Shincheonji - 0048 - The Promised Pastor

The Promised Pastor

             God promised that his son would be born of a virgin and that he himself would come to unite with that son (Ps 2:7; Is 7:14). God also promised to unlock the secrets hidden in the incomprehensible prophecies he had given to his prophets. These “sealed” prophecies are variously referred to as visions (Hos 12:10), sealed scrolls (Is 29:9-14; Ez 1; Ez 2; Ez 3), and revelations (Hab 2:2-3). God kept his promise to open the words when he revealed the truth to the “Son of Man” at the time of the first coming by making him eat the sealed scroll. Even this method of revelation, by which God’s son conveys the revealed words (i.e. of the unsealed scroll) to the rebellious Israelites, was promised (Is 29:9-14; Hab 2:2-3; Eze 1; Eze 2; Eze 3).

             These promises were fulfilled accordingly by Jesus Christ (Mat 1, Mat 11:27, Mat 15:24; Jn 1:32, Jn 10:30, Jn 19:30). God opened the word that was hidden even to the prophets and the seers. He united with Jesus, and gave him the opened word. This is why Jesus said in Jn 5:37-39 that it was he whom God was testifying about in the Bible. The purpose of the Old Testament (OT) prophecies was to proclaim the identity of just one person – Jesus. John the Baptist came in the name of Elijah and Jesus Christ came in the name of Father God (Mat 11:10-14, Mat 17:10-13; Jn 5:43). The true believers of the OT, who hoped for heaven and the promised pastor, finally lived a true life of faith by seeing and believing in Jesus (Jn 6:40) because he came as the one and only Messiah (or savior).

             Jesus, during the time of his first coming, promised that he would return (Jn 14:1-3). He said in Mat 23:39, “For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Who, then, is this one who comes in the name of the Lord? He is the holy Spirit of Truth, the Counselor (Jn 14:16-17, 26). The holy Spirit of Truth, who comes in the name of the Lord, will come to dwell within one person.

Who is this person in whom the Spirit of Truth dwells?

             Just as John the Baptist came in the name of the spirit of Elijah (Mat 11:10-14, Mat 17:10-13; Lk 1:13-17), and just as Jesus came in the name of God (Jn 5:43), the holy Spirit of Truth comes in the name of Jesus Christ (Jn 14:26). Just as the spirit of God entered and dwelled within Jesus (Jn 14:9-11), who overcame at the time of the first coming (Jn 16:33), the holy Spirit of Truth will come and dwell within one chosen person (i.e. the one who overcomes).

             This person is the one promised in Rev 2 and Rev 3 who is born of the woman mentioned in Rev 12. He is the one who rules over all nations with an iron scepter (Rv 2:26-27). He has gone up to see the throne of God (Rv 3:21, Rv 4). He has fought against and defeated the beast with seven heads and ten horns that belongs to the dragon (Rv 12). In Rv 21:7, the one who overcomes becomes the son of God and the heir who receives the inheritance. According to Jn 14, the holy Spirit of Truth that comes in the name of Jesus Christ will work within the one who overcomes, just like the holy spirit of God worked within Jesus. Anyone who believes in this word of promise is a person who believes in the words of Jesus Christ. Anyone who refuses to believe this message believes neither in Jesus nor his words.

             As mentioned above, in Jn 5:37-39 Jesus said that God testified about him in the Bible and the Bible testifies about Jesus. Similarly, Jesus testified about the Counselor in the New Testament and the New Testament testifies about the holy Spirit of Truth, the Counselor.

             Hab 2:2-3 says that there is an appointed time when the revelation that is mentioned in the Old Testament (Is 29:9-14) is fulfilled. According to the prophecies in Ez 1, Ez 2, and Ez 3, God opened the sealed book and gave it to Jesus (Mat 11:27; Jn 17:8). Jesus obeyed God’s commands by spreading the opened word to the rebellious Israelites (Mat 15:24) and by conveying the revelation he received from God (Mat 11:27). Just as it was prophesied in the book of Isaiah (Is 29:9-13), the pastors of the day who taught the Bible according to human knowledge persecuted Jesus, who had received a revelation from God. They called him a heretic because he was teaching the Bible according to God's knowledge (Jn 8). In a similar way, today, no one under heaven could open or see the sealed word of God; no one in this world could understand the sealed book mentioned in Rev 5. Jesus, however, because he overcame the world, is able to take the sealed book and open all its seals. He receives the book, breaks all the seals, and then reveals (feeds) its content to the chosen one (Rv 10). This person then proclaims the words of the opened scroll. In the words of Rev 10, the chosen one must prophesy again to many nations, peoples, languages, kings (refer to Rv 13:7; Rv 17:15). At this time, pastors who have been preaching the teachings of men will persecute the place that teaches the Bible according to the revelation given by Jesus Christ, because they do not understand God’s word of revelation. Wise believers, however, will learn the new teaching, confirm‍ it using the Bible, and confess that it is truth.

             Shincheonji Church of Jesus is gathering people who are biblically wise – the good spiritual crops – from all over the world (Lk 13:27-30; Mat 8:11-12, Mat 24:31; Rv 14:1-4, Rv 14:14-16). Shincheonji is the place of the physical fulfillment of the New Testament prophecies. Those who fail to be harvested to Shincheonji will not be able to claim ignorance at the time of judgment (Jn 12:48; Rv 20:12-15). According to Rv 21:8 and Rv 22:15, in the time of judgment the dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood will be outside the holy city. They will be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Also, as Mat 7:2 says, “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

             Now is the time for everyone to examine his or her Christian faith according to the Bible (refer to Rv 22:18-19; Dt 30:1-20). Shincheonji Church of Jesus is praying that all believers will be able to see and understand the prophecies of the New Testament as well as their fulfillment. We pray that all believers will see and believe so that they can attain salvation.