Cloud and Flesh

Through the prophecy of the Bible, let’s confirm that Christ Ahnsahnghong, who came as the Savior in the age of the Holy Spirit, is truly the Second Coming Christ.

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."』


The Son of Man Will Come in a CloudAt 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...』

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.


Jesus, Who Came With the CloudsIn 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 FireWhen 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.』

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.

Veil

God’s children value the laws of God. Let us introduce the truths of the new covenant of the early Church, which were restored by the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong.


Matt. 22:1-14 『..."The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son...But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'..."』

In the above words, spoken by Jesus, it is clear that there is a regulation for God's people to wear wedding clothes when they enter the heavenly wedding banquet. It is a promise we make with God.

Likewise, when we worship God, there are certain regulations. Worship services should be held according to the teachings of God. Firstly, we should have a godly mind when worshiping God, and, secondly, women should wear veils.
All of the women of the Church of God wear veils during worship services, according to the teachings of the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong. By wearing veils, they can worship God with a godly mind. Men do not cover their heads during worship services.
God gave us this veil regulation as a sign representing God's authority. Even though this regulation seems minor, it cannot be neglected. None of God's commands were instituted meaninglessly. All of the regulations were given to God's people because they are necessary for our salvation and allow us to enter the kingdom of God.

Hos. 8:12 『"I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien."』

If we regard God's regulations as trivial, God will regard us as trivial.



Woman’s Veil Is God’s CommandmentChrist commanded that during worship service men should not cover their heads, but women ought to cover their heads.

1 Cor. 11:1-6 『Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ....』

The Apostle Paul emphasized that his teachings were from Christ, not from his own personal opinions.
Through Christ's teaching, we discover that men ought not to cover their heads, but that women should cover their heads while worshiping God.
During the time of Moses, the head of a woman stood for the man. Thus, it was regarded as very shameful if a woman uncovered her head in front of a man or even loosened her hair. In fact, when a Jewish man chose to marry a Gentile captive, he would shave the woman's head to wash away the shame of her prior ignorance of God.
The words, "It is just as though her head were shaved," refer to this very shameful occurrence.


Woman’s Veil Shown Through the Providence of CreationEven through the Creation, we can see that men ought not to cover their heads, but that women should cover their heads while in the presence of God.

1 Cor. 11:7-9 『A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man....』

God created Eve as Adam's helper. In the work of preaching the new covenant, too, man is the head and woman is the helper; however, men must not arrogantly ignore their female counterparts. As it is written:

1 Cor. 11:11-12 『In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.』

Could the gospel work be completed by only men? Or, if only women worked for the gospel, could it be fulfilled? Men and women should help each other in the gospel work. Both should remain devoted to their missions and faithful to the titles and positions given to them by God.


Woman’s Veil Is Shown Through the "Very Nature of Things"Our intrinsic nature, given to us by God, teaches us that men should not cover their heads, but that women should.

1 Cor. 11:13-15 『Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?...』

This verse implies that it is not proper for a woman to worship God with her head uncovered. We unconsciously know that if a man has long hair he looks ugly, and it can even become his disgrace. God gave men "the nature" not to cover their heads.

"But that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering."Contrary to man, if a woman has short hair, she is not seen as beautiful. When a woman has long hair that covers her head, she looks beautiful, and it becomes her glory. This is only because God gave women the "nature" to feel beautiful when their heads are covered with long hair.

Through the "nature of things," God taught us that a man should not cover his head, but that a woman should cover her head. Verse 15?"long hair is given to her as a covering"?means that God uses a woman's long hair to subconsciously teach her that it is proper for her to cover her head.

As the Apostles preached the gospel, Christ's teachings spread to various Mediterranean regions. Initially, the veil regulation was obeyed without rejection. As people began to advocate gender equality, however, a question was raised: "Is there any reason for women to wear veils when men do not?" In the region of Corinth, women became repulsed at the thought of the veil regulation. In an effort to change their incorrect thinking, the Apostle Paul emphasized that women ought to cover their heads, explaining the deeper significance of this regulation.


Woman's Veil Is Notated in the Section Titles of the BibleSome versions of the Bible have section titles which summarize the contents of the chapter which follows. Let's look at some of the section titles used for 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
ESV (English Standard Version) - Head Coverings TEV (Today's English Version) - Covering the Head in Worship
These section titles display the Apostle Paul's true purpose in writing this chapter. 1 Corinthians 11 lists all of the reasons why women have to cover their heads during worship. No commandment of God is trivial. All of the commandments are given to us for our salvation and heavenly blessings. Women should cover their heads when they worship or pray so that they may give glory to God.
The Bible says,"Arrogance is like the evil of idolatry."


Men Ought Not to Cover Their HeadsIn some churches, the male priests cover their heads; however, this teaching is not from the Bible. A long time ago, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, the Israelites could not look directly at Moses' face because he was so radiant after meeting God. The people were afraid to come near him, so he put a veil over his face. When he went to speak with God, however, he took it off (Ex. 34:29-35). From then on, the Israelites covered their faces with shrouds when they read the Old Testament.

Just as Moses took off the shroud when he came before God, we are to meet God [Christ] without a shroud. In this instance, the shroud does not imply veils that cover the "heads" of women, but it signifies the shroud that covered the people's "faces" when they read the Old Testament.

Through 1 Corinthians chapter 11, we can understand that women ought to cover their heads during times of worship and that men ought not to cover their heads. Through 2 Corinthians chapter 3, we can understand that now, regardless of gender, we need to take away the shroud which has covered our faces and has not allowed our eyes to clearly see the truth of the Bible.

The Sabbath and God the Creator

God's people, who keep the appointed feasts of God, can realize God's providence contained in the feasts and can also understand the love of God who spares no pains to save the souls of His children. So, they love God's commands more than pure gold and keep them holy (Ps 119:127; 50:5).

The Sabbath, one of God's feasts described in the Bible, is a day for us to commemo-rate God as the Creator who made all things and to worship Him. God completed His work of creation in six days and rested on the seventh day. Then He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. In the time of Moses, God commanded His people to "remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" as the fourth of the Ten Commandments. It's because the Sabbath is a day which God blessed and a day for His people to commemorate the power of the Creator (Ge 2:1-3; Ex 20:8-11).

The Sabbath was kept not only in the age of the Father but also in the age of the Son; in many parts of the Bible we can see Jesus and His apostles keeping the Sabbath as their custom. Thus, the Sabbath is an essential element of Christian faith, which shouldn't be overlooked. By keeping this day holy, the people who worship God are sanctified and come to understand the providence of God the Creator in everything.


Elohim who created all things
It is not too much to say that the entire contents of the Bible from Genesis to Revela-tion explain the process of God's physical and spiritual creation. Let's take a look at the scene where God created all things, through the book of Proverbs which Solomon wrote, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Pr 8:22-31 『"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, . . . and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.』

Solomon said that he already existed before he was born in the flesh on this earth, and that he rejoiced in the presence of God when He created the heavens and the earth. Then, what did God look like whom Solomon saw before the creation of the world?

Ge 1:26-27 『Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.』

When the work of creation was being done, God the Creator whom Solomon saw was not only one. The Bible describes God the Creator as the plural form "Elohim" who created all things?light and darkness, the water under the expanse and the water above it, the earth and the sea, trees, animals and so on. In other words, Elohim who said, "Let us . . . ," the male image of God and the female image of God?our Heavenly Father and Mother, created the world.

It is Elohim who created all things in six days and rested on the seventh day and blessed it. Therefore, those who believe in Elohim the Creators and honor Them ought to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy and also should give thanks and praise to Them. If they do so, they will become a royal priesthood and inherit the kingdom of God, as God's true people. Through the Sabbath, God distinguishes His people who recognize and receive the Creator from those who do not.


God the Creator who came in the flesh
God, who created all things, came to this earth in the flesh 2,000 years ago. He was Jesus Christ.

Jn 1:1-14 『In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.』

The Word who was in the beginning?the God who created all things?came to this earth to save mankind. Since the Creator Himself came, all men created by Him should have given thanks, glory and honor to Him. However, the world didn't recognize the God who came in the flesh but rather rejected Him. All people born on this earth were the spiritual beings who watched God create all things at His side, like Solomon, but since they were born in the flesh, their spiritual eyes were covered by the veil of sin so they couldn't recognize the God who came to this earth?whether He was the One who created our souls or He was a mere man born into a poor carpenter's family.

Mt 27:24-26 『When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.』

They rejected the God who came to save them and didn't hesitate doing such wicked things like spitting on Him, striking Him with their fists, trying to stone Him to death and finally crucifying Him on the cross. How wicked and sinful they were!

Jesus, the source of life, atoned for our sins on the cross, broke the power of death and resurrected three days after His crucifixion. 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus gave His disciples the command to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven in Samaria and to the ends of the earth, and was taken up to heaven before their very eyes.

Ac 1:6-11 『. . . After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."』

"The same Jesus . . . will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." This means that Jesus will come in the flesh again so that we can see Him. The same prophecy is recorded in the book of Hebrew.

Heb 9:27-28 『Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.』

Since the Bible says that God, who always exists in spirit, will appear a second time. This is a prophecy that Jesus will also appear in the flesh at His second coming, as He did at His first coming. 2,000 years ago, most people didn't recognize the God who came in the flesh and came to destruction. However, when the Creator appears a second time, all people must receive Him and come to salvation.


The Creator to come again, the last Adam and Eve
God has revealed all the mysteries of the Bible to His children so that they will not commit the same kinds of wicked sins as the Jews did. Let's pay attention to the Biblical prophecies that help us correctly recognize God who is to come to this earth a second time.

1 Co 15:45-53 『So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. . . . 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.』

We, who were destined to die forever, will be changed into the immortal beings that can live forever, through the Last Adam. Since the Last Adam is a life-giving spirit, that is, God who can give us life, we must receive Him.

Ro 5:12-14 『. . . Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.』

The Bible describes Adam who appears in Genesis as a pattern of Jesus. Considering that the six days of creation is a prophecy of the six thousand years of redemption work, we can see that Adam who was created at the end of the six days of creation represents Jesus who is to come at the end of the age, that is, the Second Coming Jesus. Therefore, through the first man Adam, we can recognize God our Father who is to come as the Last Adam.

The first Adam had a wife named Eve, who gave birth to life. If Adam represents the Second Coming Jesus, whom does Eve, the wife of Adam, represent?
Eve, called the "mother of all the living" (Ge 3:20), represents our Heavenly Mother who is to appear at the end of the age in order to give us eternal life and lead us, together with the Second Coming Jesus?the Last Adam. The book of Revelation talks about the wedding banquet of the Lamb and prophesies about the appearance of Mother.

Rev 19:6-8 『. . . "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. . . ."』

Rev 21:1-4, 9-11 『. . . I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death . . ." One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. . . .』

Gal 4:26 『But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.』

The Bible says that the wedding of the Lamb has come and His Bride?His wife [the last Eve]?has made Herself ready, and that She is the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. The "Wife of the Lamb" represented by the heavenly Jerusalem is our Mother.
Heavenly Mother is the God who governs the life of our souls, the Creator whom Solomon saw in spirit. The Bible shows that the wedding of the Lamb has come and our Heavenly Mother has come down to this earth, so there will be no more death. Through this fact, we can see that eternal life is given through Mother.


Elohim who complete the spiritual creation
Our Heavenly Father and Mother, the Creators, have come to this earth as the Last Adam and Eve and work together until the spiritual creation is completed, according to all the prophecies of the Bible.

Jn 5:16-17 『. . . Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."』

The Bible shows that God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, is still working. This means that He is doing the work of spiritual creation. As the spiritual creation was done together by Elohim who said, "Let us . . . ," so the spiritual creation is being completed by both Heavenly Father and Mother. God the Father and God the Mother, who have existed together from the beginning, are to appear in Their own time and call Their children (1 Ti 6:15).

Rev 22:17 『The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.』

The Spirit and the Bride?Elohim?have come to this earth in order to give us eternal life and make us immortal with the water of life. Unless we receive Them, we can never gain eternal life. Look at all the living things created by God's will. Their physical lives cannot be given by their fathers alone, but they are formed and completed in their mothers' wombs. In the same way, our souls can be re-created into immortal beings by our Heavenly Mother as well as by our Heavenly Father.

So, the Sabbath is very important for God's people. The Sabbath is a day when we worship the Elohim who created all things, and it is a truth that enables us to understand the divine nature of God the Creator. Through the Sabbath, God lets us know the Father and Mother, the Creators, gives us the blessings of heaven and makes our souls born again through the water of life.

God's people, who honor and worship God rightly, get rid of all worldly desires and worries and come to Elohim with thanksgiving and joy to praise our Heavenly Father and Mother every Sabbath day. Sooner or later, the whole world will respond to the call of the Spirit and the Bride, listen to Their voice and come to Father and Mother. Until the day comes, let us display the glory of Elohim the Creators, who are the Lords of the Sabbath and bestow spiritual blessings upon us through the Sabbath, throughout the world, following the will of the Father and Mother who have called us earlier, as the children of heaven.

God Who Has Saved Us

Time doesn't wait for us but speeds towards eternity. As we look back upon our past, we should not forget to give thanks and glory to God for His saving grace and love for us.

Children do not know how much their parents sacrifice for them. Even after they have grown up, they easily forget about their parents' love, as if they have grown up by themselves without their parents' devotion.

In the same way, we, God's children, can hardly grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of our heavenly Father and Mother is who have given us eternal life and lead us to the kingdom of heaven. As the heavenly children, we should realize the boundless love of God who has saved our souls and give thanks to Him, always being joyful.

The breadth and depth of God's grace for salvationSuppose a man saved you by using all his strength when you were being swept away by floodwaters. Everyone was just watching you when you were about to die, not caring about you, but he didn't even think about his own safety and swam towards you through rough waters. In this situation, how should you feel towards the person who saved your life?

Suppose there were children choking to death in a smoke-filled house on fire. No one was willing to enter the house to save the children because his life would also be in danger if he went inside. Then a man ran into the fire to save the lives of the children. Fortunately, they were all right, but the man was injured when he jumped out of the window after rescuing the children, and he had to be hospitalized for treatment of the injury. However, he didn't demand any recompense or compensation. As the children grew up, they forgot how he had rescued them and even betrayed their benefactor. In this case, what kind of ruling would you make if you were a judge? If a person is not grateful to his benefactor, he deserves to be blamed by all people and be punished severely, doesn't he?

God has bestowed on us a much greater favor than this, which is the blessing of salvation. As the Bible says, "The wages of sin is death" (Ro 6:23), we were doomed to die since we had sinned in heaven and were cast down to this earth. When no one cared for us sinners and just watched us die, only God worried about the safety of our souls and even came to this earth to save us.

We humans are obligated to be grateful to the person, who has saved our physical life even though it's very short, and not to forget our benefactor all our life. Then, how could we betray our Benefactor who gave eternal life to us who were doomed to die forever?

God is our Benefactor who has saved us. The life God has given us is not temporary, but everlasting. Only to save His children who were doomed to suffer the punishment of eternal fire in hell, He came into this world full of sin and saved us, allowing His flesh to be torn and His blood be shed for us.

However, most human beings are oblivious to God's grace, and they do not seek God. Even we, God's children, have not fully understood the sacrificial love of God as the Bible says, "Each of us has turned to his own way," and, "we esteemed him not" (Isa 53:3-6).

The true meaning of the Passover of the new covenantWe must not forget the love of God, nor should we foolishly betray the Savior of our life or turn away from His love.

Inscribing God's love on our hearts again, let's meet God our Benefactor, who has delivered our souls from eternal death, in the Bible.

Jn 6:53-57『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. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me."』

Who on earth would be willing to sacrifice himself to save sinners, giving them his own flesh and blood? However, God Himself has become a pledge of salvation for us by sacrificing Himself in our stead. He has delivered us from eternal death by giving us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink, torn and shed for us. By such a tremendous sacrifice of love for the atonement of our sins, God has freed us from sin and delivered us out of the shadow of death.

Mt 26:17-19, 26-28『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?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 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."』

On the Passover, Jesus gave bread to His disciples, saying, "This is My body," and also offered them wine, saying, "This is My blood." And He told them to remember His holy sacrifice whenever they ate the bread and drank the wine (Lk 22:19-20; 1 Co 11:23-26).

We should not only rejoice in having received eternal life by eating the Passover bread and drinking the Passover wine, but in them we should find our Father and Mother giving us Their precious flesh and blood and looking upon us continually with eyes full of compassion and pity. God our Father and Mother have been sacrificed for us, like the Passover lamb. They've given us Their flesh to eat and Their blood to drink, and as the result of such a great sacrifice They have saved all of us, Their children. We must not forget the precious love of our Father and Mother.

The realization of the apostlesThe Apostle Paul quickly realized the sacrificial love of Christ. Even though he had never met Jesus face to face, he received Christ when he heard His voice on his way to Damascus. After receiving the truth, he realized that Christ had even endured the pain of the cross to save him, and wrote down his firm determination to never betray Christ's love and grace in the book of Romans.

Ro 8:35-39 『Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.』

Since Apostle Paul understood the sublime love of God, he never betrayed His love. He realized he was nothing, and considered everything rubbish, such as his worldly honors, wealth and scholastic achievements. Bearing the marks of Christ's suffering, he worked hard for brothers and sisters and never neglected preaching the gospel which Christ had entrusted him with.

Gal 6:14-17『May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. . . . Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.』

As Paul realized what kind of sacrifice Christ had made to save him, he considered his life worth nothing to him if only he could save his neighbors and the world. Five times he received the forty lashes minus one, three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked, he spent a night and a day in the open sea, and he faced all kinds of danger. Despite all these hardships, he didn't hesitate to preach the gospel in obedience to the will of Christ (2 Co 11:23-28).

So did Peter. He truly realized that Christ was the Savior of his life and was determined to obey His holy will to the end. When over five thousand people, who followed Jesus because they saw the miraculous signs He had performed, turned away from Him, Jesus asked the rest of His disciples, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Then Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:66-68).

Like them, we should fully realize God's love. The apostles like Peter and Paul left all things and passionately devoted themselves to preaching the gospel. Without the same realization as the apostles had, we will walk away from faith and fail to have a true faith, regarding faith merely as an ornament. When we deeply understand Christ's love and abide in the faith, we can see God.

Christ has come a second time to save His childrenOur heavenly Father and Mother, who are the Saviors of our life, have come to this earth in the flesh a second time to save us.

Heb 9:27-28『Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.』

Christ was prophesied to come to this earth a second time to save the souls that would die if they were left alone. The prophet Isaiah describes the process of God's saving His children when He comes to this earth a second time, as follows:

Isa 25:6-9『On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine?the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. . . . In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."』

"Aged wine," with which God swallows up death forever, means the Passover wine promised by Christ. It was our God who brought us out of the shadow of sin and death and led us into eternal life through the Passover of the new covenant.

The Passover is the day when God gives us life by giving us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink. For us it is the day of joy when we receive eternal life, but for our heavenly Parents it's the most painful day. Through the extreme suffering and sacrifice of our heavenly Father and Mother, we are healed and enjoy peace.

We preach not only the ceremony of eating the Passover bread and drinking the Passover wine, but the love of our heavenly Parents who have sacrificed Themselves to save our life. This is the true gospel.

Rev 22:17『The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.』

To lead those living in the shadow of death into life, the Spirit and the Bride have come to this earth in the last days?in the age of the Holy Spirit. Giving life is impossible without extreme pain and sacrifice. So God likens the suffering in the process of saving a soul to the pain of childbirth. Through this, God teaches us that as a child is born through the agony of childbirth, so a spiritual life can be born through sacrifice.

Give thanks, glory and honor to GodWe should proclaim the wonderful love and sacrifice of the Spirit and the Bride, who have saved us, to all the nations of the world. None of us should forget Their love or grumble against Them, instead of giving thanks. Let's find out what God's will is for us in the Bible.

1 Th 5:16-22 『Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.』

Being joyful always, praying continually and giving thanks in all circumstances, not forgetting God the Savior of our life?truly, this is God's will for us. The Savior came to give life to the world, but the world did not receive Him; they rejected and betrayed Him, instead of giving thanks to Him. Even in this situation, God silently endured the pains of childbirth for the salvation of our souls. He never asked anything of us for His own benefit, but just told us to live right according to the Bible and be broad-minded enough to embrace the whole world like an ocean, considering others better than ourselves.

Since our heavenly Father and Mother love us more than Themselves, They willingly endured the agony of the cross on behalf of us, rebellious sinners. We must not forget Their love. The kingdom of heaven is for those who are continually thankful to God Elohim for Their love. So, in heaven, all the heavenly hosts and angels always give thanks and glory to God sincerely and wholeheartedly.

Rev 4:9-11 『Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."』

Words cannot fully express the depths of the precious sacrifice of God. Viewed from heaven, God's sacrifice is so far beyond our comprehension. The great work of saving souls through infinite love can be done by God Himself alone. That's why the spiritual beings in the universe give praise, glory, honor and thanks only to God.

Let's think about why the Apostle Paul was so faithful to the gospel and why Peter followed Christ to the end?until he was martyred, crucified upside down. Understanding the grace of the Spirit and the Bride who have saved us, let us obey Their will and become the salt and light of the world through our good deeds. I hope all you brothers and sisters in Zion will save many souls by diligently preaching this good news, so that you will all be blessed by God in the eternal kingdom of heaven.

SABBATH

God’s children value the laws of God. Let us introduce the truths of the new covenant of the early Church, which were restored by the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong.


The Church of God, that has received the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, keeps the Sabbath on Saturday, according to the Bible. The seventh-day Sabbath is the day on which God rested from creating the heavens and the earth. Most Christians are mistaken as to what day the seventh-day Sabbath is, believing it to be Sunday, even though the Bible testifies that the Sabbath is Saturday. And they do not keep the Sabbath day, being bound to their customs, even though they realize that the Sabbath is actually Saturday.
The Bible warns us not to add or subtract even the smallest letter from the Bible.

Rev. 22:18-19 『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.』


The Day to Commemorate God the CreatorThe Sabbath day is "a memorial day honoring the Creator, who made the heavens and the earth," and is also "a day of rest." God created the heavens and the earth in six days and then rested on the seventh day from all of His work, even blessing this day.

Gen. 2:1-3 『Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 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.』

In the time of Moses, God commanded His people, in the fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments, to "remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." God explained the purpose for keeping the Sabbath by saying, "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" (Ex. 20:11). The seventh day was the day that God, the Creator, had blessed and it was the day that God's people were given to commemorate God's authority. God's people, who worshiped the Creator, kept the Sabbath day as their holy day. God gave His people the Sabbath as the sign by which God would recognize them as His people (Ezek. 20:11-17; Isa. 56:1-7).

The Sabbath day is to be a day of worshiping and of offering sacrifices to God, rather than simply a day of rest. God blessed those who kept the Sabbath day and brought great punishment and disaster upon those who did not keep the Sabbath day.

Jer. 17:24-27 『"But if you are careful to obey me, declares the LORD...keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it,...this city will be inhabited forever.... But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses."』


The Sabbath Day Is SaturdayToday, we refer to the days of the week as 'Sundaay, Monday, Tuesday,' and no longer 'the first day, the second day, the third day.' Our present-day system was developed in Rome where people decided to call the first day of the week 'Sunday,' the second day 'Monday,' the third day 'Tuesday,' and the seventh day 'Saturday.'
1) A calendar week has seven days; Sunday is the first day and Saturday is the seventh day.
2) Think about the word. "Weekend." Which day does the 'end' of the 'week' indicate?
3) Even in the dictionary, Sunday is defined as 'the first day of the week,' and Saturday as 'the seventh day of the week.'
4) The Bible also testifies that the seventh day, the Sabbath day, is Saturday.

Mark 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week...

Jesus resurrected on the first day of the week. No one argues that Jesus resurrected on Sunday-the 'first day of the week'-which is why all Christians now celebrate Resurrection Day on Sunday. In the Good News Bible, this verse is written, 'After Jesus rose from death early on Sunday...'
Since the first day of the week is Sunday, what day is the seventh day? Through the Bible, we can confirm that the Sabbath day is Saturday.


Jesus and His Apostles Kept the SabbathThe Old Testament is a shadow and a copy of the New Testament. Thus, the law of the Old Testament was a shadow of the good things that were to come in the New Testament times (Heb. 10:1). The Sabbath day in the Old Testament was called "the Sabbath of Jehovah" (Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12), while the Sabbath day in the New Testament was called "the Sabbath of Jesus" (Matt. 12:8; Luke 6:5).
The Sabbath day, according to the Old Testament law, was only a copy; the Sabbath day of the new covenant, kept in Christ, is the reality. In the New Testament times, the apostles kept the Sabbath day by worshiping God in spirit and in truth, following Jesus Christ's example. Jesus kept the Sabbath as His custom.

Luke 4:16 『He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom....』

In the New Testament times, the Sabbath day is referred to as "Jesus' [the Lord's] day" because the true Lord of the Sabbath is Jesus Christ. "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Matt. 12:8; Luke 6:5). The apostles kept the Sabbath day as the "Lord's [Jesus'] day."

Rev. 1:10 『On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit...』

As the times of the Old Testament passed away and the New Testament times began, the way in which God's people were to keep the Sabbath day was changed; however, the day the Sabbath was to be commemorated was never changed. (In the Old Testament times, God's people offered burnt offerings and could not even kindle a fire in their houses, while in New Testament times, people worshipped God in spirit and in truth.) The day itself could not be changed because it was on the seventh day that God had rested from all of His creating work. The apostles kept the Sabbath day as their custom, reasoning from the Scriptures as follows:

Acts 17:2 『As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures...』

Acts 20:6-7 『But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days. On the first day of the week we came together to break bread...』

As it is written in the above verses, the apostles kept the Sabbath day.
It is proven throughout the Scriptures that the Sabbath day?the seventh day, Saturday, Jesus' day?was kept until the apostolic age. So why do so many present-day Christians hold services on Sunday [the first day] and not on the Sabbath day? According to history, Sunday service originated from pagan sun-god worship. The Romans had been worshiping the sun god on the first day [Sunday], recognizing it as "the day of the sun," even before the birth of Jesus.


The Sabbath Was Changed to SundayAfter the apostles died, Christianity spread to western regions, including Rome. The gospel was preached to sun-god worshipers, and in the early 4th century, even the Roman emperor had heard the message of Christ. The emperor happened to be a leader of the sun-god worshipers, and when he converted to Christianity, many sun-god worshipers began to attend Church. As time passed, the faith of the Christians weakened, and they began to accept the customs of the sun-god worshipers. During this turn-over, they even began to rest and to worship on the first day of the week [Sunday]. In A.D. 321, Constantine, a Roman emperor, decreed an edict:

"All judges, city-people and craftsmen shall rest on the venerable day of the Sun."
Some argue that the abolishment of the Sabbath compelled many people to convert to Christianity, but we must not forget that altering God's commandments was Satan's scheme. Satan, the devil, opposes God and has historically harassed God's people, using various methods.

He tried to destroy the Church of God through severe persecution. But, taking a close look at history, the more that God's people were persecuted, the more that they depended on God. When Satan changed his methods of persecution, however, and praised the Church, he tempted the Christians to combine their faiths together. They were given back the properties that had been taken from them, ministers were exempted from military service, and the Church was even given the right to emancipate slaves. Through all of these outwardly positive changes to the Church, the Christians unwittingly fell into Satan's schemes and knelt down before him. They turned their backs away from God, like an ignorant bear who doesn't realize that his gallbladder is going to be stolen, only focusing on the sweet candy he is being tempted with.

God clearly said that only he who does the will of God can enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7:21-23). Which day should we worship God to please Him, Sunday which most people keep, or the Sabbath, Saturday, which God commanded His people to keep? It is unnecessary to reveal the answer, because the Sabbath day is clearly Saturday.


The Church of God Established by GodThe Church of God, established by God, does not follow man-made rules, only God's laws. They recognize that no one is able to give salvation except God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Jesus already revealed that those who follow the laws of men cannot be saved.

Mark 7:6-9 『He [Jesus] replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!"』

The Church of God was established on the foundation of the apostles who followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, and it has not changed since its inception. The true Church follows the laws which Jesus and the apostles observed.
No matter how many members a church has, if the church has different doctrines than those of Jesus Christ, it could not have originated from Jesus. We keep the Sabbath day?the memorial day of the Creator?not observing the law of the Old Testament, but following the law of the new covenant which Jesus and the apostles obeyed..

.

The saints, who will be saved on the last day, the day of God's judgment, are those who follow in Jesus' footsteps. The Sabbath day, one of Christ's footmarks, is a very precious commandment of God.

SOUL

"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).


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.


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 LifeWe 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.』

About the EAST

Through the prophecy of the Bible, let’s confirm that Christ Ahnsahnghong, who came as the Savior in the age of the Holy Spirit, is truly the Second Coming Christ.



The Bible prophesies that when Jesus comes to the earth for a second time, He will come in a cloud [in the flesh] in the same way He came for the first time. Therefore, there must be prophecies which testify where He will appear in His second coming. At the time of His first coming, it had been prophesied that Jesus would come from Bethlehem. Like this, the Bible also prophesies about where He will appear in His second coming. The Bible prophesies that He will be born in Korea, located in the east, at the ends of the earth.
The Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, was born, in the flesh, in Korea-the land in the east-in 1948, according to the prophecies of the Bible. How can we not bow down before God when every word of His prophecy is accomplished? We, the members of the Church of God, believe what is written in the Bible. We sincerely hope that you may recognize the Second Coming Christ, of whom the Bible prophesies.


Korea, the Country in the East, at the Ends of the Earth
Isa. 24:15-16 『Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One."』

The above prophecy reveals that God’s chosen people will give glory and praise to the God in the east. When we read this chapter from the first verse, it is clear that this prophecy is concerning the last day-the last day when God will ruin the earth’s face and will burn up all of the inhabitants. When God banishes all of the gaiety form the earth, a certain group of people will shout for joy and will give glory to God, meaning that God would guide His chosen people on the last day, from the east.

Then, where is "the east"? First, we have to know the point of origin. Isaiah prophesied from the country of Israel. Thus, "the east" must be a land east of Israel: Asia. Among the countries in Asia, which country is located towards the east, "at the ends of the earth"? Russia is to the north, India is south, and China is Central Asia. Even Japan, though located in the east, is not a land at the ends of the earth-it is in the middle of the sea.
It is only Korea that is located in the east, at the ends of the earth. Thus, the Second Coming Christ is prophesied to come from Korea, in the east, at the ends of the earth. In accordance with the prophecy, Christ Ahnsahnghong came from Korea. The Church of God, departing from the fixed ideas of men, received Ahnsahnghong as the Second Coming Christ because He has fulfilled all of the prophecies about Jesus’ second coming. Everything stems from the boundless grace and love of God Ahnsahnghong.


God Will Come From the East
Isa. 41:2 『"Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him..."』

The above verse states that God "has stirred up one from the east." Since it is prophesied that kings are subdued before "the one," he must be a man of great power. Then, who is "the one"? If we read the same chapter, beginning in verse four, we can come to know who "the one" is.

Isa. 41:4 『"Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD-with the first of them and with the last-I am he."』

The one whom God "has stirred up" is God, Himself. This prophecy means that God Himself will come in the flesh, from the east. "The one" who came in fulfillment of this prophecy is God Ahnsahnghong.
In chapter 46 of the same book, Isaiah, it is written:

Isa. 46:11 『From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.』

The prophet Isaiah recorded again about "the one" who would arise from the east, from a far-off land. In the Bible, a bird of prey-or, an eagle-represents God (Deut. 32:11; Ex. 19:4). Since this "bird of prey" coming from the east is described as a man who would fulfill God’s purpose, it is very clear that God, Himself, would come from the east as a man, in the flesh. The one who fulfilled this prophecy is God Ahnsahnghong.


Korea: The Holy LandAlthough Israel was a small country 2,000 years ago, it was the holy land where God had chosen to come from. Likewise, although Korea is a small country at the ends of the east, it is a holy land, appointed as the place where God would come for a second time.
How blessed are those in the east, those who are saved from the consuming fire of God on the last day! The Bible says that these blessed souls will give glory to the God in the east, shouting for joy.
Don’t you want to belong to the group of people who will be saved on the last day, those who have received the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong? He came from Korea, in the east, in accordance with the prophecy. Please break your fixed ideas and listen to the quiet, but strong, voice speaking to your soul. Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Christ, is calling to you.

Heavenly Mother

In the Bible, God is referred to through plural terms instead of singular terms, and it is written that God has a male image and a female image. Therefore, God exists in the male image and in the female image.

Have you ever thought about why we call God our Father?

It is written that God's invisible qualities have been clearly seen and can be understood through what has been made (Rom. 1:20). Is there any creature that is given life through only their father, alone, without a mother being present?

We need to study this matter carefully.

God’s Two Images

Let us study through the Bible to discover the existence of our spiritual Mother.

Gen. 1:26-27 『Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.』

The above verse states that God has two images; a male image and a female image. Until now, we have only known and called upon the male image of God: “Father.” Then how should we call upon the female image of God? Logically, we should refer to God’s female image as “Mother.” This is why God had said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.”

The word “us” is a plural term. “Elohim,” the Hebrew word used in place of “God” in Genesis 1:26, directly translates to “Gods,” the plural form of the word “God.” Therefore, the references to “us” in the book of Genesis refer to God the Father and God the Mother. Some say that the word “us” in this verse indicates God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If this argument is correct, there should be three types of people in the world; those who were made in the image of God the Father, those who resemble the image of God the Son, and those created in the image of the Holy Spirit. However, on this earth there are only two types of people: men and women. However, the “Gods” mentioned in Genesis 1:26 are the male image of God and the female image of God; God the Father and God the Mother.

http://english.watv.org/ http://text.watv.org/english/

Abraham's family and heavenly family

God throughout the history of Abraham's family to inherit the kingdom of heaven can get to know who is giving a party.
And God has given you fully believe the sky really is that we're going to go to heaven.
Luke 16:19~24 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell,[c] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

You look at the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Abraham refers to God the Father is a person can see.

Abraham, Abraham's wife Sarah is God the Father, the sky is the mother figure means.
Now look at the history of Abraham's family would.
Abraham claims that it was a lack of leads. Followers believed he was God, so he received a lot of God's blessings. But he had one kind of worried. It's just not his own child was to leave an inheritance.

So he kind of foster parents at home to give Eliezer has his own inheritance.
Do not want to admit it, but God of Abraham, he would be rewarded by me from the body said. Then the baby can not have gone already, and Abraham, among momyieotgo their baby is born he could not imagine.

So his servant Abraham gave Hagar.
The contents of Scripture might be a bit of Abraham, Sarah, was very much loved.
Probably would not have been happy with her, it would have taking.
But God for making his body smells, was obedient to his word.
Thus, by Hagar, Ishmael, in turn led to the pregnancy is.

Abraham and Ishmael to God, to grow and want to be the inheritance was Ishmael.
Abraham's body, by me, obviously you will receive an inheritance hasyeotdeon you will be asked God to the other requirements.
Sarah's body would be me, who watched your heirs.
Sarah can have a baby was not old.
Grandmother, Sarah, how you could have a baby?

Sarah, Sarah, but God gwonhasyeotgo really had a child.
The kids were sung Isaac, Isaac the word of God according to the inheritance could be followed.
It does not have anything, not long after you were born to inherit a small baby is easier yieobatneun you? First son, Ishmael, or inheritance yieobatneun grown easier, you? Yiseumaelil will of course.
Eliezer, however, God did not give anyone else Ishmael.

Turn the person's thoughts, God born to Isaac inherited all the inheritance has to give.
You could be after the inheritance Isaac Why do you think?
The reason is that it is gone.
Sarah's mother, rather than slavery because it was a free party identification is possible.

Hong Gildong John Smith in the old dramas that look at the man, but his father, mother, because the paper that eventually became the paper bosimyeon identity is easy to understand will go.
Ishmael did will.
However, even though the baby, but my father Isaac, a free party and free party because it was my mother was able to get all the inheritance.
The Bible promises us the children of Isaac and the same would have to be informed.

Gal 4:26) 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Isaac and the children because we have nothing we can not be.
However, because the sky is the mother go and be free, we also like Isaac, is an inheritance that can be followed.

Receive the inheritance of heaven for those who followed his mother is required.
She can not receive any inheritance in heaven that God's will because you have.
God the father Ahn Sahnghong and my mother has given you fully believe the sky really is that we're going to go to heaven.

Have you ever heard about the name of the Holy Spirit?

For our salvation, God planned the administration of God’s redemption and divided 6,000 years into three ages. Father’s age, Son’s age, Holy Spirit’s age.

Mt 28:19~20 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.

As you see there are the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.
The name of Father is Jehovah and the name of the Son is Jesus.
Then, what is the name of the Holy Spirit? The Bible clearly says that there is the name of the Holy Spirit. This name is the savior of the Holy Spirit’s age.

Rev 3: 12 I will also write on him my new name
Who is “I”? this is Jesus. So “my new name” must be Jesus’ new name.
In other words, the name of Holy Spirit.

Rev 2:17 I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Here also we can see “new name.” by the way the new name is written, where?
On the stone. Then, what is stone? In the bible, stone means Jesus Christ.(1 Pe 2:4)
It means Jesus with a new name. in other words, it is the name of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says Jesus will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Heb 9:28). I mean Second coming Jesus with the new name.
Only through the Bible(Jn 5:39), we can find the new name, the name of the Savior in the Holy Spirit’s age.

  `

The Passover by which the plagues Pass Over!

The Bible warns this generation of horrible plagues which will be brought upon this world. How will the last plagues come upon this earth? It’s fire.

2 Pe 3: 6~7 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men.

Among the people who worry about the coming of the plagues and the end of the mankind, some try to escape these plagues by means of men method such as money. But the Bible says:

Zep 1: 14~18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath

However, God loves us who are in the truth and tells us that there is a way of salvation even though such tremendous day comes.

Ps 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

Here, who are ‘you’ whom no plague will come near? When we study the Bible, only he who does keep the Passover can escape last plagues.

Ex 12: 11~14 … it is the Lord’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-both men and animals … I am the Lord. The Blood will be a sign for you on the houhouses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.
No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord
- a lasting ordinance.

The Passover must be the truth which contains God's promise to save His people from the plagues. So we ought to keep this sacred feast on its appointed time year after year.
If we keep the Passover, the plagues will pass over us, as God promised. and the Passover is the lasting ordinance so it must be kept even to the end.

THE TREE OF LIFE

The Bible prophesied that Jesus would come a second time with the fruit of the tree of life and give eternal life to human beings who were destined to die. It is Ahnsahnghong that brought us the tree of life, so the Church of God believes in Him as the Second Coming Jesus.
Then, what is the tree of life? Is it truly Christ Ahnsahnghong that brought us the tree of life?

Matt. 13:34-35 『Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."』

Jesus revealed the things hidden since the creation through the parables. Among the 66 books, which book has the history of the creation of the world? It is the book of Genesis.
In the book of Genesis there are many parables showing God’s Providence. Among the parables, let’s study the tree of life.

Gen. 2:16-17 『And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."』

In the Garden of Eden, God the LORD put the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And He commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, they were tempted by Satan and violated the commandment of God. By this, human beings are destined to die and death entered this world through sin.
After Adam and Even sinned in the Garden of Eden, has God ever given us an opportunity to be saved from death? Is there no way to be freed from death?

Gen. 3:22 『And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."』

As stated in the above verse, there is only one way for us to live forever. It is to eat from the tree of life.
Then, how can we eat from the tree of life?
If we look into the history of the Garden of Eden, we can find out that it is God that banned the sinners from eating of the tree of life. Then, we can reason that it is also only God that will allow us the tree of life. So Jesus who is God came to save us by restoring the tree of life to us.

John 10:10 『The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.』

The words, "I have come that they may have life," means, "I have come that they may eat from the tree of life." What is the reality of the tree of life?

John 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.』

In the book of Genesis, what should we eat to live forever? It’s the fruit of the tree of life. However, what did Jesus say we should eat to live forever? He said we should eat His flesh and drink His blood. Then, what is Jesus’ flesh and blood? It’s the fruit of the tree of life. That’s right. The fruit of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden represents Jesus’ flesh and blood. By eating Jesus’ flesh and blood we can eat the fruit of the tree of life which was lost by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We should eat Jesus’ flesh and blood in order to have eternal life.

Now, what is important is how to eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood, the reality of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. It is impossible to eat Jesus Himself. Then, what does the words of John 6:53 mean? These words are referred to the words of Matthew 26:17. In this verse, we can find the way to eat the flesh and blood of Jesus.

Matt. 26:17-26 『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?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'" 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.』
Jesus said that the bread and wine of the Passover is His flesh and blood, that is Jesus Himself. Eating the bread of the Passover and drinking the Passover wine is eating of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. So far, we have studied that the tree of life is a parable and its reality is Jesus, and the truth through which we can eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood is the Passover.

We can understand that the tree of life is allowed to us through the Passover, and that Jesus who allowed us to eat from the tree of life is God.

We, human beings, who lost the tree of life and were destined to die, could have eternal life by God who came in the flesh and allowed the fruit of the tree of life, that is, the bread and wine of the Passover. However, the devil abolished the truth of the Passover at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. It means the tree of life was hidden and no one could have eternal life. We could not expect salvation without the Passover the truth about the tree of life. In this situation, the one who is able to restore the truth of the Passover, that is, the tree of life, is only God as it was 2,000 years ago.

Heb. 9:28 『so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.』

The purpose of Christ coming a second time is for our salvation. To bring us salvation the Passover is absolutely needed. The One who allowed us the Passover truth is Ahnsahnghong.
Therefore, Ahnsahnghong is Christ who came in this age according to all the prophecy of the Bible. He restored the truth of the Passover, the tree of life, and saved us from our sin and death.

He is our God.

Jesus and His Apostles Kept the Sabbath

The Old Testament is a shadow and a copy of the New Testament.

Heb. 10:1 『The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves.』

Thus, the law of the Old Testament was a shadow of the good things that were to come in the New Testament times
The Sabbath day in the Old Testament was called "the Sabbath of Jehovah" (Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12), while the Sabbath day in the New Testament was called "the Sabbath of Jesus" (Matt. 12:8; Luke 6:5).
The Sabbath day, according to the Old Testament law, was only a copy.
The Sabbath day of the new covenant, kept in Christ, is the reality.
In the New Testament times, the apostles kept the Sabbath day by worshiping God in spirit and in truth, following Jesus Christ's example.
Jesus kept the Sabbath as His custom.

Luke 4:16 『He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom....』

In the New Testament times, the Sabbath day is referred to as "Jesus' [the Lord's] day" because the true Lord of the Sabbath is Jesus Christ.
"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" (Matt. 12:8; Luke 6:5).
The apostles kept the Sabbath day as the "Lord's [Jesus'] day."

Rev. 1:10 『On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit...』

As the times of the Old Testament passed away and the New Testament times began, the way in which God's people keep the Sabbath was changed.
However, the day of the Sabbath was never changed.
The day itself could not be changed because it was on the seventh day that God had rested from all of His creating work.
The apostles kept the Sabbath day as their custom, reasoning from the Scriptures as follows:

Acts 17:2 『As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures...』

Acts 20:6-7 『But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days. On the first day of the week we came together to break bread...』

As it is written in the above verses, the apostles kept the Sabbath day.
It is proven throughout the Scriptures that the Sabbath day —the seventh day, Saturday, Jesus' day— was kept until the apostolic age.
So why do so many present-day Christians hold services on Sunday [the first day] and not on the Sabbath day?
According to history, Sunday service originated from pagan sun-god worship.
The Romans had been worshiping the sun god on the first day [Sunday], recognizing it as "the day of the sun," even before the birth of Jesus.
Therefore, we have to keep the Sabbath day.
And we should conduct ourselves bearing in mind our duty as God's people.