Noah Brown: June 2018

In every generation in the Bible, people had the opportunity to listen to God's will from the lips of one person. This person was always appointed by God and was the true pastor who spoke God's will according to scripture. However, very few people listened to, and took to heart, the words that came from the true pastor. Adam listened to the words of a false pastor and betrayed God. His descendants refused to board the ark because they did not believe in Noah's words and were subsequently wiped out with a flood. Similarly, the Israelites doubted Moses' testimony and turned back right at the gates of the promised land of Canaan. Moreover, people turned to worshipping idols made by human hands.

A few generations later came the prophets (Isaiah-Malachi) who lived in the period 600BC while kings were ruling over Israel. One of these prophets was Jeremiah - the ‘weeping prophet’.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

Jeremiah's life was planned by God with a specific purpose to prophesy God's will to all people.

“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 1:6-8).

Even though God reassured him that He was with him, it must have been a very heavy duty for a young and inexperienced man to speak God's will to people who would not listen. Nearly all of the 52 chapters of the Book of Jeremiah record words of rebuke and a heartfelt plea for repentance. Over a period of 23 years, Jeremiah pleaded with people to repent of their false idol worship and turn back to the true, living God (Jeremiah 25:3). Yet he was met with great resistance by his own people that included regular beatings and even imprisonment.

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
(Jeremiah 1:9-10).

Jeremiah's duty was to speak God's words in order to re-create peoples' spirits so that they would turn back to God.

Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin." (Jeremiah 25:8-9).
The people living in Judah and Jerusalem would not listen, even though they had heard how the neighbouring Assyrians invaded northern Israel because of King Solomon's betrayal in turning the hearts of his people towards false idols (1Kings 11). God can not dwell where there is sin so He put an end to the people living in Judah and Jerusalem through the neighbouring Babylonians who invaded and held the land captive for a period of 70 years under King Nebuchadnezzar.

However, despite the peoples' betrayal, God never abandons His people, but out of His mercy and love always provides a way to bring them back to Him so that He can dwell with His creation. After the 70 years of captivity ended, God promised three things which are all contained in Jeremiah 31 - a "new work" (v.22), the sowing of two kinds of seeds (v.27), and a new covenant (v.31). A 'new work' was needed because history had proved to God that man, born of Adam's seed, could not save people from their sins because they always betrayed God. God, therefore, appointed someone born of His seed, who was conceived not through man's seed but through the weed of the spirit - Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:20). During Jesus' ministry, he sowed the good seed that was planted in peoples' hearts. God also promised a time when the truth would be made known again to all humanity through a new covenant.

Now is the time when all these prophecies in Jeremiah 31 - made 2600 years ago - are being fulfilled. Like Jeremiah, there is one person who has been appointed by God according to the promises contained within the Book of Revelation. He is a true pastor who has been testifying to the physical fulfilment of the Book of Revelation for 40 years. Like Jeremiah, he has been outcast, beaten, imprisoned and even labelled a 'cult' for speaking God's word. Yet he continues to fulfil God's will selflessly and tirelessly for the sake of humanity🙏

2 comments

'Creation': "the action or process of bringing something into existence"

'Corruption': "the action or effect of making someone or something morally depraved"
(Oxford English dictionary)

God's story as recorded in the 66 books of the Christian Bible is one of continual creation, corruption and then re-creation to restore what He lost. It is an account of God’s persistent efforts to draw his people and kingdom back to Him.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:2-3)

The very first verse of the Bible states that God is Creator of the heavens and the earth. Amid darkness on the earth, God found a light. This light was not a physical light, but someone with the word of truth - Adam, God’s pastor. God appointed Adam to rule over all creation, and through Adam, God dwelled with all creation. Adam was the instrument that connected the lifeline between God and creation.

However, Adam betrayed God after listening to and accepting the words of the serpent who had deceived Eve, his wife. This serpent was not a literal snake. It was the devil, or Satan. The devil began to rule over the world and death reigned. God, who is without sin and can not dwell where sin exists, had to leave this earth and man's lifespan has been decreasing rapidly since then (Genesis 6:3). This marked the beginning of God's 6000-year work of restoration.

Whenever one generation betrayed God, God looked for and appointed one pastor to carry out His work of restoration. After Adam's betrayal, God came to Noah and commanded him to build an ark (Gen 9). Despite Noah’s pleas for people of Adam’s generation to board the ark from impending disaster, they refused to listen, so God wiped them out with a flood. Although seemingly unloving and cruel from man’s perspective, God can not dwell where there is sin. In all, eight members of Noah's family boarded the ark and were saved. However, sin creeped back in through Noah's son, Ham, who exposed his father’s nakedness. God began anew and appointed Abraham, making him a promise that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan as an eternal blessing (Genesis 17). These descendants were the physical Israelites who belonged to the 12 tribes. However, as they arrived at the border of Canaan under the leadership of Moses - a land flowing with milk and honey - they grumbled and did not believe in what God had promised Abraham. Finally, Joshua led the second generation of Israelites into Canaan. After his death and at the peoples' request, God raised Judges to rule over Israel, but these Judges turned their hearts away from the true God and towards worshipping false gods. God then chose King Solomon but he committed the same sin (1Kings 11). God put an end to that generation and established Spiritual Israel through Jesus Christ at the first coming 2000 years ago. The reality of Spiritual Israel today is the Christian world. However, according to the New Testament promises in the Book of Revelation, a new kingdom and people has been created which continues to grow. This new kingdom and new people is the twelve tribes of 'New Spiritual Israel'.

The cause of man’s continual betrayal and corruption in every generation is due to an entity called the devil, or Satan who, like God and his angels, is spirit and can not be seen with the visible eye. According to Ezekiel 28, he was God’s most loved cherub (archangel), but in his arrogance he wanted to assume the position of God (Isaiah 14) and take what God had entrusted to His creation. The reason why Satan has been interrupting God’s work since the time of Adam is because he knows there is an appointed time when he will come to an end (Matthew 8:29).

Now is the time when God is carrying out his final work of recreation through the Promised Pastor and the 12 tribes of New Heaven New Earth (Shincheonji Church). Like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua and Jesus, he has been appointed by God to carry out this work of restoration according to the promises of the New Testament recorded within the Book of Revelation. He has the real food that can give life to peoples' spirits and the iron sceptre to rule over all nations (Revelation 2, 3) and he is the only person who has seen, heard and can, therefore, testify to the physical fulfilment of the prophecies contained within the Book of Revelation. Satan will be thrown into the Abyss (Revelation 20); hence he will no longer be able to turn peoples' hearts away from the truth that comes from the lips of the Promised Pastor of today's generation. There will be no more corruption or a need for God to re-create. Instead, God will dwell with all humanity, grant eternal life and end all pain and suffering that we experience, as He promises:-

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
(Revelation 21:3-4)🙏🏽

Further Reading
The Reason for Creation and Re-Creation
http://cafe.naver.com/scjschool/190696

Corruption, Destruction, and Re-Creation
http://cafe.naver.com/scjschool/184444

No comments

Shincheonji Church is a church that has been established by God only according to the promises of the Bible. It is translated from Korean into 'New Heaven New Earth'. This 'Heaven' refers to a tabernacle, temple or church where God dwells, and 'earth' refers to its people or congregation members. The reason it is ‘new’ is because the ‘old’ has become corrupt - a process that is consistent throughout God’s history in the 66 books of the Bible. After Adam's generation betrayed, God sent a flood to put it to an end and He established a new generation through Noah. After Noah's generation betrayed, God established a new generation through Moses. After the betrayal of Moses' generation, God established a new generation through Jesus Christ. Since the establishment of Christianity over the last 2000 years, all the traditional churches in the world have asserted their own doctrines, claiming to possess 'truth'. However, through no fault of their own, the reality is that these churches have become the ‘first heaven first earth’. They became corrupt in Revelation 6 and will eventually pass away in Revelation 21. For the first time in history, God and life will reign.

Biblical prophecies about New Heaven New Earth are written throughout the Bible:

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17 - a prophecy made roughly 1500BC).

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28)

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13 – a prophecy made after the resurrection of Jesus Christ)

The official name of the church is 'Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony'. It is a church with God and Jesus as its head. In Revelation 5, Jesus (“the Lamb”) is the one who opens the scroll that was sealed and so is able to fulfil the promises in the remaining chapters of the Book of Revelation. “The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony” refers to the place where those who have seen and heard the events of the Book of Revelation can testify to it. It is a place where all nations will come to worship the true God (Revelation 15:4-5).

The reason why Shincheonji Church qualifies as the one true church is because it has appeared solely according to the promises of the Bible. Moreover, it is the only place in the world where the fulfilment of the prophecies in the book of Revelation can be plainly testified. Its doctrine is based entirely on the word of God, without a blemish of man’s own interpretation. Sadly, what we find in Christianity today is thousands of denominations. However, not a single name ascribed to these denominations is found in the Bible and not a single one can provide a clear explanation of God’s history, content, and prophecy and fulfilment according to the Bible alone. Through God’s grace, we can have lasting and permanent hope in a world that is riddled with conflict, disease and injustice on an international and local level because God aims to unite this world under one truth. 'Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony' is a kingdom that, unlike any that has existed in the last 6000 years, will not fade away but last eternally. As God promises in Revelation 21:1-5, He will wipe every tear from our eyes, bring an end to all our pain and suffering and dwell eternally with humanity:

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”🙏

5 comments

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the grandson of Abraham and the younger twin brother of Esau. The story of Jacob is one of Godly wisdom, and of promise and blessing for faithfulness to God’s promise. What importance does this story have for us today?

The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

Rebekah was an ageing woman who had remained childless, but through the righteous prayer of her husband, Isaac, God enabled Rebekah to conceive. During her pregnancy, she asked God why she felt so much discomfort. God responded, drawing a clear distinction between her two offspring in the passage above. Such distinction was reinforced by the names given to her two children at birth. The first boy was hairy and named Esau, and the second, who was clasping at the heels of his twin brother as he emerged from her womb, was named Jacob, meaning ‘he grasps the heel’ and a Hebrew idiom for ‘he deceives’. Jacob was destined to take something that Esau possessed. What further differed between these two brothers was their personality. Although raised in the same environment, Esau was a voracious young man who loved hunting game, whilst Jacob favoured the homely indoors.

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)

Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34)

Despite having the privilege of being the firstborn tasked with carrying on the covenant God established with his father (Isaac) and grandfather (Abraham), Esau had no value for his birthright. Indeed, he was willing to exchange it to satisfy his hunger and quench his thirst. To his parents’ grief, Esau had also married non-believing (gentile) women who could easily turn their children’s hearts away from worshipping the God of Abraham and Isaac (Gen 26:35). Even though God had promised to bless Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5, 18-21), how would He have felt about Esau’s attitude and possibly not being able to fulfil His will?

Jacob seized the opportunity to demonstrate his love for the covenant God established with his forefathers. Sometime later, when Isaac was old and his vision failing him, he instructed Esau (whom he loved more) to hunt fine wild game in exchange for a final blessing. Having overheard their conversation, Rebekah urged Jacob to quickly go out and bring two young goats to her. She cooked them and Jacob presented them to his father with goatskin on his hands and neck in order to maintain his brother’s likeness. Unbeknown to Isaac, he blessed his younger son abundantly and God’s covenant would now pass through Jacob:

“May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:29)

Although Jacob’s actions may appear deceitful and immoral from man’s perspective, they were considered righteous from God’s perspective because it showed how much he valued God’s promise to bless all people. He did not whimper in his faith in God’s promise. As we will see, Jacob would receive a tremendous blessing.

After being blessed, Jacob heard that Esau plotted to kill him, so, at the urging of his parents, Jacob fled to Haran to stay with Laban, Rebekah’s brother. Along the journey, God came to Jacob and directly reaffirmed His promise to him in a dream:

There above itstood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:13-15).

God’s promise must surely be fulfilled. Jacob arrived in Haran, where he was warmly received by his uncle, and married his two daughters - Leah and Rachel. God gave Jacob 12 sons through them - six through Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun) and two through Rachel (Joseph and Benjamin), with four more through their two female servants (Gad, Asher, Dan and Naphtali). After having faithfully served his uncle on the land for 20 years, Jacob returned to his parents’ homeland of Canaan with his family and flock. What happened along the way was of pivotal importance to the fulfilment of God’s promise - Jacob wrestled with an angel of God.

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:22-30)

Because Jacob had overcome man, he was re-named ‘Israel’, which means ‘he struggles’ or ‘one who overcomes’. Through having overcome, God established his 12 sons as the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. Similarly, Jesus also overcame at the first coming (John 16:33) and so God was able to establish Christianity through the 12 disciples. In our times today, which is the time of the second coming, there is one who has overcome and through whom God has established the 12 tribes of ‘New Spiritual Israel’. It is only through these 12 tribes that God’s final work is taking place; a place where all humanity can attain its ultimate hope of heaven. Please come and see🙏

1 comments

About me

Follow Us

Labels

recent posts

Blog Archive