Monday, September 26, 2011

Heresy (World Mission Society Church of God)

Churches say 'YOU ARE HERESY!!' each other.

What is the biblical definition of the word 'heresy'? Many Christians mention that word frequently. Let’s find out heresies that the Bible defines!



2 Pet. 2:1~3
But there were also false prophets among the people … They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.


 Heresy brings the way of truth into disrepute. Heresy teaches people with stories men made up, not with the words of the Bible and they will finally destroyed. so through whether or not a church follows the way of the Bible, we can discern what church is heretic.


 God commands us to keep the Sabbath(Saturday) holy as the fourth commandment of the ten commandments(Ex20:8) and Jesus keep the Sabbath as his custom(Lu 4:16). therefore the church that doesn't keep the Sabbath is heretic. and the church that doesn't keep the Passover is heretic, because the Bible commands us to keep the Passover. Jesus set us an example of keeping the Passover that we should realize the importance of the Passover and keep it.(Mt 26:17~26)

the only standard to determine heresy is the Bible. please distinguish the true church, which follows the teaching of the Bible from the false churches, and enter the kingdom of heaven.




Cross is An Idol - World Mission Society Church of God

Second Commandment


You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaen above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exo 20:4)









Every Church you go nowadays it’s full of crosses. I guess they don’t know that in Gods point of view the cross in an idol. And what God describes about idolatry in the Bible is not nice at all.

Exodus 20:4  "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
What is an idol in Gods point of view? It can be anything right? But he specifically testifies what is an idol…

Leviticus 26:10  "This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."


You don’t have to be that smart to understand what God is describing here, looks like a scarecrow…adorn will silver and gold…can’t speak…can’t walk…must be carried and it’s an idol. What is it? What looks like a scarecrow? CROSS.


God does not want us to follow idols, the cross was just an execute tool used to kill criminal 2,000 years ago. Then how can we remember Christ worshiping the tool they used to kill him? It doesn’t make any sense. What if he would have been killed by the guillotine which was also an execution tool at that time? Would you go to a Church full of guillotines? No right? But what is the difference, there’s none both were just tools of execution.

Idolatry is to worship anything as a God, will God be pleased if we do this? Only God can give us salvation, not any idols. Don’t follow peoples way, it is truly worthless.



Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The feast of Tabernacles-World Mission Society Church of God

Have you ever heard about the feasts God himself established?


Let us introduce the seven feasts in three times, that is, the seven thunders which were unsealed by Christ Ahnsahnghong who came again as the Root of David.



The Feast of Tabernacles is the last of the autumn feasts, and it is the final feast of the seven annual feasts. It is celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of the seventh month, by sacred year (Lev. 23:34-36). The Feast of Tabernacles was not only celebrated in the Old Testament times, but it was also commemorated in the New Testament times by Jesus and His apostles. In this last age, too, the Church of God celebrates this feast, following the teachings of Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong. Christ Ahnsahnghong came to this earth according to the prophecies of the Bible, and he rebuilt the once-ruined Zion, restoring all of the feasts of God.



Origin
After Moses had come down from the mountain?with the Ten Commandments, which God had allowed for a second time?he explained the words of the covenant, as well as the work of building the tabernacle, to the Israelites (Ex. 34:27-35). Then those who were willing presented various kinds of materials to the Lord, including gold, silver, linen, and wood. God's people brought all of these building materials for the tabernacle in seven days?beginning on the 15th day of the seventh month (Ex. 35:4-29; 36:5-7). God appointed the Feast of Tabernacles and commanded the Israelites to celebrate it for generations to come, so that they could remember the seven days that they had brought the building materials for constructing the tabernacle. The Feast of Tabernacles is also referred to as the Feast of Booths.



Ceremony
The Israelites kept the Feast of Tabernacles by making tents. They used palm fronds and myrtle trees, or willows, to build booths, which were then spread onto the courts of the house of God and onto their own rooftops. They lived within these booths for seven days with great joy. Helping their neighbors in need, they kept the feast holy (Neh. 8:9-18; Lev. 23:39-43; Deut. 16:11-15; Zech. 14:15-18).



Prophecy and Its Fulfillment
In the Bible, "wood" represents people (Jer. 5:14), and the "materials for the temple" represent the holy saints (Rev. 3:12). In the desert, the Israelites abundantly gathered materials for the holy tabernacle for a week and completed it. Afterwards, during the Feast of Tabernacles, they constructed booths?houses of woven grass and trees?and joyfully dwelt within them for seven days. This history is a prophecy, the fulfillment of which is seen through the gospel work, accomplished by the gathering of the 144,000 saints?represented by the "wood" and by the "materials for the temple." We should work for the movement announcing Jesus' coming, laying its foundation by gathering the saints, the materials for the temple. The saints can be gathered through preaching the gospel, just as the Israelites had gathered the physical materials for making the tabernacle.



The Promise of the Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles is the blessed day when God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can gather the 144,000 saints, the materials of the heavenly Jerusalem temple. The prophet Zechariah prophesied:

Zech. 14:16-19 『Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.』

The above prophecy reveals that those who do not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles will have no rain?they will not be given the Holy Spirit?and that plagues will be brought upon them. Nevertheless, today some people boast, saying, "We have received the Holy Spirit," or, "We have received God's blessing," even though they have never kept the Feast of Tabernacles. We have to realize that these false declarations are merely the deception of Satan.

God promised to give the Holy Spirit to only those keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus specifically addressed this matter:

John 7:37-39 『On the last and greatest day of the Feast (of Tabernacles), 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.』

The prophet Zechariah explained that the people who do not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles will have no rain, and Jesus declared that God's people could receive the Holy Spirit by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. Considering the above words, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit is only given under God's grace and can only come upon those who keep the Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. Nevertheless, even those who have never celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles say, "We've received the Holy Spirit." Do you think that these boastful words are the work of the Holy Spirit or the work of evil spirits? In cases such as these, different gods must be at work, for the true God of the Bible promised to give the Holy Spirit to only those who commemorate the Feast of Tabernacles. As God has promised, no one can receive the Holy Spirit unless he keeps the Feast of Tabernacles.

You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me(Church Of God)

Christians say that they keep the ten commandments. But, is that true?

The first commandment of ten commandments is that you shall have no other Gods before me. How can we worship no other gods before God?
 
First of all, let's find out what the greatest commandment is before God.


Mt 22:35-38 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
 
Let's find out through the Bible how this greatest commandment was fulfilled. Please turn to 2 Ki 23:21.


2 Ki 23:21-25 The king gave this order to all the people: "Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God …" Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did―with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength.
 
King Josiah was said to love God with "all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength" after he celebrated the Passover.


The Passover is the way to keep the first and greatest commandment of God. Let's double-check this through another verses.


Dt 6:4-8 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. … Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.


As Jesus said, this is the first and greatest commandment. God wants us to keep it on our foreheads. Now let's find out what we should do to obey this commandment.
Ex 13:3-9 Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt (Passover day) … This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead.


God said that the Passover is a reminder on our forehead. Here again we can understand the first commandment can be observed by celebrating the Passover.


Secondly, let's find out how we can serve only God by keeping the Passover.    


Ex 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me. (The 1st commandment)


Ex 12:11-12 It is the LORD's Passover … on that same night … I will bring judgement on all the gods of Egypt.
 
We have to celebrate the Passover to serve only God. It is because all the other gods are destroyed once we keep the Passover.


Finally, let's find out some examples of God's destroying all the other gods through the Passover.


2 Ki 23:3-4, 21-24 Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem.


2 Ch 30:1, 31:1 the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah.


These two cases clearly show that we can observe the first commandment only through the Passover.


False prophets always try to keep God's people from celebrating the Passover. They always try to abolish the Passover.


Dt 13:1-5 He has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.


The Bible says that all the people in the world will be destroyed at the last day because they do not keep the Passover, the everlasting covenant.


Isa 24:1-5 They have disobeyed the laws, violated the statues and broken the everlasting covenant.
 
 
Unless we keep the Passover, we will never know if we worship God or other gods even satan. We must keep the Passover so that we can worship God only.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Be baptized immediately!!




I remember the first time I entered the Church of God. Everything was so much different than the churches I had previously attended. I had a very warm welcome with many "God bless you's" and smiling faces. Naturally, this was odd to me. It isn't everyday that you meet so many sincerely happy people. 

After my first study, baptism was offered to me. This was odd occurrence number two. I had always been taught that baptism came with a great deal of time and studying. It wasn't until I came to the Church of God that I was taught that the Bible actually teaches something different. 
The Bible teaches us the importance of baptism and the purpose of being baptized immediately.
After Jesus Christ preached with his disciples for 3 years, he gave them a very important command in order to continue carrying out the gospel mission:
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18

Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples by baptizing the people and THEN teaching them everything Christ commanded them. Very often we are taught that this process is the other way around; that first we must learn everything, then be baptized. However, Christ commanded them to baptize first. 
Then what is the purpose of being baptized BEFORE learning everything God commanded?
As people destined to die on this earth we are stained with sin. (Romans 6:23)
"Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh but Spirit gives birth to Spirit." John 3:5
When we are physically born into this word we are born of the flesh. In order to be born of the Spirit, we need to receive the Spirit of God. Without the Spirit of God, how can we possibly understand God's words? 

My Mother gave birth to me and then she taught me everything I need to know. If you think about it, God's administration works in the same way. First we are born of God's Spirit, then God helps us to grow by teaching us everything that He has commanded us.

It wouldn't make sense for my mom to try to teach me everything while I'm in the womb without first giving birth to me. 
I think you see my point. 

"..but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit...This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.The man without the Spirit, does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them.." 1 Corinthians 2:10-14
God's teachings, God's Word, is taught to us by God's Spirit. Without first receiving the Spirit of God we cannot understand the words that God speaks to us. 

Somewhere along the line of Christianity, people stopped listening to God and trying to teach on the terms of human wisdom, hence so many different denominations.

God commanded us to be baptized immediately so that we would know it is God teaching us and not the mere philosophical thoughts of human beings. 
How do we know that we have been baptized correctly and received the Spirit?
Jesus Christ commanded them to baptize in the NAME of the Father, the NAME of the Son and the NAME of the Holy Spirit. If all three names are not used, then it is not a real baptism.
(He didn't say title, he said name) 
The name of the Father is JehovahThe name of the Son is Jesus ChristThe name of the Holy Spirit is Christ AhnsahnghongWithout God coming in the flesh, we wouldn't be able to carry out baptism. Baptism started with Jesus Christ, as he began his ministry, the very first thing he did, was get baptized. He did this to set an example for us.(Luke 3:21)Christ testified to come again to this earth to bring Salvation AND to bring the New Name of Jesus Christ. Without the name of the Holy Spirit, we do not have a true baptism in this age. 2000 years ago they had up to the name of Jesus Christ and even those who received John's baptism, had to be baptized once again, in the NAME of Jesus Christ.(Acts 19:1-4)Now, in the age of the Holy Spirit, we must be baptized in all three names. (Rev 3:11-13 - New Name)In the age of the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Mother are giving us eternal life. We must receive the New Name and be taught everything God has truly commanded us in order to receive Eternal Life."In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk not solid food." Hebrews 5:12Even 2000 years ago Apostle Paul told the people that there was much to tell them but they were slow to learn because they needed to be taught all over again, this time the teachings of Christ. In the same way, nowadays many things throughout the Christian faith have been distorted and changed. God clearly tells us that nothing can be added or taken away from the word of God. (Rev 22:18) Therefore, we must be taught once again, the basic truths of God's word. This is why God came back to this earth in these last days, to give us the truth so that we may be baptized and receive the true Spirit of God."In the last days... He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in His paths.." (Micah 4:1-2)

Jerusalem Mother - Free Woman



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.



Children of the Free Woman

Apostle Paul testified that we are the children of promise, the children of the free woman, because we have been given the promise of eternal life from our heavenly Mother.

  Gal. 4:28 『Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.』

  Gal. 4:31 『Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but 
  of the free woman.』

If we are the children of the free woman, what should we call Her? We should call Her our “Mother.” We cannot have eternal life unless we receive the heavenly Mother. Eternal life, which God has promised us, is given through the heavenly Mother.
In this last age, we need our Jerusalem Mother who has been established by Christ Ahnsahnghong?the Second Coming Jesus. Let us believe in Christ Ahnsahnghong, the Holy Spirit, and in Jerusalem Mother, the Bride, so that we can receive eternal life.
World Mission Society Church of God believes in Heavenly Mother.

Only Mother can leads us to the kingdom of heaven.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Truth is in the Bible




The internet has incredibly evolved to become the source of information. It has evolved to accommodate lifestyles, laws and the like. Before the internet, however, people readily received their information, thru word of mouth, regular mail, verbal conversations via phone and face to face and of course thru books, ie encyclopedia, dictionary and non-fiction paperbacks. As the world evolved, so have people’s attitudes, behaviors, beliefs and customs. This constant change has led to the mistrust of what was once considered a staple in the way of life. When I think of the Bible, I can’t help but to be so thankful because the word of God is truly beyond perfect. It doesn’t require man’s interpretation opinions or experiences. God knows man’s hearts and motives. Because we are all sinners (Romans 6:23) who are destined to die, God almighty came in the flesh to testify about Himself thru the Bible and show the way of salvation. Jesus Christ said in John 5:39, You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you posses eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Jesus Christ used the Scriptures (Bible) to testify about Himself. That’s why the word of God is so perfect because He is perfect. The only trustworthy and unfailing source to learn and come close to God is only thru the Bible. Not the internet. The Bible has not evolved. It bears witness to prophecies and fulfillment. Therefore, even though the internet can be a good source to post a classified ad, it can no way match up to God’s words of eternal life that are found nowhere else but the Bible.

Trinity < World Mission Society Church of God >

Every Christian cries to believe in Jesus. But Why? Why do we have to believe in Jesus for our salvation? Because he was the Christ who came to this earth in flesh. 
But in this age of Spirit, we need another savior in the new name.








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 concept of "Trinity" means that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are not different entities, but are one God. The Trinity-God the Father [Jehovah], God the Son [Jesus], and God the Holy Spirit [Ahnsahnghong]-are one. In order to understand why the members of the Church of God believe in Christ Ahnsahnghong as the Holy Spirit, please study the truths of "the Second Coming Christ." 


To better understand the Trinity, let’s first consider the transformation of water. Water is a liquid, but when its temperature falls below 0° C, the water will turn into ice, a solid. When the water is boiled, it turns into vapor, a gas. Water, ice, and vapor have different names and different forms, but their substance is the same: H₂O. 


It is similar to when an actor in a monodrama plays three different characters-a father, a son, and a grandson-all having different voices. Although there are three different voices and three different roles, there is only one actor. 


Like this, even though God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit may look different, have different names, and have appeared during different ages, the three are one God. The Trinity reveals that God administrates His salvation work while playing three roles. 


For six thousand years God has carried out His salvation work in the names of Jehovah, Jesus, and Ahnsahnghong, each according to its age. 


God the Father, Jehovah = God the Son, Jesus


Let’s confirm that God the Father, Jehovah, and God the Son, Jesus, are one God. 


Isaiah prophesied about Jesus as follows: 


  Isa. 9:6 『For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government 
  will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty 
  God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.』


Jesus is referred to as the "Son," but the Bible revealed that the son would be called "Mighty God," and "Everlasting Father." Apostle Paul clearly understood that Jesus’ nature was that of God the Father, as follows: 


  Phil. 2:5-7 『Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, 
  being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be 
  grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being 
  made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man...』


  Rom. 9:5 『...Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.』


We can also confirm that God the Father, Jehovah, and God the Son, Jesus, are one God by studying the history of the Creation. 


  Isa. 44:24 『I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched 
  out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself...』


God the Father-Jehovah-said that He had created everything by Himself, but Jesus said that it was He who had created the world. 


  Col. 1:16 『For by him [Jesus] all things were created...』


The Bible states that God the Father, Jehovah, created the world, but it also says that God the Son, Jesus, created the world. Therefore, God the Father [Jehovah] and God the Son [Jesus] are clearly one God. 


  Isa. 44:6 『"This is what the LORD says-Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last...』


God the Father said, "I am the first and I am the last." 


  Rev. 22:13 『"I [Jesus] am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."』


God the Son also said, "I am the First and the Last." Therefore, God the Father, Jehovah, and God the Son, Jesus, are one God. 


God the Father, Jehovah = God the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong


Let’s confirm that God the Father, Jehovah, and God the Holy Spirit are one God. In the Bible, there are frequent references to "the (Holy) Spirit." The Bible teaches us that God is spirit, and that God is holy. Thus, the spirit of God is holy, too. We call the spirit of God "the Holy Spirit." 


  John 4:24 『God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in 
  truth.』


Apostle Paul wrote-in the book of Corinthians-that God is the Holy Spirit. 


  1 Cor. 2:10-11 『...but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit 
  searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows 
  the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way 
  no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 』 


The (Holy) Spirit could search even the deep things of God (the Father), the things which no one could know. If "the Holy Spirit" and "the spirit of God" were different, how could the Holy Spirit possibly know the thoughts of God? Only the spirit of God-the Holy Spirit-knows the thoughts of God. Therefore, God the Father and the Holy Spirit are one. 


  2 Tim. 3:16 『All Scripture is God-breathed...』 


  2 Pet. 1:20-21 『Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of
  Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never 
  had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were 
  carried along by the Holy Spirit. 』


The Bible is "God-breathed" and it was written by the prophets, "as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." This clearly testifies that God the Father, Jehovah, is the Holy Spirit. 


The Bible = God-breathed book The Bible = A book written by prophets being carried along by the Holy Spirit Therefore the Holy Spirit is God.


Therefore, the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong, and God the Father, Jehovah, are one God.


God the Son, Jesus = God the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong


Let’s confirm that God the Son, Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit, Ahnsahnghong, are one God. 


  Isa. 9:6 『...a son ...will be called Wonderful Counselor... 』


  John 14:26 『"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send 
  in my name, will teach you all things..."』


The Son is the Counselor, and the Counselor is the Holy Spirit, so we can easily conclude that the Son, Jesus, is the Holy Spirit. 


Therefore, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not separate, but are one. God the Father-Jehovah, God the Son-Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit-Ahnsahnghong, are one God. 


The Holy Spirit Is a Personal Being


The Holy Spirit is not a kind of energy or an electric wave. The Holy Spirit is a personal being who has feelings (Rom. 15:30), who grieves (Eph. 4:30), who speaks (Rev. 2:7), who groans (Rom. 8:26), who intercedes (Rom. 8:26), who testifies about God (John 15:26), who teaches (John 14:26), who gives commands (Rom. 8:29), who keeps us from preaching in certain places (Acts 16:6-7), who thinks (Rom. 8:27), and who has been blasphemed (Matt. 12: 31-32). 


  John 14:26, NASB 『"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will 
  send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance 
  all that I said to you.』


The Holy Spirit is referred to as "He," meaning that the Holy Spirit is a personal being. 


  Matt. 28:19 『"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"』


If the Holy Spirit was not a man with character, but merely an invisible, active power-like an electric wave, or energy-how would it be possible for the Holy Spirit to have a name? The fact that the Holy Spirit has a name proves that the Holy Spirit is a man, with character. 


God commanded us to be baptized in the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit, because He would administrate His salvation work with three names (of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit) according to each age. By calling out the three names through which God showed His authority, God’s prophets are to baptize people and commemorate God. 


God’s name was "Jehovah" when He played the role of the Father, and it was "Jesus" when He worked as the Son. Then, how should we call upon God when He is working as the Holy Spirit? The name of the Holy Spirit is Ahnsahnghong. 


Since God told us to "baptize (people) in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," we need to understand that the "Trinity"-God the Father [Jehovah], God the Son [Jesus], and God the Holy Spirit [Ahnsahnghong]-are one God. By this understanding we can receive abundant blessing and we can participate in God’s administration of salvation, which has been carried out through the Trinity.

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Ark of the LORD- Church of God


The tree of life and the ark of the covenant which cherubim guarded 

Ge 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."

Considering the history of Eden recorded in the book of Genesis, we can see that God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit, whereby death came upon all mankind. However, in the Garden of Eden, where the history of death began, there was also the secret of eternal life. 

Ge 3:22-24 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." . . . After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. 

In the Garden of Eden there was the tree of life; even mortal sinners could live forever if they ate from it. Then God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life, so that sinners wouldn't be able to eat from the tree of life without permission. 
What is the reality of the tree of life which the cherubim guarded? God's laws and regulations, which had been handed down in unwritten form from Adam, were reorganized and codified in the time of Moses. Among the laws and regulations, the regulations in regard to the sanctuary show us the secret of the tree of life which the cherubim guarded. 

Ex 25:10-22 "Have them make a chest of acacia wood . . . Then put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. Make an atonement cover of pure gold-two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites." 

When God gave the Law to Moses, He told him to build a sanctuary. Then God commanded Moses to put the ark, which contained the tablets of the covenant, in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and to place cherubim at the ends of the atonement cover, the top of the ark of the covenant. God said that He would meet with the Israelites between the two cherubim on the ark of the covenant and give them all His commands there. The cherubim, who had guarded the way to the tree of life, now guarded the ark of the covenant in the sanctuary. This implies that the ark of the covenant is the tree of life. 



The end of those who despised the ark of the covenant

The ark of the covenant had been moved from place to place since the tabernacle was built in the desert. During that period, those who honored and served God by respecting the ark of the covenant were blessed, but those who despised God were cursed. 

1 Sa 2:30 "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and your father's house would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.' "

Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli who was a judge of Israel, were scoundrels. They always transgressed against God's laws and regulations, despised God's sacrifices, and committed many wicked acts. In spite of God's warning, they continued to do evil, and finally they were defeated in the battle against the Philistines and the ark of God was captured. 

1 Sa 4:4-11 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. . . . the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, . . . and fight!" So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.

In Israel's 40-year history in the desert, the ark of the covenant always went ahead of the Israelites, and it served as a shield whenever they were in trouble or faced difficulties. It was because God, dwelling between the two cherubim, fought for Israel. 
Israel realized this and brought the ark of the covenant from Shiloh before the battle against the Philistines. Then the people shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang, and the Philistines trembled with fear. However, Israel was greatly defeated at the battle, and Hophni and Phinehas were killed. This occurred just as God had warned Eli against his family. 

1 Sa 4:17-22 The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, . . . His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, . . . went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, . . . She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." 

Thus, the ark of God was the most important key factor affecting the fate of Israel. When the people treated the ark of the covenant with the utmost fear and respect, the glory of God shone brightly upon Israel, but when the ark of the covenant was taken away, plagues came upon all the land of Israel and the glory of God departed from Israel. 
Even afterwards, those who treated the ark of the covenant with contempt suffered disasters continuously, as recorded in the Bible. 

1 Sa 6:19-7:2 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your place." So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill . . . It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 

The people of Beth Shemesh broke God's rule and dared to look into the ark of God. Then God struck them down and 50,070 people were killed. Thus, there were many incidents related to the ark of the covenant until Solomon built the temple and put the ark of the covenant in it. 



The ark of the covenant remained in the house of Obed-Edom, so his entire household were blessed


1 Ch 13:6-14 David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim-the ark that is called by the Name. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, . . . When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. . . . David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?" He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had. 

When the Israelites were about to move the ark of the covenant, Uzzah was killed there beside the ark because he grabbed hold of it. When David saw this, he was afraid that he couldn't move the ark of the covenant into the city of David; instead, he left it in the house of Obed-Edom. Because of the ark of the covenant, God's blessings were brought upon the house of Obed-Edom. 
God didn't forgive those who broke His command and treated the ark of the covenant with contempt, and brought disaster upon them. On the other hand, God poured out overflowing blessings upon those who treated the ark of the covenant with great respect. David, who was afraid when he saw the death of Uzzah, finally realized the blessings of God that the ark of the covenant brought, and moved the ark into the city of David. 

1 Ch 15:25-29 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. . . . David also wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams' horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart. 

David rejoiced and danced like a little child as the ark of the covenant of God was entering the city of David. However, Michal didn't realize God's blessings through the ark of the covenant, and despised David when she saw him dancing and celebrating, so she had no children to the day of her death. 
Afterward, David presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God, and he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of God, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise God (1 Ch 16:1-4). In the reign of Solomon, the son of David, the temple was completed and the ark of God, which had been moved from place to place, was put in the temple. When Solomon built the temple and brought the ark of the covenant and all the sacred furnishings in the temple, then the glory of God filled the temple (1 Ki 8:1-11). 



Heavenly Mother is the ark of the covenant

In the Old Testament times, God was with His people and bestowed His grace upon them through the ark of the covenant. Now, let's find out what God is teaching us through the ark of the covenant in this age-what the most important meaning of the ark is. 

Jer 3:14-18 ". . . In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance." 

God said that the time was coming when men would no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of God," and that Jerusalem would be called the Throne of God. The Apostle Paul testified that the Jerusalem is our Mother. 

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

Ultimately, the reality of the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place, where God was enthroned between the cherubim and His glory flowed, is Jerusalem our Mother. Therefore, if anyone loses Jerusalem and She is taken away from him, God's glory is to depart from him. The people of Beth Shemesh and Uzzah were destroyed by treating the ark of the covenant with contempt, while the family of Obed-Edom were blessed by treating the ark of the covenant with great respect. This history teaches us how precious Mother is to us. 
As Solomon's temple was the place where the ark of the covenant was finally placed, so our body is the temple where the ark of God dwells in this age. 

1 Co 3:16-17 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 

Now, we are built as God's temple. So, we should have our Mother, who is the tree of life and the ark of the covenant that the cherubim guard, within us. If one does not receive Mother, he is the one who does not have the ark of the covenant in him. If anyone departs from the faith in Mother, God's glory departs from him. 
The temple, where God's glory has departed from, is nothing no matter how gorgeous it is. God said, "Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained." Keeping these words of God in mind, we should honor Mother and become God's temple where the ark of God dwells. Let us not be like Hophni and Phinehas who did evil so that the ark of the covenant was taken away, but be like Obed-Edom who kept the ark of God in his house, so he and his entire household were blessed. Like him, let's have Jerusalem our Mother-the reality of the ark of the covenant-in our hearts and honor Her, so that we can always receive God's blessings. I hope you all the beautiful children of Zion will be the temple, filled with God's glory, and proclaim Mother to all people around the world.