Eschatology and Our Time ‘The Last Days’

Family Society Nation One World Family Purpose of Life – Three Blessings Ideal Husband True Love Ideal Wife Child God Ideal Person True Love Things Ideal Creation God True Love Body Ideal Person God Mind

Family Society Nation Ideal World IdealMan True Love Ideal Woman Child God Heaven on Earth The Purpose of HistoryFamily Society Nation Fallen World FallenMan False Love Fallen Woman Child Satan Hell on Earth SalvationRestoration = True Parents Adam + Eve False Parents FulfillFail

Ideal World “Declares [God], ‘The time is coming when…I will put My laws in their minds and write them in their hearts… They will all know Me from the least of them to the greatest.’” “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men…” “They shall not hurt nor destroy in My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord…” “They will beat their swords into plowshares. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Jeremiah 31:33-34 Revelations 21:3 Isaiah 11:6-9 Isaiah 2:4

1. God will not accept failure “What I have said that I will bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” Isaiah 46:11 Why is God Working to Save Fallen Man ?

1. God will not accept failure 2. God created us as His children 3. Our spirit self is eternal Why is God Working to Save Fallen Man ?

God’s Will - All People Are to Be Restored “God our Saviour…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” “‘Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.’” “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” 1 Timothy 2:4 John 3:16 Matthew 18:29

God Satan Creation Last Days Attempts to Restore the Ideal World Noah

Noah’s Time: Complete Restoration Attempted “God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people…I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.’” Genesis 6:13

God Satan Creation Last Days Attempts to Restore the Ideal World Noah Jesus

Jesus’ Time: Complete Restoration Attempted “Surely the day is coming…All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble…” “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Malachi 4:1 Matthew 4:17

God Satan Creation Last Days Attempts to Restore the Ideal World Noah Jesus 2 nd Coming

T ime of Returning Messiah - Complete Restoration to be Attempted “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.” Luke 17:26

Significance of Religion ► Reconnects God and humanity ► Central means of God’s influence in history ► Centre of culture

Centre of Restoration Moral and Spiritual Leader ► Brings and embodies a higher expression of truth from God ► Shows God’s true love and forgiveness ► Fulfils the purpose of religion

Messiah 1. New Adam ► Example of ideal person ► Overcomes Satan ► Begins new history 2. True Parents ► Remove original sin ► Restore ideal families ► Restore God’s love, life, and lineage

Centre of Restoration Messiah ChristLord SaviourTrue Man Enlightened One Last Prophet Avatar Incarnation Son of God New Adam

Centre of Restoration Messiah True Parents ChristLord SaviourTrue Man Enlightened One Last Prophet Avatar Son of God IncarnationNew Adam

Perfected Man God True Parents FallenMan Messiah Position of the Messiah

History of RestorationMessiah SpiritualDevelopment Complete Restoration History of Religion

Evidence for the History of Restoration 1. The development of culture

The Unification of Cultures Twenty-one cultural spheres

Hindu FarEastern African Judeo- Judeo-Christian Islamic Distilled into five main cultural spheres The Unification of Cultures

One World Culture Hindu FarEastern African Judeo- Judeo-Christian Islamic Towards a ‘Culture of Heart’ - Beauty in Diversity The Unification of Cultures

“In the 21st Century, human life is going to be a unity again in all its aspects and activities.” Arnold Toynbee British Historian

History of ConflictIndividualFamilySocietyNationWorld Evil Good

What is the meaning of the “Last Days” ?

Traditional Understanding of the Last Days Evil people punished Good people ‘Lifted up’, others sent to Hell Earth destroyed

Bible Prophesies for the Last Days 1. Earth destroyed 1. Earth destroyed New Earth New Earth 2 Peter 3:10,13 2 Peter 3:10,13 Revelation 21:1 Revelation 21:1

Bible Prophesies for the Last Days 1. Earth destroyed 1. Earth destroyed New Earth New Earth 2 Peter 3:10,13 2 Peter 3:10,13 Revelation 21:1 Revelation 21:1 2. Judgment by Fire 2. Judgment by Fire 2 Peter 3:12 2 Peter 3:12

Bible Prophesies for the Last Days 1. Earth destroyed 1. Earth destroyed New Earth New Earth 2 Peter 3:10,13 2 Peter 3:10,13 Revelation 21:1 Revelation 21:1 2. Judgment by Fire 2. Judgment by Fire 2 Peter 3:12 2 Peter 3:12 3. Meeting Messiah 3. Meeting Messiah in the Sky 1 Thess 4:17 1 Thess 4:17

1. Earth Destroyed, New Earth Created “The earth will be laid bare… we are looking forward to a new heaven and earth…” II Peter 3:10,13 Old Earth Satan’s dominion

1. Earth Destroyed, New Earth Created “ The earth remains forever” Ecclesiastes 1:4 Old Earth Satan’s dominion New Earth God’s dominion

2. Judgment by Fire “Fire…was hurled down upon the earth. The earth was burned up…” II Peter 3:12

Fire Represents the Word of Truth “I came to cast a fire upon the earth, and would that it were already kindled.” God’s Word is a ‘fire’ Luke 12:49 Jeremiah 23:29

‘Judgment by fire’ is Reaction to the Truth “All who reject me and my message will be judged… by the truths I have spoken.” “Everyone who does evil hates the light… for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 12:48 John 3:20-21

3. Meeting the Lord in the Air “We shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” I Thessalonians 4:17

Heaven Earth Good Near to God Evil Far from God Through the Messiah fallen people are ‘Lifted up’ Matthew 6:9 Colossians 3:2

Meaning of the “Last Days” 1.End of Satan’s dominion and beginning of God’s dominion 2.End of evil history and beginning of good history 3.A time of dramatic change and hope

Last Days – Turning Point of History Evil Goodness End of Evil Eternity Messiah True Parents

Last Days ► First Days of New History ► Time of fulfilment of the Three Great Blessings

Ideal World is Based on the Three Blessings God Person Creation 1. Ideal Person SecondBlessing ThirdBlessing FirstBlessing Person 2. Ideal Families Nations World 3. Ideal Dominion over Creation

Fall History of Restoration 3 Blessings Lost Preparation for the Restoration of 3 Blessings

The Last Days are the First Days ► Beginning of a history of goodness ► Realization of the Three Blessings

Human Rights Human Rights Freedom, Equality Freedom, Equality Spiritual Phenomena Spiritual Phenomena 1. Perfected Individuals Last Days First Days

Restoration of Spiritual Capacity “In the last days…I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions…” Acts 2:17

Restoration of the First Blessing Spiritual Capacity Freedom of Original Mind Original Value Original Love Ideal Person

Human Rights Human Rights Freedom, Equality Freedom, Equality Spiritual Phenomena Spiritual Phenomena 1. Perfected Individuals Merging Cultures Merging Cultures League of Nations, UN League of Nations, UN Economic Interdependence Economic Interdependence Inter-Cultural Exchange Inter-Cultural Exchange 2. Ideal Families, Nations, World Last Days First Days

One World Culture Hindu FarEastern African Judeo- Judeo-Christian Islamic Towards a ‘Culture of Heart’ - Beauty in Diversity The Unification of Cultures

Positive Signs Overcoming barriers of race, religion, culture, nationality

Religious Tolerance Interracial Harmony Sense of Brotherhood Original Value of Marriage One World Family Restoration of the Second Blessing

Human Rights Human Rights Freedom, Equality Freedom, Equality Spiritual Phenomena Spiritual Phenomena 1. Perfected Individuals Merging Cultures Merging Cultures League of Nations, UN League of Nations, UN Economic Interdependence Economic Interdependence Inter-Cultural Exchange Inter-Cultural Exchange 2. Ideal Families, Nations, World Ecological Concern Ecological Concern Conservation Movements Conservation Movements Technological Advances Technological Advances 3. Ideal Dominion Over Creation Last Days First Days

Original Creativity Material Comfort Original Health Original Love and Care for the Creation Ideal of Creation Restoration of the Third Blessing

Last Days – Turning Point of History Evil Goodness End of Evil Eternity Messiah True Parents Higher Expression Of Truth

“New Truth” explains principles underlying Bible and Holy Scripture ► Nature of God ► Purpose of creation ► Origin of evil ► Purpose of the Messiah/salvation ► How mankind can be restored “I have yet many things to say to you…” “The hour is coming when…I will tell you plainly of the Father.” John 16:12 John 16:25

1. Unite with God’s central person of the age 2. Expect the old age to oppose the new age Our Attitude in the Last Days

Old Age Opposes the New “The Pharisees…said, ‘It is only by…the prince of demons that this fellow [Jesus] casts out demons.’” “‘We have found this man [Paul] to be a troublemaker…a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.’” Matt 12:24 Romans 3:12

1. Unite with God’s central person of the age 2. Expect the old age to oppose the new age 3. Keep an open mind to receive the new truth Our Attitude in the Last Days

We Must Keep an Open Mind “New wine must be poured into new wineskins.” “Whoever humbles himself like [a] child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Luke 5:38 Matthew 18:4

1. Unite with God’s central person of the age 2. Expect the old age to oppose the new age 3. Keep an open mind to receive the new truth 4. Make our own decision Our Attitude in the Last Days