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 1918, 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 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 land
Although 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.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong ] When will Jesus come with Seven Seals?
The Bible prophesied that Jesus would appear a second time (Heb. 9:28). Ahnsahnghong whom the Church of God believes in as their Savior is Jesus who has come a second time, according to the prophecy.
Then, when is Jesus prophesied to come a second time? Why does the Church of God believe that the Second Coming Christ is Ahnsahnghong?
Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus revealed that He would come for the second time in 1948, when Israel represented as the fig tree would gain its independence. Ahnsahnghong came in 1948 according to the prophecy of the fig tree, so the Church of God believes in Him as the Second Coming Christ.
Then, does the Bible disclose when Jesus will come?
Signs of the end of the age
When the disciples asked about the signs of Jesus’ second coming and of the end of the age, Jesus said:
Matt. 24:3-33 『"...At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, And all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on
The clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 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. Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its
twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so,
when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."』
Since it is written, "As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that it is near," we must come to know the timing of the fig tree and we must receive Jesus when He comes a second time.
The fig tree stands for Israel
First, we must understand what the fig tree represents. As it is written,
Luke 13:6-7 『Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'"』
What does Jesus’ looking for fruit on a fig tree planted in a vineyard, for three years, mean? It means that Jesus preached the gospel to the Israelites for three years, searching for the fruit of the gospel. Therefore, the fig tree stands for Israel.
Through many other Bible verses, let’s confirm that the fig tree in the vineyard represents Israel.
Isa. 5:7, KJV 『For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant.』
In the above verse also, the vineyard represents the country Israel, and the plant [the tree] stands for the people of Israel. Let’s look at another verse concerning this.
Jer. 24:5 『"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.’"』
Since it is written that God regards the exiles from Judah as the good figs, it is clear that the fig tree stands for Israel.
The fall of Israel
In Luke 13:7, Jesus told His disciples to cut down a fig tree that had not borne any fruit. Just as He had told them, Israel which rejected the gospel that Jesus had preached for three years was completely destroyed by Roman soldiers in A.D. 70. Following its collapse, the people of Israel were scattered all over the world, as a stateless people, for about 1,900 years.
The revival of the fig tree: Israel
After much time had passed, the fig tree that had been cut and dried up began to revive. Its twigs got tender and its leaves came out. When did all of this happen? The revival of the fig tree occurred in 1948. On May 14, 1948, Israel proclaimed her independence and recovered her sovereignty. The fig tree, which seemed to have completely died, revived. At that time, Jesus came for a second time, as was prophesied. He was Christ Ahnsahnghong, whom every Christian had been waiting for. The Church of God received Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Jesus, as Savior.
Rom. 11:26 『And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob."』
Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Jesus, came from Zion in 1948, as had been prophesied in the parable of the fig tree. Now He is calling you. Will you let Him stand at your door, or will you open the door and receive Him?
We earnestly hope that you will open your door and receive Ahnsahnghong the Second Coming Jesus and be given the promise of salvation.
Then, when is Jesus prophesied to come a second time? Why does the Church of God believe that the Second Coming Christ is Ahnsahnghong?
Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus revealed that He would come for the second time in 1948, when Israel represented as the fig tree would gain its independence. Ahnsahnghong came in 1948 according to the prophecy of the fig tree, so the Church of God believes in Him as the Second Coming Christ.
Then, does the Bible disclose when Jesus will come?
Signs of the end of the age
When the disciples asked about the signs of Jesus’ second coming and of the end of the age, Jesus said:
Matt. 24:3-33 『"...At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, And all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on
The clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 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. Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its
twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so,
when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."』
Since it is written, "As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that it is near," we must come to know the timing of the fig tree and we must receive Jesus when He comes a second time.
The fig tree stands for Israel
First, we must understand what the fig tree represents. As it is written,
Luke 13:6-7 『Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'"』
What does Jesus’ looking for fruit on a fig tree planted in a vineyard, for three years, mean? It means that Jesus preached the gospel to the Israelites for three years, searching for the fruit of the gospel. Therefore, the fig tree stands for Israel.
Through many other Bible verses, let’s confirm that the fig tree in the vineyard represents Israel.
Isa. 5:7, KJV 『For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant.』
In the above verse also, the vineyard represents the country Israel, and the plant [the tree] stands for the people of Israel. Let’s look at another verse concerning this.
Jer. 24:5 『"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.’"』
Since it is written that God regards the exiles from Judah as the good figs, it is clear that the fig tree stands for Israel.
The fall of Israel
In Luke 13:7, Jesus told His disciples to cut down a fig tree that had not borne any fruit. Just as He had told them, Israel which rejected the gospel that Jesus had preached for three years was completely destroyed by Roman soldiers in A.D. 70. Following its collapse, the people of Israel were scattered all over the world, as a stateless people, for about 1,900 years.
The revival of the fig tree: Israel
After much time had passed, the fig tree that had been cut and dried up began to revive. Its twigs got tender and its leaves came out. When did all of this happen? The revival of the fig tree occurred in 1948. On May 14, 1948, Israel proclaimed her independence and recovered her sovereignty. The fig tree, which seemed to have completely died, revived. At that time, Jesus came for a second time, as was prophesied. He was Christ Ahnsahnghong, whom every Christian had been waiting for. The Church of God received Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Jesus, as Savior.
Rom. 11:26 『And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob."』
Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Jesus, came from Zion in 1948, as had been prophesied in the parable of the fig tree. Now He is calling you. Will you let Him stand at your door, or will you open the door and receive Him?
We earnestly hope that you will open your door and receive Ahnsahnghong the Second Coming Jesus and be given the promise of salvation.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong ] If Jesus Comes Again in the Flesh?
If Jesus Comes Again in the Flesh, he will be born through a woman's body.
Then, in what family will He be born? Will He be born in a palace or in a pastor's famliy or in a biblicist's or in a president's or in an Assemblyman's?
All is nonsense. Christ who is to come in secret cannot be born in such gorgeous places. If He comes again, He will be born in a shabby house, just as He was born in a stable in Bethlehem 1900years ago. The reason He should be born in such a place is that He is to come in secret and judge the world.
For this reason, no one knows about the coming of Christ, and the world cannot find Him, and even an intelligent physiognomist or a philosopher or a theologian or a doctor of divinity can never recignize Him.
John 1:10-13 "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-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
Miraculous signs are widely being performed even among those who do not believe in Jesus. But nobody can restore the truth hidden for 1900 years; for it cannot be restored until the Lord who established it comes again.!
The words of Rev 5:1-6 show that no one can open the scroll sealed with seven seals except the Lamb. By His coming again in secret and opening the scroll and its seven seals, the truth of the Early Church trampled by Satan for a long time will be restored, and then some who are to be saved will come to the Lord, but others who do not realize the truth will come to destruction.
Then, in what family will He be born? Will He be born in a palace or in a pastor's famliy or in a biblicist's or in a president's or in an Assemblyman's?
All is nonsense. Christ who is to come in secret cannot be born in such gorgeous places. If He comes again, He will be born in a shabby house, just as He was born in a stable in Bethlehem 1900years ago. The reason He should be born in such a place is that He is to come in secret and judge the world.
For this reason, no one knows about the coming of Christ, and the world cannot find Him, and even an intelligent physiognomist or a philosopher or a theologian or a doctor of divinity can never recignize Him.
John 1:10-13 "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-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
Miraculous signs are widely being performed even among those who do not believe in Jesus. But nobody can restore the truth hidden for 1900 years; for it cannot be restored until the Lord who established it comes again.!
The words of Rev 5:1-6 show that no one can open the scroll sealed with seven seals except the Lamb. By His coming again in secret and opening the scroll and its seven seals, the truth of the Early Church trampled by Satan for a long time will be restored, and then some who are to be saved will come to the Lord, but others who do not realize the truth will come to destruction.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong ] The Church Established by the Root of David
- According to the Bible, Christ Ahnsahnghong established the seven feasts in three times which was abolished in dark age-
Rev 5:1-5 “But no one in heaven or on earth or under earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. … The Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Seeing the above verses, what church should we go to be saved? (The church established by the Root of David.)
Hos 3:5 “Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their King. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.”
Who is the Root of David?
Rev 22:16 “I am the Root and the Offspring of David and bright Morning Star.”
According to the above prophecy, the Root of David is the Second Coming Jesus.
Then, what is the sign of the Root of David?
Isa 55:3 “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”
What is the everlasting covenant promised to David?
Heb 13:20 “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus.”
What is the blood of the eternal covenant?
Mt 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Lk 22:20 “This cup [the wine of the Passover] is the new covenant in my blood.”
The Bible says that no one could open the scroll except the Root of David. Nevertheless, today some people say that they can open the scroll. Do you think their interpretation is right? (No.)
Why do you think that? (Because they are not the Root of David.)
Then, what result will their interpretation bring about? (It’s destruction.)
2 Pe 3:16 “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scripture, to their own destruction.”
Rev 5:1-5 “But no one in heaven or on earth or under earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. … The Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Seeing the above verses, what church should we go to be saved? (The church established by the Root of David.)
Hos 3:5 “Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their King. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.”
Who is the Root of David?
Rev 22:16 “I am the Root and the Offspring of David and bright Morning Star.”
According to the above prophecy, the Root of David is the Second Coming Jesus.
Then, what is the sign of the Root of David?
Isa 55:3 “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”
What is the everlasting covenant promised to David?
Heb 13:20 “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus.”
What is the blood of the eternal covenant?
Mt 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Lk 22:20 “This cup [the wine of the Passover] is the new covenant in my blood.”
The Bible says that no one could open the scroll except the Root of David. Nevertheless, today some people say that they can open the scroll. Do you think their interpretation is right? (No.)
Why do you think that? (Because they are not the Root of David.)
Then, what result will their interpretation bring about? (It’s destruction.)
2 Pe 3:16 “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scripture, to their own destruction.”
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong] The Seven Feasts in Three Times- The Feast of Tabernacles
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 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.
Long ago, the Pharisees understood that the Messiah would come to the earth, but when He came, they did not receive Him. Likewise, nowadays many Christians understand that the Holy Spirit of the latter rain must be poured down upon God's people, but they fail to realize how they can receive the Holy Spirit (Jer. 8:7; 3:3).
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 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.
Long ago, the Pharisees understood that the Messiah would come to the earth, but when He came, they did not receive Him. Likewise, nowadays many Christians understand that the Holy Spirit of the latter rain must be poured down upon God's people, but they fail to realize how they can receive the Holy Spirit (Jer. 8:7; 3:3).
Monday, January 11, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong] The Seven Feasts in Three Times- The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is the tenth day of the seventh month according to the sacred calendar, on which the sins that the Israelites had committed during the course of the year were atoned for (Lev. 23:27). Today, also, we must celebrate the Day of Atonement to be forgiven for the sins that we commit each year. Without having celebrated the Day of Atonement, we cannot say that our sins have been forgiven. Therefore, the Church of God celebrates the Day of Atonement, according to the teaching of the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong.
The Day of Atonement is the day when all of the sins that we have committed all year long are handed over to the devil. Thus, the devil makes every effort to prevent God's people from celebrating the feast. We should be able to recognize the identity of those who hinder God's people from keeping this feast, because it has only been allowed to the true people of God.
Origin
After being released from Egypt, the Israelites lived in the desert for forty years. God called Moses to Mount Sinai and gave him the laws through which He would rule over the people. In response to God's calling, Moses went up Mount Sinai. After fasting for forty days and nights, Moses received the Ten Commandments which God, Himself, had written. When Moses did not return from the mountain, even after forty days, the Israelites began to assume that he must have died. They thought that they had lost their leader, and some suggested that they make a god to lead them into the land of Canaan. Hence, the Israelites crafted a golden calf and worshipped it, eating, drinking and dancing around it. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, the sight shocked and enraged him, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the foot of the mountain. He set fire to the golden calf that the Israelites had worshipped so lewdly, and then he ground the charred remains into a powder. Moses scattered the ashes on the water and made the Israelites drink it, and about three thousand people died by the sword.
The Israelites who had sinned against God by worshipping idols thus bitterly repented of their deeds, and, in response, God gave Moses a new set of stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. God's allowing His laws for a second time implied that He had forgiven them for their sins. The day on which Moses had been given the Ten Commandments for a second time was the Day of Atonement, which was to be commemorated every year (Ex. 32:1-35).
Ceremony
(1) The scapegoat stands for Satan
In the Old Testament times, the priest sacrificed a bull as his sin offering, and a goat was sacrificed on behalf of the people. Then, lots were cast to decide the destiny of two goats. One goat was to be sacrificed for God and the other was to be named the "scapegoat," and to die after wandering in the solitude of the desert.
The sins of the people had been temporarily held in the Most Holy Place, and on the Day of Atonement, all of these sins were transferred to the head of the scapegoat to be sent away and die in the desert. This process reveals that our sins are heaped onto Satan through the Feasts (such as the Passover and the Day of Atonement) after being temporarily carried by Christ-the reality of the Most Holy Place. Satan will be very troubled by carrying the weight of all of our sins and will be eventually destroyed in the Abyss-the uninhabited land represented by the desert. We come to understand this principle through celebrating the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:6-22).
(2) Entering the Most Holy Place
The Day of Atonement is the day, once a year, when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place, alone.
Heb. 9:7 『But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.』
Prophecy and its fulfillment
The prophecy of the Day of Atonement:
The people's sins were initially held in the Most Holy Place, but on the Day of Atonement, their sins were transferred onto the scapegoat. The scapegoat was troubled in the desert, carrying all of the people's sins on its head. Eventually, the goat came to die.
Fulfillment of the prophecy:
Our sins are initially carried by Christ, but on the Day of Atonement, our sins are transferred onto Satan-the scapegoat. Satan will be tormented in hell, carrying all of our sins on his head. Eventually, Satan will suffer eternal destruction.
The Day of Atonement is the day when all of the sins that we have committed all year long are handed over to the devil. Thus, the devil makes every effort to prevent God's people from celebrating the feast. We should be able to recognize the identity of those who hinder God's people from keeping this feast, because it has only been allowed to the true people of God.
Origin
After being released from Egypt, the Israelites lived in the desert for forty years. God called Moses to Mount Sinai and gave him the laws through which He would rule over the people. In response to God's calling, Moses went up Mount Sinai. After fasting for forty days and nights, Moses received the Ten Commandments which God, Himself, had written. When Moses did not return from the mountain, even after forty days, the Israelites began to assume that he must have died. They thought that they had lost their leader, and some suggested that they make a god to lead them into the land of Canaan. Hence, the Israelites crafted a golden calf and worshipped it, eating, drinking and dancing around it. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, the sight shocked and enraged him, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the foot of the mountain. He set fire to the golden calf that the Israelites had worshipped so lewdly, and then he ground the charred remains into a powder. Moses scattered the ashes on the water and made the Israelites drink it, and about three thousand people died by the sword.
The Israelites who had sinned against God by worshipping idols thus bitterly repented of their deeds, and, in response, God gave Moses a new set of stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. God's allowing His laws for a second time implied that He had forgiven them for their sins. The day on which Moses had been given the Ten Commandments for a second time was the Day of Atonement, which was to be commemorated every year (Ex. 32:1-35).
Ceremony
(1) The scapegoat stands for Satan
In the Old Testament times, the priest sacrificed a bull as his sin offering, and a goat was sacrificed on behalf of the people. Then, lots were cast to decide the destiny of two goats. One goat was to be sacrificed for God and the other was to be named the "scapegoat," and to die after wandering in the solitude of the desert.
The sins of the people had been temporarily held in the Most Holy Place, and on the Day of Atonement, all of these sins were transferred to the head of the scapegoat to be sent away and die in the desert. This process reveals that our sins are heaped onto Satan through the Feasts (such as the Passover and the Day of Atonement) after being temporarily carried by Christ-the reality of the Most Holy Place. Satan will be very troubled by carrying the weight of all of our sins and will be eventually destroyed in the Abyss-the uninhabited land represented by the desert. We come to understand this principle through celebrating the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:6-22).
(2) Entering the Most Holy Place
The Day of Atonement is the day, once a year, when the high priest enters the Most Holy Place, alone.
Heb. 9:7 『But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.』
Prophecy and its fulfillment
The prophecy of the Day of Atonement:
The people's sins were initially held in the Most Holy Place, but on the Day of Atonement, their sins were transferred onto the scapegoat. The scapegoat was troubled in the desert, carrying all of the people's sins on its head. Eventually, the goat came to die.
Fulfillment of the prophecy:
Our sins are initially carried by Christ, but on the Day of Atonement, our sins are transferred onto Satan-the scapegoat. Satan will be tormented in hell, carrying all of our sins on his head. Eventually, Satan will suffer eternal destruction.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong] The Seven Feasts in Three Times- The Feast of Trumpets
The harvest time, during which the autumn crops are gathered, begins with the Feast of Trumpets. On the first day of the seventh month by sacred year (Lev. 23:24), the Israelites held a sacred assembly, blowing their trumpets in order to prepare for the Day of Atonement.
The Church of God celebrates the Feast of Trumpets in autumn according to the teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong. The Church boldly preaches about the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, and the feasts of God, blowing the trumpet of the gospel.
Origin
God commanded the Israelites to commemorate the Day of Atonement annually?the day when Moses had received the new stone tablets, inscribed with the Ten Commandments, and had come down from Mount Sinai. The Day of Atonement was to be celebrated every year so that the Israelites could remember the day and could deeply repent of their sins. They prepared for the Day of Atonement in spirit and in truth, blowing trumpets for the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement. By this, the Israelites repented of the sins that they had committed during the year, abstaining from all unholy things.
Ceremony
The Israelites commemorated the Feast of Trumpets with trumpet blasts and presented an offering of fire to God.
Lev. 23:23-25 『The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire.'"』
Prophecy and its fulfillment
Everything written in the Old Testament is a shadow of the things which were to come. This feast was also a shadow, testifying about the Advent Movement for Jesus' Second Coming-1834 to 1844-led by William Miller. The ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement represented ten years, prophetically (Ezek. 4:6). This ten-year-long movement fulfilled the prophecy of the Feast of Trumpets. It was the preparation for the Day of Atonement-October 22, 1844, the tenth day of the seventh month, by sacred year-on which Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven. As was shown through the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, every prophecy disclosed in the seven feasts of three times will be fulfilled without fail.
Just as the people had loudly blown trumpets during the Feast of Trumpets, so there was a movement for Jesus' second coming, recognized by the loud cries of preaching-the trumpet blasts. Beginning on the first day of the seventh month in 1844 (by sacred year), all of the brothers and sisters prayed together more earnestly to God. Jesus answered them by entering the Most Holy Place in heaven on October 22, 1844, the Day of Atonement-the tenth day of the seventh month by sacred year. God allowed William Miller and the Advent Movement so that His will would be fulfilled. Thus, God unexpectedly fulfills His will even though people do not realize or perform His will. As it is written:
Luke 19:37-40 『"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."』
The movement was led by people who did not know of God's feasts, but their work resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Feast of Trumpets. When we keep the Feast of Trumpets, with one mind and purpose, and pray earnestly to God for the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement, our prayers will be presented before God as the smoke of incense (Rev. 8:3-4). God will answer our prayers and lavish on us great blessings.
The Church of God celebrates the Feast of Trumpets in autumn according to the teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong. The Church boldly preaches about the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, and the feasts of God, blowing the trumpet of the gospel.
Origin
God commanded the Israelites to commemorate the Day of Atonement annually?the day when Moses had received the new stone tablets, inscribed with the Ten Commandments, and had come down from Mount Sinai. The Day of Atonement was to be celebrated every year so that the Israelites could remember the day and could deeply repent of their sins. They prepared for the Day of Atonement in spirit and in truth, blowing trumpets for the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement. By this, the Israelites repented of the sins that they had committed during the year, abstaining from all unholy things.
Ceremony
The Israelites commemorated the Feast of Trumpets with trumpet blasts and presented an offering of fire to God.
Lev. 23:23-25 『The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the LORD by fire.'"』
Prophecy and its fulfillment
Everything written in the Old Testament is a shadow of the things which were to come. This feast was also a shadow, testifying about the Advent Movement for Jesus' Second Coming-1834 to 1844-led by William Miller. The ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement represented ten years, prophetically (Ezek. 4:6). This ten-year-long movement fulfilled the prophecy of the Feast of Trumpets. It was the preparation for the Day of Atonement-October 22, 1844, the tenth day of the seventh month, by sacred year-on which Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in heaven. As was shown through the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets, every prophecy disclosed in the seven feasts of three times will be fulfilled without fail.
Just as the people had loudly blown trumpets during the Feast of Trumpets, so there was a movement for Jesus' second coming, recognized by the loud cries of preaching-the trumpet blasts. Beginning on the first day of the seventh month in 1844 (by sacred year), all of the brothers and sisters prayed together more earnestly to God. Jesus answered them by entering the Most Holy Place in heaven on October 22, 1844, the Day of Atonement-the tenth day of the seventh month by sacred year. God allowed William Miller and the Advent Movement so that His will would be fulfilled. Thus, God unexpectedly fulfills His will even though people do not realize or perform His will. As it is written:
Luke 19:37-40 『"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."』
The movement was led by people who did not know of God's feasts, but their work resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Feast of Trumpets. When we keep the Feast of Trumpets, with one mind and purpose, and pray earnestly to God for the ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement, our prayers will be presented before God as the smoke of incense (Rev. 8:3-4). God will answer our prayers and lavish on us great blessings.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong] The Seven Feasts in Three Times- The Feast of Weeks
The Feast of Weeks, referred to in the New Testament as the "Pentecost," was celebrated 49 days after the Day of Firstfruits. On the fiftieth day, the Israelites presented a sheaf of the first grain to the LORD as a wave offering. The reason that this feast was named the "Feast of Weeks" was that there were seven Sabbaths between the Day of Firstfruits and the Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-16). The Church of God, established by the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, is the only church in the world that remembers the Pentecost, keeping it holy. God's feasts, which had been abolished during the Dark Ages, can be restored by only God. If we do not accept Christ Ahnsahnghong-who came to restore the seven feasts in three times according to the prophecies of the Bible-we will never be able to know God's feasts, much less celebrate them.
Origin
On the fortieth day after crossing the Red Sea, Moses went up to Mount Sinai for the first time. God spoke to Moses, telling him all of His instructions, and when Moses came down from the mountain he revealed God's will to the people. Ten days later-on the fiftieth day after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea-Moses returned to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. God commanded the people to commemorate the day He had given them the Commandments, the origin of the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 24:1-18).
Prophecy and its fulfillment
The Feast of Weeks-that is, the Pentecost-is the day when God poured out His Spirit, the motivating power that spurred the growth of the gospel and the Early Church (Acts 2:1-47).
After the Pentecost, though, the Church became increasingly secularized, and the fire of the Holy Spirit grew cold. Eventually, God completely withdrew His Holy Spirit from the Church, but even this was clearly disclosed through the prophecies of the feasts. When Moses came down from the mountain, after he had received the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, he saw God's people worshiping a golden calf. He was outraged, threw the tablets out of his hands, and they shattered at the foot of the mountain. This event was a prophecy to reveal that the Holy Spirit, which was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, would be withdrawn because of the secularization and the inherent corruption of the Church.
Origin
On the fortieth day after crossing the Red Sea, Moses went up to Mount Sinai for the first time. God spoke to Moses, telling him all of His instructions, and when Moses came down from the mountain he revealed God's will to the people. Ten days later-on the fiftieth day after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea-Moses returned to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. God commanded the people to commemorate the day He had given them the Commandments, the origin of the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 24:1-18).
Prophecy and its fulfillment
The Feast of Weeks-that is, the Pentecost-is the day when God poured out His Spirit, the motivating power that spurred the growth of the gospel and the Early Church (Acts 2:1-47).
After the Pentecost, though, the Church became increasingly secularized, and the fire of the Holy Spirit grew cold. Eventually, God completely withdrew His Holy Spirit from the Church, but even this was clearly disclosed through the prophecies of the feasts. When Moses came down from the mountain, after he had received the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, he saw God's people worshiping a golden calf. He was outraged, threw the tablets out of his hands, and they shattered at the foot of the mountain. This event was a prophecy to reveal that the Holy Spirit, which was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, would be withdrawn because of the secularization and the inherent corruption of the Church.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong] The Seven Feasts in Three Times- The Feasts of Firstfruits
Resurrection Day, on which Jesus rose from death, is a memorial to commemorate God's great power. In the Old Testament times, this day was known as the Day of Firstfruits. It is a sacred feast of God, which is to be celebrated on the day after the Sabbath, following the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:9-14). The Church of God, which faithfully obeys every teaching of the Bible, celebrates Resurrection Day on the date that was specified in the Bible. The Church of God breaks the bread that God promised would open our spiritual eyes, while the other churches eat boiled eggs-following the pagan customs-on a date which was never written in the Bible.
Let's correctly understand the Day of Resurrection as it was given in the Bible so that we can celebrate the feast holy.
Origin
When the nervous Israelites were being chased by the Egyptian army, God allowed them to cross the Red Sea under His protection, even though they had been so terrified. When God put the Sea-which had been divided-back in its place, the Egyptian army that had pursued them was buried in water. God commanded the Israelites to annually commemorate the day when they had landed on the other side of the Red Sea, so that they might remember God's great power revealed on that day. This is the origin of the Day of Firstfruits (Ex. 14:26-31).
Ceremony
The word "firstfruits" reveals its meaning. On the day after the Sabbath, the Israelites brought a sheaf of the first grain to the priest, and the priest waved the sheaf before God so that it could be accepted on behalf of the people (Lev. 23: 9-11).
On the same day, in the New Testament times, Jesus gave bread to two disciples who were traveling to a village named Emmaus. After the disciples broke the bread that Jesus had given to them, their spiritual eyes were opened, and they recognized Him (Luke 24:13-35).
Prophecy and its fulfillment
As God had commanded, the priests were to wave a sheaf of the first grain before the LORD on the day after the Sabbath (Sunday) so that God would accept their offering.
Lev. 23:10-12 『"When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath."』
Here, the first grain-the firstfruits-stands for Christ, who was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep.
1 Cor. 15:20 『But Christ had indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.』
The offering to be presented on the Day of Firstfruits, a sheaf of the first grain, was to be brought to God on the day after the Sabbath-that is, Sunday. The firstfruits stand for Christ, so it is only logical that Resurrection Day, when Jesus rose from death, would be on Sunday, the day after the Sabbath.
Mark 16:2-6 『Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away..."You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here."』
The Day of Firstfruits is the shadow of Resurrection Day. As the Day of Firstfruits was celebrated on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, so Resurrection Day is to be celebrated on Sunday, in fulfillment of the prophecy. Therefore the Day of Firstfruits, Resurrection Day, is celebrated on Sunday every year. By rising from the dead as the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep, Jesus became the true offering of the Day of Firstfruits, belonging to the seven feasts of three times.
Matt. 27:52-53 『The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.』
In those days, the holy people who had been saved through the gospel became the ripe grains of the wheat harvest, and today, we have become the ripe grains of the last autumn harvest (Ex. 23:16).
Let's correctly understand the Day of Resurrection as it was given in the Bible so that we can celebrate the feast holy.
Origin
When the nervous Israelites were being chased by the Egyptian army, God allowed them to cross the Red Sea under His protection, even though they had been so terrified. When God put the Sea-which had been divided-back in its place, the Egyptian army that had pursued them was buried in water. God commanded the Israelites to annually commemorate the day when they had landed on the other side of the Red Sea, so that they might remember God's great power revealed on that day. This is the origin of the Day of Firstfruits (Ex. 14:26-31).
Ceremony
The word "firstfruits" reveals its meaning. On the day after the Sabbath, the Israelites brought a sheaf of the first grain to the priest, and the priest waved the sheaf before God so that it could be accepted on behalf of the people (Lev. 23: 9-11).
On the same day, in the New Testament times, Jesus gave bread to two disciples who were traveling to a village named Emmaus. After the disciples broke the bread that Jesus had given to them, their spiritual eyes were opened, and they recognized Him (Luke 24:13-35).
Prophecy and its fulfillment
As God had commanded, the priests were to wave a sheaf of the first grain before the LORD on the day after the Sabbath (Sunday) so that God would accept their offering.
Lev. 23:10-12 『"When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath."』
Here, the first grain-the firstfruits-stands for Christ, who was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep.
1 Cor. 15:20 『But Christ had indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.』
The offering to be presented on the Day of Firstfruits, a sheaf of the first grain, was to be brought to God on the day after the Sabbath-that is, Sunday. The firstfruits stand for Christ, so it is only logical that Resurrection Day, when Jesus rose from death, would be on Sunday, the day after the Sabbath.
Mark 16:2-6 『Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away..."You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here."』
The Day of Firstfruits is the shadow of Resurrection Day. As the Day of Firstfruits was celebrated on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, so Resurrection Day is to be celebrated on Sunday, in fulfillment of the prophecy. Therefore the Day of Firstfruits, Resurrection Day, is celebrated on Sunday every year. By rising from the dead as the firstfruits of those who had fallen asleep, Jesus became the true offering of the Day of Firstfruits, belonging to the seven feasts of three times.
Matt. 27:52-53 『The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.』
In those days, the holy people who had been saved through the gospel became the ripe grains of the wheat harvest, and today, we have become the ripe grains of the last autumn harvest (Ex. 23:16).
Monday, January 4, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong] The Seven Feasts in Three times- The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month, according to the sacred calendar, is the feast that commemorates Christ's suffering on the cross (Lev. 23:6). The Church of God celebrates the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the fifteenth day of the first month by the sacred calendar, following the teachings of Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong.
Origin
This feast originated from the Israelites' suffering, from all the trials that they had experienced from the time they had kept the Passover and left Egypt, until the time they had crossed the Red Sea. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, released the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, but immediately changed his mind. He sent all the chariots of Egypt to chase after them-including six hundred of the country's best chariots-to capture the Israelites and bring them back to Egypt. As Pharaoh's army approached, the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD. At that moment, the LORD God divided the Red Sea by Moses' staff, revealing dry ground between the two walls of water. It is written that God allowed six-hundred thousand men to safely cross the Red Sea. Then, how many women and children do you think were among them? God protected the Israelites from the Egyptian army by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, delaying the Egyptians' ability to chase after God's people. We can only assume how hasty and nervous the fugitives' hearts were at that time. All of the difficulties and hardships that the Israelites endured during this time period became the origin of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 14:1-31).
Ceremony
In the Old Testament times, God commanded His people to eat unleavened bread (made without yeast) and bitter herbs, so that they would remember the suffering of the Israelites. The unleavened bread was also called the "bread of affliction" (Deut. 16:3). These events were a prophecy to reveal that Jesus would suffer, being hung on the cross. In the New Testament times, we participate in Christ's suffering by fasting, according to God's command.
Mark 2:20 『"But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast."』
Prophecy and its fulfillment
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a feast of suffering, representing the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Israelites' traveling into the Red Sea represented Jesus' going into the tomb. Their landing on the other side of the Sea represented His resurrection, the significance of which is implied in the baptism that we undergo now. On the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Moses led the natural Israelites from Egypt into the Desert of Sinai, and on this feast Jesus led the spiritual Israelites from this sinful world-the reality of Egypt-into the desert of faith. Whoever believes in Christ and is baptized has symbolically crossed the Red Sea and entered the desert of faith. When we commemorate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we participate in Christ's suffering, and we are given the power from God to endure the tribulations and hardships that we will be faced with (Luke 22:43-44).
Origin
This feast originated from the Israelites' suffering, from all the trials that they had experienced from the time they had kept the Passover and left Egypt, until the time they had crossed the Red Sea. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, released the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, but immediately changed his mind. He sent all the chariots of Egypt to chase after them-including six hundred of the country's best chariots-to capture the Israelites and bring them back to Egypt. As Pharaoh's army approached, the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD. At that moment, the LORD God divided the Red Sea by Moses' staff, revealing dry ground between the two walls of water. It is written that God allowed six-hundred thousand men to safely cross the Red Sea. Then, how many women and children do you think were among them? God protected the Israelites from the Egyptian army by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, delaying the Egyptians' ability to chase after God's people. We can only assume how hasty and nervous the fugitives' hearts were at that time. All of the difficulties and hardships that the Israelites endured during this time period became the origin of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ex. 14:1-31).
Ceremony
In the Old Testament times, God commanded His people to eat unleavened bread (made without yeast) and bitter herbs, so that they would remember the suffering of the Israelites. The unleavened bread was also called the "bread of affliction" (Deut. 16:3). These events were a prophecy to reveal that Jesus would suffer, being hung on the cross. In the New Testament times, we participate in Christ's suffering by fasting, according to God's command.
Mark 2:20 『"But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast."』
Prophecy and its fulfillment
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a feast of suffering, representing the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Israelites' traveling into the Red Sea represented Jesus' going into the tomb. Their landing on the other side of the Sea represented His resurrection, the significance of which is implied in the baptism that we undergo now. On the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Moses led the natural Israelites from Egypt into the Desert of Sinai, and on this feast Jesus led the spiritual Israelites from this sinful world-the reality of Egypt-into the desert of faith. Whoever believes in Christ and is baptized has symbolically crossed the Red Sea and entered the desert of faith. When we commemorate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we participate in Christ's suffering, and we are given the power from God to endure the tribulations and hardships that we will be faced with (Luke 22:43-44).
Sunday, January 3, 2010
COG Ahnsahnghong ] The Seven Feasts in Three Times-Passover
When Christians are asked, "Have you received salvation?" they reply, "Yes," but if they are asked, "Do you celebrate the Passover?" most of them will hesitate in answering. Actually, no one can be said to be "saved" without knowing about the Passover.
The Church of God is the only church in the world that celebrates the Passover of the new covenant on the fourteenth day of the first month-by sacred year-as was written in the Bible (Lev. 23:4). The Church of God can celebrate the Passover because the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, has restored the Passover that Jesus established two thousand years ago.
The Passover is one of the most important feasts that God has granted because God promised to give us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through the Passover.
Also, by celebrating the Passover, we can escape from all disasters. Even in the Old Testament times, there was a marked difference between the people who celebrated the Passover and the people who did not. Those who did not celebrate the Passover were always destroyed.
In other words, if we do not celebrate the Passover, we cannot have the forgiveness of our sins or eternal life, nor can we be saved from the last disasters. The Church of God, that believes in the prophecies of the Bible, celebrates the Passover-the truth of the Early Church, following the teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong.
The origin of the Passover
God chose Moses and used him to bring about the emancipation of the Israelites, who had groaned under their Egyptian slavery for 430 years.
When Moses was eighty years old, God commanded him to ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites go; however, Pharaoh refused and he became even more rebellious against God, afflicting the Israelites more severely. God was enraged and brought plagues upon the whole land of Egypt: the plagues of blood, of frogs, of flies...of darkness. The heart of Pharaoh became more hardened and he stubbornly refused to let the Israelites go. God allowed Pharaoh's heart to become hardened so that He could judge Egypt.
Through the tenth plague, God decided to kill every firstborn of Egypt-both men and animals-and appointed the fourteenth day of the first month, by sacred year. God didn't want the firstborn of the Israelites to die along with the firstborn of the Egyptians, so He ordered the Israelites to put the blood of a year-old lamb on their doorframes and housetops.
Ex. 12:1-14 『..."The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect ...Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight...This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover...The blood will be a sign for you on the houses 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 blood of the lamb became the sign of God's people, and the destroying angels passed over the Israelites' houses, where the blood had been painted. This day was called the Passover, meaning that the disaster would "pass over."
On that day, the Israelites put the lamb's blood on their doorframes, ate its roasted meat, and prepared to go on a journey. That night, as the Israelites waited, loud wailing could be heard. All of the firstborn of Egypt-including the firstborn of Pharaoh-were killed.
During the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and told them to leave Egypt. The Egyptians, who had suffered all kinds of plagues, wanted the Israelites to leave quickly and gave them articles of silver and gold, even clothing.
The Passover was the day when God freed the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt. This was a shadow of the things to come. In the New Testament times, the Passover is the only feast through which God's people can receive the forgiveness of their sins and can be saved from all disasters.
God promised to give us eternal life through the Passover
All men desire to have eternal life, but men cannot give it. Just as God saved the Israelites during the Exodus, only God is able to give us salvation and eternal life.
1 John 5: 20 『We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true-even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.』
Then, how will God grant us eternal life? God gives us salvation through the blood of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7), represented, during the time of the Exodus, by the blood of the Passover lamb.
John 6:53-55 『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."』
Jesus promised that the bread of the Passover was His flesh, and that the wine of the Passover was His blood.
Matt. 26:17-28 『...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."』
The reason why we want to receive the flesh and blood of Jesus-given to us through the Passover-is because Jesus, who is life, promised that when we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we will live forever.
Since Jesus said, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53), how can we receive eternal life unless we celebrate the Passover?
Jesus called the Passover the new covenant.
Luke 22:7-20 『Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed...When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."...And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."』
Jesus promised to give us eternal life through the Passover of the new covenant.
Christ Ahnsahngong, who restored the Passover of the New Covenant
The Passover was abolished at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. At that time, the Passover completely disappeared from the world. Who on earth can have eternal life as the truth of life was abolished? Therefore, Jesus said that He would come a second time to restore the Passover.
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.』
Ahnsahnghong restored the Passover of the new covenant that had been abolished by Satan. Then, who do you think Ahnsahnghong is?
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. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. 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."』
Ahnsahnghong, who restored the Passover of the new covenant, is the Second Coming Christ-God-who appeared in accordance with all of the prophecies of the Bible. The saints of the Early Church had cherished and celebrated the Passover of the new covenant! Christ Ahnsahnghong came in the flesh and restored the Passover so that we may be saved from the impending plagues. The Passover of the new covenant is the very gospel of Christ.
The Church of God is the only church in the world that celebrates the Passover of the new covenant on the fourteenth day of the first month-by sacred year-as was written in the Bible (Lev. 23:4). The Church of God can celebrate the Passover because the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, has restored the Passover that Jesus established two thousand years ago.
The Passover is one of the most important feasts that God has granted because God promised to give us the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through the Passover.
Also, by celebrating the Passover, we can escape from all disasters. Even in the Old Testament times, there was a marked difference between the people who celebrated the Passover and the people who did not. Those who did not celebrate the Passover were always destroyed.
In other words, if we do not celebrate the Passover, we cannot have the forgiveness of our sins or eternal life, nor can we be saved from the last disasters. The Church of God, that believes in the prophecies of the Bible, celebrates the Passover-the truth of the Early Church, following the teachings of Christ Ahnsahnghong.
The origin of the Passover
God chose Moses and used him to bring about the emancipation of the Israelites, who had groaned under their Egyptian slavery for 430 years.
When Moses was eighty years old, God commanded him to ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites go; however, Pharaoh refused and he became even more rebellious against God, afflicting the Israelites more severely. God was enraged and brought plagues upon the whole land of Egypt: the plagues of blood, of frogs, of flies...of darkness. The heart of Pharaoh became more hardened and he stubbornly refused to let the Israelites go. God allowed Pharaoh's heart to become hardened so that He could judge Egypt.
Through the tenth plague, God decided to kill every firstborn of Egypt-both men and animals-and appointed the fourteenth day of the first month, by sacred year. God didn't want the firstborn of the Israelites to die along with the firstborn of the Egyptians, so He ordered the Israelites to put the blood of a year-old lamb on their doorframes and housetops.
Ex. 12:1-14 『..."The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect ...Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight...This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover...The blood will be a sign for you on the houses 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 blood of the lamb became the sign of God's people, and the destroying angels passed over the Israelites' houses, where the blood had been painted. This day was called the Passover, meaning that the disaster would "pass over."
On that day, the Israelites put the lamb's blood on their doorframes, ate its roasted meat, and prepared to go on a journey. That night, as the Israelites waited, loud wailing could be heard. All of the firstborn of Egypt-including the firstborn of Pharaoh-were killed.
During the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and told them to leave Egypt. The Egyptians, who had suffered all kinds of plagues, wanted the Israelites to leave quickly and gave them articles of silver and gold, even clothing.
The Passover was the day when God freed the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt. This was a shadow of the things to come. In the New Testament times, the Passover is the only feast through which God's people can receive the forgiveness of their sins and can be saved from all disasters.
God promised to give us eternal life through the Passover
All men desire to have eternal life, but men cannot give it. Just as God saved the Israelites during the Exodus, only God is able to give us salvation and eternal life.
1 John 5: 20 『We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true-even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.』
Then, how will God grant us eternal life? God gives us salvation through the blood of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7), represented, during the time of the Exodus, by the blood of the Passover lamb.
John 6:53-55 『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."』
Jesus promised that the bread of the Passover was His flesh, and that the wine of the Passover was His blood.
Matt. 26:17-28 『...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."』
The reason why we want to receive the flesh and blood of Jesus-given to us through the Passover-is because Jesus, who is life, promised that when we eat His flesh and drink His blood, we will live forever.
Since Jesus said, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53), how can we receive eternal life unless we celebrate the Passover?
Jesus called the Passover the new covenant.
Luke 22:7-20 『Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed...When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."...And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."』
Jesus promised to give us eternal life through the Passover of the new covenant.
Christ Ahnsahngong, who restored the Passover of the New Covenant
The Passover was abolished at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. At that time, the Passover completely disappeared from the world. Who on earth can have eternal life as the truth of life was abolished? Therefore, Jesus said that He would come a second time to restore the Passover.
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.』
Ahnsahnghong restored the Passover of the new covenant that had been abolished by Satan. Then, who do you think Ahnsahnghong is?
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. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. 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."』
Ahnsahnghong, who restored the Passover of the new covenant, is the Second Coming Christ-God-who appeared in accordance with all of the prophecies of the Bible. The saints of the Early Church had cherished and celebrated the Passover of the new covenant! Christ Ahnsahnghong came in the flesh and restored the Passover so that we may be saved from the impending plagues. The Passover of the new covenant is the very gospel of Christ.
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