ORDER NUMBER
86-08-10
REVEREND SUN MYUNG MOON
SPEAKS ON
THE STANDARD
OF THE
UNIFICATION CHURCH
August 10, 1986
Belvedere
Translator - Sang Kil Han
[This speech was not given a title by Father. The title was
derived from the contents by the editors.]
Even when I do not speak at Belvedere, you should be attending
Sunday service here regularly. You should understand that Belvedere is
a special place; it is no ordinary setting for church gatherings.
What should I talk about today? In my talks I do not focus on just
the individuals present, but I speak for the sake of the four billion
people on earth, as well as all those in spirit world. I explain how
people should live-all people, including those who do not understand
the providential way. I show the path which all mankind must take and
the standard which everyone should understand and fulfill. I have to
speak about such things, because people do not know how the will of God
is progressing or what God has in store for them.
In this respect, the members of the Unification Church are very
different from members of any other church. People in ordinary churches
tend to become discouraged and little by little drift away from God's
will. Not only Christians, but secular people in the democratic world
as well are straying further and further from the way of God's will.
Unification Church members have the responsibility to rectify this
situation and to supplement what is missing. Although you might think
you are living the way God expects you to live and that your standard
is that of the [Unification Church, the real standard lies beyond. You
do not represent the true norm of the Unification Church. Do you
understand exactly what we should do to fulfill God's expectations for
us?
You might assume that Americans are living in a way that is simply
American, but that is not true. The way America is going, it will
continue to deteriorate and eventually perish. When you look at the
younger generation of Americans today, you can see the decline; many
are like living corpses. The democracy which Americans have been so
proud of has produced people who are drowning in drugs and have lost
all sense of direction. If this trend continues, surely the nation will
perish. People totally lack a basic philosophy of life. Anybody can see
this immediate danger.
Are colleges and universities such as Harvard and other Ivy League
schools doing enough? Are they really capable of directing America's
future? The answer is obvious. People lack a national perspective or
any goal beyond individualism. They focus only on their personal
well-being.
We understand clearly that the United States does not exist in
isolation. This country is a symbol for the world; the world follows in
America's wake, regardless of where it leads. The American way of life
is so promiscuous and filled with evil, but still the world emulates
its trends and fashions.
Americans must realize that this country does not exist just for
itself Who will apply the brakes to this way of life and initiate a new
trend? This is the most serious question. The only group capable of
doing such a thing is the Unification Church. As you know, the only way
to stop a fast-moving automobile is to apply the brakes very hard.
At that time, the most important part of the car is the brakes; the
brakes must remain strong and not give way.
You may not realize all the things I am doing now; you may not know
about the meetings with politicians, congressmen, retired generals,
journalists and other top leaders of America. These leaders are very
aware that the only hope for guiding this country forward lies with the
Unification Church. They understand it as clearly as we do and they
look at us very hopefully. But are the people inside the Unification
Church maintaining that standard? That is the question we have to keep
asking ourselves.
We are really in the midst of a bloody fight-even though you cannot
see the blood. This is the peak of the cosmic battle. One of the key
strategies for winning the victory is to gather people together. You
may not be aware of what has been going on recently. At this very
moment, a group of prominent journalists is visiting Red China on a
World Media Conference fact-finding tour. This is the first time
China has opened its doors for such a thing. You know what happened
when they visited Russia. Such meetings will have a strong impact on
the path the world will take; they literally influence the way the
world will go.
We are holding meeting after meeting, convening these vitally
important gatherings all throughout the year. This very morning there
is a great assembly in Germany of people of all religions. You haven't
been aware of that.
At least those present here at Belvedere this morning should be
conscious of what our movement is doing on a daily basis. You should
know what is going on every day on the worldwide level. These meetings
will decide the world's future. You should live according to that
standard.
This is all the more reason why you should not focus so much on
whether I come to speak to you at Belvedere. Of course, you benefit
individually when I come, but besides that, in your heart and mind you
should want to come to Belvedere every Sunday morning and pray for the
sake of the world, including True Parents. Don't just inquire whether
or not I will be speaking, and then stay away if you think I am not
coming. Such an attitude has no place in our way of thinking.
Indeed, I have spoken to you so much; I have given you so many
important words of guidance. More than 120 volumes of my speeches have
now been published; they cover the important aspects of our times and
the future, of God and all people. You should live up to their
contents. The message of these volumes is progressive; it proclaims a
goal, which we are now approaching and which you should be aware of. Do
you know the books I am speaking about? There are now 126 volumes, and
they will continue to be published as long as I keep speaking.
These documents will be studied by scholars in the future; they
will get them from the library and pore over each word of my sermons.
After I started speaking in the West, the great majority of those
speeches were given at Belvedere- or if not at Belvedere, in the spirit
of Belvedere. You should always remember how special a place this is;
whenever you are sitting here, you should reflect on the meaning of
Belvedere. If anyone asks a question of you as a member of the
Unification Church, you should be able to answer like a true authority
on my words because you are the ones who have listened to me directly.
You will be more of an expert than all the great scholars and
professors who may study my words in the future.
Do you understand that I have now become very famous among the
scholars of the world? Only a couple of weeks ago many
world-renowned scholars from America, Japan and elsewhere went to
Korea and spoke in 206 cities throughout the nation. They spoke about
Reverend Moon and Unification Thought and were very well-received
by the people of Korea. Those scholars are proclaiming that only
through the Unification Principle and Unification Thought can the world
have hope for the future. These scholars, members of the Professors
World Peace Academy, increasingly feel that they should be the ones to
lead the world at this time; they don't believe that politicians or
economic experts can do it.
Even though you may not understand it so clearly yet, I am very
serious about guiding this country. The way the United States goes
during the next six months will decide the real fate of this country,
and to a large extent that of the world. This is what I am facing now.
Who is playing the main role? It is you. But do you, the real actors,
even realize that you have that principal role? In fact, this is the
qualification to attend sermons at Belvedere: to be in the mainstream
of the dispensation; not everyone is qualified to come. Therefore,
whenever you come here, you should understand the nature of your
qualifications, as well as your responsibility.
You must realize that distinguished scholars eagerly anticipate the
reports about my speeches at Belvedere. Therefore, Unification Church
members should not think you are meeting the standard of the
Unification Church just as you are; rather, you should always strive to
reach a higher standard. You should struggle very hard to keep up with
the norm which I am setting. You must understand that you are the main
group who is responsible to uphold that standard and not assume that
you have already reached it just as you are. You must not say
complacently, "The Unification Church is the place where people
with standards such as mine attend."
Let's say that you have been in the Unification Church for five or
six years. What do you know about God and the world? How well do you
understand God's dispensation? For that matter, even if you have been a
member for 20 years or more, you do not know everything. However, you
should be improving every day as you make daily effort.
At times you are tempted to criticize the Unification Church,
pointing a finger at this or that, calling some things reasonable and
others unreasonable. But the Unification Church is not susceptible to
such criticisms. If this were the kind of church that could be
criticized by people with standards such as yours, it would have
vanished long ago; it could never have survived. You don't understand
about the real Unification Church.
This Church has survived full-scale opposition, not just
partial resistance; it has weathered the most severe circumstances.
But in order to survive such criticism, could I just sit tight without
doing or saying anything? On the contrary, I have had to engage in
terrible, desperate struggles.
The United States has been closely observing Reverend Moon and the
activities of the Unification Church, but it has no yardstick for
measuring us. Both the CIA and the KGB have studied us and tried to
describe us, but they have failed because they have no instruments with
which to evaluate us. All they have are the limited ideals of democracy
and communism, and they are teamed. They carefully observe each step
that the Unification Church and Reverend Moon take; but before they
realize what is happening, we are far ahead. While they are still
trying to fathom one activity, we have crossed over to another side.
They watch our daily steps, but we're always way ahead.
A great change has come about in the United States, which many
leaders already recognize. I haven't been sitting around doing nothing.
People may observe my speeches and activities from a purely external
point of view and report that I spend my days playing pool and fishing,
but what I am actually doing is somewhere else, beyond their measure.
People have suddenly noticed important victories being accomplished in
the United States and wonder when Reverend Moon did it. That is why I
say they have no means of measuring me. I have been painstakingly at
work, day and night, without people being aware of it. Now tremendous
changes are taking place in Japan and the United States.
Through the power of God evil politicians may lose their office and
good, God-centered ones can be elected. You will witness such
things, even during the coming year. More bad congressmen will lose
their seats and good ones will take their place. Do you understand?
Actually, I don't think any of you understand it very well. Many
leaders of America comprehend it far more deeply than you do.
My recent tax case wasn't just a tax case at all. Influential
people knew that unless something was done to contain Reverend Moon and
the Unification Church, we would come to wield enormous power, so they
tried to stop us through the tax case. I have fought against not only
the visible people within the government, but also the "invisible
people"-those at the core of the secular forces hostile to God.
Even you Americans do not realize how this hidden government behind the
visible government works. Can the CIA control it? Even President
Reagan, who is free to do what he feels is right, is influenced by
these people who wield their power in invisible ways.
You know how the office of the President of the United States
became isolated and virtually powerless in the past. Nobody wanted to
listen to the President or respond to him. That office was an object of
mockery. That is the kind of situation that developed here in the
United States.
Our task is to guide people along the right way. When the CIA
realized what I was accomplishing, they were very surprised. "When
did Reverend Moon make this kind of foundation and begin working on
these projects?" they asked.
Somebody must have done these things. Was it you, the members of
the Unification Church? Apparently not, since you don't remember doing
them. All you did was to look around. You find it very hard to follow
in my wake. You were mostly concerned about how hard it is to maintain
your family and individual life. At best, you worried about your
family, but never beyond that to the world situation. So somebody must
have carried that load on his back. You might reason that it must have
been me.
Here at Belvedere, I may speak about things which are not at all
evident now, but 10 or 20 years in the future you will clearly see
them; they will become manifest in the world. This is the significance
of Belvedere.
When I was in Danbury, I took the time to read my own words and I
gave instructions for the publication of a book containing specific
speeches. That book is God's Will and the World. As I was
reading my speeches, I could see the consistency between what I spoke
in the past, what I feel in the present, and what I will be talking
about a few years from now. All is directed toward one focal point. I
want to call your attention again to the importance of that book. While
I was in Danbury, I had a lot of time to catch up on my reading. As I
examined my own words, I selected the more important speeches to be
compiled in a series of books which will contain the focal point for
the future. Have you read God's Will and the World? Are you
still reading my words?
As you read, the first step is to understand the words and the next
step is to carry them out, to act on what you understand. Are you
doing that? While you read, you should realize that the directions
given in my speeches will result in significant changes in the future.
The lives of a lot of people depend on the accomplishment of certain
points in that book; whether people act on them can make the difference
between life and death.
If Heaven is to be realized on earth, it must have a constitution.
Who will draw up the Constitution of Heaven? Are you going to do it? Do
you think the politicians and lawyers who formulated the U.S.
Constitution will return and draft the Constitution of Heaven? Do you
think they are capable of doing that? The Constitution of the United
States is not infallible; issues are constantly being challenged and
debated, so it is far from perfect. How much more important is the
Constitution of Heaven! It cannot be designed overnight. Day by day,
year by year, the basis of that constitution is being established. You
must understand that.
We are doing things in reverse order. The constitution of this
country was written before the government and nation were formed. But
before our constitution is written, the Heavenly Kingdom must be
organized. In order for our constitution to take effect, we need a
country. Do we have that country now?
Where is Heaven? All we know about Heaven is what Jesus said:
"The Kingdom of Heaven is within you" That is true, but it is
not the complete reality. There are enormous contents beyond that
statement. But when Jesus was facing such total opposition from the
world, how could he say all that he knew about Heaven? He was so
alone. Jesus revealed only the blueprint of Heaven, so to speak. But
can the blueprint build the building?
Today is no ordinary day. The tenth of August was the day I went to
another prison [in 1946, in Pyongyang]. This is the first time you knew
of that, isn't it? Even the American Church leaders do not know such
important dates. How ignorant you are about many things! How serious I
feel!
I do many things, but during all these years, I have never even
spent ten minutes speaking seriously with Mike McDevitt, the head of
East Garden security. Those security guards may be living in the same
place with me and accompanying me 24 hours a day, but do you think they
understand what I am doing, what I am thinking, what I am
accomplishing? Do you think they know such things?
All by myself, I have gone this course. Even Mother doesn't
understand everything at the time I am doing it. Only later does she
understand. Everyone, even Mother, finds it difficult to catch up with
me, let alone go ahead of me. You can imagine how difficult it would be
to go in front of me! So can you say, "I understand things.
Father. This is right, and that is wrong"?
In one important point, the work of restoration is different from
other tasks. In the world, people normally set a schedule and announce
what they are going to do and when it will be done. But I cannot
disclose the schedule in advance. Only after I accomplish the
restoration can I announce it. That is why you rarely know what is in
store for you, even in the next moment.
In Korea, for instance, people adamantly and persistently opposed
me in the past. Nothing I tried to do for the sake of Korea met with
cooperation, only opposition. But today virtually everyone, from the
common people to the leaders, understands that without Reverend Moon
they cannot even think about Korea's future. In the past many people
criticized and attacked my name, but today they cannot do so without
someone else attacking them! It has come to the point that people scold
and even beat up my critics for their irresponsible words!
In Japan many people, from common people to congressmen, feel they
must defend my name, my thoughts, and all my words and actions.
Now scholars and ministers in the West are rising up to take the
same position. Many groups of American ministers have gone to Korea. In
a few days another group will arrive. During their stay they visit the
Holy Ground. In the last group of about 200 ministers, many burst into
tears at the Holy Ground in Pusan. They repented and made a
redetermination to support Reverend Moon and Korea. Their standard is
now even higher; they are more eager to do God's will than many of you!
How can you allow that to happen?
They have been doing God's work under the banner of Christianity
all their lives. Do you have such a long internal tradition? At best,
you have been following God for the past ten years or so. How can you
catch up unless you make your own redetermination? How can you exert a
good influence on the world after living for God for just a short time-
compared with the ministers who have been following God all their
lives?
Reflect a bit on the things I have just outlined. Do you feel that
my thinking is complicated? American leaders are now becoming aware
that they need Reverend Moon and the whole contents of what I offer.
But by the time they really know that they need me, they will no longer
find me in this country! I will continue to teach them, so that they
realize that they need me, but it is not for my glory. I will not stay
around to receive their praise and glory once they understand.
I am not doing this for my own honor. This is something I must do
for the sake of God's will. Glory belongs to a different page, or a
different book. Perhaps the next generation will be the ones to receive
the glory. I do not expect to receive it myself. Do you understand?
If you don't understand, why should I come all the way to America
and work here? What does America have to do with an Oriental man,
Reverend Moon? The earliest American settlers virtually annihilated all
the Indians, who are of Asian descent. As an Asian, I came here to love
people and make them more aware. I came to make the Americans more
loyal to their country than the Indians were to their own land.
A few years have gone by, and what I have done here America can
never be erased from history. The Danbury event can never be
forgotten. Who could delete that bad record? Your power? Not even the
whole of the United States or the Western world could do it. Only
Reverend Moon and God Himself can wipe it clean. Although the incident
itself cannot be erased' people have already come and knelt down to me
to apologize for what they have done. Do you understand? You are the
ones who are standing at the forefront, on the front line. You should
realize this and, on behalf of the United States, be ashamed for what
it has done and try to make compensation.
How many more days remain before we commemorate my release from
Danbury? I woke up this morning filled with reminiscences of being at
the halfway house, going back and forth every morning and night. When
I first went to Danbury, the staff and inmates there received me very
coldly. All these memories have come back to me.
Of all the races, do you think the white people have been warmer or
colder than the others? If God didn't exist, and if there hadn't been
any significance to all my experiences, my life would have been
unbearable.
So you cannot look at me without feeling ashamed for failing to
live up to my standard-even though you have been following me. In
other words, you are greatly indebted to me. You cannot repay that debt
on your own power. The United States itself owes me so much. To publish
The Washington Times alone costs $7 million every month. What is the
purpose? To set America straight. Yet this country has not even been
friendly toward me; President Reagan's own administration put me into
prison. Why does our movement sacrifice so much money to do good for
this country?
People in this nation have been ambivalent about the situation in
Nicaragua, for instance, but our movement has been clearly presenting
the truth. The documentary film, "Nicaragua Was Our Home,, shows
the truth about the situation there. The U.S. government did not
prepare that documentary; they understand that our movement did it. The
American news media know what is included in that documentary, but so
far they have not printed even one bit of it.
What kind of situation is prevailing in this country now? If we had
not helped the United States in this way with the Nicaraguan issue,
this country would have looked very bad in the eyes of the rest of the
world. The communists have suffered an obvious defeat on this issue.
That is why they have moved their target to South Africa now and have
retreated from the heated focal points in Nicaragua and South America.
Of course you did not realize this until I pointed it out to you.
I haven't mentioned to you before what I have been doing here and
in Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe. It took the Korean government 40
years to begin to understand the value of my work and its impact on
Korea. The United States will probably follow the same pattern. I have
come a long way, don't you agree? What height have I reached now? Near
the top?
Who is more fearsome: Mikhail Gorbachev or Reverend Moon? People
are in awe of me, not because I am going to hurt anyone, but because I
am making the most significant impact for goodness on the world and on
history. Indeed I have achieved a great deal in a very short time. I
have accomplished everything without any bloodshed. On the other hand,
Gorbachev's foundation is communism, which has murdered at least
150,000,000 people in order to stand where it is today. How about the
U.S. government: how many people have they killed, particularly in
their early history? In contrast, I have always been persecuted and
beaten by others. This has been going on for more than 40 years, but I
have reached this level without retaliating against anyone.
Now the world has reached the crossroads. Which way will it be:
democracy, communism, or Godism? American young people look on with
excitement and shout out their desire: "Godism,, Communism has
revealed itself as being upside down and inside out; people recognize
that they can expect nothing good from communism. Democracy has been
tried, but it too has been exhausted. Godism is the one alternative
which the people of the world will view and say, "Surely, this is
the solution."
However, people have only scratched the surface of Godism; they
haven't plumbed it to the depths. It will take many more years to do
that. People have just started paying attention to Reverend Moon. They
will have to study the 120 volumes of my speeches in order to find out
what Godism is all about! Even these 120 volumes are not the end; they
will be added to as I speak more and more in the future, according to
what is needed at the time.
Do you know that the more I speak, the more clearly the message is
expressed? That is because we are getting nearer to the goal. Once we
arrive, everybody will know what I am up to, without my having to
explain it. Ten years ago, I could have spoken something like what I am
explaining now, but I didn't do it because I had not accomplished it
yet. Now that I have achieved these things, I am telling you about
them. You must understand this.
Even if all of you were to leave today because the lifestyle is too
difficult, it would not substantially affect my work for God's
dispensation. If I started a speaking tour of the United States, how
many ministers do you think would come to hear me? You said many. As a
result of that, do you think many new Unification Church members would
emerge? Those who are better educated, more eager, and enthusiastic
would become the new members. Then would you, the older, senior
members, say, "I was once enthusiastic like that, but forget it!
Don't do it?" You are living now as if that were the case!
I don't feel that the Unification Church members in the United
States today are sufficiently capable of bringing America back to life.
You must know that I am thinking that. I don't feel that members such
as those sitting here are adequate. How much have you loved America,
God's will, and the world? At best, you are faithful on the individual
level, but you aren't even trying to be faithful to the country. You
think that you are already burdened, but it is only with individual
matters. How can you take on the load of the country and the world? If
someone adds to your load, will you run away from it? Be candid: would
you, or wouldn't you?
Actually, I haven't really started training the members in this
country yet, including Dr. Durst and the top leadership. The future of
America is something which really worries me. I am very concerned about
it.
Do you suppose that this physical life will last forever? Sooner or
later you will shed this body; that is definite. If there were no such
thing as the spirit world, none of our efforts would matter. But do
you really know that the spirit world exists? Do you think that life in
the spirit world is short or long? How much longer than life here? The
center of the spirit world is God. Since you have never seen God, do
you feel this is all too ambiguous?
Should you put yourself or God first? Do you think first of God or
yourself? Should God be someone who pleases you, or should you become
the kind of person who pleases God? Do you say, "God must become
the God whom I can like?
Do you think that people in the spirit world can lead a chaotic and
individualistic life? Or, even though you have never gone there, do you
assume that it is far better organized and more lawful than anything
here on earth? Yes, it is very naturally and neatly organized. You must
have some idea about the spirit world.
Take the Unification Church as an example. Before it emerged here
on earth, do you think it existed in the spirit world? Now that it has
appeared here on earth, do you think it will also be in the spirit
world in the future? Chronologically, of course, the Unification Church
is the youngest; so should it be relegated to the last place in the
spirit world? Or do you think that even though the Unification Church
is the last to emerge, it will rise to the top of the system in the
spirit world? As Unification Church members, you may make that claim,
but do you think the spirit world will agree with you? Will the spirit
world welcome or reject Unification Church members?
Let's say that here on earth there is a town in which a lot of
people live. Suddenly one day a new person appears shabbily dressed and
looking like a beggar. Will the town officials say, "That stranger
looks like a beggar, but since we believe he is really a great man,
let's put him in a position of authority in the town"? Would the
townspeople go along with such a decision, or would they resist it?
Naturally, they would oppose it.
When you go to the spirit world, do you want to go to the dark,
dreary place called Hell, or are you going to go to the very bright,
nice place called Heaven? This is reality we are talking about, not a
metaphor. You have to have some qualification in order to go to the
bright place.
There are some great, good people who have lived for the sake of
others or for the sake of their country. One example is George
Washington. You can also think of famous founders of religions or other
great presidents of the United States. All these well-known people
will be in the spirit world. There have been quite a few people who
have led a public life, shedding their blood and sweat for others. Now
you are proposing to stand above them. How do you plan to do it? How
can you be entitled to the highest Heaven? What certificate will you
produce when you go to the spirit world?
There are many people in the spirit world-not only famous people
but also billions of lesser-known people Everybody can observe the
same place at the same time, so they will all be looking at you,
wondering how high up you will go. You Moonies should be able to
describe your plan and say what it is you have that justifies your
going to a high place. You absolutely need a certificate. Without it,
you can, go to the place you desire.
What about a Ph.D. degree? Will that qualify you for a high
position in the spirit world? We know that such a diploma is nothing
more than a piece of paper there. You need something more to qualify
you. This is not a simple matter.
Since I know this clearly, I have worked without ceasing but still
I feel I have not accomplished enough. I have literally fought my way
through the layers of opposition which must be penetrated and
surpassed; you also must do that. The layer of opposition is in the
fallen realm. You must rise above it to get your qualification. You
may think this is a worldly matter, but it is an eternal matter.
If I had chosen the secular way of life, I could have made a good
living. In fact, I could probably have risen to the top in any area of
activity.
You have to enter the spirit world alone. Even though you have a
spouse and children, you cannot go there with them. Everyone goes by
himself to the spirit world; no one is accompanied. You can imagine
what a challenging adventure it is! This is the spirit world we are
headed for and all of us are bound to go there. People who know nothing
about it and haven't made preparations don't have a chance. This is why
God sent me as a teacher during these last days: to show people on
earth what the spirit world is like.
Do you think that all the people in the spirit world' including the
leaders and top people, know and understand' me? Yes, they do. How do
you know that? It is rather simple: because never before in history has
anybody gone through such terrible persecution to attain God's goal. In
the history of religion, I have been the most persecuted person of all,
in the past or present. So I am the champion in that area. The people
in the spirit world know that. Is it true?
East and West, all races and colors of skin have opposed me.
Likewise, all religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,
have come against me. The spirit world can compare these circumstances
with what Jesus faced. He also was persecuted on earth before going to
the spirit world, but the boundaries of Jesus, persecution were more
limited and it was on the local level, not the world level.
It is clear that Reverend Moon is by far the most persecuted
religious person in history. Even your physical parents realize this,
although they might oppose you. Everyone in the world knows that the
most controversial religious figure on earth is Reverend Moon. So in
that respect, am I number one, or number two? By a large margin, I am
number one.
People in the spirit world had never truly respected anyone on
earth. But when they see me and the standard I am living, they feel
respect and they bow down.
What else do I have to be proud of? What element within Reverend
Moon makes people say, "Please rise above us"? It is the fact
that I know God better than anyone else; I know God thoroughly. What
matters most in the spirit world is what God thinks about a person-and
God likes me very much. If you were God, do you think you would admire
me a lot?
You can check within the realms of Islam and Buddhism, but you
won't find anyone there who knows more about God than I do. Other
people may not recognize what is good about me, but God always wants to
accompany me; He doesn't want to be separated even one moment from me.
Because of me, God can be excited and hopeful about life! The quality
of mine that God loves so much is my heart; my desire is the same as
His. I am always thinking about how to digest the communist and
democratic worlds.
Even if God felt that there were some things in me He didn't like
so much, and He looked around elsewhere, there would be absolutely no
one else who could meet His expectations. So God kept coming back to
me! Later He decided, once and for all, "No matter what faults you
may have, I am with you."
You can only imagine this, but you have a good capacity for
imagination. Have you met anybody like me? Do you know anybody else
who has done anywhere near what I have accomplished to turn this world
around? I have a lot of very large mental pockets in which I keep the
various problems of the world. The United States has tested me and
tried to fight me, as have Germany, Japan, and Korea- every country has
tried to fight me. Now we are on the verge of crossing the summit; they
are all about to decide to give up fighting Reverend Moon.
American leaders in the spirit world might wonder who should be
given a higher place-Reverend Moon or George Washington. Should it be
George Washington? He was certainly a great leader in his time, but
what I am doing is applicable to all of history, not just the problems
of one century or one generation.
At this time, many people in the fields of politics, academics, and
other areas want to meet with me. I have received literally hundreds of
requests from people asking to visit me at East Garden. Did you know
that I have not granted any of those requests? But do you think Dr.
Durst calls in advance and gets permission to come? No, he just walks
in-as if it were his own home. Apparently he has privileges! What
privilege is it? It is love.
Where do you think I will sit in the spirit world: at the top or at
the bottom? Actually, I don't want to sit up at the top; I would be
content to remain at the bottom of Heaven. But somebody would come and
pull me by the feet, and I would be drawn upward, upside down, all the
way to the top! However, nobody in the spirit world would protest and
say, "Why are you raising him up like that?,, They would applaud.
Do you think this is true? Or perhaps you think this is just a
"red lie,, as we say in Korean-the worst kind of lie?
Those of you who are seated here listening to me, do you think your
presence here is a coincidence, or is it a historical event? When you
came here today, did you expect me to speak in this manner?
Compare your situation to that of a good Catholic nun, or a pure
Buddhist monk-people who have lived their whole lives in celibacy.
They pray all their lives, never marrying, never working just to make
money. Perhaps they wept so much in their prayers that they created
ponds of tears. How many of those people were privileged enough to have
met the Messiah on earth? None of them. But look at you sitting here.
What have you done to deserve this place and this privilege? Have you
ever stopped to think about it?
What do you expect to achieve by joining the Unification Church?
Earthly attainments are not the most important goal; we are most
concerned about where we will reside for eternity.
You don't fully understand the things I have done here on earth.
For one thing, I have brought together in marriage people from totally
different races and nationalities - even from enemy countries. That is
truly the greatest achievement here on earth. I have also married
people from different religious backgrounds. This has the greatest
significance ~n the spirit world, as well. Just naming a few of the
things I have done astounds the spirit world. These are accomplishments
which the spirit world has been craving for literally thousands of
years.
Now you are in a better position to decide. Because of the merit of
my accomplishments, do you think the people in the spirit world can
relegate me to a seat at the bottom of their realm, or do I have to sit
up at the top, whether I like it or not? Is it because I can speak so
convincingly that I somehow manage to persuade people to agree with
me.
How to rise in the spirit world, once we get there, is an important
issue for all people, whether they are members of the Unification
Church or not. Somebody may say, "Well, I have qualifications:
first, I graduated from Harvard; next, I am a citizen of the greatest
nation on each. Therefore, I should stand at the top of the spirit
world,, Do you think the spirit world would approve? No, such
considerations are far from their way of thinking.
What, then, would they approve of ? You say a clean, pure mind, but
that by itself is not enough for the spirit world to send you up to the
very top. Having a pure mind doesn't automatically guarantee your
entrance to Heaven; you must go through the proper process. Are you
aware of that process? You need a document certifying that you have
fulfilled certain criteria and are eligible for Heaven in order to
satisfy the spirit world.
This point is easy to understand. Even coming to the United States,
which is a far from heavenly place, you have to show a visa and a
passport. If they question your qualifications just to enter this
country, how can there be a free pass in spirit world? More processing
is required there than when entering the United States.
Have you ever set out for Belvedere with an attitude of
self-examination, asking what qualifications you have for coming so
freely? Have you thought, "I am going to Belvedere today, but
later I must satisfy all the conditions on the form and live up to the
standard which Belvedere deserves"?
Dr. Durst may acknowledge you and say, "He deserves
Heaven" and sign your form. But who else must sign the form?
Satan, of course. He has to sign it even before Dr. Durst does. If Dr.
Durst alone signs it, you cannot be admitted to Heaven. True Parents
also must sign it. Those who are already in the spirit world did not
have the chance to know True Parents.
Those of you who have a mustache or beard, do you think they will
become your certificate? I have never approved of anybody wearing such
things. If I don't wear a mustache, can you sit proudly and confidently
in front of me? This law has not been spelled out yet, but you should
know it by now.
This is the University of Heaven, not just a church. Every
university charges tuition. What is your tuition? Everything I am
talking about here at Belvedere must be fulfilled; every point, every
clause must be satisfied. Otherwise, you cannot go to Heaven. Do I
tell you to do something without having done it myself' No, everything
I ask you to do I have already accomplished. I never speak about
something until I have done it myself.
True Parents have nobody to counsel with. No matter how great an
individual may be, I cannot seek advice from him, simply because it is
contrary to Principle. I cannot consult with Dr. Durst, for example.
Why? Because no one within the lineage of the fall is qualified to be a
consultant to the lineage of God. The fallen archangel was the very
villain who brought about the fall. Do you understand?
As I already said, we are on the verge of going over the hill of
opposition. At this point, people can no longer harshly criticize me.
We went beyond that long ago.
Now you have many responsibilities. Should you focus on working
hard just to take care of your family, or on obtaining the certificate
to go to Heaven? Which area should you pay the most attention to? We
never know when we might be called to the spirit world, so we have to
fulfill the criteria before we arrive there. Some of you might be
involved in a traffic accident on your way home today; you never know.
Can anyone say, "Since I got blessed and started my family, I
can automatically go to Heaven,,? That is an oversimplification. The
Blessing did not take place above the satanic realm, but beneath it. We
have to go beyond that, or we cannot reach Heaven. Therefore, we must
not place first priority on ourselves; the will of God must come first.
From now on, if you don't work by that standard, your children cannot
attend the Little Angels School the way everybody has been doing so
far. That cannot happen. The parents, the blessed couples, are very
important.
By the same token, if I had simply stated all these ideas without
ever implementing them, how miserable you would have been! Now I can
rest. Almost everything I must do here has been accomplished.
If I got drunk somewhere and slept all day long, still you could not
complain. Maybe I will do just that-to find out what the satanic world
is like! Then perhaps I will go to ten different movies in one day, but
nobody could complain. You might reason, "Since Father goes to ten
movies a day, maybe I can go to a couple, But that assumption doesn't
follow. I have passed all the criteria, but you haven't" Do you
understand?
From now on, perhaps I should take frequent naps during the day.
Do I say that because I am so sinful? I have never taken daytime naps
in my life because I knew I had to pave the road for all mankind. Now I
have grown older and I am approaching the age of 70. Like everyone
else, I had a time of youth, my golden youth. But I never enjoyed that
time in any normal sense. Instead, I was persecuted, torture, and
imprisoned throughout those youthful years. If I had forgotten about
the sins of the world, I would not have had to endure such things, but
I never did that. Therefore, I passed through all my persecution. You
can understand that, can't you?
Do you think I am a person with no capabilities? I have many
talents, but I chose the path of persecution and suffering. Even though
my temper is fiery and I really hate to lose when I play a game, I have
lost in life hundreds of times. People have stomped on me over and
over. All this happened simply so I could pave the road.
You who have come to the Unification Church know clearly what you
must do, don't you? You know what I have done, and you know what kind
of lifestyle I expect you to maintain. As members of this church, you
must transcend the national and world standards. To do that, we must
unite and work very hard.
You may be old already, but which must come first: marriage,
getting ahead in the world, or preparing for the spirit world? Which of
these three pursuits should you f consider first? Getting ready for
spirit world should have priority. Your reason tells you this is true,
but do you really feel that way?
Why are we here on earth? How should we live? We should learn to
live by the same rhythm or tempo as the spirit world. If we don't, we
will be unable to live properly when we go there.
When you Unification Church members go to the spirit world, you
will definitely be challenged by people there. The things that I have
said are recorded in the spirit world. People will challenge you:
"Have you done such and such? What if you haven't done most of it?
You will be ushered to an in-between region, an interim area-not
Heaven.
Then you might say, "I wish Father would come to the spirit
world soon, so we can be together." But that is not necessarily
what will happen. Simply because l go to the spirit world doesn't mean
you will be able to follow me. You must satisfy all the requirements I
have given you.
Where will the Unification Church ultimately go? What is its final
goal? Here on earth, we must live in a heavenly manner before we can
connect to the heavenly life in spirit world. But is there any Heaven
on earth at this time? No. All the outside world is controlled by
Satan. We cannot find Heaven anywhere in this world.
We must set the record of having lived in Heaven on earth as a
condition for dwelling in Heaven in the spirit world. What do we call
that Heaven? You have answered correctly: home church. In home church,
we are making Heaven on earth, centering on God and True Parents.
Everyone without exception must get the certificate from home church.
Do you realize that in a short time we won't have to witness so
hard? Why? Because very soon the time will arrive when people will come
to the Unification Church on their own. Then why do we go to people's
homes and witness? Those who have been working on home church raise
your hands. We must continue doing home church. During the five years
from 1978 until 1982, I gave you the concept and in many different
talks explained why you must do home church. When you have done home
church you will receive your passport through that work. That is your
privilege.
At this time the United States has approximately 70 million
families. Divided by 360, that makes only about 200,000 home church
areas. That is all. It's not really so much. In other words, soon all
the home church areas will be taken by others, and you will find no
home church to work in.
I spoke about this to you first; you have heard it first. But if I
spoke about this concept to ministers, what do you think would happen?
Can you challenge them? There are some 300,000 ministers here in the
United States. They are professionals and you are laymen; do you think
you can compete with them? Unification Church members have to get this
idea straight.
Since I already explained it, I expected it to be carried out. I
haven't talked with you about it and checked up on you. I haven't been
saying, "You have to witness and do this and that." You
should judge yourselves.
You need your signed certificate, don't you? How badly do you need
it? More desperately than everything else. It is more important than if
you go to some good school. Do you know that? The final criterion you
need to pass is home church. If you do it, your children will accompany
you; but if you don't, they cannot. Do you understand?
These are not just my words and I am not trying to threaten you.
When you go to the spirit world, nobody will have to explain this to
you; everything will be apparent. Those of you who understand clearly
that you need this certificate, please raise your hands. I assure you
that it is absolutely necessary.
I have been working, as you have all seen, to get the certificate
as True Parents. Likewise, you have to get your own certificate. If
you do home church correctly, you will be able to follow me through all
the barriers and various stages of restoration which I have
established.
As I already told you and you well know, the Blessing takes place
at a better position than what Jesus had when he was crucified. That
means you should be literally in a better position than Jesus himself
before you are allowed and granted the Blessing.
Did Jesus receive or give the Blessing? No, he didn't. I received
the Blessing, and I can give it; that is how Heung Jin could be blessed
spiritually. Do you understand? Without his Blessing, traditional
Christianity and the Unification Church could not be linked. If you
remember, it was after Heung Jin went to the spirit world that
Christianity came to be connected with the Unification Church.
What did Jesus need to be qualified to receive or give the
Blessing? Zachariah's family should have united with Joseph's family,
and together they should have served Jesus. On that tribal foundation,
Jesus would have been able to get married, but that didn't happen. The
Cain tribe, John the Baptist's family, and the Abel tribe, Joseph's
family, should have come together. Their unity could support the
parents. But since Cain and Abel could not unite, the parents could not
be established. That is the Principle. Both tribes came against Jesus,
and thus he was crucified. He never received the marriage Blessing.
We have to indemnify this very situation, so the Blessing must come
on the foundation of those two tribes. Do you follow me? Jesus didn't
have that kind of foundation, so it was lost. We have to remake it
during these last days. With such a foundation, you can build a
marriage. That means you must have the highest standard.
Do you know why we are in a better position than Jesus? Not because
we are greater than he, but because our foundation is far more
established than his. Therefore, you received the Blessing.
You must go to home church. In the same position as Jesus, or
Joseph's family, you have to make unity with John the Baptist's or
Zachariah's family. Husband and wife together will have 720 homes-360
each. The number 72 refers to all tribes. When they become one with
you, the next step is to return to your own tribe, your relatives, and
do a similar thing. Then you will really be tribal messiahs. What will
happen next? You will be freed from all satanic accusation; you will be
truly heavenly persons. This is clear, isn't it? Do home church and win
the Cain position; then you can go to your relatives, who are in the
Abel position. Once you have accomplished home church, it is likely
that your family will welcome you.
Actually, I also followed this formula. The communist world is like
the Cain family, and the democratic world is like the Abel family. I
must do this "home church" work, so to speak. This is the
formula for restoration. An individual cannot be restored by himself;
he needs a family. We get blessed and have a family, but we don't have
a foundation to sit on, do we? That is what we are making, in a reverse
way.
This is easier for you to do now, because you can take advantage of
my foundation. I have become known throughout the world and have
received much support. Therefore, your task has become that much
easier.
The spirit world is not a vague place. We have to make our own very
tangible earthly Heaven; then we join Heaven in heaven. Do you
understand? Home church is very important, so I am planning to renew
your home church assignments as of August 20. Then that will be the
last time I will ever say anything about home church here in America.
After that, it is up to you. This year things will be a lot easier.
Many people will ask us to come and talk to them-more so than before.
Up to this point, I have taken parental responsibility. Once the
parent fulfills his responsibility and assigns you an area, it is very
possible to do it. I wouldn't have told you to do it otherwise.
When you go to the spirit world, whom will you seek? When you
reply, "Father" you should have at least a minimum of
conscience. If you call yourselves children, you cannot criticize your
father or run away when he tells you to do something. You must not
complain to other people. I never want you to suffer without purpose; I
am telling you to suffer because it is the short cut. Even if you are
not totally capable, as long as you endure hardships, you can achieve
your goal. But from now on, you won't even have to suffer as much. Who
will persecute you now? Everybody will be able to see that you are
doing something that is good.
By 1988, the President and the people in general will understand
enough about our Church to say, "Follow their teaching." The
President himself and righteous senators and congressmen will speak out
and testify about how good Reverend Moon and the Unification Church
are. Who will have the power to oppose us then? How much easier the
task will be! When that time comes, we can accomplish all our home
church work in about six months.
Since you understand every idea I speak about, don't you think that
if I were able to speak on national television, all the American people
would also understand? Once they understand, do you think you will be
able to keep up with them? If you don't lay the foundation now, the
opportunity will not return.
What is home church? It is the passport to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Without it you cannot enter Heaven; the people in spirit world won't
let you! How can you do home church in the spirit world? You cannot.
There is a famous statement in Scripture that the last shall be first
and the first shall be last. There may be cases in which people who
join the Unification Church late will do better work than those who
joined earlier.
In a sense, we are destined to pioneer the way; we cannot be just
followers. We have no choice: it is pioneer or else. Only after home
church is done will the real registration of Heaven begin. According
to Principle, we first have to live in Heaven on earth. There is no
other way.
You have to be prepared to take up the cross of all the problems in
your home church area. This is the heart that both Jesus and I have
had. In order to become the king of a tribe, you must start by carrying
the cross. A tribal messiah is the same as the king of his tribe. All
my life, I have been going the way of the cross. If you don't
accomplish home church, you cannot follow me. You need that
certification for Heaven. I know this situation clearly; I am not dumb.
I have been doing this for 40 years.
This tenth day of August is a memorable day, a special day, on
which I talked once more about home church. If you do the job right,
not only your immediate family but also all your relatives will be
liberated. Isn't that exciting? Not only your visible relatives, but
all your ancestors in the spirit world-the Smith family, the McDonald
family, the McDevitt family-all will be liberated. If you do home
church right, the spirit world will come and help you. You will see it
happening.
From 1988 on, there will be a vigorous, bustling home church. I
won't have to be here. I have already taught you everything you need in
order to carry on. I have given you a patent, so to speak. You have to
pay royalties for the rights to use a patent. How much would you have
to pay for the right to do home church? If you had all the diamonds on
earth, do you think you could buy it? That is why the spirit world
really cannot comprehend why you are wasting all these golden
opportunities.
Now you know, because you see the whole picture. This is not just a
concept. You have the physical champion of indemnity with you-Father.
I have accomplished everything. All you need to do is to learn and
follow. When you follow me, you will get the certificate. Let us
pray.