Sunday, September 21, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - The Biblical Day of Worship 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.



The Biblical Day of Worship 2

Let’s check the dictionary.

Sat·ur·day : the seventh day of the week
Sun·day : the first day of the week.

These definitions came from Merriam-Webster’s, you can check for yourself. The only problem is that man made the dictionary, of which there are many versions. This blog is not about the dictionary, but the Bible is the main concern here. Then let’s see according to the Bible what day of the week is the seventh day, Sabbath.

If we think about one of the two most well known Christian holidays, Easter, we know that it is always celebrated on a Sunday. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, so we always celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday.

Mark 16:9- “Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.”

This verse is about the Resurrection which we always celebrate on Sunday but this verse says Jesus rose on the first day of the week. We can clearly see that Sunday and the first day of the week are the same. Then if Sunday is the first day, then automatically we know Saturday must be the seventh day, Sabbath. Let’s confirm through one more verse.

Mark 16:1-When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week,”

This verse confirms that the Sabbath and Sunday cannot be the same, even in the New Testament God’s Sabbath and Sunday are two different days. Then why do so many people keep Sunday worship?

John 8:47-He Who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Some people hear what God says so they belong to God, like those who understand that God’s day of worship is Saturday, Sabbath. Some people continue to keep Sunday because they do not belong to God. What about faith? Won’t we be saved because we believe in Jesus and have faith in him regardless of the day of worship?

Matthew 7:21- “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Clearly this verse is describing people who believe in Jesus and have the faith to perform all kinds of miracles in his name. On judgment day, however, Jesus will tell them I never knew you, away from me you evildoers. Why? This is because despite their great faith in God, they didn’t do his will which we saw is Saturday, Sabbath. So no matter how much faith we have, we still have to be very careful in doing His will correctly.

I want to give all thanks, honor and praise to our Heavenly Father Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother for restoring this truth to us. Thanks to Christ Ahnsahnghong, we are able to recognize God’s will for our salvation. Also because of Christ Ahnsahnghong, we are able to receive God’s rest, blessing, and holiness on the Sabbath day.

World Mission Society Church of God - The Biblical Day of Worship 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.


The Biblical Day of Worship 1

If I were to ask you what is the day we should worship God, you’d probably say one of two things; Sunday or any day. Hey, why not? I would like to propose a hypothetical question, if God said we should worship him on a Wednesday or Monday, what would you do? Of course we would go if God said. Then let’s confirm through the Bible the day of worship.

Revelations 22:18- "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

Now let’ see what God said in the beginning.

Genesis 2:2-By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

On the seventh day, God rested, blessed it and made it holy. God did this because he needs rest, blessings or holiness? Of course not! We are the ones who need all three of these so God made the seventh day for us to receive rest, blessings, and holiness. These things are very important for us and are necessary for us to receive salvation. They are so important that God put the seventh day in the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:8-Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

In this verse which is the fourth commandment, God again mentions the seventh day of the week and also says that He rested, blessed it, and made it holy. However, in this verse God calls the seventh day the Sabbath.

Everyone already knows how important the Ten Commandments are and accepts them as a part of basic Christian teachings. If you take a look at the other commandments, they all start with “You shall” but verse eight starts with “Remember”. Even though the Ten Commandments are very important God sets the fourth commandment apart by saying “remember”. God says to remember this day because He doesn’t want us to forget. Then we should see why God didn’t just say “you shall”, in order to do this we must see what day of the week is the Sabbath, the seventh day. Also by understanding what day is seventh day, we can receive rest, blessings, and holiness from God.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Christ Ahnsahnghong Established Jerusalem Mother in Zion

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.



Christ Ahnsahnghong Established Jerusalem Mother in Zion



It made me wonder why Christians have never heard of Our Heavenly Mother? I actually asked this, being that so many people have faith. Of course, everything is in the Bible:

Isa. 33:20 - "Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem..."

I used to just read this verse, "Yes, of course, Zion is the place keeping God's feasts." However, the second part of that verse, "Your eyes will see Jerusalem" makes you stop and think, "Hey wait a minute, if a church is not keeping the Feasts of God, can we see Mother there?" Then what are the feasts?

Lev. 23:1-44 - Passover Feast, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, & Feast of Tabernacles. Let's not forget the weekly Sabbath!

So the church keeping these Feasts will be able to see Jerusalem Mother that church is viewed BY GOD as Zion.

Looking around, only the Church of God World Mission Society, of course established by the 2nd Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, keeps the Feasts of God - all other churches claim that the feasts are Jewish and no longer need to be kept. How incorrect! Its thru the law we can recognize Christ:

Gal. 3:24 "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[a] that we might be justified by faith."

So really, if we don't keep the law of God, then how can you be lead to Christ? That's why I thank Christ Ahnsahnghong for reinstalling the Feasts of God. Only God Almighty would establish the church keeping His law correctly. Also, through the law we can recognize Zion and come to see Our beautiful Jerusalem Mother !

Friday, September 19, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - The Fig Tree Lesson

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

In the Bible it is prophesied that Jesus Christ will appear a second time (Heb. 9:28). Then, when is Jesus supposed to appear again for a second time?

Many people say that we will not know when He will come, but we must see if the Bible discloses when Jesus will come.

SIGNS OF THE END

When the disciples asked about Jesus’ Second Coming and the end of the age, Jesus replied:

Matt 24:3-33 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”…”Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Jesus said, “as soon as it’s twigs get tender and it’s leaves come out, you know that it is near”, then, we have to find out when will the fig tree bloom and therefore understand the timing of Jesus’ second appearing.

THE FIG TREE STAND FOR ISRAEL

In order to realize the meaning of the parable we must understand what the fig tree represents. As it is written,

Luke 13:6-7 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

Why did Jesus compare Himself to a man who when to look for fruit on a fig tree planted in a vineyard?What is the meaning of this? It’s meaning is that Jesus preached the gospel to the Israelites for three years searching for the fruit of the gospel. Therefore, the fig tree represents for the country of Israel.

Isa 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. (KJV )

In the above verse we can understand that in the Bible the vineyard represents the country of Israel and the plant (the tree) represents the people of Israel. Let’s look at another biblical testimony concerning this.

Jer. 24:5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

Through this verse God makes it apparent that figs represent Israel, since He compared the figs to the people of Israel once more.

THE FALL OF ISRAEL

In Luke 13:7 Jesus told His disciples to cut down a fig that had not borne any fruit. Actually Jesus’ words at that time was a prophesy of what was going to happen to Israel. As a fulfillment to what Jesus had said, Israel which had rejected the gospel that Jesus preached was completely devastated by Roman soldiers in A.D. 70. After it’s collapse, the people were scattered all over the world as a stateless people for more than 1900 years.

THE REVIVAL OF THE FIG TREE: ISREAL

After much time had passed, the fig tree that had been cut down and withered from the roots began to bloom once more. It’s twigs got tender and its leaves began to sprout. When did all this happen? The revival of the fig tree occurred in 1948. On May 14, 1948, Israel proclaimed her independence and recovered her sovereignty. The fig tree which seemed to have with no sign of revival actually resuscitated. Israel’s independence after such a long time of captivity marked the second coming of Jesus as prophesied. He has come again but with the name Christ Ahnsahnghong. Christ Ahnsahnghong is the one we all have been waiting for. That is why the Church of God received Christ Ahnsahnghong, the second coming Jesus, as the Savior.

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

According to the prophesy revealed through the fig tree, Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Jesus, came from Zion in 1948. Now He is calling you. Will you let Him just stand at your door? Or, will you open and receive Him?

Thursday, September 18, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Christ Ahnsahnghong protect us

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.


Christ Ahnsahnghong protect us

There are rumors of destruction going on in the whole world. And although people proclaim there is peace, there is destrucion at hand (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Then how can we be protected? By living in an underground city? By living in a submorine under water? By moving to another planet? How long can a person really survive if they are to do this? Not long at all.
The only way we know for sure that we are protected is by God.
Then how did God say we will be protected from this pending disaster?

Rev 7: 1 ~4 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

Before the last disaster, whether it be last plague or by God, there is a way to be protected.
An angel coming from the east will bring the seal of God and put it on the foreheads of the 144,000.
This angel that has authority to command other angels is God Himself because He is holding the seal of God.
This angel coming from the east is second coming christ, God almighty, Christ Ahnsahnghong.

World Mission Society Church of God - Plural God

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother. Without knowing God, we cannot know how to save our lives.
Many people say "We know God" or "God is everywhere." But most people do not know what God has done, is doing, or will do. The only way to know what God has done, is doing, or will do is to read the Bible, the Word of God. God left us this word to show us all His plans, and also to show us about God Himself.
The God who fulfills prophecy is Elohim God.
Elohim is the Hebrew name for the plural God.
We can see this name used many times throughout the Bible. What is God trying to show us? That there is more than one God. According to the Bible, there are two Gods, male and female.

Genesis 1:26~27 And God said, "Let us make man in our image, and in our likeness. In the image of God he created him, male and female He created them."

No one knew this mystery of God. And without knowing no one can enter heaven. We must make certain we know God. God is both our Father and Mother without a doubt. This is according to the Bible.

Galatians 4:26 "But the Jerusalem that is above is free and she is our Mother."

Mother God is represented in the New Testament by the Spiritual Jerusalem of the New Covenant.
Christ Ahnsahnghong spoke these words to us in these days and revealed the existence of Mother God through the Bible. Let us believe Christ Ahnsahnghong who is the second coming Christ testified in the bible, and let us believe our Spiritual Mother, New Jerusalem.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Christmas is not birthday of Jesus

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Christmas is not birthday of Jesus

Christmas is a popular festival which is celebrated throughout the world. When the Christmas season arrives, in December, everyone gets into the festive spirit. Most people are under the impression that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, the day when He came into the world to give blessings and eternal hope to mankind; however, the Church of God—believing in the Second Coming Christ—does not celebrate Christmas, because it is not the birthday of Jesus.

In fact, within Christmas is hidden a deceitful trick of Satan. The devil has tricked many people into worshiping the sun god by allowing them to fall into the illusion that they are sincerely worshiping God in the proper way.

Actually, Christmas is a festival to the sun god, Baal, and thus, those who keep the festival are rebelling against God. Satan has deceived people into mistaking Christmas for the birthday of Jesus, and by this cunning deception, Satan has come to be unwittingly served by all the people of the world. Many people try to justify themselves, saying, "We celebrate Christmas because it is the birthday of Jesus." However, Christmas—December 25th—is the birthday of the sun god, Nimrod, who was the first model of the Antichrist. Christmas originated in the festival of Saturnalia, and is a subtle scheme—devised by Satan—to destroy our souls.

Satan always tries to turn us away from the way that God has commanded us to follow: "You shall have no other gods before me," "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything." Today, Satan is prowling around, like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. In order to resist him, we should be alert, standing firm in our faith. In today’s world, lies are prevalent—and most consider these lies to be the truth—because this generation does not hesitate in following the ways that are against God. We need to be able to discern the truth from all of the falsehood. By examining numerous sources of evidence, we can clearly understand that December 25th was not the birthday of Jesus, but the birthday of the sun god.

Now, let’s look carefully at various materials which testify that the date of Jesus’ birth was not December 25th, and that this date was the birthday of the sun god, as it had been celebrated in ancient Rome. Even though all of the people living in this age believe that lies and falsehood are the truth, we are the ones who must restore the truth.

Friday, July 25, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Baptism 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.


Baptism and the Book of Life

Jesus said, "No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." To be "born again" means to be born a second time?being born of the Spirit (John 3:1-8). As one's name is recorded in the census when he is born, so is one's name written in the book of life after he is born again of the Spirit. Therefore, when someone is baptized, his name is written in the Church's book of life, and most importantly, is also written in the book of life in heaven.

Matt. 16:19 『"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."』

Like this, when one's name is written in the book of life on earth, it is also written in the book of life in heaven. The Apostle Paul said:

1 Cor. 4:15 『...for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.』 Phil. 3:20 『But our citizenship is in heaven.』

Phil. 4:3 『Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.』

And Jesus said:

Luke 10:20 『"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."』

Ps. 69:27-28 『Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.』

Even if we diligently believe in God, unless our names are written in the book of life, we can never enter the kingdom of heaven. As it is written:

Rev. 20:15 『If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.』

Rev. 21:27 『Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.』

Isa. 4:3-4 『Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.』

The prophet Daniel wrote:

Dan. 12:1 『"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people?everyone whose name is found written in the book?will be delivered."』

But David, the writer of Psalms, wrote:

Ps. 69:27-28 『Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.』

Even though someone's name has been written in the book of life, his name will be blotted out of the book of life if he commits the unforgivable sin.

Rev. 3:5-6 『"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."』

Through baptism, we receive the forgiveness of our sins, our names are written in the book of life in heaven, and we are born again with a new life, just as Jesus was raised from the dead. That is why we are baptized. If we have not been baptized, we cannot keep the Passover, and unless we keep the Passover, our names cannot be written in the book of life. We must be baptized, and then keep the Passover, so that we can escape the last plagues and enter the eternal kingdom of heaven.

World Mission Society Church of God - Baptism 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

When Should We Be Baptized?

Baptism is the first step toward receiving God's favor, through which we receive the forgiveness of sins. It has been likened to the birth of a baby coming out of the womb. As our body is born from the womb and then learns about the world one by one, our spirit removes its sins and transgressions through baptism, being born again as a child of God. Then, after baptism, we learn about God's providence and the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.

Eph. 1:7-9 『In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding...』

Without receiving the forgiveness of sins, we cannot be given the wisdom to recognize God. Therefore it is against God's will to insist that baptism should be given after six or twelve months of studying. If we want to believe in God, we should be baptized first. After, we are given the opportunity to participate in God's divine nature through our life of faith.

Here are some examples of those who, upon hearing the good news of Jesus, participated in God's righteousness by being baptized.

A eunuch who was in charge of the treasury of Candace [queen of the Ethiopians] was baptized while traveling along the road, immediately after Philip had testified to him about the Christ (Acts 16:13-15). A woman named Lydia, a purple cloth dealer, received Paul's message and believed in Jesus; she, and her household, was baptized immediately (Acts 16:13-15). And a jailer, who patrolled the gate of the prison where Paul and Silas were confined, heard about Jesus. Immediately he and his family came to believe in Jesus, and were baptized (Acts 16:25-33). Baptism means the rebirth of our spirit and it is the starting point of our faith in God.

Through baptism, we promise God that we will repent of our past sins and that we will follow the will of God. In return, God promises that he will remember us in the time of Judgment.

Suppose there is a church that insists that someone should be baptized after six months or one year, after his faith has grown. If he dies while learning the doctrines of this particular denomination?without having the promise of God's salvation who will be responsible for his soul


Baptism and Rebirth

All men are destined to die because of their sin. The kingdom of heaven is a place where our physical bodies can never step foot. Even though our bodies are slaves to sin and destined to die, God allows us the opportunity to return to heaven. To enter the eternal kingdom, our spirit should be born again.

John 3:3-5 『In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."』

To be born again, our body must first die to pay for our sins. To make us realize this principle (of the forgiveness of sins and rebirth), Jesus made atonement for our sins by shedding His blood on the cross and then resurrecting. As Jesus died on the cross, our body should be buried through baptism. And as Jesus rose from death, we are to be born again as the righteous, only after our sins are forgiven through the grace of Christ.

1 Pet. 3:21 『...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also─not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.』

Rom. 6:3-11 『Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life...Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him...In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.』

The purpose of the law of baptism is not to wash the dirt off of our body, but to wash the sin off of our soul, so that we may be revived.

World Mission Society Church of God - Baptism 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Man is mortal. Why has man become a slave to death? The Bible tells us that all men come to die on account of their sin.

We cannot have life when we are still filled with sin. In order to receive eternal life, our sins must be disposed of. Baptism is the first step we can take toward salvation. Through this gracious regulation of God, our sins are cleansed and we are atoned.

Therefore, the Church of God performs baptism, according to the teaching of the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong.


The Origin of Baptism

God promised His people that He would send the prophet Elijah to prepare the way for Him; Elijah would appear before God came to the earth as the Messiah. The purpose of Elijah's coming was to testify about the Messiah, and to "make straight" the way for Him.

Isa. 40:3 『A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."』

John the Baptist was sent to fulfill the mission of Elijah. He preached the news of repentance to the Israelites who did not obey the words of God, being confined within their hypocritical faith.

Matt. 3:7-9 『But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'" 』

Mark 1:4-5 『And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.』

John did not baptize people by his own will, but according to the orders he had received from God, who had sent him.

God established the principle of the forgiveness of sins through baptism, so that we could realize that baptism is one of God's righteous laws, given to us for our salvation (1 John 1:33). Therefore, Jesus set the example of being baptized, by John the Baptist, to institute baptism as a sacred law.

Matt. 3:14-15 『But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."』

Matt. 21:32 『For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him..." 』

Baptism, the truth of righteousness, was not only an ordinance to testify about Jesus, but it was also a law of the new covenant, for Jesus himself baptized people and set the example of being baptized with water (Matt. 3:16).

John 3:22-23 『After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.』

Saturday, July 5, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Soul 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.


The Apostle Peter's Thoughts About the "Spirit"

The Apostle Peter always remembered what Jesus had told him before His ascension.

John 21:18-19 『"I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.』

When Peter's life of the gospel was about to come to an end, he worried about the saints, remembering what Jesus had told him.

2 Pet. 1:13-14 『I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.』

Peter described his death as "putting aside" the tent of the body, and as his "departure." It is clear that it is Peter's spirit that would leave his body. While his spirit was in a fleshly body, the body itself became his spirit's house; after his spirit's departure, the body would return to the ground.

We study the apostles' thoughts to know the teachings that they learned from Jesus. Through the apostles' explanations of the spirit, we can clearly understand that Jesus Christ had taught and revealed that the spirit exists within men.


My True Life

We often wonder, "Who am I?" Some say, "Man eats to live," while others argue that, "Man lives to eat." Neither of these opinions is correct.

Our main essence is not our physical body, but the spirit inside our body. Our spirit lives in the tent we call our "body." When we go camping, we only stay in a tent for a few days, don't we? The time we spend in the tent is temporary. Likewise, our life within the body?our tent?is only a temporary life.

If we live for our physical body, it means that we are living for our house. Life is to live for ourselves, not for the houses we dwell in.

In our life of faith, we sometimes focus on our physical life more than our spiritual life. Of course, as long as we are in the body, we can't deny the physical life; however, if we live only for a temporary tent which will soon disappear, how pitiful will our life be?

We live in these tents because of our sin, but after we receive the forgiveness of our sins, redemption?under the grace of Christ, the Passover Lamb?our eternal houses wait for us. Let's reconsider what we should focus on while we live on this earth.

2 Cor. 4:18 『So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.』

World Mission Society Church of God - Soul 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Jesus Taught Us About the "Spirit"

The concept of "spirit" became clearer in the New Testament.

Matt. 10:28 『"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."』

In this verse, Jesus describes the same creation process as in Genesis chapter two, revealing the separation between the death of the body [the dust] and the death of the spirit.

The Greek word for soul in this verse is "pneuma," which means "spirit."

John 4:24 『"God is spirit [pneuma]." 』

2 Cor. 33:17 『Now the Lord [Jesus] is the Spirit [pneuma].』

Heb. 1:14 『Are not all angels ministering spirits [pneuma]...?』

God is spirit and doesn't belong in the flesh. Jesus is spirit and doesn't belong in the flesh. Angels are also spirits who do not belong in the flesh. Thus, a man's death can be separated into two events: the death of the flesh and the death of the spirit. The devil, or another man, can kill our body, but it is only God who can destroy our spirit.

The Apostle Paul, in a letter to the Church in Corinth, wrote as follows:

1 Cor. 2:11 『For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit [pneuma] within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit [pneuma] of God.』

Jesus taught us that the true essence of our life is not our flesh, but our spirit.


The Apostle Paul's Thoughts About the "Spirit"

We try to understand the apostles' minds because their thoughts were established by Jesus' teachings. The apostles understood that our flesh is merely the house of our spirit.

2 Cor. 5:1 『Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed [if our flesh dies], we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.』

Our spirit lives in a temporary earthly tent?our flesh?now, but it will live in an eternal house that God has built for us.

2 Cor. 5:6 『Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord....We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.』

In this letter, the Apostle Paul says that the Lord [Jesus] dwells in the world of spirit and that we dwell in the world of flesh. Thus we are away from the Lord as long as we are in the body. The Apostle Paul also reveals that he, and the rest of the saints, would prefer to be away from their bodies and at home with the Lord.

In the above verses, what is the entity that dwells in the body and then leaves the body? Paul's spirit, the very essence of Paul, is the one who wants to leave the body. The body he wore was not the essence of his life, but instead, Paul's spirit?dwelling within his body?was his true self. To say it again, the Apostle Paul lived not for the temporary life in his earthly tent [his flesh], but he longed for the life that he would live in the eternal house. God would give him this everlasting home only after his spirit left its earthly tent.

The Apostle Paul wrote similarly in a letter to the saints in Philippi.

Phil. 1:21-24 『For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain....I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.』

Paul's words, "We...would prefer to be away from the body," in the book of 2 Corinthians 5:6 and the words, "I desire to depart," in the book of Philippians chapter one, have the same meanings. "To be away," or "to depart," means to leave the body. What is the entity that dwells in the body or leaves it? It is Paul's spirit, the true essence of Paul.

Paul revealed that it was more necessary for the saints that he remained in his body. If Paul were to leave his body [if he were to die], he would go to Christ; thus it was good for him to leave the body. If he remained in the body, however, it was good for the saints because then he could teach them the truth of God and guide them down the right path.

Paul also uttered a revelation that God had shown him in another letter to the Church in Corinth.

2 Cor. 12:1 『I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know?God knows. And I know that this man?whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows.』

When Paul saw this revelation, he said twice, "...whether I [my spirit] was in the body or out of the body I do not know?God knows."

According to this verse, did the Apostle Paul think that the spirit existed as a separate entity from the body, or did he believe that the spirit did not exist?

If the Apostle Paul believed that the spirit did not exist, could he have said, "Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know?God knows"...? When Paul saw this revelation?describing himself as "a man" he knew (speaking in the third person)?he didn't know whether his spirit had traveled out of the body, or if he had gone to such a paradise in his flesh.

World Mission Society Church of God - Soul 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

"What happens to a man when he dies?"..."Does a man really have a spirit?"... "Where does a man go when he dies?" Questions such as these have been a matter of great interest throughout history, but no one has been able to answer them. Men eager to find such answers wrote great philosophies, but mere philosophers could never realize how they had been created.

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to the earth, established the Church of God, and taught us that all men are angels who have come to the earth after sinning in heaven. He let us know how valuable we are and revealed to us the true purpose of our lives.


The Spirit Revealed Through the Creation of Human Beings

Gen. 2:7 『...The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.』

The dust is not the essence of life; God didn't name the dust itself a "living being." Only after God had breathed the breath of life into the dust, did He call it a "living being." Therefore, the essence of life is not the flesh, but the breath of life, the spirit that God breathed into the dust. Man's flesh is made from the dust, but his spirit is made by God, and is from God.

Solomon wrote, "The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Eccl. 12:7).

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Rebirth 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Apostle Paul was born again by receiving Christ as his master
Gal 2:20 『I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.』
Apostle Paul lived a new life after receiving Jesus Christ. He wrote to the saints of the Early Church: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation' (2 Co 5:17), ‘Put off your old self and put on the new self in Christ' (Eph 4:22-24).
Paul crucified his old self and put on the new self. He said that Christ lived in him; what pleased Christ was his pleasure, and what He wished was his wish.
Jesus came into this earth to save sinners, and He was pleased when they repented. So was Paul who received Christ as his master; to him, all men were the objects to be saved. So he began to preach.
God gives much fruit to the reborn
Like Paul, we, too, should crucify our old self that does not please God. When only Christ lives in us, we will be pleased with what He wants.
Sometimes we try to bear fruit without being broken. However, this is not God's will. Only through the pain of breaking our sinful nature, we can put on the new self; when we become new by receiving God as our master, what pleases God will be our pleasure and His glory our glory. Then God will let us bear much fruit.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus rebuked the man who had received one talent and didn't allow him to enter the kingdom of heaven. It was because he just kept the talent, without breaking his own self. How about those who had received two or five talents? They broke themselves to be born again, so that they could bear much fruit. The man who had received the one talent, however, kept it to himself for fear of the pain of sprouting. That was why Jesus rejected him.
We are now endeavoring to bear the fruit of life, going through difficulties and adversities. The pain itself is not our ultimate purpose but only a process for bearing fruit. It is God's providence to make us suffer, so that we may be born again and bear fruit. If we understand this, we can accept any hardship as God's great gift for us and give thanks to God. Though there are hardships in the process of our being born again, we shall endure, keeping in mind that everything in our life goes according to God's plans. Dear brothers and sisters! I hope you will be born again and have hope for heaven, so that you can give more glory to God.

World Mission Society Church of God - Rebirth 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Bearing fruit after hardships
God shows His providence through nature. Going into the principles of all nature, we realize that without the pain of rebirth, we cannot bear fruit prepared in God's grace.
A silkworm cannot become a moth without casting off its cocoon. A chick must break its eggshell to get life.
Jesus has said that when a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it bears much fruit.
Jn 12:24 『"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."』
If a kernel of wheat remains only a single seed, it cannot sprout and grow. For the bearing of fruit, there must be ‘breaking'; without breaking, there is no rebirth or new self.
Some part of the kernel must be broken, so that it may sprout; beginning with the broken part, the kernel sprouts. If it spares itself for fear of the pain of being broken, it cannot bear fruit. Only when the grain stands the pain and gets born again, it can bring forth much fruit.
So the Bible says that we cannot see the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.
Jn 3:3 『In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."』
Without being born again, without being broken, no one can bear fruit and see the kingdom of God.
Our present suffering is like the pain of a grain's sprouting and that of an egg's hatching. If we believe firmly that God will allow us to bear much fruit in the end, we will be able to endure with joy and thanksgiving.
Christ died as a kernel of wheat
Jesus Himself showed an example of being born again as a grain of wheat.
Isa 53:3-10 『… Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. … Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.』
Christ was oppressed, wounded, pierced, despised, mocked, …. "He will see his offspring": Until this word was fulfilled, Christ had been totally crushed in distress. However, Jesus endured all the pain, knowing that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear much fruit. By the perseverance of Christ Himself, we have been able to seek salvation and have the hope of eternal life.
The Bible says that it was God's will to crush Christ. Then, it is also God's will that we should suffer. If we endure and are born again, we can bear much fruit.
Stephen prayed for those stoning him, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Ac 7:59-60). If he had the mind of a sinful man, he would have hated them. However, he received Christ as his master, so that he could be born again and love even his enemies with the heart of Christ.

World Mission Society Church of God - Rebirth 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

People experience many hardships and trials in their lives. Taking their cross, they walk the path of suffering. This is the life of pilgrims.
How about us who have received God? God has a plan for our life. If we realize this fact, we will understand that our present suffering is a part of God's great plan for our salvation and the process of our rebirth.


Suffering in God's plan

This is what happened in America. There was a fire at a store in Chicago, and the store was completely destroyed by fire. Its owner was a self-made man who had undergone difficulties. So his neighbors and customers commiserated him on his misfortune.
One day, in the ashes stood a small notice board saying, "I will begin again tomorrow. There is no reason I give way to despair."
The owner of the destroyed store opened a street stall beside the board and placed some of his articles on sale. All his business went up in smoke overnight, but he didn't get frustrated. People were moved by his unyielding spirit. As soon as he displayed articles on the stall, they were sold out. Before long, he made enough money to build a new building.
How could he start again? A common thing served as a motive. When the building was completely destroyed by fire and all his efforts came to nothing overnight, he was terribly distressed. Then he drove about the town and happened to see a mason laying bricks. Beginning with the first brick, the mason laid red bricks one upon another; after several hours of the day, there rose a high brick wall. Watching this, he realized: ‘I had nothing in the beginning. However, I could set up a big store, because I wholeheartedly laid bricks one after another like the mason. Now, I'll try a new start, with the mind of the bricklayer.' This indomitable spirit enabled him to rise again and succeed in his business.

The building, which had been burnt down, was restored by its owner's fortitude. In our life of faith, whether we can get over difficulties or not depends on who masters our spirits. If we are not ruled by God but by any other spirits, we will be thrown into despair whenever we face difficulties. If arrogance has dominion over our spirits, we should crucify it. If our spirits are mastered by desperation, we should also drive it out from our hearts.
There are many trials and pains in the process of our rebirth in God. Since we have hope, no adversity can deter us. On the contrary, those who get easily frustrated, even though they've gained success, are thrown into despair when a misfortune befalls them. We endure any adversities and hardships, believing that there are God's certain plans for our lives.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - CLOUDS & FLESH 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

Jesus, who came with the clouds

In a vision, the prophet Daniel saw the Son of Man coming with the clouds, and he prophesied:

Dan. 7:13-14 『In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.』

Jesus did not come on the visible clouds of heaven. Instead, He was born as a baby through the body of Mary. Some argue that the above prophecy is concerning Jesus’ second coming. Daniel’s prophecy is speaking of Jesus’ first coming, undoubtedly, because the prophecy states, "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power [a kingdom, KJV]; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him." Matthew and Luke disclosed that, in His first coming, Jesus had been given all authority, in heaven and on earth, as well as a kingdom.

Matt. 28:18 『Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."』

Luke 22:29 『"And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,"』

The Bible prophesied that Jesus’ first coming would be with the clouds, and yet He came in the flesh. Therefore, the prophecy of His second coming, in a cloud, also reveals that He will secretly come in the flesh, doesn’t it? There is an undeniable prophecy: "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (Matt. 24:34-35).

Then, how long will "this generation" be? Almost two thousand years have passed since Jesus spoke these words. Has the generation not yet passed? In regard to one generation, the Bible says:

Ps. 90:10 『The length of our days is seventy years, or eighty, if we have the strength...』

Therefore "this generation" can only be interpreted as the time period within which the Son of Man comes in a cloud for the second time and gathers His elect from all sides.

The last judgment will be when Jesus comes with fire

When Jesus comes as the Last Judge, He is to come with fire, not on a cloud. The prophet Isaiah testified that on the last day Jesus would come with fire. As it is written:

Isa. 66:15-16 『See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men and many will be those slain by the LORD.』

And the Apostle Paul wrote:

2 Thess. 1:7-8 『This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.』

Heb. 12:29 『...for our "God is a consuming fire."』

Matt. 24:30 『They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.』

Luke 17:22 『..."The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it."』

In other words, we will be able to see Jesus when He comes in a cloud, but we will not see Jesus when He comes with fire. Jesus also said that He wouldn’t find faith on the earth when He came on a cloud for the second time.

Luke 18:8 『"However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"』

If there is no one who has faith at the time Jesus comes, who can be saved? The Bible says:

Matt. 24:31 『"And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."』

In accordance with the prophecies of Jesus’ coming in a cloud, again, to gather His elect from the four winds, Jesus has come for a second time and is presently gathering His elect from the four winds. The one who has fulfilled all of these prophecies is Christ Ahnsahnghong.

We truly hope that you will be able to recognize the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, through studying the prophecies of the Bible so that you may receive salvation.

World Mission Society Church of God - CLOUDS & FLESH 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.

The Son of Man will come in a cloud

At first, we need to carefully study Jesus’ first coming, because He was also prophesied to come in a cloud. If this prophecy meant that He would come in a physical cloud of the sky, the people who do not believe will fall into destruction. But if this prophecy meant that He would come in the flesh, and not on an actual cloud, then those who insist on His coming on a physical cloud of the sky will be destroyed.

When Jesus came for the first time, 2,000 years ago, the Pharisees were aware that Elijah would come before the Messiah (Matt. 17:10-13; cf. Matt. 11:14). Elijah had gone up to heaven in a whirlwind, riding a chariot of fire (2 Kin. 2:11), so the priests, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, all believed that the Elijah to come would also come down from heaven in a chariot of fire, the same way that he had gone up to heaven. Because of their incorrect beliefs, they failed to receive Elijah, John the Baptist, and persecuted him; thus, they were all destroyed. While they eagerly looked forward to Elijah’s coming in a chariot of fire, Elijah, John, had already been born, as a child, through the body of Elizabeth (Luke 1:57-66).

All of the evildoers who had waited for Elijah’s coming in a chariot of fire were destroyed. This is God’s warning to us. In the last days, the people who believe that Jesus will come in a physical cloud of the sky will be destroyed.

We should be careful not to follow the Pharisees’ example, and make every effort to study the prophecies of Jesus’ coming in a cloud. The Bible says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near," and, "He will send his angels...and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

Most Christians assume that when Jesus comes in a cloud, as the Judge, the earth will be destroyed and the "saved" will be caught in the air to meet Jesus. The Bible says, however, that "when these things begin to take place [when the Son of Man comes in a cloud], stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." The Bible also says that when Jesus comes in a cloud He will gather His elect from the four winds.

In other words, the purpose of Jesus’ coming in a cloud for a second time is not to destroy the earth, but to gather the elect. In order to be recognized as the elect, we must receive the Second Coming Christ who comes in a cloud.

"Cloud" means "flesh"

We need to know the correct interpretation of the "cloud." If the prophecy refers to a cloud of the sky, where would Jesus stay until He came in a cloud? A cloud is visible water vapor, floating above the earth. It accumulates in the air and comes down as rain or snow; this is the cycle of a cloud. Then, where would Jesus stay until He came in a cloud? Let’s find out the symbolic meaning of the cloud, through the Bible.

Heb. 12:1 『Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...』

Jude 1:12 『These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm: shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind...』

In the above expressions-"a great cloud of witnesses," and, "clouds without rain, blown along by the wind"-the clouds represent people, wearing the flesh. Since the Bible calls false prophets "clouds without rain," whom do "clouds with rain" represent? Those "with rain" are the true prophets, aren’t they?

The water within the clouds represents the water of life.

Zech. 14:8 『On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea...』

And Jesus said:

John 7:37-39 『On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.』

And the Apostle Peter said:

2 Pet. 2:17 『These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm.』

"Springs without water" and "mists driven by a storm" indicate false Christians. As you know, "mists" are "clouds without rain" (Jude 1:12). The waters that have not been vaporized represent all human beings, everyone in the flesh.

Rev. 17:15 『The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.』

Since the waters represent "peoples," whom do the clouds stand for? Clouds are suspended in the air, visible collections of water particles that have been vaporized by solar heat. Thus, clouds represent the people who have been born again through the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ coming in a cloud means His coming in the flesh.

World Mission Society Church of God - CLOUDS & FLESH 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.


The Bible prophesies that Jesus will come on a cloud, for a second time, in order to restore the lost truth and to lead the children of God into the kingdom of heaven. When Jesus came two thousand years ago, He fulfilled the prophecy of the book of Daniel by "coming with the clouds of heaven" (Dan. 7:13-14). Actually, Jesus came as a man, in the flesh. Jesus is prophesied to come a second time on the clouds of heaven, meaning that He will come as a man, in the flesh, again.

Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Christ, has come in the flesh, fulfilling the prophecies of the Bible. When Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels asked the people, "Why do you stand here looking at the sky?" The members of the Church of God are not looking up into the sky, and are not waiting for the second coming of Jesus. We have already received the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, who has come in the flesh according to the prophecies of the Bible. The Church eagerly preaches to the people who are still looking up at the clouds of the sky, informing them that their Savior, Christ, has already come.

We truly wish that all of the readers will open their hearts, will study the words of truth, and will receive the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, who guides us to salvation.

Luke 21:27-28 『"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."』

Monday, June 16, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - Look Upon the Spiritual World 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother.
A visible world and an invisible world of dragonfly larvae

Dragonflies fly very close to the water during their spawning season and touch the surface of the water with the tip of their bodies. They then lay their eggs in the water. The eggs hatch into larvae that are covered by an embryonic membrane, and they repeatedly shed their exoskeletons as they grow. The larvae’s final molt transforms them into nymphs, aquatic predators; they make their homes in the muddy or sandy bottom or on plants or among stones. When the dragonfly nymphs reach maturity, they crawl out of the water onto a plant stem. Then their skins begin to split, and the wings of adult dragonflies emerge; soon they are able to fly in the sky. How amazing is the transformation from underwater nymphs to winged dragonflies flying in the sky! It is a dimensional change.
One day a frog visited a pond where dragonfly nymphs lived. The frog told the nymphs about beautiful flowers, stars twinkling in the night sky and insects such as bees or butterflies which he had seen during his journey. He also told them that once fully mature, they would come out of the water and be transformed into beautiful winged dragonflies.
“Now you are merely underwater nymphs. When you become adults, you will have beautiful transparent wings so you can fly freely in the sky. With the wings you can freely fly, traveling from flower to flower.”
However, the nymphs didn’t believe what the frog said about the outer world. For it was unbelievable, unimaginable, and fabulous to them.
After the frog went back, the dragonfly nymphs gathered together to discuss. “His saying may be true.” “No! It’s a nonsense.” They were thus divided in their opinions. Finally they agreed to this opinion: “If any of us is really transformed into a dragonfly that is able to fly in the sky just as the frog said, then he shall get back into the water and tell the truth.”
After some time, one of the nymphs underwent a transformation. The dragonfly nymph climbed up a plant stem out of the water and split its skin. Just like the frog had said, it was transformed into a dragonfly with transparent wings and a long tail. Emerging from its underwater life, it had beautiful wings and could fly from flower to flower, smelling their fragrance.
The Milky Way flowing in the night sky, the sun rising every morning and shining brightly, cool wind, white clouds floating in the sky, beautiful fragrant flowers, …. It was a scene unimaginable in the underwater world.
The dragonfly was reminded of its underwater friends who didn’t know about such a beautiful world, and remembered what they said to each other: “If any of us becomes a dragonfly for the first time, he shall come back into the pond and tell the truth.” Then the dragonfly tried to get back into the pond where it had lived in order to tell the truth to its friends, but it could not go into the water because it had already become dimensionally different from them.


God’s promise of eternal life

Just as the dragonfly nymphs could hardly understand the existence of that other world until it was transformed into a dragonfly, so can we hardly believe and acknowledge what we’ve not experienced in this earth. We often fail to understand Jesus’ teachings on heaven and hell.

The Bible describes the transformation we will undergo to enter heaven.

1 Co 15:50-54 『I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed―in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. …』

“The mortal must clothe itself with immortality.” This shows that we shall be changed into immortal beings. Therefore, we need to deeply study what the Bible says about eternal life which God has promised us.

Jn 6:53-54 『Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”』

How can we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood then?

Mt 26:17-28 『On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” … So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. … While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”』

God sealed the Passover bread with Jesus’ flesh and the Passover wine with His blood. He promised eternal life to those celebrating the Passover.
When will the people, who have become one with Christ by eating the Passover bread and drinking the Passover wine, be transformed into glorious beings? It is at the last day when the Christ comes down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call. On that day, we will all be changed in a flash; our bodies will be like Jesus’ glorious body (1 Th 4:13-18). We are blessed, for we have received all God’s promises described in the Bible. Imagine the moment when we will be changed in a flash, putting on the glorious robe, the angelic robe. Though we now live in this visible world like the dragonfly nymphs, we will soon live in a world of unimaginable beauty, the kingdom of heaven, as newly-changed beings, as the glorious ones.
Let’s find out who has taught us the way of life, the Passover, so that we can be born again into a new world.

1 Ti 6:15-16 『which God will bring about in his own time―God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal …』

It is only God who can change our mortal bodies into immortal ones. For He alone is immortal. Nobody knows the way of eternal life except God. Only God Himself can tell us the way.
God Himself has taught us the truth of the Passover and given us eternal life to lead us into the spiritual world, the kingdom of heaven. Let’s cling not to this visible world but to the spiritual world where we are going, preparing ourselves to go there. Glory and praise be to the Spirit and the Bride for ever and ever, who have taught us the truth of eternal life so that we may look forward to entering the kingdom of heaven, our eternal home.

World Mission Society Church of God - Look Upon the Spiritual World 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother
We live as pilgrims on earth, longing for the heavenly home. Being clothed in flesh in this visible and finite world, our hearts become easily absorbed in outward things, so that we cannot think of the spiritual world. When we indulge in physical things, we can not understand God’s providence; we can’t grow in faith, and even the faith we have will gradually cool down.
Our forefathers in faith tell us that the invisible world exists and it is the eternal world.

2 Co 4:18 『So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.』

Most people believe the things that occur in the visible world, but they can hardly believe the invisible world. There are not many who live in the hope for heaven, because it is the spiritual and invisible world.


Footprints of a camel and existence of God

Two tradesmen were traveling through the desert. One of them believed in God, and the other was an unbeliever.
While they were on their tedious journey, they began a serious debate on the existence of God. One claimed that ‘God exists absolutely,’ and the other insisted that ‘God does not exist.’ They continued arguing so strenuously. The unbeliever said, “Show me the evidence for God’s existence. If He does exist, there must be visible proof of His existence.” Thus his insistence became stronger. Meanwhile it grew dark, and they spent the night in the desert.
The two tradesmen drove a stake into the ground and tied their camel to it. Then they pitched their tents in the desert for the night. Their bodies were so tired, and immediately they fell into a deep sleep. When they woke up the next morning, they found that their camel disappeared. It was certainly serious for them to lose their camel in the endless desert of sand. They looked all around but couldn’t find it. Then the unbeliever found the footprints of the camel and shouted for joy, “I’ve found the camel!” And the believer asked him,
“Where is the camel?”
“Look at these footprints. Won’t we find the camel if we follow the trail of the footprints?”
“What are you talking about? There are only the camel’s footprints, not the camel itself.”
“If we follow the trail of the camel’s footprints, we will surely find the camel.”
Being impatient, the unbeliever loudly said that. Then the tradesman who believed in God became serious and said,
“You believe that there is certainly a camel by only seeing its footprints. Now you see God’s footprints all around you. Why can’t you believe in His existence?”
Just then the sun was rising.
“Behold! The sun always rising every morning is a footprint of God.”

The tradesman believed that the camel was somewhere out there by only seeing its footprints. We have ample proofs of God’s existence all around us. The earth we live on is God’s great handiwork.
The earth is the only planet in our solar system where humans, animals and plants can live. The Bible also shows that God created this earth to fulfill His providence for the salvation of mankind. Why can’t life exist on the planets such as Mercury and Neptune, but only on the planet earth? It’s because God created this earth specifically for the purpose of accomplishing His redemptive plan.
God let only the earth put forth trees and plants that produce oxygen and purify the air, and let there be an ozonosphere region in the upper atmosphere to protect humans from the harmful rays of the sun such as ultraviolet rays. Thus, He has provided every condition for men to live on the earth. All this is evidence that God is alive and working.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - The Savior of Each Age and the New Name 3

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother

The Savior in the Age of the Holy Spirit

Now we are living in the age of the Holy Spirit.

Thus, God has given us a new name of the Savior.

Rev. 3:12 『"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name."』

Rev. 2:17 『"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him awhite stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."』

A "white stone with a new name written on it" is mentioned in the above verse. In this instance, the stone represents Jesus (1 Pet. 2:4), meaning that a new name other than the name of Jesus would be given to the people of that age.

Just as salvation was withheld from those who were stuck on the name of Jehovah and failed to receive Jesus as their Savior in the age of the Son (Rom. 15:4), salvation will never be given to those who are stuck on the name of Jesus in this age.

Those who had accepted the name of Jehovah for 3,500 years were not able to accept the name of Jesus in the age of the Son. Only the disciples accepted Jesus, the Savior in the age of the Son, who had come as prophesied. The Bible prophesied that there would be a Savior in the age of the Son. Even though Jesus came in fulfillment of all these prophecies, the people insisted on believing in only Jehovah, following their own ideas instead of Bible’s prophecy. Where are all of the people who lived in the age of the Son and who refused to accept Jesus as their Savior?

We must consider this matter carefully and break our own fixed ideas, allowing our minds to accept God’s thoughts. The Bible testifies that there will undoubtedly be a name for the Savior of the Holy Spirit’s age. We need to understand God’s providence of salvation—His allowing a different Savior’s name for each age—and we need to accept Christ Ahnsahnghong, the Savior’s name in this age of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ new name.


Witness, Prayer, and Salvation in Each Age

Once we come to understand the time limitations of each age, it is very easy for us to understand how each age affected the salvation of God’s people. In the age of the Father, people were the witnesses of Jehovah (Isa. 43:10), they prayed in the name of Jehovah, and salvation was promised only through the name of Jehovah (Joel 2:32).

Once the age of the Son had begun, how did the people, who were to receive salvation, act? Did they insist on praying in the name of Jehovah as the witnesses of Jehovah, believing that they could only be saved through the name of Jehovah? Jesus’ disciples became the witnesses of Jesus (Acts 1:6), they prayed in the name of Jesus (John 16:24), and they received salvation only by believing the name of Jesus (Rom. 10:9).

Then, in the age of the Holy Spirit, of what name should we become the witnesses, what name should we use when we pray, and what name has the authority to give us salvation?

The name is Ahnsahnghong, Jesus’ new name (John 5:39).

Everyone living in this last age of the Holy Spirit! Christ Ahnsahnghong is the Savior of this age!
Today, salvation is only given through the name of Christ Ahnsahnghong, and only those who are the witnesses of Christ Ahnsahnghong and pray in His name will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Please believe in Christ Ahnsahnghong, our Savior in the age of the Holy Spirit, so that you may receive eternal life!

Friday, June 13, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - The Savior of Each Age and the New Name 2

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother

The Savior in the Age of the Father

The most important aspect of our salvation is to know, and to receive, the name of the Savior. During the age of the Father, God granted salvation to those who believed in the name of Jehovah.

Isa. 43:11 『I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.』

In the age of the Father, salvation was dependent upon knowing and accepting the name of Jehovah. Therefore, salvation was not given to those living in the age of the Father, who either didn’t know, or who refused to accept, the name of Jehovah.

When the age of the Father ended and the age of the Son began, Jehovah came in the flesh, using the name "Jesus," as had been prophesied (Isa. 9:6-7).


The Savior in the Age of the Son

The Bible states that in the age of the Father there was no Savior apart from Jehovah, and that in the age of the Son there was no Savior apart from Jesus.

Acts 4:11-12 『"He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name underheaven given to men by which we must be saved."』

When God gave the names of Jehovah and Jesus to the people, He did not explaine that each of these Savior’s names would only be used for a specific time period or age. Thus, many people have become confused, believing that the Bible contradicts itself.

With a full understanding of the Trinity, however, you will realize that the above verses hold no contradictions. Jesus is in His very nature God (Phil. 2:5), the very God Jehovah who granted salvation during the age of the Father. Since Jesus is, in fact, Jehovah, there is no contradiction between "There is no savior apart from Jehovah," and, "There is no other name given to men by which we must be saved (apart from the name of Jesus.)"

During each age God allowed a different name of the Savior, and thus, each age also had a specified time frame and limit. In other words, salvation was given to those who had accepted the name of Jehovah in the age of the Father, and once the age changed to the age of the Son, salvation was given to those who pressed on to know and to accept the name of Jesus.

When God gave the name Jesus to the people—the Savior’s name in the age of the Son—only those who believed and called upon the name of Jesus Christ were able to receive salvation.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

World Mission Society Church of God - The Savior of Each Age and the New Name 1

World Mission Society Church of God follows teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong and Mother
The Savior of Each Age and the New Name

For our salvation, God divided six thousand years into three ages: the age of the Father, the age of the Son, and the age of the Holy Spirit, and He allowed a different Savior’s name for each of these ages—the name of Jehovah in the age of the Father, the name Jesus in the age of the Son, and the name Ahnsahnghong in the age of the Holy Spirit.

Now we are living during the last age of the Holy Spirit. Thus, God has been administrating His plan of salvation, using the new Savior’s name, the name of the Holy Spirit—Ahnsahnghong. Salvation is only given to those who believe in the name of the Savior that God has allowed to the people living in that particular age. Because we are now living in the age of the Holy Spirit, we must receive the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong, as the Savior of this age.


Age of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Eccl. 3:1, KJV 『To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…』

In this world, everyone has a certain goal and purpose for their lives. Likewise, we should set a certain goal for our faith: the salvation of our souls, eternal life.

1 Pet. 1:8-9 『Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible andglorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.』

In order for His people to receive salvation, God divided six thousand years into three ages, and allowed a different Savior’s name for each age.

Matt. 28:19 『"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the veryend of the age."』

As is commonly known, the name of the Father is "Jehovah," and the name of the Son is "Jesus." Baptism is the first step that we can take towards becoming a child of God, and to be baptized correctly, we must first know the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit.