📰The Bible is one of the best-selling and most widely distributed books in history, yet it is also considered to be among the least understood. The Bible, which is referred to as the New Covenant and Promise of God, in which 'the way to heaven and salvation' is presented, differs in theologians' interpretations that make it difficult to understand. These differing interpretations have been the cause of the rise of denominations with each one establishing their own doctrine. With the increase in online church services and gatherings resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there has been growing interest in the comparison of various church doctrine. This paper, therefore, attempts to provide readers with the opportunity to compare differing Biblical teachings without interpretation. Among a host of online sermons and Bible-based teachings, the contrasting doctrine between the established Church and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has drawn public interest throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, is hereby compared and summarised. Best efforts have been made to provide a summary of Shincheonji Church of Jesus' understanding of the Bible. Judgment as to what is right or wrong is left to the reader’s discernment.
In a nutshell, 'your kingdom come' means that the kingdom of God will come to the earth, and this earth is New Heaven New Earth, Shincheonji.
The Lord's Prayer begins with the words 'Our Father in heaven', showing us that the Lord's Prayer is a prayer to God by children born of the seed of God. As such, what is 'your kingdom come' in the Lord's Prayer that God's children must seek?
Why did Jesus tell us to pray for this heaven to come? God was originally with man. However, after man was deceived and committed an act of betrayal, God left because He can not dwell with sin. God commanded that the blood of a lamb be sprinkled for the forgiveness of sins. God also established the law, but this could not atone for one's sin. This is why God sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to carry the cross. It was so that God can resolve the problem of sin and come back to this earth to be with us.
However, even though believers today memorise the Lord's Prayer, most believers do not think that heaven will come down. On the contrary, they hope of a heaven where they go to after death. Jesus told us to pray for the kingdom of God to come because there is a time when the kingdom of God will come.
When will this kingdom of God come? Just as the kingdom of God in the spiritual world came to Moses' tabernacle in the Old Testament, the spiritual kingdom of heaven came to Jesus at the first coming. Both God and the angels were with Jesus, so Jesus was heaven on the earth. That is why Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Where will this kingdom of God come to? In Revelation 21:1-2, it is recorded that the Holy City, New Jerusalem, will come down to New Heaven New Earth. Moreover, in Revelation 3:12, Jesus promised to write the name of God, the Holy City New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus on the one who overcomes. This means that God, Heaven and Jesus will be with the one who overcomes. In Revelation chapters 7 and 14, God's tabernacle will be with us on Mount Zion, where the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel are spiritually sealed. Therefore, the New Heaven New Earth in Revelation 21 is the place where the one who overcomes is, and is also Mount Zion where the sealed 144,000 of the 12 tribes are.
If you shorten New Heaven New Earth to three syllables, it makes Shincheonji. The shepherd (pastor) of the promise and the 12 tribes are gathered in Shincheonji. This is heaven on earth where the kingdom of the spiritual world comes.
"It is said that when I pray this prayer, my faith becomes like pure gold. I believe that this is beautiful faith in the sight of God. What is the meaning of the words Jesus said about asking for the coming of the kingdom of God? What is the kingdom of God here? It is the good news - the Gospel. Why is the kingdom of God the Gospel? God's kingdom is the good news. Above all else, God's kingdom is a gift of grace."
Pastor B of the Korean Methodist Church
"The phrase “Kingdom of God” can be viewed as the most accurate translation. When God comes into my life, becomes the master of my heart and begins to rule over my heart, then we can say that the kingdom of God is within me."
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