Throughout human history, creation is born only to age, get sick and perish. Is this man’s fate? Is this God’s will? Can anything save us from this inevitable cycle?

In the book of Genesis recorded about events that took place roughly 6000 years ago, God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and is spirit (Genesis 1:1-2). Everything God created was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). God entrusted the whole earth to Adam and told him that he could eat from any tree in the garden, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Adam chose not to obey. He was deceived by the snake, broke God’s command and, as a result, God said that man must not be allowed to eat from the tree of life and live for ever (Genesis 3:22). Therefore, before Adam sinned, he and God were one - the spirit of God and the flesh of man united - in a world of void of death. Adam had eternal life in Eden (paradise) as long as he obeyed the will of God. 

Following Adam’s sin and the subsequent increase of sin on the earth, God, who is the source of all life (John 1:4), had to leave the earth and death has reigned as king since then. After God left, Adam’s spirit died and his flesh lived for 930 years before returning to the dust of the earth (Genesis 6:5). Without the spirit, man has a limited lifespan. When God left, man’s years were cut to 120 (Genesis 6:3) and then again to 70 or 80 (Psalm 90:10).

God’s will since Adam sinned roughly 6000 years ago has been to restore this precious lifeline between spirit and flesh. In every generation of Biblical history from Noah to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the periods of the judges and kings, the prophets and Jesus Christ’s first coming 2000 years ago, God has been working tirelessly to fulfil His objective by appointing one person on the earth as His chosen messenger to make known His purpose and will within that generation. 

2000 years ago, the spirit of God came upon Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:16) so that Jesus could begin to fulfil God’s will and preach the Gospel. This is why Jesus later said “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Without God (spirit), Jesus was just flesh, unable to fulfil God’s will. As Jesus lay on the cross, he breathed his last and gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50). According to Ecclesiastes 12:7, after the death of the flesh, the spirit returns to God who gave it.

In the book of Revelation, which is God and Jesus’ final promise, the word 'spirit' appears seven times in chapters 2-3 (“whoever has ears, let them hear what the spirit says to the churches”) and numerous times throughout. In Revelation 20:12, the dead receive judgment according to their actions based on the Bible and the book of life. And in Revelation 21:3-4, God’s dwelling is with people and there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain. It is an immensely hopeful promise. Eden, that once existed before Adam sinned, is finally restored on the earth (Revelation 22) and death is swallowed up by victory. Hallelujah!

★If you want to learn this new promise, have had a long life of faith but have prayers yet to be answered, are curious about Revelation, are waiting for Jesus' Second Coming or are curious about the mysteries of human life (birth, old age, sickness and death), please register for Shincheonji Church of Jesus' online Bible Study Course, delivered by experienced lecturers free of charge⇨http://bit.ly/bible_061102 (English)

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