1. unite with god’s central person of the age 2. expect the old age to oppose the new age

1. Unite with God’s central person of the age

2. Expect the old age to oppose the new age

3. Keep an open mind to receive the new truth

4. Make our own decision

Our Attitude in the Last Days

The Second The Second ComingComing

1. When Will Christ Return?Can We Know The Time?

NoNo YesYes

Matthew 24:36

Revelation 3:3

II Peter 3:10

Amos 3:7

I Thessalonians 5:4

Matthew 25:1-13


NoNo

Matthew 24:36

Revelation 3:3

II Peter 3:10

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son but the Father only”


NoNo

Matthew 24:36

Revelation 3:3

II Peter 3:10

“Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you”


NoNo

Matthew 24:36

Revelation 3:3

II Peter 3:10

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar”


YesYes

Amos 3:7

I Thessalonians 5:4

Matthew 25:1-13


YesYes

Amos 3:7

I Thessalonians 5:4

Matthew 25:1-13

For the lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared; but who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?


YesYes

Amos 3:7

I Thessalonians 5:4

Matthew 25:1-13

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

For you are all children of light, children of the day.... So then let us not sleep, as others do.


YesYes

Amos 3:7

I Thessalonians 5:4

Matthew 25:1-13

And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut....

YesYes

Amos 3:7

I Thessalonians 5:4

Matthew 25:1-13


Yes/NoYes/NoAnd while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut....

...Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour

1. When Will Christ Return?

• We can learn through the Principles of Restoration – the historical parallels:

400400400 400

Slavery in EgyptSlavery in Egypt

Jewish History Christian History

Suffering under RomeSuffering under Rome

400400400 400


JudgesJudges


Church PatriarchsChurch Patriarchs


120 120


JudgesJudges

United Israelite MonarchyUnited Israelite Monarchy


120120


Christian EmpireChristian Empire


400 400


JudgesJudges


Divided KingdomsDivided Kingdoms


400400



Divided EmpireDivided Empire


210 210


JudgesJudges



Exile and ReturnExile and Return


210210




Papal Captivity & ReturnPapal Captivity & Return


400 400


JudgesJudges




Prep. for the MessiahPrep. for the Messiah


400400




Papal Captivity & ReturnPapal Captivity & Return

Prep. for Second AdventPrep. for Second Advent



JudgesJudges

Israelite MonarchyIsraelite Monarchy



Prep. for the MessiahPrep. for the Messiah





Papal Captivity & RtnPapal Captivity & Rtn

Prep. for 2nd AdventPrep. for 2nd Advent400 400

210 210

400 400

120120

400 400

400 400


1930 years 1517 + 400 = 1917 to 1930

1. When Will Christ Return?

The Present Time = The Last Days

SIGNSBad Good

1. Wars, rumours of wars

2. Moral confusion

3. False ‘Messiahs’

4. Evil is rampant

1. Gospel is spread throughout the world

2. God’s original ‘Three Blessings’ are being restored (Escathology)

Jesus on the Mount of Olives – ‘What signs?’ Matthew 24

How Will Christ How Will Christ ReturnReturn

2. In What Manner Will Christ Return?

The Bible is in symbols and parables –

correct viewpoint >> correct interpretation

Born on earth? Come on the Clouds?

Born on earth?

Expectations about the First Coming

Born on earth?

JESUSJESUS

Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem... from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.... Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has given birth. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD.

(The ‘First Coming’)

Come on the Clouds?


Come on the Clouds?

JESUSJESUS

Daniel 7:13

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days andwas presented before him.

Born on earth?


Born on earth?

Second ComingSecond Coming

She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne

Revelation 12:5

Come on the Clouds?


Come on the Clouds?

Second ComingSecond Coming

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man. And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30

2. In What Manner Will Christ Return?Why then did Jesus say he would“Come on the Clouds”?

• To prevent the confusion of many claiming to be the returning Christ

• To encourage his followers – until the time of the second coming, to keep faith alive, they should look heavenward

• For 2000 years people’s experience of Christ would be of his spiritual presence and in visions.

What do clouds represent?

Metaphorical Biblical language:

Clouds = crowd

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . .

Hebrews 12:1

Who are the clouds?

Metaphorical Biblical language:

Clouds = water vapour = pure peopleHeb. 12:1 “clouds” = resurrected believers

Rev. 17:15 “water” = fallen people

Luke 17:25

2. In What Manner Will Christ Return?Certain verses can only be explained if Christ returns in a physical body as at the first coming:

“First he must suffer... and be rejected”

Luke 18:8


“When the son of man comes will he find faith on earth?”

Mt 7:22-3


“I never knew you, depart from me you evildoers”

Luke 17:20-4


“The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed”


Elijah(circa 864 b.c.)

Goes up to Heavenin a ‘Fiery Chariot’

‘Second Coming’as John the

Baptist(Working with John, who inherits his mission)

John the Baptist = Elijah Luke 1:17Matthew 11:13-14Matthew 17:10-13

The second coming of Jesus

Jesus(33 AD)

Ascended into heavenas a spiritual being

‘Second coming’as a new messiah

The spirit of Jesus will work with the messiah who inherits his mission

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11

What is the new messiah called?Then I saw heaven opened,

and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a new name which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

Revelation 19:11-13

Does Christ ReturnDoes Christ ReturnOnly For Christians?Only For Christians?

Is this 3rd Adam only for Christians?

Muslims expect the second advent of Jesus (as a Muslim Imam)

Shiite Muslims have various expectations of a future Mahdi

Vaishavite Hindu scriptures prophesy the descent of an avatar named Kalki

Zoroastrian scriptures prophesy the coming of the Saoshyant – the ‘World Restorer’

Confucian texts speak of a future ‘True Man’

Buddhist sutras prophesy the coming of the Maitreya Buddha


“Listen attentively with one heart. A man whose spirit shines brightly, a man whose mind is completely unified, a man whose virtue excels everyone - such a man will truly appear in this world. When he preaches precious laws, all the people will totally be satisfied as if the thirsty drink sweet drops of rain from heaven. And each and every one will attain the path of liberation from struggles.

Buddhism. Sutra of the Great Accomplishment of the Maitreya


What must the Messiah do?

• Fulfil the THREE BLESSINGS - Adam’s (human) responsibility (indemnity).

• Complete the unfinished work of Jesus

• Be victorious over evil• Show the way for all people to

regain their status as God’s true sons and daughters

• Unite people of all faiths and establish a realistic Kingdom of Peace.

And more….

Therefore he must be born in this physical world

The Second Coming is for The Second Coming is for the sake of all people, all the sake of all people, all religions and all nationsreligions and all nations

Is there a special nation prepared,as Israel was?

Will Christ return to Israel?

Tenants murder the sonTenants murder the son

“The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.”

Matt 21:33-34

The parable of the wicked tenants

Who becomes ‘Israel’?

The messiah will be born to a nation with many devout Christians

“God is able from these very stones to raise up children to Abraham.” (John the Baptist in Matthew 3:9)

‘Israel’ = ‘The one who has prevailed’ Gen32:28(the one who made the Foundation for Messiah)

Jews who believed in Jesus = the Jesus Movement

The Christian Churchspiritual descendants of Abraham

Christianity = 2nd Israel

= Jews who believe in Jesus + Gentile converts

Which Christian nation?

“For as the lightening comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

Matthew 24:27

A country in the East:

Communistleaning

Imperialist

MilitaristicImperialistic

Non aggressiveReligious

China Japan Korea

The last four hundred years

GermanyMartin Luther

1517

Karl Marx1848

Britain

America Korea

Russia

China

TravelsWEST

TravelsEAST

Free market

Liberal Democracy

Protestantism Communism

Totalitarianism

State control

British EmpireFascism

Nazism

Abel-type world Cain-type world

3. Where will Christ Return?

Korea is in a unique position

• Own messianic prophecies (Chung Gam Nok C14th – ‘the one who comes with the true word of God’) and spiritual groups preparing for the coming Christ.

• 40 years of Japanese colonial rule (indemnity period)

• Front line of the battle between Communism and Democracy divided Cain and Abel brother nations

• Non-aggressive nation with history of suffering (object partners of God’s heart)

• Deep religious traditions (loyalty, filial piety, chastity)

• Fervent embrace of Christianity


Korea is in a unique position

• Key geopolitical situation, bordering China and Russia, close to Japan and a base for the USA

• Can be an axis of peace for the great powers

• Set up to inherit contemporary civilization. Eclectic nature and able to absorb through language.

• A place where Eastern and Western cultures meet

• First nation to move from being in receipt of international funding to providing funding

• Part of the rising Pacific Rim culture

Korea is a ‘Third Israel’

Unification Movement is a Fourth Israel:•A worldwide foundation of religious

and conscientious people of all faiths

•Going beyond ‘religion’, beyond ‘international’ – ‘One Family under God’

•A purification movement re-establishing the importance of marriage and family


Unification Movement is the Fourth Israel:•A comprehensive programme to lay

the foundation for a realistic Peace Kingdom

•Ending the separation between the spiritual and physical realms and restoring harmony

1. unite with god’s central person of the age 2. expect the old age to oppose the new age

Documents

christ return

rome400400 slavery

lord god

marriage feast

new age3

new truth4

children of light

historical parallels