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.

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."』

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.