Sun Myung Moon
October 4, 1983
Excerpts
Belvedere
Have you ever thought about what we mean exactly by Day of Heavenly Victory? Does it mean the victory of Heaven in America, or in the world, or throughout history and throughout the cosmos? Does it mean that every person has gone successfully through his path of restoration, that everything is going properly in this country and in the world? Certainly not, so what exactly is the Day of Victory of Heaven? If you had to answer that question on a test, what would you write? You would have to fail the test if you couldn't answer that question.
When you write Heaven in Chinese characters, you use the characters representing two persons. Oriental people use characters in their writing which contain much revelatory information. There are thousands of revelations in the Oriental alphabets.
The immensity of Heaven can be filled by two persons. All the things of creation might protest when they hear such a statement, "What about all of us that occupy physical space? Are you completely ignoring us and including only mankind?" God would answer, "You do not understand.
Before I ever created mankind, I created all the different parts and components that would go into them. That is what you all are."
This is why the Divine Principle calls man "the microcosm of the universe." Each person is a tiny universe. Thus we can more fully understand why two persons represent the entirety of Heaven. When we say "two persons" do we mean two men, two women or what? We mean one man and one woman. That is the only combination possible that could include all the aspects of the creation. One person must be a plus and the other must be a minus.
The original plus being is God, none other, who is the origin of the universe. When you understand that God is a plus being, that can make Him seem closer to you. Instead of considering God a far away, distant figure, we can understand how close He is to us.
Men are predominantly plus, but they have an element of minus in them. There are certain basically plus characteristics and certain minus characteristics within the sung-sang element of man. We can see these things very clearly, now that it has been laid out in logical form. But nobody in the past has ever had such a complete and all-encompassing understanding.
Thus God is the original plus being and mankind is the original minus.
Within that entity of mankind is perfected man and perfected woman. They are intended to become true parents. What do true parents do? Once they are perfected they become one with the original plus being. When a strong positive electrical current exists, it will flow down into a strong negative current. They spark a tremendous light of true love.
When two people are engaged to be blessed they might be tempted to focus entirely on their love and ignore my warnings, saying, "After we are one, then we can listen to Father." Then they put my words second in priority to their relationship. Such people are definitely going in the wrong direction to find original, true love. It doesn't matter how difficult it is to get to our goal as long as we get there.
There Are Always Two Ways
Why should the state members and IOWC members listen to their leaders? It is so that they can come closer to me and understand God's situation better. Each member must understand what the highest Abel is saying. Then if one of their intermediate Abels starts to do things which are inconsistent with my goals, they can report that to me. From the Divine Principle perspective, I will kick out any leaders who are inconsistent with my words.
To disentangle Satan from an individual and chase him away is my whole duty, my greatest responsibility on earth. Thus, who are you prone to follow, the central figure who is always sweet to you or the highest leader who is always harsh? In the very beginning, Adam and Eve listened to an "intermediate Abel," the archangel, who came to them with sweet words which were inconsistent with God's words. God had said, "Don't," but the archangel said, "Do," and that was very easy to follow.
Although I will be kind to you most of the time, when it comes to this principle I will never compromise and I will be harsh. My simple rule of judgment is whether a person follows this principle, even though it is very difficult. If he does, I know he is going the right way. But if someone refuses this principle and only wants to go the easy way, I know he has the wrong attitude. How can I judge other people's intentions so clearly? Because I myself went the same way and I always found that there were at least two ways to do something -- the easy way and the more difficult way. My intuition always told me that the difficult way was also the right way to go and sure enough, it always was. This matter is so serious that I am harsh, not only with all the leaders, but also with Mother. Actually I am harshest of all with Mother. Even though she might be totally exhausted after some event, I will push her to continue. That is not because I hate her, but because I love her. I cannot bend the principle for anyone.
Without using the eyeglasses of this principle, the actions of people are often very confusing. It is impossible to judge whether a person is truly righteous or not. But when you understand the person who is willing to go the difficult way as one who has a righteous motivation, then you can see people more clearly.
Some American members might have thought, "Until now I liked the sunshiny way things were, but since all those Japanese, Europeans and Korean elders came, the weather is getting very cloudy!" However, if the weather here in America remained only sunshiny bright all the time, without any clouds and rain, it would soon dry up and become a desert, don't you agree?
Therefore, please welcome any clouds that come along! If anyone has a definite reason why what I am saying is wrong, please, tell me.
This is supposed to be a day of celebration, so why am I giving such a harsh and principle-oriented talk? It is because this is the most crucial, basic point; I must be sure that you understand this, because until you do, you are not really qualified to listen to the meaning of the Day of Heavenly Victory.
If you don't want this kind of purpose, then you can do freely whatever you want. But if you listen to me and you understand the seriousness of this, then you will have to follow. It is true that younger members can learn from older members, but you must always be careful. Discern whether the judgment of older members is actually right, according to this principle.
I am making myself available just like a ladder. You can climb on me in order to go up higher. Will you tell me, "I want to climb on you, Father, but please make it easy."? I want to make it as easy as possible, but there are certain principles which I cannot bend or alter. You old members, who have been in the movement for many years, if you have the ears and the eyes to receive what I am saying here, the American church will begin to prosper. Not enough members are doing that.
If the road were broad and smooth, many would have chosen it. There is only one road to the goal, and that road is narrow. The True Parents have worked at the risk of their lives, with back-breaking effort, to make this road possible for individuals, families, nations and the world. Can you try to follow that path now and expect it to be easy? Can you say, "No matter what Father says, I will go the way I choose?"
If your central figure is not following this road in your opinion, then go where the leader is better. Of course, you must let someone know what you are doing.
The only thing we really care about is reaching that goal of true love. Everything else is subordinated to that. This is the most wonderful of news. Once we penetrate that point, everything will be accomplished; we will not have to do more.
Reaching the Level of True Parents
The talk this morning is centered on the Day of Victory of Heaven. Let me ask you a question: is the day of Victory of Heaven the day in which all the population of the earth has joined the Unification Church? Is the Day of Victory of Heaven the day in which all the people of the earth welcome the Unification Church and rejoice that it is here? No, the Day of Victory of Heaven is the day when the original plus being became one with the original minus being, man. Is that clear to you? How many people are required to achieve that? Only one man and one woman, with God, making oneness in love as husband and wife. But before a man and woman become husband and wife, principle requires that they become brother and sister in the true sense, with brotherly and sisterly love. Only after you have passed the stage of true brother and sister are you qualified to be elevated to the level of true husband and wife. After you have made oneness on that level, you can go to the level of true parents. Unless you go through these stages, you cannot give birth to true children. Can you reach that level? If you do not, your own children will accuse you.
We know clearly how Adam and Eve erred along their path to that goal. In order to correct their failure, you must understand what I have been discussing today. Do you think I, too, have had to follow this road of principle or am I exempt because of a special power from God? I had to be the first person to go this path. Satan knows clearly what is needed for God to come into this world; therefore, all his forces were mobilized to block True Parents from reaching all the way to God. He knew that if the True Parents were not established, he would have been able to reign without interference forever.
Both Satan and God knew very well that the path of restoration lay in that unity of True Parents and their family. God was hoping for that to happen and Satan was hoping to prevent it. God provided the proper religious environment around the world, through Judaism and Christianity and so forth, to help His goal to be achieved.
If established Christianity only knew about the Cain and Abel principle in God's dispensation, America could have come into perfect unity as the Abel country after World War II. The entire earth could have come into unity after World War II, even the Soviet Union, but America did not seize that opportunity. Therefore, God could not stop communism from rising up and striking at America. America is deteriorating morally because of Christianity's declining influence here; therefore Christianity has to be revived and all the religions of the world must be brought into unity.
The Unification Church has come to revive the Christian influence, step by step.
Both the physical and spiritual worlds should have supported the Unification Church. When they did not, the communist world was able to challenge the free world directly. So, instead of being able to establish the foundation on both the physical and spiritual realms, I had to recreate that foundation from the beginning -- without any nation, without any support. While I was carrying this out individually, I was opposed on every level -- by friends, members of my family, the country. Every level tried to stop me. You can understand that you can inherit the victory which is established on a particular foundation, but once that foundation is lost you cannot go to the original goal. Why? Once you become a sinner, there is no way to get back to the original state without indemnity. Thus the Unification Church's most important teaching is that of indemnity. Indemnity is the key to reaching Heaven.
I knew when I had to go up the sharp hill of indemnity. If the Christian churches in Korea had not gone against me, I would not have had to re-indemnify that. But, because they did go against me I founded a true ecumenical movement. There is no other way to get back to the original situation than by loving our enemies, those who persecute us. Therefore, we must love other churches, regardless of what they do against us.
It was around this time in 1976 when all the re-indemnity conditions were established. All the opposing forces were massed together -- including all the free world, Christians, Jewish people, and communists. We sent missionaries to 127 nations to indemnify the fact that all the world came against our movement.
There has never before in history been a religious leader who was attacked by the entire world, including all the other religions of the world. Satan was saying, "All right, you made a family and a clan; but let's see if you can survive this worldwide opposition."
Even Mother herself didn't understand what I was doing. All she had to do was have absolute confidence in me and follow my direction. All of you were asked to do the same: simply to support Father. This condition was very significant for Mother. If she was able to support me throughout all the trying times, she was also able to take the victory with me. Whatever I was able to accomplish was equally shared with Mother because she made me the success that I was.
America Can Be Saved!
Until 1985, even if the government fails to understand and support us, we must educate the American people ourselves and tell them about God's providence and what is imminent. You must understand clearly that this is why all the Japanese, Korean, German and European members have come here.
Like the three days of darkness of Jesus, these next three years will be our chance to rise above this cross or else be crucified. If we are determined to even go to jail for the next three years if that can bring life to America, we can go over the time of crucifixion. But if nobody does anything victorious, we will certainly be crucified.
The Israelites never realized who Jesus was until after he was dead; but by then it was too late. The Bible records that they went through darkness and despair. Now, before Americans crucify Reverend Moon, they must understand and appreciate his value and for the next three years start to follow the guidance and direction of our movement. If that happens, they will be most fortunate. If we can teach Americans the value of the Divine Principle during these next three years, America can be saved.
These next three years are our opportunity to march forward into Canaan. If we don't make it, all your descendants will blame you. Those Israelites who refused to listen to Moses in the wilderness all perished.
From 1945, after World War II, until 1985, is our forty years' wilderness period. The entire world is actually in the wilderness, turmoil and tribulation are occurring everywhere. But now that time is coming to an end.
Have you ever stopped to think that whether or not America will accept and welcome True Parents is up to you? That is a truly honorable and important work of God's dispensation. I know that anyone or any family that misses this once-in-history opportunity to help install the position of True Parents in this country and world, will not only regret it, he will cry out for generations to come in his regret. This is certainly not a threat but an assessment of the world, based upon the Divine Principle.
Eternal Settlement on Earth
Thus the day of October 4, 1976 was the day when the persecution started to turn around. That was the day when True Parents could put down their marker in the earth. We could take the offensive against Satan and begin to work positively for God, instead of passively taking persecution.
That was the first time when True Parents' settlement could be established and the possibility of your settlement came into being. That was what happened on that day in 1976. Therefore, on the first day of this year, after seven years, I proclaimed the motto, "Home Church is Our Land of Settlement." For the first time, our motto includes the idea of settlement.
The original man and woman will become one and settle down, just like God's original plan of creation. This was accomplished even while Satan's forces were opposing them on every level. Fighting against Satan, the parents established their eternal settlement on the earth, and that was the Day of the Victory of Heaven. When that happened, God was no longer limited to working only with the vertical level, but was able to work horizontally as well, until then, you had to pray so deeply and strongly before you could receive any direct guidance from God through spirit world. But now, since you are horizontally aligned with the True Parents, each of you can receive guidance from spirit world directly in your work. That is encouraging and makes it so much easier for you to give your best effort! From this time on, since we are in the realm of the horizontal influence, this can happen more and more.
Where is that Heaven for which we have cried out for so long? It is right here on the earth, not somewhere in space. Heaven begins when we survive and win over all the persecution and opposition. We are here together in America, from all the different countries and races, working like a hurricane. You are working so hard to establish God's domain, in this country which represents the whole world. Beginning here, we can spread God's settlement over the whole earth. Then we can live the original way of life. How about that?
Moses got discouraged and blocked from succeeding in his mission by his tribal chiefs. You fifty state leaders are like those tribal chiefs. You must lead and teach with all your energy. No matter what, we must bring everyone into Canaan. Do you understand this?
So you must realize that this Day of the Victory of Heaven is the day when Heaven has the minimum foundation here on earth by which God, the original plus being, and the original man and woman could get together and realize God's ideal of creation. From that small foundation onward, it can grow in strength. That is the tremendous significance of this day. I want you to know that all the work I have done was for the sake of this victorious day. The victorious result of all my life is what I am about to give to you by letting you work for the next three years. It is a tremendous privilege for you to be able to inherit so much in such a short time.
Do the things now, during the next three years, which you can tell stories about for the rest of your life! The record you establish during this time will be the public record of your relationship with me.
Continue working for the goal of educating the American people, as well. Let them know how much they need the True Parents. I expect you to be brave and audacious. Is this a moment of pride for you, or misery?
If I explained to you everything I have just spoken of in exact detail, it would have been too complicated. The person who listened would have had an added burden of responsibility; but if I just give him the broad points, he can still be on God's side without all those details. This is a principle which I followed.
Please, understand, that you, too, must achieve your own Day of Victory of Heaven before you can achieve your perfect unity as a couple with God. Unless you do that, you will not rise above the situation you are in, you will not be able to settle but will live like gypsies. You should be grateful that I am so concerned about your own day of settlement.
By the True Parents "settling down," I do not mean that we will continue to live where we are now, in America. It means that wherever True Parents may be, the dispensation can be continued based upon that country.
Establish Your Own Victory
If you hear someone saying something contrary to my direction, you should point it out to him. Don't just sit there and be polite: tell what you know to be right and wrong, even if it is your Abel you are speaking to. Will you really speak out and tell what you know to be my direction when someone is wrong? This will ensure the strength of our activity.
You cannot blame your Abel figure later for some misdirection he gives you because you have the responsibility to follow my direction, regardless. The one who gives misdirection is not Abel, but Cain; he is standing on Satan's side.
If your leader cannot exercise proper leadership, then I will do it in his place. Now you understand clearly what "central figure" means. You must know clearly that the primary figure is God; the main central figure for our movement is Reverend Moon; the rest of the central figures are all in the position of intermediaries, even servants. How can you ever even think of giving the same consideration, even less, to the king of the central figures as you do to the lesser ones? It is no wonder that the Unification Church is terribly inefficient with such an attitude.
This is certainly the Day of Victory of Heaven and at the same time it is the day of victory over evil, but now we have a clear path. Those of you who clearly understand this, please stand up with confidence.
Instead of looking for me, put yourself into my position and do the same as I would do. I would like to stand in the front line forever, but it is best for the overall purpose that I do not. You must also have your own opportunity to establish your own victory. I ask you to do your best during these next two or three years. Will you do it? Instead of teaching you directly, I have given you the Korean and Japanese leaders. I have been teaching them for many years and they have more than ample ability t. lead you for now. If you feel so lonesome for me, please turn to the Korean leaders just as if they were me. Do you understand what I am saying?
God bless you.