countries. As I was leaving for Korea, I asked that all the chairmen of the PWPA be called to join me before the rallies started on Dec. 14. One-third of those professors had not even arrived home by then; when they heard about the invitation en route, they turned around and went to Korea. Just as I found disciples in the North Korean prison, I was able to find faithful scholars who would come to join me in Korea.
When those scholars arrived at the airport in Seoul, the first question they asked was, "Why did I come here?" The answer they were given was, "You came because Reverend Moon wanted you to." That was a very busy time in the academic community; December is normally a time for taking care of many duties. Yet they came; disregarding their own feelings, because they were motivated by somebody else.
There had never been such a rally in Korea during December. With Christmas on the way and so much to do, people are not usually interested in rallies. Thus, even the leaders of the church told me, "This is a mistake. Let's hold the rallies in 1984." There was only one person -- me -- who believed it would work. Therefore, the Unification Church members failed to have faith in me. Korean leaders and members tried to tell me all the reasons why it should not be held in December, but I silenced them all. I pulled out my little notebook and said, "I have written down right here that this rally is a mandate from God, and therefore it will be a success."
The rallies in Korea were of worldwide importance because they turned the battle against communism in a totally new direction. The Christian churches in Korea have always been quick to oppose me. However, when they heard that I was sponsoring rallies for VOC they were put on the spot. If they tried to oppose me, people would ask, "Are you pro- communist?" They couldn't say anything against me at that time! The Korean government was laughing at me, too, thinking, "Reverend Moon is making a colossal mistake. He's going to rent those gymnasiums and they will be half empty. He will lose his shirt!"
But what happened? The rallies were a success. The Korean government was completely taken aback. They felt that instead of the Chun Do Hwan government wielding authority, many people were listening to Reverend Moon. Forty million Korean people came to believe that only I am able to defeat the North Korean communists and restore health and prosperity to their country.
Surprise attack on Satan
Our goal is 7 million VOC members, both in Korea and Japan. This is a heavy blow to Satan, an unexpected, surprise attack. The Korean government knows that they cannot do anything to me himself, since I have become an international figure.
Kwangju was the eighth city for the rallies, the final opportunity for Satan to strike. Satan desperately wanted to stop me from having success in Korea, but I had already set all the conditions for our victory. While I was in Korea, the attention of Japan as well as the United States focused there. Since the satanic forces had absolutely no room to attack me or the rallies, they struck my family Our children are on a level with the Unification Church, a different level from the True Parents. One child, Heung Jin, was the target for the satanic attack. At the very same hour as our rally, 11:10 a.m. Kwangju time, Satan hit Heung Jin.
Kwangju has been a very liberal city, with a lot of communist infiltrators. I had been warned by many people that my life would be in danger there. However the gymnasium was completely filled one hour before the rally. Five thousand people had to stand outside. Often when terrorists want to attack someone they will hide in crowds. Therefore, they will never come too early to a gathering because they might stand out. But when they came to Kwangju, there wasn't even one seat available.
Heung Jin's sacrifice came at the most crucial moment of human history. Even though he had to sacrifice his life, God could resurrect him. You should know the result of the passing of Heung Jin.
These Korean rallies symbolized the total victory on the national level. From here, we can move to the worldwide level. Dec. 18 was a very historical day. That day 72 scholars pledged in front of Mother and me to dedicate themselves to the fight against communism under our leadership. This is precisely as if Jesus had been able to enter the Roman Empire with his disciples and had stood up and declared war against that empire. In the name of 72 nations, I declared war against international communism.
It was most important that I be treated like a head of state at these rallies. There are certain requirements of Korean protocol, among them that no man except the president is allowed to have his wife with him on the stage during a rally. Mother and I were always on the stage together. Also, the preparations for the rallies were made by both Eastern and Western members, not just Koreans. The level of participation was worldwide because of the representatives from 72 nations.
I have built this foundation under incredibly adverse circumstances. I have gained a reputation among the American people for accomplishing whatever I say I will. I was able to achieve many valuable things, even while going to the courtroom every day. I told the court that I was going to Korea for the rally and they said, "Oh, of course. Please go ahead." It's almost as if Jesus had been able to go to Rome, walk up the steps of their Capitol Hill and say, "I'm going to build the Kingdom of God here on earth, and all the elders had responded, "Of course, please go ahead and do it!"
In 10 days, I traveled to eight Korean cities and completely awoke the population. Even though the Korean government was reluctant to see my success, the lower level bureaucrats realized that I was a winner. Many of them came to me in private and said, "Please remember me." The Minister of the Interior, who is responsible for the national police, issued a private memorandum to his forces saying, "Don't help Reverend Moon or send him escorts." However, all the lower echelon police commanders were competing with each other to send me the best quality escorts. They told me, "You deserve it."
Imagine how Satan felt to see such a success! Don't you think he felt more than a little jealous? He saw clearly that the era of God is dawning and his own 6,000 year reign on earth is collapsing.
I have gained the respect and trust of people all over Korea. The Koreans were upset by the recent Korean Airline massacre as well as the bombing in Rangoon, Burma, which killed their leaders. Demoralized by such terrible events, they felt they could do nothing, since they were just a small helpless nation. But then I showed up and gave them a basis for hope and a promise for the future.
Heung Jin's sacrifice
The Soviet Union is the subject and North Korea its object. The Korean Airline incident was carried out by the subject nation, while the Rangoon bombing was carried out by the object nation. Together they were hitting South Korea, hoping for a total demoralization. But what happened? I showed up with new energy, and within 10 days the national morale was restored to its highest level. The communist bloc also suffered a humiliating setback in the Western Hemisphere through the Grenada invasion. No month was more hot, hectic and important than December 1983.
Last year was the first year of the final three years' wilderness period. That is why I went to Korea during that year. Our slogan for 1983 was "Home Church Is Our Land of Settlement." That land of settlement is Korea. This year, we have gone one step further with our slogan. "The Creation and Building of the Fatherland." This is an historical turning point.
At Jesus' crucifixion, two thieves were hung on crosses, one on Jesus' left and one on his right. By the Principle, we know that the one on the right symbolized the free world to come and the one of the left symbolized the communist world. The one on the left mocked Jesus and said, "If you are really the son of God, why don't you come down from there and save all of us?"
At the time of Heung Jin's accident, two other blessed children were with him. They. survived and are now in good condition. As Heung Jin was driving, a big truck approached, traveling in the opposite lane. The driver of the truck hit his brakes to avoid a patch of ice, but his trailer jack-knifed into their lane. Normally the person in the front passenger's seat would have been hurt the worst. But Heung Jin had just enough time to turn the car so that he took the brunt of the impact. When his two friends, Jin Bok and Jin Gil, got out of the hospital, they testified in tears that Heung Jin had died on their behalf. He could easily have turned the other way to protect himself, but they reported that he deliberately took the impact to save them.
Heung Jin was truly born to save others, which he did even at the moment of his death. Thus his sacrifice for the others represents a sacrifice for the sake of the world. The position of Abel is always a sacrifice, and Heung Jin never feared that possibility; in fact he virtually volunteered for it.
Jesus and the two thieves were all crucified; but in the case of Heung Jin, he died and the two representatives of the world survived, healthy and strong. Jin Bok and Jin Gil had often testified that Heung Jin was always saying, "I love my father and he is in danger. I am in a position to protect him, and I am ready to die to do that." These two boys lost their own father many years ago; because of that, Heung Jin always loved them very much and felt a fatherly heart toward them.
Because Heung Jin paved the way, the door is wide open to save the communist and the free worlds. He sacrificed himself on the national foundation level to bring unity between the democratic and communist worlds. The. accident occurred in the Western world, but he was buried in Korea; thus his body is linked to both worlds. His body was returned to his homeland, signifying the national foundation, yet he died for the sake of the world. Since he lived and died on the victorious national foundation, he will be able to travel back and forth in spirit world. He will be able to work here in America on the national level and move on to the worldwide level.
We have a far greater foundation for the land of settlement than at the time of Jesus. The door of salvation for humanity has been opened far wider because of Heung Jin's sacrifice. Even Jesus did not establish the national level, because he had not established the True Parents' position. But Heung Jin had True Parents, who laid the national foundation for him to inherit.
Heung Jin's sacrifice echoed the situation of the two thieves crucified beside Jesus -- it was their resurrection. Even though many sacrifices have been made by our church elders in the past, such as Mr. Eu and Mr. Lee, and also by my other child who died, they were sacrifices only on the church level. Heung Jin made the first sacrifice on the national level. This is the reason why he can become a commander-in-chief in the spirit world and the physical world, moving freely back and forth.
Since Heung Jin was unmarried, his death has another significance. The spirit world is still an unmarried realm and will remain so until the True Parents go there. He has become the commander-in-chief of all those unmarried men and women in spirit world. For that reason, I told Heung Jin not to worry about being unmarried. I will provide him with an adopted son here on earth. That means he shall receive the Blessing as well.
Heung Jin took on all the blame for the Unification Church; by dying for that purpose, he has freed everybody else. Therefore, his contribution touches not only our church but also the free world and the communist world. All those people will come to love Heung Jin. He loved the world and proved it by becoming the conditional sacrifice for the world. For that reason, the rest of the Unification Church must also love the world.
He died in my place. Therefore, your love for him must manifest itself in your love for me. Before this, spirit world has had no way to connect to True Parents; but because Heung Jin is a direct representative, they can now connect. Also, they can connect themselves to the Unification Church because he died for you, too.
Here on earth, Heung Jin showed the example of loving his fellow man unto his life. Likewise, out of love for his father, he died. for the sake of the world, knowing that his father could continue to live for the sake of the world. By loving Heung Jin, those men and women in spirit world can connect with the True Parents on earth. Therefore, his entry into that world was a great and joyful day; he came as the messiah of love for the spirit world.
Heung Jin set the example for martyrdom in our church. The spirit world and the physical world must love him. The True Parents' position has been that of willingness and joyfulness to contribute their beloved son for the great benefit of the spirit world and physical world.
God lost the chance to love Adam and Eve, who fell as teenagers. Now this pure, unmarried teenage son has been lifted up into spirit world. This is the first time such a gift could be given to God -- an unstained child whom He could love. Therefore, I told God that I would not feel sad for myself but rather repent that when I was a teenager I could not love Korea enough and that there wasn't enough foundation at that time. By the sacrificing of my son for the world,; I have now fulfilled my responsibility to the nation of Korea and to the world. What I myself could not do in the past can now be received by God through Heung Jin's sacrifice.
The spirit world, the physical world, and the True Parents are loving Heung Jin. Upon the total sacrifice Heung Jin made for the sake of those two passengers in his car, who symbolize the free and communist worlds, I am proclaiming that he obtained the victory of love. I will now physically save the free world and the communist world. Furthermore, I am declaring the resurrection of love. In this way, the realm of death has no more power.
The Day of the Victory of Love
That is why I declared that the funeral of Heung Jin should be entirely different from any other. It was to be a joyful celebration, even like a wedding day. Furthermore, I declared the Day of the Victory of Love. I never had the time to think in terms of my own son's death but rather of how this victory would benefit God and hurt Satan's realm. Thus I concentrated upon making many conditions to be able to declare that Day of Victory of Love.
Instead of thinking in terms of our departed son, Mother and I were centered upon the dispensation of God. In the. hospital, I held the Unification Ceremony to bring universal benefit. I pledged to God that the True Parents would remain regally proud and that the entire spirit world and physical world would recognize the True Parents and praise them for this victory of love. The entire world will proclaim to the True Parents, "You are the true center of God's love."
On the Day of Victory of Love the True Parents have reached a new level and are marching forward upon the foundation of Heung Jin's sacrifice. Therefore I said to Mother, "This is not the time to shed tears. This is actually a moment of glory for God and humanity. Particularly during the funeral time, you are not in the position to shed tears." I admonished her not to shed. tears in public; privately, as a loving mother, she will shed many tears.
At 4 a.m. on Jan. 3, 1984, I declared the Day of Victory of Love. The number. represented by that time is significant -- four plus one (the first month) plus three equals eight, the number for renewal. Heung Jin has been given a new mission. He is a truly free man now! able to travel between the spirit world and physical world. So his mission is to lead young people in both realms! cleansing them by the power of love.
We have maintained Heung Jin's room in East Garden just as it was. His brothers and sisters have all wanted to go in there to sleep and study since he has passed on; they feel a powerful attraction in that room. Thus the power and magnetism that Heung Jin has for young people is already being manifested.
I have begun a special dispensation in Korea. Members of our church throughout the world will be given an identification card with my picture on it. Those who are loyal and carry this card with them all the time will inevitably be affected by good spirit world. But there are conditions to be met in order to hold that card. You cannot be focused on selfish interests of
for a certain time before you qualify. After meeting that spiritual condition you will gain the blessing of True Parents and good things will truly happen to you.
The Day of Victory of Love is the most significant day in our movement. You too must manifest the true love of God in your deeds. Without a truly loving spirit, you cannot be worthy of this special day. I did not shed any tears over the loss of Heung Jin through the whole time of the funeral. It was only when Col. Pak came back from Korea and reported about the victorious proceedings there that I finally shed tears for my son. I am a public man and therefore must be stern with myself.
I always preached to Mother, "You are like a tree with new leaves at the top. When a storm comes, the leaves will blow and the branches will sway. But never forget that the leaves are attached to the branches, and the branches are attached to the trunk, which is attached to the root. You will never be separated from your root, no matter how turbulent the emotional storms are that shake you. You must not be broken."
Through this event, the Unification Church will never be weakened but will leap forward. This greatest sacrifice will bring about greater victories. From now on, centering on the True Parents and upon the declaration of the Day of Victory of Love, vindication will. come to us. As long as you love the True Parents more than you love anyone or anything else, you will overcome Satan. The power of love will be your vindication, because Heung Jin died for all of us and he opened the door so that everyone can be entitled to the privilege of love.
Now your duty is to love the True Parents even more than Heung Jin did. If you have that as your criterion, death will hold no power and Satan will retreat. Satan used to be able to conquer and control love, but from now on love shall be governed by God. This is a great, great day.
Basically I am telling you that our power of love is now able to conquer the power of death. Upon this foundation, I declared the Day of Victory of Love. The satanic world will crumble faster now, but you will determine the rate of decay. The faster you move, the faster it will crumble. That is your responsibility. Now is the time for you to be running day and night doing God's work. Even though you may feel you are about to die during these three years, don't worry. If you die to yourself, you will not die physically but will see resurrection come to this nation and even the world in these three years.
National resurrection After his three year mission, Jesus gained individual resurrection. We are now bringing national resurrection and we shall move forward to that goal and achieve the great victory.
Amen! Of course, everyone will die physically some day, but you won't have to die in the satanic realm; you will die in the heavenly realm. Our new tradition for funeral and burial is different from that of the secular world and even the Christian world.
Now you know the importance of the Day of Victory of Love. Your determination must be to gain inspiration from Heung Jin and even go beyond his accomplishment. He will be with you, helping you. If you tell him, "Heung Jin, I am going to surpass even your standard," he will be pleased. He will say, "Go right ahead." That is a very difficult standard to surpass, but that must be your goal. Heung Jin will thank you for that. Spirit world is right here with us, so Heung Jin is here, as well.
By the declaration of the Day of Victory of Love, even Jesus Christ has gained greater freedom to come down to this world on the national level. The entire Christian world has been liberated as well. There are many theologians, professors, and other people who have come to know me, and they have a good feeling about me. You will see that as the International One World Crusade (IOWC) moves around the country, their situations will be changing. Right now, they are doing everything our of their vans. But soon they will be invited to live in church buildings.
Due to the Day of Victory of Love, Esau is freed to love Jacob; Cain can love Abel. Previously, Cain had to pay great indemnity in order to love Abel. Cain was never in a position to love Abel, even though he might have wanted to, because satanic forces were always dictating to Cain whom he could love. But now the love of God has come down and Cain can freely love Abel. In other words, Satan's power over love has been greatly diminished.
The world is changing. You can feel it and you can see it, even in the news media. Great changes are coming; the springtime of love is upon us. When spring comes, most people think about having a picnic, but conscientious farmers will use the time to sprinkle their seeds. That is what we are going to do. Because we are different from the secular world, we are going to work in the springtime to plant the seeds of God's love in the hearts of men.
These next three years will be our time for planting God's love. Everywhere we go, we will keep that consciousness. Shall we do it?