Eschatology and Our Time The Last Days Purpose

Eschatology and Our Time ‘The Last Days’

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

The Purpose of History Salvation = Satan Fallen Man False Love False Parents Restoration Fallen Woman Fail Adam + Eve True Parents God Ideal Man True Love Ideal Woman Fulfill Child Family Society Nation Fallen World Ideal World Hell on Earth Heaven on Earth

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 Jeremiah 31: 33 -34 greatest. ’” “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men…” Revelations 21: 3 “They shall not hurt nor destroy in My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of. Isaiah the 11: 6 -9 Lord…” “They will beat their swords into plowshares. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither Isaiah shall 2: 4 they learn war anymore. ”

Why is God Working to Save Fallen Man ? 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

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 1 Timothy 2: 4 truth. ” “‘Your Father in heaven is not willing that Matthew 18: 29 any of these little ones should be lost. ’” “For God so loved the world that He gave John 3: 16 His one and only Son…”

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

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

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

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

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

Time 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

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 Christ Saviour Lord True Man Enlightened One Son of God New Adam Last Prophet Avatar Incarnation

Centre of Restoration Christ Messiah True Parents Saviour Lord True Man Enlightened One Son of God New Adam Last Prophet Avatar Incarnation

Position of the Messiah God Messiah Perfected Man Fallen Man True Parents

History of Restoration Spiritual Development Complete Restoration Messiah History of Religion

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

The Unification of Cultures Twenty-one cultural spheres

The Unification of Cultures Hindu African Judeo. Far Christian Eastern Islamic Distilled into five main cultural spheres

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

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

History of Conflict Evil Good Individual Family Society Nation World

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 New Earth 2 Peter 3: 10, 13 Revelation 21: 1

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

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

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

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

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. ” Luke 12: 49 God’s Word is a ‘fire’ 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. ” John 12: 48 “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 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 Good Near to God Matthew 6: 9 Earth Evil Far from God Colossians 3: 2 Through the Messiah fallen people are ‘Lifted up’

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 Eternity Messiah True Parents Goodness End of Evil

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

God Ideal World is Based on the Three Blessings 1. Ideal Person First Blessing Person Second Blessing Third Blessing Creation 2. Ideal Families Nations World 3. Ideal Dominion over Creation

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

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

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

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 Ideal Person Original Love Original Value Freedom of Original Mind Spiritual Capacity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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…” John 16: 12 “The hour is coming when…I will tell you plainly of the Father. ” John 16: 25

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

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

Our Attitude in the Last Days 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

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

Our Attitude in the Last Days 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