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Part 4: The Culmination of History in Our Time
In spite of everything I still believe that people are good
at
heart. I can feel the suffering of millions and yet, if I look up at
the heavens I think that it will all come out right and that
peace and tranquillity will return again.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
The unprecedented changes and struggles of the twentieth century mark the
birth-pangs of a new age. No one can deny that the world has come closer
together and many divisions have been overcome. East and West, North and
South have begun to mix. International economic blocs have formed. The United
Nations, as well as numerous other international organizations, improve
the quality of life for all people. Major religions are seeking common ground
in their beliefs. Even ideologically, the chief confrontation of this century,
that between Marxism-Leninism and democracy, has dissipated. In addition,
the spectacular advance of science and technology in this century has made
it possible for us to enjoy life more fully than ever before. The development
of telecommunications and the rapid expansion of the airline industry have
given us unprecedented access to almost every country in the world. There
has never before been such a vast interchange between peoples, cultures
and races. Our world has indeed become a global village.
At the same time, the devastation caused by world wars and many other regional
and international conflicts has been unprecedented. The collapse of communism
has not ushered in an era of peace. Mismanaged industrial expansion during
this century has damaged our environment, and the moral decline devastating
all societies is only gaining momentum.
Christ's Second Coming
The direction of history in the new millennium will be determined by the
way the world responds to the Second Advent of Christ. Many Christians believe
that Jesus will arrive on the clouds of heaven. This view is based on a
literal interpretation of a few passages the Bible. For instance, in the
book of Daniel we find the prophecy that the Lord would come on the clouds:
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man . . ."; Jesus quotes these words when
interrogated by the chief priest.
As we saw with the story of Adam and Eve, the Bible contains symbolic language.
Jesus stated that he spoke in parables and symbols. In the case of the biblical
description of Christ's coming, the word "heaven" does not refer
to the literal sky but connotes great value, sacredness, or goodness. Representing
and embodying these qualities, Christ will again come as a man on earth,
with the power and presence of God, rather than in a supernatural fashion
by literally descending from the sky.
The references in the Bible to the last days do not mean that the world
will come to an end at the time of the second coming. If the first human
family had started in goodness, humanity would have remained eternally good
as God is eternally good. However, because the first human ancestors fell
away from God, human history has been marked by evil and sin, which God
cannot allow to exist for eternity. The history of fallen humanity must
come to an end. The biblical references to the last days do not mark the
end of time but rather the end of fallen history and the beginning of a
new age during which God's kingdom will finally be established.
Because Adam and Eve did not fulfill God's ideal, and because Jesus was
prevented from bringing God's kingdom on earth (as a result of being rejected
by his contemporaries), someone will be born on earth as the third Adam
to complete the providence of restoration. He will destroy Satan's dominion
over man and substantialize God's three blessings on the earth. Born of
a woman, somewhere in the world, he will finally cure the infection of false
love, brought on by the fall, by establishing a pure, God-centered lineage
into which all humankind, of every race, religion and nation, can be engrafted.
He will break through Satan's barriers to become a man of perfected character.
He will live a life of true love, investing all his energy and resources
for the benefit of suffering humanity. To fulfill the second blessing, he
will find a bride, and together they will overcome the fall, thereby establishing
the ideal of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Through accomplishing this,
they will substantialize the position of True Parents. The True Parents
will guide humanity in overcoming the real conflicts between nations, races,
religions and cultures, finally bringing about a world of lasting peace.
To fulfill the third blessing, they will bring the way to unite religion
and science, our technology and our values, leading to a world of both spiritual
and physical perfection.
The True Parents will speak clearly and plainly of the truth, liberating
all men from suffering and ignorance and realizing the Kingdom of Heaven
on earth. Their fundamental motivation, however, is to liberate the suffering
heart of God.
But as with Jesus 2,000 years ago, the True Parents can expect to meet persecution
and misunderstanding. In fact, Jesus himself warned of this when he asked,
When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?
(Luke 18:8).
Insights of the Divine Principle
We live in the most exciting, but perhaps also the most fearful, era in
the whole of history. Whereas some believe that the world will be destroyed
in an apocalyptic disaster, the Principle states that the reign of human
selfishness, ignorance and fear--and not the planet Earth "'ill soon
come to an end. God's love will prevail when the final division of good
and evil comes at the time of the Second Coming. The future of humankind
is not gloomy, but hopeful. All will be saved. A new world is at hand. God's
promise is being fulfilled today.
This has presented a brief introduction to the Divine Principle. There are
countless testimonies to the power of the Principle to give hope and new
life to all people. Those who have examined its contents sincerely have
found it to be a true gift from God. The Principle shows how husbands and
wives can establish pure, eternal relationships, and how parents can guide
their children on such intimate matters as love and marriage. It offers
lasting solutions to the social and national problems facing our world today.
We heartily encourage you to study the Principle and find out how it can
benefit you and renew your life.
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