Children's Day

Reverend Sun Myung
November 22, 1976
Belvedere, New York
Translator - Bo Hi Pak

We all know that one of the important celebrations of our church is Children's Day. Today is actually the 16th anniversary of Children's Day. Those who are attending their first Children's Day, please raise your hands. Quite a few. If Adam and Eve, the ancestors of mankind, had not fallen, there would have been only one day of celebration, one day in which we would celebrate Children's Day, Parent's Day, God's Day and Day of All Things. That one day would be a most joyful day in heaven and earth, bursting with goodness, a day of celebration not only for people, but also for the things of creation, including insects, birds, and so forth. That would have been the beginning of joy, the beginning of happiness. That day would have seen the beginning of love. Because of the fall, however, everything is upside down.

The day of joy vanished for God, for Adam and Eve, the parents of mankind, for the children of God, and for all things of creation, and all now dwell in a world of despair and unhappiness. The world started out instead on the satanic side, with Satan as king of the universe, and from that time on the mission of God became the work of restoration. God has to restore all the lost things back into goodness and perfection. Restoration take several stages: First, the servant stage, then the adopted sons' stage, the true sons' stage, the stage as children of God, and finally the parents' stage. Since you are born into the satanic lineage, you must somehow change your lineage or you cannot be accepted as God's children. This is man's destiny. There is only one way you can change your lineage; you must first become adopted children on God's side. Then let us analyze the meaning of "adopted son."

The providence of the adopted son

An adopted son is indeed higher than a servant. In God's sight, His adopted son should be superior to His servant, and although Satan is the king of the fallen world, God's adopted son should be superior even to Satan. Who is Satan actually? He is the fallen archangel Lucifer; therefore he is in the servant position. Logically God's adopted son should be superior to the angelic world. Unless you become convinced and determined that we are going to conquer the entire satanic world, you are not qualified to be called the adopted son of God. An adopted son will determine that he will give himself totally to the service of God and mankind, yet even then he is not quite at the level of being God's child. Therefore the dispensation of God is first to create the realm of the adopted son.

What is the dignity or authority of an adopted son? By becoming a son of God through adoption he is eligible to inherit from God, but we must realize that God adopted children only because He does not have His own children. God's fervent desire is to have His own children eventually. Therefore an adopted child must feel that the things he inherits from God do not really belong to him, but should belong to God's own direct children. This awareness should be there with the feeling, "God, please have that day come quickly when you can see your own children, so that I can give all my blessings to them. They are the ones who deserve this blessing, not me." Unless you become adopted children first, you have no way to connect yourself to God's direct children. The realm of adopted children bridges the gap between the angelic world of the servant, and the world of the direct children of God. During the Old Testament era, mankind could come from the dungeon of hell back to the position of servant, before going into another stage.

For 4,000 years during the Old Testament era God worked through the prophets, teaching them His word and bringing them up to the servant level, living in the hope that soon the day of the Messiah could come. That was God's hope all during this period. God was preparing for one extraordinary person who could raise those at the servant level to become His adopted sons and eventually His direct children. The adopted son of God must not be married. God's own children have never yet seen their wedding, so how could adopted sons have that blessing first? There are many Christian sects and denominations that emphasize remaining single to serve Christ.

That tradition endures because they are still on the level of adopted children. John the Baptist was in the position of adopted son during the Old Testament era. John remained single and until the age of 30 went out to the wilderness to proclaim the truth. He alerted the people to be ready for the glorious day of the coming of the Messiah. The life of John the Baptist certainly fits the description of the role of adopted son. His mission was to nurture and prepare the people and bring them to the Messiah; after first uniting them together in oneness he was to bridge the gap between the Messiah and the people. He was to be like a guide to the true gate, the one through whom the people could know who the Messiah was. Even the rabbis and religious leaders of the Old Testament era were supposed to respect and love him, becoming one with him so that eventually they would go with him at the time of the Messiah. John the Baptist won a reputation as a man of God with integrity, a prophet.

When John would proclaim to the world, "Here is the Messiah! This is the man we've been waiting for throughout history," then all men were supposed to follow him without any reservations and accept that person as the Messiah. That was the plan. However, contrary to God's plan, there was a separation between John the Baptist and the Jewish people. The man in the position of adopted son was definitely to guide the nation of Israel to the Messiah. There should not have been scorn between Israel and the Messiah, with the people saying, "We are the real Judaism, and you have nothing to do with us." The coming of the Lord is taking place once again. The Pope's position is as the leader of established Christianity. Should he say, "I cannot listen to some strange person. Let's have our cardinals and bishops examine whether this person is really the Messiah. They can test him and find out." That will not work! The Messiah is not appointed by the Pope, cardinals or bishops. He is given accreditation only by God. Now you know clearly that John the Baptist came in the role of an adopted son. Next we must consider what the difference is between an adopted son and a true son. This is a very key question. Does an adopted son have two ears and two eyes and a true son have four ears and four eyes? What is the difference? Actually a true son and adopted son look the same. The only difference is that an adopted son is born of satanic lineage, while a true son comes from a heavenly lineage as God's direct heir.

The true son of God cannot be born through a satanic lineage. This difference is very important. If Satan can claim, "That child is conceived in my bloodline," then that person cannot be called a child of God. What are you then? In the Bible there is an analogy of the wild olive tree and the true olive tree. Even though you want to come to the side of God, you are still regarded as a wild olive tree, born of satanic lineage and coming from the wild world. Satan has a right to claim a wild olive tree, and the entire fallen world is like a wild olive tree. God needs a certain foundation in order to proceed with His work of dispensation. In order to have that foundation, God established religion and chose a people. Even God has no freedom to chop satanic olive trees off any way He wants.

He had to create His own realm. Even though there were only wild olive trees in the world, God chose some to claim as His own, and in that way God could do anything He wanted within that particular realm. God needs His small, chosen area to work in and cleanse through religion, and then to eventually expand to the worldwide level. That time when the entire world is ready is truly what religion calls the Last Days, the final day of fulfillment. The world was in such complete readiness twice in history. The first wag the time of Jesus Christ, when in the sight of God preparation for the coming of the Messiah was complete. The second time is the time of the Lord of the Second Advent. When the preparations are ready, God will send one true olive tree of heavenly origin, or heavenly lineage. That one person comes without any contamination from the satanic world and then the branches of the wild olive trees will be grafted into the true olive tree.

How do we know Jesus is the son of God?

That is the total picture of God's concept of restoration and salvation. The wild olive trees are cultivated so that when the true olive tree comes God can chop them and graft the wild olive tree branches onto the root of the true olive tree. That's how fallen man can become a true son of God. We have now learned the basic principle of how we become true children of God, but how do we know Jesus Christ is truly the son of God? What is the proof? As far as the actual work of religion is concerned, Buddha did a far greater job, as he had many more disciples in his own lifetime. The same is true of Confucius. Mohammed also was a much more accomplished religious leader than Jesus. What is the criteria for us to say that Jesus is the son of God? We must know it clearly.

The explanation begins with the same principle: Jesus was the son of God because he came out of the heavenly lineage, whereas the other saints, like Buddha, Confucius, and Mohammed, did not come from that heavenly lineage. No matter how much they accomplished, they didn't have the same qualification as Jesus Christ. Let me give you some explanation. All ancestors of the fallen world go back to Adam and Eve. There is a law of restitution or law of indemnity in the universe: Unless we pay back the damage that was done, we cannot be restored into the original position. Adam and Eve fell because they united with Satan instead of uniting with God. Eve rejected God and her future legitimate husband, Adam. That is very critical and important to understand. For this reason restoration must begin with women. A woman caused the fall, so women must reverse the process of the fall. Since Eve rejected God and her legitimate husband, Eve should reject Satan and satanic relationships in restoration. All religions are based upon this principle and the ultimate purpose of religion is the restoration of women. It can be seen that in general women are more fervent in religious persuasion, while men close to them often take a satanic role. Such men are usually hard on devout women, and this has been men's role in religion. When women try to follow the religious life and the directions of God they always face difficulty coming from two sides: both Satan and man do not want them to go. Women of faith are destined to pass through that ordeal in order to restore the position of Eve.

Jacob and Rebecca

The actual work of restoration started 2,000 years after Adam and Eve, at the time of Isaac, Rebecca, and Jacob. When you read the story of Jacob in the Old Testament you can read about Jacob's mother, Rebecca. What she did was rather cunning and very extraordinary. God is in the father's position, with Adam in the son's position. Eve was connected to God and Adam. Rebecca came from satanic lineage and was in the position of fallen Eve, while Isaac was in the father's position, and Esau in the position of son. But Isaac and Esau were on the satanic side, so Rebecca could restore herself in the sight of God by rejecting those in the position of her satanic father and satanic son.

The Biblical account of these events is very short and does not give us a full explanation of what happened. Why was Esau on the satanic side? There were twin sons, Esau and Jacob, but Esau was the firstborn. Originally the first-born is always the son of God. But from the Principle we know that restitution means the second son should be restored to the firstborn position, and the first-born should be brought down to the position of second-born. If there had been no fall, this would not be necessary. However, Satan took the first-born, the first creation; thus God always claims the second-born and by raising him into the position of first-born God can restore the heavenly birthright. This is why there is a tradition throughout the Bible of God blessing the second-born. Even in Egypt, all the first-born sons were killed while the second-born were not. When Jacob blessed Joseph's two sons, his right arm by custom was supposed to be on the head of the first-born, but he crossed his arms so that his right arm was on the second-born instead. Joseph said, "Not so, my father. This one is firstborn; put your right hand upon his head," but Jacob said, "Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he."

Satan claimed the first world, in which we live. When the Messiah comes he will bring the restored world, in the second-born position, belonging to God. In the Garden of Eden Eve was dishonest with God and her husband. In restoration, Eve must be in the position to disregard her satanic father and satanic son. That is why Rebecca could only be restored by deceiving both Isaac and Esau. As older son, Esau belonged on Satan's side. Jacob was on God's side as the second-born, which must be restored to the position of first-born. Through the Divine Principle we can now understand what Jacob was doing by trying to win the birthright of the first-born. Even before their birth Esau and Jacob began fighting inside Rebecca's womb; they didn't even wait until they were born. Rebecca prayed to God, "If it is thus, why do I live?" God said, "Two nations are in your womb... and the elder shall serve the younger." Fallen history is truly the struggle of Cain and Abel. In the Garden of Eden they were brothers, born at separate times. During their struggle Cain slew Abel, but 2,000 years later that Cain-Abel struggle began inside the mother's womb.

Rebecca acted in an extraordinary way, using cunning tactics and even deceiving her own husband in order to bring the second-born, Jacob, to the position of God's son. At the time of Cain and Abel, the showdown did not advance God's dispensation. At the time of Jacob, however, God won His first foothold and for the first time God had a little foundation here on earth. By helping Jacob, Rebecca successfully rejected her satanic father and satanic son and restored Eve's position. Jacob won by overcoming Esau and claiming the birthright, and thus the second-born took the first-born position. Upon that victory, the history of the chosen nation could begin. So far theologians have had difficulty understanding why God favored Jacob; Jacob's actions would be unacceptable to our moral standard, and in today's world Rebecca and Jacob would be considered swindlers! However, what they did was not for their own gain. They were put in a position to fulfill a role in restoration, and without their condition being fulfilled God's history could not have started. They were chosen to act a very difficult role. In the sight of God, Jacob was the first person to be triumphant and to set foot in the history of God. Before that time, there was not even a history for God.

Jacob and Esau

After winning the birthright from his elder brother Esau, Jacob had to run away from danger. Jacob went to Haran and suffered for 21 years. Isaac, Rebecca, and Esau were still living as one family, on the satanic side of life. After successfully helping Jacob, Rebecca was in a position to restore Esau and Isaac to herself. Isaac and Esau were hostile because they had been deceived, and Rebecca acted as a shield for Jacob by winning their hearts. Esau was so mad that he wanted to kill Jacob and Rebecca tried to soften his heart and soften his father's heart. Do you think she communicated with Jacob in Haran? Definitely. Rebecca encouraged Jacob, "You go right ahead and don't worry. I'll take care of this side; you keep on going and do a good job." In Haran, Jacob worked very hard, but his uncle Laban was vicious and took advantage of him, deceiving him more than ten times. While enduring these difficulties Jacob had to create his family. Jacob worked very hard to get married; his uncle promised to give him one daughter in exchange for seven years' labor, but then Laban did not give him the girl he wanted. Because Laban was on the satanic side he did not want to immediately give up the daughter that Jacob wanted. He wanted to delay the heavenly schedule so he made Jacob work another seven years to marry his second daughter.

Jacob would have come under satanic dominion again if he had decided to just be content with the first marriage, which had been arranged by Laban, who represented Satan's side. Jacob had to go on until his goal was achieved. After seven years of hard labor Jacob earned Rachel, the daughter that he originally wanted as his bride. Twelve children were born to the two wives, and their descendants later became the twelve different tribes of Israel. For 21 years Jacob was a sojourner who suffered away from his home. Having been triumphant in Haran, he needed to return to his home to face a final showdown with Esau. Unless he could triumph in that situation no decisive victory could be won. On the way back to his homeland, Jacob had to cross the ford of Jabbok, and there he struggled all night with an angel. That struggle stemmed from the fact that Jacob's showdown involved two families.

When Jacob went to Haran he was single, but he returned to Canaan with his family. At the same time, Esau also had his family. What was the difference between the two families? God and Jacob's family were on one side as one force, while Satan and Esau's family were another force. As the time for confrontation approached, Satan was in a position to challenge Jacob first, spiritually. For this reason the angel was chosen to challenge Jacob at the ford of Jabbok. Satan could challenge Jacob from both directions: spiritually through the angelic world, and physically through Esau. Jacob had to wrestle very hard with the angel at the ford of Jabbok, all night long. Jacob thought, "You cannot stop me, because I have 21 years of hard work behind me, and now I'm going back to fulfill the final chapter of the dispensation that God has given me. I will win. Now nobody can stop me." All during his 21 years of suffering Jacob was with God. He felt the presence of God was with him, and in difficult times God guided and comforted him. There were many trials and tests given by Laban, but every time that victory came, Jacob knew that his power came from God.

He knew that he was protected by God -- that he was chosen by God. His wrestling with the angel was so vicious that the angel dislocated Jacob's hip, but even then Jacob had no intention of giving up. He hung on, struggling hard, and the angel knew he could not defeat him. At Jacob's demand he blessed Jacob. For the first time in history, a man fought against an angel and won victory. By winning over the angel, Jacob established two conditions. First, because the defeated angel represented the spirit world, Jacob could now have dominion over the spirit world. Secondly, because Satan is a fallen angel, Jacob now possessed a condition to win over the satanic world. When the angel gave up, be gave Jacob a blessing, and gave him a new name: Israel, which means "victorious one." Jacob truly established victory and was in a position to inherit the satanic world. This meant that whatever Jacob's course, the entire spirit world would assist him because of the condition he set. He really conquered spirit world by winning over the angel.

He also nullified satanic attack, because spirit world had already surrendered to him. Spiritually, the battle was won. Now Jacob could go with his family for the ultimate physical confrontation with Esau. What was Jacob's strategy? His mind concentrated on one thing: to fulfill the work of God. He did not even care about his possessions. Jacob had won much wealth in Haran, but he gave it all to Esau as a gift. After Jacob bought his birthright, Esau was very, very angry, always intending to kill Jacob. But over the years their mother had softened his heart, and when Jacob sent him the fruit of his 21 years hard work as a gift, Esau's heart was melted. Actually we can see Esau's character here.

He was a very pragmatic man not caring much about ideals or about God's dispensation. All he worried about was his stomach and his fortune, which is why he sold his birthright for a bowl of beans. When he received all those beautiful gifts he smiled from ear to ear. A wonderful thing happened, Esau welcomed Jacob, and embraced him. "I do not question the past; you are my brother. I accept you." That was a beautiful momentous event. What was the result? The family was united. Even though God's champion, Jacob, was a sinner, he was triumphant because the entire family was united under the dominion of God. For thousands of years Judaism and Christianity have not known the dispensational meaning behind this.

Tamar

Through Jacob's victorious restoration the first family of Israel was established. However, we must notice that by that time Jacob and Esau were around the age of 40. Though Jacob had won victory, a gap of time remained between the time of their conception in their mother's womb until their age of 40, a gap, which Satan could still claim. By taking advantage of this gap Satan could still work in many ways to block God's dispensation. To proceed with His plan, God needed one more dispensation at this point, which was fulfilled through Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. The coming of the Messiah was predicted to be through the tribe of Judah because through him God was able to close the gap of time between the mother's womb and Jacob's age. Judah's daughter-in-law was Tamar.

When Tamar's husband died, her desire was to leave a child to continue his lineage. According to tradition in Israel, if a husband died without leaving sons, his brother should play the role of husband so that the wife could conceive a child. However, the brother of Tamar's husband was reluctant to do that. He was punished, and died also. The second brother of her husband was very young, yet when he came of age Judah did not give him to her in marriage. Tamar knew Judah's family was God's chosen family, but there seemed no way to leave children behind. However, Tamar conceived an idea to deceive her father-in-law into taking her husband's role. Her act is recorded in the Bible. She disguised herself as a prostitute and set up a little cottage, and tempted Judah as he passed by one day. He was indeed tempted, and without knowing that the woman was his daughter-in-law there was an affair, and she conceived. Normally when you read a story like that in the Bible you might throw the Bible away: "What kind of book is this?" But that is an external view.

Look at the event from God's side. When we know the Principle of God we know why these things are inevitable. Tamar's role was just like Rebecca's, taking the position of Eve, and like Rebecca Tamar conceived twins. During Rebecca's time the Cain-Abel struggle began after birth, but at the time of Tamar the struggle began right inside the mother's womb. She conceived two worlds inside her womb; one was Satan's world, the other was God's world. Here restitution means bringing the younger son into the elder son's position. They were very historic because the two children represented Cain and Abel, Satan and God. Satan's side, the eldest son's position, was crushed by God's side, the position of second son, even before they were born. Go back and read this chapter in the Bible, and you will see the similarity of events concerning Rebecca and Tamar.

Two children fought inside their wombs. Each mother was upset, going to God in prayer, "God, what are You going to do with me? My children are fighting even before they are born! " God answered Tamar, just like He answered Rebecca, saying, "Two nations are inside your womb, and the younger must be greater than the elder." Certainly the showdown would come at the time of birth. How does the first-born become first-born? By coming out of the mother's womb first. Certainly the Esau-type baby, representative of Satan, wanted to come out of Tamar first. He struggled to come out first, and pushed his arm out. When the child's arm came out, the midwife tied a red thread around his wrist.

Zerah was this first-born and the red thread on his wrist predicts the rise of communism at the end of the world. However, at that moment, the second-born, Perez, pulled Zerah back inside the womb! After Zerah's arm was pulled inside the womb again, Perez came out first. This was the Cain-and-Abel struggle taking place right there in the mother's womb. The elder son was pushed aside by the second-born, who then came out to the world as first-born, and the victory of Jacob over Esau was completed inside the mother's womb. from that time on, the gap in time from the mother's womb to the age of Jacob was claimed by God. Through these events Judah's tribe came to hold a very special position in the sight of God. Because the Cain-Abel struggle over dominion was determined in the mother's womb, there was no way Satan had a condition to claim a baby inside the mother's womb through this tribe of Judah. This is why Jesus Christ could be conceived only in Judah's lineage. God always planned that Satan have no power to claim a baby inside the mother's womb, and the act of Tamar completely dissolved the claim of Satan from the mother's womb to maturity. It was truly a tremendous, joyful victory for God.

Mary

However, all these events were merely preparation. The true child of God's lineage was not yet conceived. After that event another 2,000 years of the history of Israel passed. Why did God have to wait for the Messiah for 2,000 more years? God needed the foundation of a nation because the Messiah's work can only be triumphant through one sovereign nation. Not just the family, but the nation of Israel had to be formed. From the victorious foundation of the family, the formation of a tribe and a nation took 2,000 years. Then the time was certainly ready for the advent of the Messiah. Thus the victory at the time of Jacob came through three levels: Jacob's level, Judah's level, and Tamar's level, and after 2,000 years on the national level, the substantial act of bringing in the son of God took place.

Jacob's victory represents the victory of the individual, family, and tribe, but not a nation. Once God was successful on the national level, and could actually bring His son into this world, then all the nations of the world could come into God's kingdom. That was the plan. Again, women had the major role in the dispensation. This time Mary was chosen as the champion, and her role paralleled the roles of Rebecca and Tamar: she was in a position to deceive the satanic father and the satanic son. Mary's husband, Joseph, was in the position of satanic father. Why was this so? When Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, Adam was in the position of fiancé; he rejected his God-given fiancée, and in a way married Satan. Joseph and Mary were in the position of Adam and Eve before the fall, in the relationship of engagement. In the Garden of Eden, Satan took the engaged Eve away from the side of God.

By the same token, this time God was taking Mary out of her engagement on the satanic side. Mary was taken for the purpose of God and conceived a child. Think of it, when she was carrying this baby it became known to her husband, even before they were married. How about Joseph's family?

His father and mother must have thought, "That's incredible! I just couldn't tolerate that situation in my home. How could she have a baby without even marrying my son!" I'm sure they thought that. However, no matter what Joseph thought about her, or what Joseph's father thought about his future daughter-in-law, the important thing is what Satan would do. Do you think Satan had a claim over that baby? Satan did not, because his claim had already been abolished at the time of Tamar. When the angel came to Mary and explained her mission, Mary was literally shocked. Almost instantly she wanted to refuse that role because she knew the consequences of it. But when the angel told the story of God, Mary accepted in faith; she was ready to become a sacrifice, whatever suffering she might face; "I shall be Your instrument. Don't worry about me, but do Your will ."

That was her faith. Just like Tamar, just like Rebecca, she committed herself for the sake of the will of God. Thus, one daughter was hand-picked by God and used as His instrument. Coming on the foundation that God had laid out 2,000 years before, Mary conceived God's child, a child who had no connection to Satan. Only in that way could God claim an unstained lineage. That is why Jesus was truly God's only begotten son. He was the first one in history who could perceive the entire love of God and who could inherit the entire love of God. He was born with that authority, and for the first time in history God had a foothold on earth. "Now I have my son, not an adopted son, but a true son. My only son is on the face of the earth." If the people of Israel had worked with him they could have become like him-true sons and daughters of God. The day of hope had arrived for God, the day of hope had arrived for mankind.

We must be champions of the truth about Jesus

The will of God was for the child to be prosperous while on the earth; His child should multiply like the stars in heaven and sand in the ocean. However, for 2,000 years people have been thinking that Jesus came to die. That was absolutely contrary to the will of God. Jesus was the only son of God and he came to prosper, and erect the Kingdom of God here on earth. The death of His son really struck God, shattering His heart. God deeply grieved the death of His only son, yet people keep saying, "Your son came to die." Their conviction pierces the heart of God every day.

The moment of the crucifixion was the most heartbreaking, miserable moment for God because He did not send Jesus to die on the cross. When Jesus said, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" God refused to answer and was almost angry at Jesus, "I don't want you to die. I won't answer." I am the first one after all the history of Christianity to speak for the agony of God. America, a Christian nation, has terribly misunderstood the will of God, terribly misunderstood the purpose of Jesus' coming. For instance, was Joseph in a position to have husband-wife relations with Mary? Indeed not. Mary was just an instrument of God and not divine at all, but today, particularly in Roman Catholicism, Mary is revered as being almost divine.

Today you must become a champion of the truth you have heard. You know the meaning of the Old Testament, the meaning of the coming of the Messiah, what went wrong with the chosen people and the chosen nation. We must bear testimony to the truth. All mistakes were committed because of ignorance, but from this time on it cannot be tolerated and permitted, because God has revealed the truth to the world. After the crucifixion of Jesus the Christian foundation could only be a spiritual one, but initially God intended a physical foundation as well. Therefore, Christianity has only spiritual parents. Jesus is in the spiritual father's position, and the Holy Spirit is in the spiritual mother's position. We are given rebirth by following a spiritual father and spiritual mother, but we can only receive spiritual salvation.

Therefore, the Christian tradition has been denying the physical world that should have been the foundation of Christianity. What about the Unification Church? We are the new Christianity and we need to build the Kingdom of God in both the spirit world and the physical world, because that was God's original intention. The Unification Church is making new history. We are not just pursuing the age-old Christian doctrine of spiritual salvation. We are laying down the cornerstone of the physical Kingdom of God. At the outset of this message I said if Adam and Eve had not fallen there would have been only one day of celebration, marking the beginning of all joy. Because of the fall there was no day of joy for God; therefore, we have been restoring the joy of God step by step: Parent's Day, Children's Day, Day of All Things, and God's Day, the major celebrations around the year.

This new ideology is a revolution in the religious world. Beginning in Korea, I persevered under persecution and laid the foundation. Then I moved on to Japan, and now have come to America. In the sight of God and from my observation the victory is won. The time will come when the Christian hierarchy in the outside world must come to the Unification Church to study and research. Do you know why? Because God has revealed this truth; it is not a Unification Church truth. Everybody all over the world needs this truth. We are not just teaching about God, but about the God of history, God of the present, God of the future, the unchanging, eternal, almighty, loving God. Once young people know His heart they could never leave this church, even if we chased them away. Some people denounce me and oppose the Unification Church without even studying the Divine Principle. That is not even courteous, is it? It is really crazy, like trying to shoot someone in the dark.

Jesus Christ alone is the begotten son of God, not Buddha, not Confucius, not Mohammed. Therefore, it is legitimate that Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father but by me." Are we accepting this Messiah? Why don't you stay in your own church? They also believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah so why should you come to the Unification Church? That is another key question. But let's discuss that at the next celebration because that would take at least three more hours. Furthermore, I want you to have something to look forward to! But I want you to know one thing. Even though I die, this movement will not perish; this ideology will not deteriorate even one iota. This work is from the truth given by God, and the march of that truth will go on to eventually flourish and cover the entire world. There is another most important conclusion.

You are participating here not so you can become a servant of God or an adopted son of God, but because you are given the way to become a true son and daughter of God. I want you to know that you have a guarantee to reach perfection. There's nothing more you can expect than that. Christian history is the history of adopted sons, but that era is over. Unification Church history begins a new era in which we are not becoming adopted sons of God, but true sons and daughters of God. We are transforming our world by transforming mankind into true children of God, and transforming this world into a literal Kingdom of God here on earth.

The 200-year history of America is now ended, and as America is moving into her third century your era of becoming true children of God is opening. Do not worry about the existing churches. You are the princes of peace. I want you to know that you are in another age of universal Pilgrim Fathers; that's why you are here. A new America is in your hands, and you can make it work or you can let it die. Your responsibility is great. The destiny of America is in nobody's hands but yours. We are not going to discard Christianity at all. We are here to unite Christianity in one spirit. Christianity needs enlightenment in spirit and truth, and we have it. This Children's Day in the Bicentennial year of 1976 is very meaningful. We pledge together, not as adopted children, but as true children of God, to rise up and conclude the task that God has given to us and to America. I want you to compete with two most important people in history. I want you to compete with Jesus Christ and me, and I want you to win. Can you do it? Thank you. Let us pray.

The Age of Judgment and Ourselves

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
November 21, 1976
Belvedere, New York
Translator-Bo Hi Pak

When someone speaks about judgment we normally think of court proceedings. In a court one always finds a judge, attorneys, a defendant and a plaintiff, plus the people who attend on the side of the defendant as well as the accuser. How does judgment come about? Law is prerequisite for judgment and anyone who violates the law is liable to be accused and tried. Every nation has a constitution and legal system that is intended to preserve order and peace within that nation. Any citizen who violates that particular law is judged accordingly.

The spirit of the law is to unite the people of a nation centering around the sovereignty or government, so that together they can bring about the betterment of the nation. This same thing applies to organizations on all different levels. Certainly a sovereign nation, society, or organization like our Unification Church must have regulations or laws that bring harmony for the purpose of accomplishing some recognized goal.

In a family, for example, there is generally some law, even though it is unwritten. Obedience to the law will bring harmony between the parents as the center of the Family and their children. That unity brings the family into greater happiness. According to their own virtues or particular morality, the parents establish certain principles by which they want to mold that particular family. If the children are obedient then those principles are actualized.

The same standard can be applied to a corporation. The president or chairman of the board has a certain vision and goal for that corporation. Through obedience to his standards, the people of that corporation can establish a harmonious relationship and fulfill the corporate goal. The same thing is also true of the Unification Church.

The Unification Church was founded by Reverend Moon, who has an ideal for guiding the Church toward a certain goal. That goal is clear in my mind and the standards that are maintained have the purpose of bringing all the members of the Unification Church into harmony for the fulfillment of the founding ideal. Each one of you in the Church is striving to unite around that standard and ideal and become one with me in harmony. Such obedience to the standard unites founder the founder and followers; they become one as they march toward their goal.

By obeying the true law you can become one with the cause of the universe

What should the true way of life be? First of all, you must become true men and women by following the true word or true law. If that law is true then it should not be applicable on only a small level, but universally applicable, penetrating the levels of the family, society, nation and world. If there is an eternal universe, that law must be true on all levels of existence.

The logical conclusion is that if there is a God then that law, which eventually creates true men and women is also true for the heart of God. To find that kind of law, that kind of true word, we must find the true cause behind that law. Through obedience to that law we can certainly become one with the creator or cause of the universe.

Where shall we members of the Unification Church go? Suppose the founder said that your ultimate destination is to go to Korea and we all went. We could not discover the ultimate cause of the universe merely by arriving there; without further direction after our arrival everyone would be confused and eventually drift back. With such an outcome it would be far better to not even begin that trip; it would be a wasted effort.

Here in America certain officials, particularly in the State Department, are suspicious of our activities. Three and a half years ago I came to this country barehanded. In 31/2 years the Unification Church has become a formidable movement, not only here in America but all over the world. The officials are worried about what will happen if I keep going this way, at this speed. We are very excited with each day's advancement but each day our adversaries feel more threatened.

The completion of the Washington Monument Rally brought our movement to a pinnacle of success, demonstrating our strength and power. People are now asking, "What is next? What is Reverend Moon up to now?" If Washington Monument was our ultimate goal then from that point on the Unification Church would decline. However, my goal is certainly far greater and is not circumscribed by politics or business. My goal is to educate and give spiritual guidance to those in political positions. Historically, the role of the prophet is always to give advice to those in governing positions. If that is my ambition then you must become a leader in that way as well.

We are working very hard, even doing peculiar-looking things. You had prayer service at 5 a.m. and then remained for worship at 6 a.m. You work hard at fund raising and in all your various missions. Why? We have to experience every level of human life. This is really training for many great things to come.

Have you experienced a 7-day fast? When you had that experience did you realize how precious a piece of bread is? Did you really learn? Bread crusts are generally thrown away, but when you are fasting that first slice becomes absolutely precious. Normally when you go into a room and there are masterpieces of art and beautiful furniture you study them all, but when you are fasting you are no longer interested in such things. You are fascinated by a piece of bread and even if flies may be on it you are more interested in that piece of bread than those flies are! You laugh and enjoy this kind of conversation because you have experienced such a thing. Through such common experience there is harmony among our family members.

Life in prison can be the bottom of human misery. If a person hasn't experienced the situation he cannot really understand how a prisoner feels who is counting the days until the end of his sentence. A prisoner's longing for freedom is even more intense than the longing of lovers for each other. You do not laugh at this because you have not experienced it. When I speak on this subject it is foreign to you and you are silent.

Life experience is what counts. No matter how much knowledge a person claims to have, if he has not lived through a particular part of life his knowledge is worth nothing. For thirty years I have been living under constant criticism. Society has come against me, nations have come against me and the entire world is worried about me. You will never understand the loneliness of persecution until you are standing in that position.

In a small way we have a harmony of understanding. Practically every day the New York Times and Washington Post are saying distorted things about us. We are going through this together. Just being a Moonie has become almost criminal, as though society is trying to torment and segregate us to an unreasonable degree. Not only me, but all my followers are becoming victims of persecution.

In your heart you believe in the Unification Church, don't you? You know you are following the truth to which you can dedicate your life, even though your own parents don't understand. They can't understand why you follow someone from the obscure nation of Korea who doesn't seem to have any good ideas; you have everything you need right here in America. The newspapers echo this sentiment as well as the fabricated stories about my life, and a vicious circle is created, snowballing into greater persecution. Certainly the Unification Church as a whole has become the target of world criticism. We are now sailing through a hurricane of persecution.

If I am the captain of our ship, who are you sailors? There can be two kinds of sailor: One can help the captain to accomplish the mission but the other may become incapacitated by seasickness and be a burden instead. It is obvious that we don't prefer having heavy winds and storms. Sailors really hate to see the wind rise because it threatens their lives.

Some Unification Church members comment that I never wince in the face of all this criticism and persecution. They sometimes say, "Maybe he likes criticism." No one likes persecution, including me. I only know through experience that I can continue on and overcome it. But you are not experienced sailors; you are still very green, right? Therefore, when a breeze comes along you worry, "Oh, maybe it's a hurricane! Maybe our boat will turn upside down!"

Because persecution has come not only to me but to you, you can begin to experience the feeling of my position deep in your heart. We are being persecuted for following the truth, but if you continually rise above the persecution and become able to speak the truth under any circumstances, then you will become a sailor that God can count on.

In its way persecution is a blessing. Only those who rise above persecution can be trusted by their fellow man and by God. The one who can be successful even under persecution is indeed a capable person. When human beings face utmost difficulty they develop tremendous capability to conquer any situation. In an emergency they experience a flash of courage and wisdom that gives them some direction for handling the situation. This is the tremendous potential of human nature.

When surrounded by enemies you may see no route to safety, yet under those circumstances you find some miraculous opening. There is always a way. Nothing is that final. When you muster all your energy you can follow your inspiration and break out.

On their way back to Japan I took some Japanese brothers and sisters to Las Vegas to show them a certain aspect of American life. In watching a show, I felt that I have lived all my life like an actor on the stage. The showmen in Las Vegas have a contract with the hotel, but I felt, "I am a showman contracted by God and the United States of America is my stage." Right now the entire United States is suspicious, of me. Surrounded on four sides, I am pondering' how to break through this barrier.

In Las Vegas the audience watches every move the actors make. Here in America my audience is 220 million American people, including the President, Senators and Congressmen, even high school and elementary students. The Washington Post is always telling everybody what is happening on the stage. Thus far the spectators have been told that I am a villain.

You may idolize a certain actor, but when he happens to be in the role of villain you don't have much sympathy for him, do you? On the Las Vegas stage, however, the villain turned out to be a hero. Instantly the audience had their hearts moved toward that particular actor. In the same way, the time will come when I will be revealed to this nation and to the world, not as a villain but as a hero, a true champion of God. Right now it seems there is nobody on my side. First there was persecution in Korea, then in Japan and now in America. Because American news spreads all over the world no one seems to be siding with me anywhere else either. At least one thing has been accomplished, however; I am known by everyone.

What are your particular roles then? The media is certainly centered on me-what I do, where I travel, just about everything. What would happen if I suddenly died? Will the show we are in be stopped by the mere fact of my death? Will you be the showmen then? You say, "Yes, Father, I will be the showman," but nobody will trust you because you have not demonstrated your qualification through your actions. A promise is cheap, but a deed holds great value. If you can go ahead while everyone else is collapsing then you can certainly be trusted. Isn't that true? I am asking a very serious question. Suppose I had to die; would you go on? If that is your determination then the battle is actually won.

The truth is most important, not the person proclaiming it

I went through incredible suffering in Korea; three governments tried to obliterate our Church and the existing churches brought us untold hardship. Yet not only did we survive but we rose above those circumstances and established the international foundation. In Japan also we went through incredible hardship. At one time the leading political party tried to eliminate our movement, yet now they see that Japan's only hope to overcome the aggression of communism is Reverend Moon's ideology. America too, will follow the pattern. Please wait just a few more years; America's opinion will change.

Did I come to America to be defeated? Do you think my victory represents only the victory of the yellow race over the white race? Maybe white people wouldn't like that. My victory does not represent one race or one particular nationality, but will transcend race and nationality, creed and language.

What is important is the truth not who proclaims it. If a white man creates a machine gun and a yellow man creates a machine gun the important question is not who made which weapon but which machine gun is the best. What we need in battle is the most effective weapon. Those who disregard this criterion and stick to certain prejudices will be defeated in battle. is it right to say, "I don't want to eat that grain because a black farmer grew it"? That is absolutely wrong. We have to move the world beyond these attitudes.

Now that we have seen victory at the Washington Rally, what is our next goal? The word "Moscow" is actually a shortened form of "must go." That means we must go, right? I'm sure the diplomats from communist nations will just collapse in laughter when they hear this. "Reverend Moon, you're out of your mind! You're crazy!" But I am utterly serious. There is an historical foundation and an unseen cause, which compels me to speak.

When I came to America in 1972 I first spoke publicly at Lincoln Center. However, up until the moment that I signed the contract even the Unification Church members couldn't believe that I was serious about my plan, saying among themselves, "That's ridiculous. People won't come. How can he do such a thing?" People outside our Church were even more scornful. On the second Day of Hope tour I spoke at Carnegie Hall and again we were spoken of as crazy people.

When we moved up to the next stage, Madison Square Garden, people said, "He is really nuts." On September 17, the night before the speech, I had a banquet at the Waldorf Astoria. When we announced that we would like to have prominent Americans come to hear me speak on the following night, people said, ''Reverend Moon, please don't do it. No one will come."

That evening a prominent CBS reporter brought a camera to the waiting room to interview me and said, "Reverend Moon, personally I don't think people will come, but do you think you will be successful tomorrow night?" I said, "Just wait 24 hours more and see with your own eyes. More people than you ever imagined will show up to listen." He said, "Reverend Moon, I don't think that is true. I have experience and my calculations say that only a few people will come." But September 18 proved the CBS computer wrong. I think God has a different kind of computer; He wants to have a decent success and have us move on without further problems. If there had been no rain at Yankee Stadium, we would have had an overwhelming success June 1.

The Washington Monument Rally was originally scheduled for 1977. Having a gigantic international-scale rally in Washington, D.C. only 2 1/2 months after the big event at Yankee Stadium would normally be unthinkable. Any good organizer would say that this was truly a crazy idea, but it is the beauty of the Unification Church that we can conceive a crazy idea that everyone projects as a disaster and then produce a great victory.

Our campaign in Washington wasn't even in gear for the first 2 1/2 months after Yankee Stadium. The campaign itself was only forty days. Twenty-one days after the countdown started a report came to me that the most people we could possibly bring was 8,000. When that report was given all the assembled leaders turned pale and felt completely panicky. Then I smiled and stood up, announcing, "After hearing your report I announce to you that the Washington Monument Rally will be an overwhelming success." Everybody was shocked! They didn't know how to respond.

The Washington Monument Rally was a very crucial showdown; my rise or fall depended on that one rally. That is why your leaders were very panicky at that point in the campaign. But I know and see invisible things. Regardless of the reports I knew that it would be an overwhelming success. How did I know? I know another world besides our world of reality. Even though you Unification Church members are but a handful of people, I know there are millions of people working with us in spirit world.

My strategy is not shaped by this world alone

My strategy is not an ordinary one. Man's strategy usually considers only the reality of this world, but my strategy depends upon the realities of two worlds. This is why I do not plan my tactics in an office but out on the high sea. There I am dealing with the unseen world. The present power of humans is truly limited. If you depend only on what you see, you are exceedingly limited in what you can do. Knowing that principle has kept me alive this far. By all normal calculations I would have been dead a long time ago.

The Washington Monument victory was won under countless adverse conditions. Yet even under those circumstances we could win a victory. Suppose the free world had supported me. I could move on to Moscow in three years with such support; that is not an unrealistic goal. Do you guess that is possible or do you know it as fact?

Our tradition has been established and we can measure the future by the scale of the past. I'm not trying to be boastful but I have ability and power. The most important thing though is where my ability and power come from. I have experienced everything; I have tasted every human misery, including the life of a beggar. When I was a laborer I was the best laborer. I was a factory worker and I have also created factories. I created every aspect of the Unification Church today with my own hands.

I love logic and I have studied science, but more than anything else I am a searcher for spiritual truth and I have acquired spiritual wisdom. Throughout my entire life I have slept one fourth of what people usually do. I ate half of what normal people ate. In my entire life in Korea there was no moment wasted, no recreation and no relaxation. Before taking the departing Japanese members to see a show in Las Vegas I had never experienced such entertainment.

I have experienced the despair of gamblers. I have convinced prostitutes to live a pure life again. I can relate to farmers and blue-collar workers and factory workers because I know how they live and think and feel. I can also relate to businessmen because I have started businesses. The work the Unification Church is doing in America is not happening by whim. There has been meticulous planning in all my work and now I am reaping the results here in America.

I know the thinking of theologians and scholars. When I first announced the plan to have a Science Conference every year, many members said, "Why waste your energy and money? Scholars are individualists who rarely change their opinions." But the Science Conference has been a success each year and is still expanding.

As a member of the Unification Church aren't you learning a great deal about life? Many members are on the MFT, which is the very kind of life I lived some years ago. You have chosen this path as your way of life; it was no one else's decision. Since you have chosen to follow my philosophy and my way of life you must go the same route by facing the same difficulties and experiences. Those who accuse people working in the name of God will be gathered together in one group and those who serve God will form another group. Either group could collapse or be destroyed or go marching on. Which is our way? Will we be dissolved?

Even if we die we will die in battle, trying to accomplish God's goal. I have no time to pay attention to persecution and I am not bothered by it. I pay as much attention to it as I would to a neighbor's fly coming into my house to visit. Eternal righteousness is on our side. Do you have that kind of conviction?

Why should we work as hard as we do? Because of God. God is almighty, but He has been persecuted and cursed by people who insist that He is dead. Many champions of God have been murdered throughout history yet God has been silent, almost as though He were ineffective and weak. God must almost close His eyes to the reality of this world. Do you know why God cannot show His wrath? If He were ever angry and decided to judge the entire world, not one human soul would remain on earth. No one is now entitled to live above His judgment; if God were to be lenient about that then Satan could justifiably accuse each person. Not one could remain above Satan's accusation.

Can you rise above the judgment of God?

The historical ambition of God is to raise up one perfect man of God who can take care of the world. God is waiting for that one man to appear, the man the Bible promises will be the second Messiah. This one man that God is looking for will be able to completely rise above the accusation of Satan and be victorious over all human struggle. He is the person who will inherit all of history through taking responsibility for all of mankind.

We must prepare ourselves to become the coworkers of this man. The Unification Church is indeed the movement that will directly take this role.

The path and direction of the Unification Church is parallel with the direction of God and we are living a God-centered way of life. If there is a group of people ready to advance God's timetable, God and the Messiah will indeed come to those people. We must educate ourselves about God's providence and in the direction of God's will. We must also educate ourselves about the Messiah's mission so that we can be ready when he comes.

It is not God's way to have the individual going in one direction, the family going another way, and the nation and world going yet another. In this conviction we are different because our way of life and our point of view start with the individual but then continue through to the universal level. We have to go through seven stages, including the spirit world. In following one vertical line of growth we can truly meet God. Unless you are victorious in the sight of God as an individual, you cannot build your family. The world does not understand this principle.

There is always a test to pass at each level before you can advance further. Who is testing you? It is not God but Satan and the satanic world who test you. Satan is in the position of prosecutor while God is in the position of judge and you are the defendant. Jesus Christ is your lawyer. There is a court of judgment on every level of your advancement and finally God, the universal sovereign, has His own court. No one can escape from defending himself there.

One of the most important truths we are learning in the Unification Church is the law of indemnity. We now know that the amount of indemnity we must pay depends upon the seriousness of a crime; we also know what crime is most evil in the sight of God and what indemnity is needed for each level of commitment to God.

What is the mission of the Messiah? He is the one who bears your burden and your indemnity. That is why he is the savior. If you take over the burdens of someone else's life then you are that person's savior. If you save a family from disaster then you are a savior as far as that family is concerned. That family is absolutely indebted to you and you stand above their law.

The person who lifts off the entire burden of the Unification Church is above the law of the Unification Church. The Unification Church praises that person wherever he goes because the Church as a whole is deeply indebted to him. If he came to my suite at the New Yorker I would stand aside and say, "This apartment is your home."

If there is a person who can be responsible for all the burdens of America and liquidate all the sins of this nation, then American law cannot touch him. If there is a person who feels he is able to be responsible for all the past, present and future sins of humanity, then that person is indeed the savior of mankind and stands above the laws and regulations made by mankind. Isn't that true? The Messiah is that person. He has the power and authority to liberate even hell.

That is not all: The Messiah can even liberate God. Can God judge a person to whom He is personally indebted? If He were liberated, God would not even go to the courtroom or make one pronouncement against that person. If God can be liberated He doesn't have to judge. Under those circumstances no courtroom or judge or prosecutor is needed.

In the city of Jerusalem, Jesus was sometimes angered at the immoral behavior of the people. He even overturned the moneychangers' tables in a moment of violence. By normal standards he should have been arrested and no civil court would have vindicated him. But under the law of God Jesus had not committed any sin. Civil law is not heavenly law.

Do you want to become a person who will be judged in God's court or become a person who can even rise above the court of God? What kind of person must you become to rise above God's judgment? Become a savior by adopting the savior's way of life as your way of life. You can be a person who can give salvation to the world and who can say, "I will be responsible for the world and all of humanity; I will give my entire life and soul and energy for that purpose." Then you are indeed walking side by side with the Messiah.

We can depend on no one else to defend God's world

Unification Church members from all different races and countries are gathered together here in Belvedere. What kind of movement are we? What kind of people will be created right here? I am going to create the kind of person who can rise above the judgment of God and give his life and soul to the salvation of humanity. That was Jesus' way of life; it is my conviction and philosophy, and it shall become your way of life also. Can you do this? In this respect I am a very precious guest in America, bringing a most significant commodity to this country. The American people might think, "We gave so much to Korea that Korea is indebted to America materially and spiritually." But I see that the spreading of this philosophy has now paid this back many times over.

America did give tremendous aid to Korea, but money and sacrifice can always be paid back. Yet what is presently happening here in America? The young people of America are dying. I came to lift up the young people and give them new life. This is indeed the most precious, priceless gift that anyone could receive or give. Can you put a price tag on such a gift?

Why am I doings this? America is not the goal; the world is the goal! America is indispensable for world restoration, however. I chose America as the base for this movement but my eventual goal is the salvation of the world. I have not violated heavenly law nor have I violated any civil law. My conscience is clear in the sight of God. I can stride boldly forward to meet God without shame. When I go to spirit world I am indeed an attorney for the defense of suffering humanity. I have the power to truly prosecute the prosecutor, Satan. The day will come when we can all prosecute Satan, revealing his crimes and commanding that he not bother mankind anymore. That will be your day of victory.

Our goal now is Moscow, the symbol of communism. Even just the name "Moscow" sounds formidable, doesn't it? Look at the past, though-did you ever think about mankind or the world or about becoming a savior? In the past all you thought about were your own desires, perhaps getting a good education, making a good salary and eating good food. Without knowing the truth our goals are shallow and limited and self-centered. Mankind has been like little ants in the universe.

What kind of husbands do you women want? Men who have conviction and a philosophy like mine or men with the philosophy of an ant? If you want to meet husbands with my philosophy, then you must make yourselves worthy to receive them. When you are on the MFT working hard you may not even have a chance to clean your underwear, but you think, "The day will come when I can get married and then I will wear beautiful clothes and have all kinds of beautiful things." If you want to become that kind of bride and get dressed up and parade around then you shouldn't ask for a man like me. A man like me will never give you such things. On the very day of the wedding he will take you fund raising and witnessing, all in dusty clothes. Do you still want a husband like me? A husband like me will also bring you out to the battlefield and will want to fight the battle together with you. Do you still want that?

If the communists come to destroy the Unification Church with guns then we will have to fight with guns too. We can't be their helpless victims and be defeated by their bullets. Do you think God will win such a battle for you? If the time comes to fight the satanic force, I will never hesitate to become the commander in chief and lead the heavenly army into battle.

Do you think the Defense Department can safeguard God's world? Don't trust it too much. You can only trust the heavenly forces that are dedicated to God's purpose. Our young people should be trained in every way physically. In a final war against the satanic force it will be a life or death battle. In order to safeguard the heavenly side we may need to become soldiers. It is Satan's nature that once he feels he is in a superior position he will attack.

Is it a crime to defend yourself and the heavenly nation? You should not have some naive concept of Christian love; that does not apply in a confrontation with Satan's forces, which are determined to destroy God's world and God's people. If God has no power to defeat a satanic attack then He is no longer God. As God's force, we shall be able to defend ourselves and to defend the godly world. We are a different kind of religious leadership.

I am confident and peaceful at this moment of showdown

This morning's message is how to rise above judgment. If you become a person who can rise above judgment then wherever you go and whatever the world will to say you, you will rise above it and God will recognize you as being righteous. You will never be destroyed.

We know that our battle is not going to be easy. Even your own parents oppose you but that is simply because they do not know the truth. Once they understand the truth they will apologize to you. Americans have been vicious and slanderous, but I want you to know that the time will come when heavenly law will prevail and even this nation will bow down to the truth. If that is not true than I am a poor man, no different from any other villain. This is the secret of the Unification Church and with this knowledge we can go on and be victorious. We will step, upon the accuser's shoulder and finally even rise above the law.

The person who will rise above the judgment of God will have the power of judgment delegated to him. Are you going to be subject to the judgment of God's court or be a person whom even God will praise? In doing this you will rise above death itself. You know what kind of men and women you are and whether you are righteous children in the sight of God. If you are equipped and trained and committed to this way of life, becoming leaders and going all over the world, America cannot decline.

I come from a foreign country, not even speaking the native language of America. I use an interpreter, yet still I can communicate and inspire people as I do you. How much more can you lift the people up, coming from their own culture and speaking their own language?

We are the only people under the sun who think about living this crazy way of life. There are no other men and women who are following such a philosophy. We are a peculiar, lonely group, yet this is God's way of life; therefore, God has to be on our side. He has to be our champion.

You are very small and unassuming and you may look miserable and pale. In many cases Unification Church members look very shabby and people think the Unification Church will disappear tomorrow. But as long as God is on our side we will never be destroyed. Furthermore, we will win and be victorious. I have lived that way much longer than you have and I have not only survived but prospered and been victorious all of my life. That is our future. You must have faith in it.

Do you really want to become that kind of champion? If you have that conviction then even though you appear small and unassuming you are truly princes and princesses of God. In the sight of God you are very, very precious individuals. Who is your tester? Not God but Satan. Satan has set up the barriers almost like an obstacle race; there is the family race, the society race, the national race, world race and so forth. When we break down the barriers we can create a highway so everyone can run immediately to the goal.

We have already broken down the barriers on the individual, family, society and national levels. Now we have come to the final worldwide barrier. Once the final obstacle course is won even the communists cannot stop us. America is now posing a big obstacle here, saying, "No, you cannot go any further." But I am insisting, "No! Open the way. Don't block the way to the world!" I am deeply confident, calm and peaceful, no matter what the accusers say to us; please be patient and see.

Don't look at me as a Korean for my background is of God. If I were only Korean then I would not have left Korea, and furthermore, there would have been no reason for the Korean government to accuse me. I am not just an Asian because even Asians have come against me. I am a mysterious, unknown person. One person will say, "I thought Reverend Moon was a religious leader." Then I turn out to be a big businessman. When I meet politicians they admire my awareness of political situations, even though my ambition is not political. Some people say, "Reverend Moon is a gangster, a dictator," but then all of a sudden I turn up among eminent scholars and those scholars are listening to me. If I became an actor I would be an excellent actor.

When I taught Sunday school many years ago I had wonderfully deep communication with the children. Sometimes I would make them burst into laughter and sometimes make them cry. I could change their mood in moments. I am a sportsman also; there is no sport I cannot win at. When I go to sea I am a record-setting fisherman. When I go to the mountains I am a number one hunter.

Look at Mother; is she a happy woman or not? No, not quite. I am leading a most difficult life. It is impossible to keep up with my pace. When she takes time to rest at night I am always walking around and working in our room. I have no concept of the time, even at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. Mother has a hard time keeping up with me. Do you want that type of husband? If you really want that type of husband then wait a little bit; I will go after the brothers and make them into such husbands to give to you.

Right now we are facing a showdown. The newspapers keep saying there is some investigation going on and legal battles coming up. Let them do that. Eventually this final roadblock will be pushed away. Using their power, government officials accuse individuals of fabricated crimes if they want to. Did you ever hear me say, "We need money. Get a pistol and rob a bank and bring money"? Actually there are robbers and murderers of innocent women and children walking around in broad daylight. Why then is the American legal system being used to interfere with our religious work?

I don't mind serving time in American prisons if necessary. American prisons are heaven compared to the prisons where I suffered under communism.

Nothing can make me feel fearful. Nothing can stop this movement. I was jailed under the imperialistic Japanese government because we were organizing work for Korean independence. That prison experience was a difficult life but my most severe prison experience was in North Korea, where the prisoners were purposely worked to death. But I survived even under that system.

Are you afraid of prison? You have no reason to go there. You have violated no law, neither heavenly law nor civil law, because that has never been my instruction. But if anyone ever has you imprisoned for some imaginary crime, don't he fearful; imprisonment is the way the heroes of history have walked.

Let me ask you, if I ever ended up in jail in America under some fabricated sentence, would you run away? Communists know that I would never resort to violence, that our movement would never go beyond the boundary of God's truth. Therefore, they take advantage of our situation.

My philosophy is this: I have no enemy. People come against me now because they don't know me, so I will be patient. It will take a longer time, but through educating people I will turn them around. That is my method. That is our way of life and our work. Even the worst kind of enemy shall be made our best friend. We fear nothing. Our goal is to rise above judgment so what should cause us worry?

Those who can pledge their loyalty and obedience to heavenly instruction, who can liberate the communist world and even hell, raise your hands and pledge yourselves to God. Let us pray.

The Responsibility of Cain and Abel

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
November 1, 1976
Belvedere, New York
Translator -- Mrs. Won Pok Choi

People today do not know that they have to travel the road of indemnity. In every human community a person who has committed a mistake or crime must compensate for it in some manner, including imprisonment. Even among friends, if you mistakenly say something that will harm another person, you must compensate. This also applies in the case of a married couple, and in the everyday world even some small thing may be incentive for them to get divorced.

You cannot just ignore some mistake without apologizing to the other person. Before you start seeking divorce you must clarify what the error was; when one party can apologize to the other then forgiveness can be offered. This must be done before the situation can be forgotten. Even after a war among nations the victor judges the other and seeks compensation for the damages of war.

If you just bury some anger in your heart without apologizing or speaking out to resolve it then it will multiply as resentment and remain within you forever. In every area of human relationships you must not try to cover everything over and persevere with resentment still growing in your heart. You must take it out and analyze it and one of the two must apologize to the other or make some compensation.

The same applies to the human fall. In the beginning man rebelled against God and ever since then people have been committing crimes or causing suffering to others. In order to solve the problem we must analyze what the root of the sin was because if it is just covered up the situation will never improve. Certainly for man to restore himself back to God's standard the root of sin must be revealed and we must find out whether Adam, Eve or the archangel caused the crime. Otherwise the problem of sin cannot be solved.

Man committed a mistake in the beginning and he cannot continue indefinitely without apologizing or compensating. Mankind must be able to analyze it and say who committed the mistake and then undo every wrong that has been committed. We know that man caused the crime and that down through human history mankind committed many other mistakes, all of which can be traced back to the human ancestors who sinned in the beginning. Only by compensating for all those mistakes can we return to the original position of life.

We can say that the first human ancestors committed their mistake on the individual level, but down through history families, tribes and nations have also committed crimes. What would God think of the person who offered to compensate for all the mistakes committed on the individual, family, tribal, national and worldwide levels, taking the responsibility on his own shoulders? Would God deny that person or place His hope in that person? God urgently wants man to be restored because His purpose of creation must be realized. If God remains within the Principle He cannot annihilate man and re-create him all over again. Instead He has to restore man and in doing that He has to work through men alone.

What would you do if you took responsibility for all the mistakes and crimes of history? Do you think that you are in that position now or just trying to be in that position? There are many members assembled here but as I see it no one here can confidently say that he is in the position to take full responsibility even on the individual level. In that case your attitude must be to please God, wanting Him to shift all the responsibility to your shoulders, regardless of any difficulties. Are you in that position?

In shouldering the cross you are not supposed to sleep. You can only compensate for everything by staying awake night after night, working hard. You must not even doze off. Even though you feel physically exhausted you must keep your eyes wide open and be radiant inside. If you at least try to keep your eyes wide open when you are desperately sleepy, you can be forgiven.

The reason I am telling you this is that there are several people here dozing off. Now one of those sisters has her eyes wide open again! According to what I have said, those who dozed off with their eyes wide open would not have guilty consciences. Whatever mistake you have made must be resolved, but if you are iron-hearted and don't feel conscience stricken then you will find no way to be forgiven.

If you propose to take this responsibility, would you rather cover the individual, tribal or national levels? How can you take the responsibility on the worldwide level? Are you really that confident? You must be serious in answering; this is a serious question.

I will talk about the responsibility of Cain and Abel in light of what I have said.

In our movement the newcomers are apt to feel that they are in the position of Abel to others. Before going any further we must know the definition of Abel. Are each of you in the position of Abel? Some of you said yes but without confidence. Is Abel or Cain destined for heaven? You are right in saying that both are, but Abel will play the role of guide to the heavenly kingdom.

There must be one Abel who can take responsibility for the whole world and then alone can he claim that position of Abel even on the family or individual level. He must be recognized by all people as representing them as their central figure. You are all in the prime of your life, being in your twenties, but you cannot become this Abel simply by claiming the position. Since there are many accumulated crimes all through human history, who will decide who Abel is? First God will, and then among men a person with a knowledge of the particulars.

Do good spirits know what crime the first human ancestors committed? The central figure on earth must be recognized by good spirit men in the other world and then the angelic world must recognize this person's qualifications. Next even Satan must recognize that person. This must be the first time you have heard that Satan plays a role in recognizing this position.

If Satan accuses God's chosen man of not being qualified for the job, that person cannot assume the role. Even Satan knows that this person must have certain specific qualifications in order for him to be Abel. When Satan gives accusation, God cannot insist upon that person having the responsibility. God is in the position of judge of course, but if the prosecutor keeps accusing the defendant of a certain crime, can the judge be justified in acquitting that person? Satan is the prosecutor who is always accusing. Who will be the lawyer to defend that person? Good spirits and angels will do the job, so his defense is not entirely in his own hands.

Are you confident to say before God, the good spirit world, the angels and even Satan that you are qualified to be this Abel? You may be safely able to say that you are on the side of Abel, being a little better than an evil person, but you cannot quite claim the qualifications for being Abel. In order to be selected as Abel you must first be summoned by God and be able to say, "Here I am God. I'll do the job."

When God finally summons a person, wouldn't his ancestors and the rest of the good spirits be happy? They would not oppose him because they are anxious to see that position filled. They are all prepared to help such a person when he comes along. Even after answering God's call that person cannot assume his position all of a sudden but must go through a certain amount of indemnity to qualify. It would be wonderful if he could take that position without having to pay indemnity but that is not possible because Satan is there to accuse.

You can claim to be a good person but once you commit some kind of mistake you must beg forgiveness from the person you have wronged or from those associated with him. Otherwise you will not be forgiven. In order for you to remove the condition to be accused by Satan you must be able to resemble God. God alone cannot be accused by Satan so you must be able to resemble God and put yourself in His position. There is one way to do that; if you are utterly obedient to God and become one with Him, you can put yourself in the position of God to Satan. You know the definition of indemnity conditions, but are you on the way to pay that indemnity or haven't you started yet? When will you be finished with it? Are you entitled to go to heaven while you are still involved with paying indemnity? You know the answer well. You must look into yourself and decide whether or not you have finished with indemnity.

Cain represents the side of Satan and Abel represents the side of God. I said that Abel is put in that position when he is absolutely obedient to God and one with Him so wouldn't it be simple for God to set that person up as president of a certain nation? That person might be proud of himself but what about Satan? Would Satan just approve or would he accuse and tell God that He can't do that? Even God cannot ignore Satan at that moment. If God were able to do that He could have done it 6,000 years ago. In the face of satanic accusation God cannot easily say that a person is liberated from sin. There are conditions to go through if you want to become president.

On every level the president who is designated by God must excel those presidents on the side of Satan. Only then could he claim to be on the side of God. He must excel those predecessors who have done good things and loved their people as though they were their own children. There have been many such persons in the past. To be qualified for the presidency or for sonship on the side of God it is natural that he must excel those on the satanic side. Could God ignore Satan's protests that God's chosen person hasn't met the standard?

After picking a person God will leave him in Satan's hands to be tested. Satan will try his best to find fault with this person, torturing him and blocking his way. That person must be willing even to die in the course of his struggle, never having resentment but only praise for God. How long can Satan test a person? You know that everything can be prolonged to a period of forty years, so if that person fails to be recognized by Satan by that time he will lose his qualification. At that point Satan will protest to God that this person still belongs to him and not to God. God cannot deny it.

In brief, the person in the position of Abel must go through the road of indemnity to the point where he can even die. We claim that we are Abel to the outside world, but since the first Abel was killed, what is the qualification of being Abel here in the Unification Church? Is it only on the spiritual level? We need to talk about the providence of Cain and Abel because Abel's being killed prolonged that dispensation.

While Abel was still alive he had not yet fulfilled the qualifications for that position, but if he had not been killed he could have saved his whole family and they could have reached the level of having nothing to do with sin. Abel died with that part still left unaccomplished but because he was killed for the sake of God the way was left open for an Abel in the future to accomplish the mission he left undone.

Because he was invested in his mission and was killed along the way Abel is qualified to come down spiritually and help qualified people to come to that level. Individuals and families are needed in the position of Abel. The first such person on the family level was Noah and his family. Noah was told to build a boat on top of Mt. Ararat, a task far from common sense. Why would God give such a crazy command? The most important reason is that God wanted to remove accusation by Satan. How many people could have done Noah's job? If you were in the position of Noah wouldn't you have been skeptical? But Noah was utterly obedient to God's command and began to build the boat on the mountain. Why would God have to ask abnormal things of Noah? Simply because Satan would have to surrender if Noah fulfilled God's exorbitant requirements.

God anticipated Satan saying, "You think Your servant is obedient and loyal, but wait and see. He will not last more than several decades, or at the longest he will endure 100 years." Knowing that, God decided to have Noah spend 120 years building the ark. Satan was confident that Noah could not endure that long, and naturally Noah's wife and children and neighbors would all be scornful of him. They would have been unusual people to not act like that.

Was God foolish to push Noah like that? With His wisdom God judged that he had to go through the indemnity course and He gave orders to Noah accordingly. Without knowing this principle we can't understand why all the good men on earth have gone through so much difficulty and persecution, even being martyred. Now you can clearly understand the situation. Without the human fall the difficulties of indemnity would not be necessary.

We can draw the conclusion that God Himself could not act normally because the human fall threw everything into abnormality. We know that God could not protect Abel from being killed and in Noah's case God would not give encouragement but left him alone to spend many years building the ark. Was it normal for God to require Abraham to offer his only son, Isaac, who was born after Abraham was over 100? God blessed Abraham, saying that his descendants would be numbered like the stars of the heavens, but did it seem He would keep His promise? Would you call this God a normal God?

Look at the case of Moses. Moses was a murderer who killed an Egyptian who was torturing some Israelites. Why would God choose such a person when there might have been many other righteous people? We must clearly understand what is righteous and unrighteous in God's sight.

The Jewish people are dispersed to every comer of the earth and are still going through difficulties. At the time of Moses the Egyptians persecuted them but Moses was raised by the royal family and saved from slavery. A normal person would have been content with his life in the palace, but Moses ventured to protect his people by killing an Egyptian. For 400 long years the Israelites had suffered in Egypt and in Moses' sight the time had come that they could be liberated. He knew that his people needed a great leader who could fight the Pharaoh and he thought he was the only one who could do the job.

Moses had seen many instances of Israelites being killed or tortured without reason and he thought that it was righteous for him to protect his people, even by killing the Egyptians. He chose the responsibility of leading this persecuted people. Common sense told him that he could lead a gorgeous life in the palace but he chose to be with the Israelites and go through the difficulties of guiding these people into the land of Canaan, even in the face of rebellion. He lived completely in the awareness of this mission.

After his forty years of luxurious life in the palace he spent forty years in the wilderness. During those forty years of traveling with the Israelites in the wilderness Moses was never once resentful against God. In the face of tremendous difficulties he would praise God and try his best to lead his people. It was because God saw the possibility of such character in Moses that He called him from the palace. Only after fighting against the royal power with his own hands could Moses liberate the Israelites.

John the Baptist also lived for many years out in the wilderness, subsisting on locusts and wild honey. His life was completely contrary to a normal existence. Jesus Christ also lived a totally different life from most people in that age. If Jesus had lived to be forty, things could have been different.

God originally chose the Israelites as the center of His providence but because they did not fulfill their position Jews have been dispersed all over the world. Christians also had to go through a course of difficulties and persecution, beginning with the Roman Empire. After persecuting the early Christians the Roman Empire surrendered and Christianity won a spiritual victory. People have come to think that God is cruel, if indeed there is any God at all. People wonder how a real God could leave His people alone to struggle against an evil power and go through so much misery, but without some knowledge of the indemnity course they could not understand.

In order to win the world back to God's side a person must appear who can go through the indemnity course from the individual level through -the family, tribal, national and worldwide levels. Who has been victorious in the history of indemnity, God's side or the other side? When would God's side be victorious over all those things? God has been anxious to send a sinless leader whenever the foundation for the Messiah was finally laid.

The Messiah must undo all the mistakes of history, from the individual level to the worldwide level. Jesus Christ was killed before he could do that on the physical level. Although he initially carne to the Israelites his mission embraced the worldwide level; in his lifetime he should have advanced to win the Roman Empire and then open the way to reach out to every comer of the earth. Because his mission was not fulfilled on both the spiritual and physical levels Christians are waiting for the Lord of the Second Advent to come.

The Christian world is the foundation on which the Lord will come, but until now Christians have been teaching he will come on the clouds. In the Unification Church we claim that the Lord of the Second Advent will come in the flesh, but it is difficult for people to accept this; we are saying things entirely opposite to what they have believed. Naturally we are opposed for saying such things. The most bitter opposition to endure is not from atheists or ordinary people but from these Christians who severely persecute us.

God is anxious to have His prophets come to earth and reveal His secrets in the latter days. Everyone who came to foretell the future lived an abnormal life; people in the Old Testament hardly ever believed the prophets God sent and persecuted them without exception. God expects Christians to lay the foundation for the Lord of the Second Advent to come, but if they do not accept the Lord or his ideology then God will not continue to work through Christianity and Christians also will be fated to go through the worldwide level of persecution. A new group must emerge from Christianity like new buds on a tree and go through persecution by way of indemnity on every level. When this group confronts the worldwide level of indemnity you can know that the final goal is close at hand. Now is that time.

In our movement we have to link together each level of all things, restoring what was previously a failure. If Christianity had cooperated with our movement, we could have reached the goal in seven years' time but instead it was prolonged to 21 years. My real mission finally started at the age of forty.

Before the age of forty I had to endure persecution and fulfill indemnity conditions up to a certain level. You must clearly understand that the history of the Unification movement has been one of persecution for the purpose of indemnity. In Korea and Japan the government persecuted our Church and now we are going through the same thing in America.

Now that we have been victorious spiritually on the world level we must indemnity all those levels horizontally, never being frustrated and never vacillating but always acting on God's plan until we are recognized.

I have carried out my mission without any example from history to follow. You have clearly seen what took place during the Washington Monument campaign. That kind of thing could have easily been done with the cooperation of America, but even in the face of persecution from almost the whole nation we won a victory because God was on our side. How do you view me compared to the presidents of the United States, for instance? Could they do what I have done?

America and most other democratic nations are retreating before the threat of communism but I am proclaiming that we will have a big rally in Moscow and I am unshakably confident that I will annihilate the evil ideology of communism. Have you ever seen such a person? The communists are deriding me but I am more than confident.

I have no weapons to fight with but the Korean government is scared of me; they think that if I ever wanted to be the President of Korea that I would be able to do it. In the United States the State Department is fearful of me and the communists oppose what I am doing. Am I such a fearful person? I have nothing but my own two hands to work with yet people are fearful nonetheless; they sense that God is working through me. I am talking about uniting the whole world with my bare hands. Can anyone believe that? You are crazy because you believe that.

To repeat, you must start by placing yourselves in the central point and going through indemnity on the horizontal level of individual, family, nation and world. In the providence of God Korea and America correspond to Israel and the Roman Empire. The United States is giving aid to Korea but Korea is reciprocating by giving aid on the spiritual level. Koreans envy the material wealth of the Western world, especially America, but America is now inclined to be influenced by the spiritual life of the East. If Christianity alone were to unite with us then the cooperation of East and West would bring the final victory on God's side.

Korea is the only nation that is completely divided in two. Germany is divided into democratic and communist states, but there is already some communication between them. Korea is truly the front line in the battle between Satan and God, with South and North completely divided and not even communicating with each other.

All the communist powers are keenly aware of the battle in Korea. On the spiritual level we have almost reached the worldwide goal but the confrontation of good and evil is now taking place on both the spiritual and physical levels in Korea.

In general the American media is not sympathetic to the government of President Park. Americans think of President Park as a dictator but he has never murdered or killed anyone, while Mao Tse Tung killed 150 million, Kim Il Sung killed three million and Stalin killed seventy million people. The Americans who criticize President Park even believe that Mao is the hero of this age, having organized a great revolution. These people never think about the situation South Korea is facing. With an invasion from North Korea being an imminent possibility, how could President Park be expected to leave the situation alone, not keeping his nation prepared and alert? Communists the world over know that if President Park could be removed from office that the North Koreans could easily invade the South and take over. Recently Americans have accused me of being connected with the KCIA but nothing is farther from the truth. I may be a running dog for God, but not for the KCIA or anything else!

Now that the day of heavenly victory has been set up on the 4th of October we will never be in a defensive position. We will take the offensive from now on. We are going to create our own newspaper and later I'm going to establish our own university. We are going to create more performing arts groups on a very high level. The world of art has influenced the media and subsequently influenced public opinion in a negative way so I'm going to educate our people and restore the world of media and art to God's side.

We are now at the transition point, crossing over from abnormality to normalcy. The misery and difficulty we have gone through has been abnormal but from now on our way will be smoother. Just wait until the end of our third seven-year course and from then on we will be materially blessed and can enjoy our life in a heavenly way.

We are restoring the 2,000 years of Christian history within 21 years; if I had failed it could have been prolonged to 210 years. Even the idea of that is horrible. I had to go through this condensed indemnity course in 21 years, winning a certain standard in Korea, Japan and now in the Western world. All this culminated in the success at Washington Monument after Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden. Wait a little while longer and you will see how our movement in America will inspire the second generation here.

There have been tremendous barriers of resentment and hate between the races but now that we have laid the foundation this far God can forgive all of that. What I am doing is always in the name of God. I can tear down the racial barriers because I have made the condition of winning victory in the face of opposition from people of all races.

The whole world may be against me now but after overcoming that level I can send missionaries even to the communist world. You can now see that the whole world has spoken out in protest against our movement, but in a little while you will see worldwide victory. The day will come when the Washington Post and the New York Times will understand the mistakes they have made. According to the law of indemnity they must compensate by apologizing. When that happens the whole population of the world will pay attention. Now the State Department is investigating what I have done but let them go ahead. They will find no incriminating evidence because there isn't any.

Have I done anything wrong to you? Would you call me evil for having you come here at 4:00 a.m.? You people are used to living in luxury and relaxation but now you go out selling flowers and witnessing to the people. America has been a selfishly individualistic country up to the present, but I am teaching you to be sacrificial people who work for the sake of the whole world. Is that a bad thing or a good thing? You are accustomed to sitting on soft chairs and enjoying comfort but here you sit on a hard floor and your legs get numb. In the established churches the congregations listen to their preachers for 15 to 20 minutes at the longest, but I have you sit three or four hours or more.

White people usually want to marry among themselves, but I am mixing blacks, whites and Orientals in marriage. Despite the fact that Americans don't like me, I am always sure that God likes me. Even when people persecute me and call me names I don't feel resentful but pity them instead. What I want to do is to make them understand because I know that by winning any Cain to Abel's side we can find the Heavenly Kingdom. Only after having fulfilled the history of Cain and Abel can we open the door to heaven.

Our purpose is to save each Cain at the earliest time. When I say we are going to take the offensive, don't get excited and be ready to crush anyone. Now that I have laid the foundation on each level and have paved the way, you can just follow my way to reach the goal,

Once public opinion is turned around and people come to think that I am a good person things will suddenly change and the people who still oppose us will be converted by our friends. The day will come before long; be confident. This opportunity will never always be here so why don't you concentrate your efforts on laying your own foundation on the individual, family, tribal and worldwide levels, for your own sake and for your descendants?

Until now Abel has been in the vanguard of the whole group, but from now on it must be Cain who leads the way and faces the difficulties. Are you ready for that? With the month of October gone you must be prepared to take up my responsibility. In that case I can leave everything I have won to you; you will inherit all the work that I have done without having to go through the same indemnity and without accusation from Satan.

I will leave all I have to you but in order for you to be qualified to inherit that spiritual wealth you must be desperate to sustain any level of your mission. Until now we have paid indemnity for the past and most of the time I have done that. From now on whatever you do is going to be for the sake of yourself and for the sake of your descendants. Because of God's love you can lay the foundation for yourself and your offspring. Whatever you win by struggling will be yours.

Until the end of the third seven-year course I want you to work with all your effort, investing every ounce of your energy. In doing that you must realize that you are laying your own foundation and taking responsibility so that I will not have to worry about you. Remind yourself that we have only 3-1/2 years left. Why don't you concentrate all your energy on what you are going to do to accomplish your mission?

Ultimately the providence of Cain and Abel will be accomplished and that kind of thing will be finished. Satan's work will be no more. It sounds like a dream but we will make it true. For the coming 3-1/2 years you must realize that you are going through the Cain-type indemnity. Why don't you invest your whole self during that time? I will trust you and see if you can do it.

Once the work of Cain and Abel is finished we will see the communist world crumble and the power of evil diminish. Young people will abandon the life of drugs and immorality and be attracted to this way of life. The spirit world will be united with the physical plane and more and more spiritually attuned people will testify to our movement and ideology without our having to witness. You will not always have this chance so why don't you concentrate on your witnessing now?

Up to the present it has been the Abel figure or chosen people who have gone through the indemnity course, but the coming three or four years are the period of time when Cain figures can pay their own indemnity. This is the best chance of your whole life. You represent the whole population of the world in doing the job when other people do not know. You must feel privileged to do your very best in that period of time. Can I trust you?

May God bless you.

The Day of the Victory of Heaven

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
October 4, 1976
Belvedere, New York
Translator - Bo Hi Pak

Seeing your beautiful faces this morning makes me joyously happy. Thank you for coming. Yours are the most brilliant young faces in America. In your faces there is hope for tomorrow and for the future of mankind. Your faces and your hands will decide the destiny of the world.

Today is October 4, 1976. Even though the Washington Monument Rally was held on September 18, the campaign continued through yesterday. Today is actually the formal termination of the Washington Monument campaign, and it is truly a momentous and joyful day.

You know through the Divine Principle that the number nine is the number of perfection and also represents the end of the satanic world. When you add one to nine you get ten, which represents the number of heaven and means returning to God. The number one represents God. You know, too, that the number four is very significant in the history of restoration because it represents the heavenly four positions, which have been lost and must be restored. Therefore, throughout history the number four recurs again and again: 40 days of fasting, 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, 4,000 years from Adam to Jesus, and so on. Today, the fourth day of the tenth month, is a day which is meaningful in numbers, and it is also meaningful for me personally because on this date in 1955, I was found innocent and released from prison in South Korea.

Thus today we express our heartfelt gratitude to Almighty God for the two liberations, which are represented by October 4: my own liberation from prison, and the liberation for all mankind represented by the tremendous victory at Washington Monument, won on the foundation of my 3 I/2 year crusade here in America. Let us thank God for these victories, and I would also like to thank each one of you.

From this day on, October 4 shall be celebrated as a holy day in the history of the Unification Church. The name of the day will be "The Day of the Victory of Heaven."

The dwelling place of God

I would like to explain to you why we celebrate the victory of heaven today. If Adam and Eve had not fallen, they would have grown to perfection and united as one with God. The dwelling place of God would have been here with us on earth, and the world would have been one of happiness. The happiness of men and God would have expanded to the angelic world and to all the things of creation. We would have seen the realization of God's unified ideal world in which God, man, the angelic world and the things of creation were all united together in joyful oneness. Men in that perfected world would not have had to struggle to learn of God's existence, because God would have been so real. There would have been complete harmony between men, the angelic world and all the things of creation. That was the beautiful world God originally intended.

If men had become perfect, they would have understood all kinds of things which are presently mysteries: the meaning of a bird's or insect's song, of the whispering of the trees or the rushing of waters. There is meaning in every sound in creation, and we would have been able to understand and interpret each one. God created everything in the universe, and every single bit of it would sing in concert with every other part, a universal orchestration of the joy and ecstasy of God. That was the purpose of creation.

When we think of laughter we visualize a facial expression. We know someone is laughing by looking at his face. God's original intention, however, was for the whole body to laugh. The hands and feet and even the tiny pores in the skin and the little hairs were supposed to laugh together in concert. And the internal or real man inside was the most important part of the person to laugh. The mind, which corresponds to heaven, and the physical body, which corresponds to all the things of creation, were to resound together in laughter, and when a man laughed it would have meant the entire universe was laughing. When a man walked, it would have represented heaven and earth walking hand in hand, and when a man sang and was happy it would have meant heaven and earth sang together in joy. Wouldn't you like to sing like that?

Today in this fallen world you can see people laughing, but they are often crying inside. Only the mouths laugh; the rest of the body cannot respond because there is no joy inside to bubble out in laughter. Have you ever experienced a really joyful laugh? Did you ever think that when you laughed, all of heaven and earth laughed with you? Have you ever danced so joyfully with laughter that all of heaven and earth could respond?

The universe is so sensitive to the power of love that when you give love you can move the entire universe, just as someone can attract your attention by pulling just one tiny hair on your head. When we love or speak words of love, the entire universe responds. Do you like love? When I speak of love, everyone smiles or laughs, isn't that true? No one cries. Real love brings laughter and dancing, and all of heaven and earth responds with joy.

God created song and dance and laughter as expressions of love. Once love comes into being, everything comes together. Unfortunately in today's degraded world although there are all kinds of songs and dances, they do not represent God's original concept of love and joy. This world is numb, dead to those feelings. People cannot respond to God's love or joy. Thus there is no interaction among men, heaven, and the things of creation. These are dreadful consequences of the fall.

To understand how far man fell, you must understand God's original concept of creation. God was in the position of the father, the angels were His servants, men were His children, and the things of creation were there to serve mankind. But because of the fall all these relationships were severed. God, the angels, men and the things of creation became separated instead of connected. Perfection was to have begun from the level of the servant, and upon the foundation of the perfection of the servant the son could be perfected. After the perfection of the son the children would become perfected, and on the basis of that the father could emerge and God could dwell among them. That should have been the process of perfection, and it would have centered on love.

But man fell instead. How far did we fall? We fell to a level below that of the things of creation. We fell from the principled world to the unprincipled, unlawful world, with a great distance to go to reach restoration. We must earn our way back to our original position.

We must rebuild the foundation of all creation

The fall destroyed the structural foundation of all creation. There was no longer any foundation for the angelic world, or for sonship, daughtership or parenthood. Thus we have to rebuild all those foundations stage by stage, starting in a world where God, man, angels and the things of creation are all separated.

Man caused the separation. Man was the fallen factor, and therefore man must take responsibility to bring these things together again. Without God's mercy and power however, fallen man has no ability or power to recreate the original world. In His mercy God initiated His work of salvation to enable man to come back to his original position and to renew his relationship with Him. Ever since the fall it has been God's will that man be restored or recreated. That is the meaning of God's work of salvation.

Man fell to a level below that of the things of creation, so in the first stage of restoration, the Old Testament era, man could elevate himself by offering sacrifices. He could approach God through the unfallen things of creation. By offering sacrifices and heeding the words of God's prophets, man could elevate himself from the unprincipled world to the world of the servant. The Old Testament era was the 4,000-year period of preparation of Israel as a foundation upon which God could send the Messiah. The territory of the chosen nation of Israel represents all the things of creation, and the people of Israel represent the angelic world. Through the victory of the Jewish people in establishing the nation of Israel, mankind was elevated to the level of servant. Upon that foundation the Messiah could come to establish a pattern whereby men could rise from servants to sons of God.

But what happened? The Israelites rejected Jesus and crucified him, and the foundation was lost. The people and nation of Israel were an altar upon which Jesus came as the son of God, a living sacrifice. But because of the disbelief of the people, the entire foundation was lost and a new foundation, Christianity, had to be erected.

After Christianity came into being it began moving toward Rome, the center of a great empire, in order to bring the people of Rome to God. Though the resurrection of Jesus Christ brought spiritual salvation to mankind, the physical world has remained in the hands of Satan. Therefore a split between the realms of physical life and spiritual life developed in the Christian world. This is the internal cause behind the political doctrine of " separation of church and state."

Christianity is the religion of sonship, which is not yet perfected. It is the religion of adopted sons. If Israel had accepted Jesus in his lifetime then all of mankind could have been lifted directly from servant-hood to the sonship of God. However, due to the failure of Israel at that time, an intermediate step was established: that of the adopted sons of God. Consequently there is still one more step, which was not accomplished in those days.

God is anxious to complete this final step, and has been laboring to prepare an adequate foundation for its accomplishment. When Christianity moved from Israel to Rome, the Roman Empire was given the opportunity to lay that foundation. However, when Rome did not respond, the focus of Christianity was shifted to Great Britain. Great Britain did not respond either and finally many Europeans who received religious persecution fled across the Atlantic to America and established a Protestant nation. This is America's heritage. The last 200 years of American history are an encapsulation of 2,000 years of Christian history. This year, 1976, America celebrated its Bicentennial.

The Indians were the first ancestors of this land, but they have their roots in Asia. Thus, when I came to America I did not feel that I was coming to a foreign country but to the home of my cousins. We may ask why God allowed the white people to prosper at the expense of the Indians. Compared to the Indians, the white people who came from Europe to America seeking religious freedom were miserable, weak people, but they were God's elect. They represented God's central effort at that time and were persecuted while trying to do God's will. When they came to America the Indians originally embraced them, but after later conflict, different tribes rejected them and tried to push them out. Again God's minority was rejected.

However, the pilgrim fathers from Europe were in Abel's position in God's sight, while the Indian majority in this land was in Cain's position. If these two had united in oneness America's history would have been glorious from the very beginning. However, they did not unite, and Cain slew Abel. Since God stands on the side of Abel, God had to assist the immigrant minority from Europe.

Now the course of events is reversed. I have come from Korea, not as a Korean or an Asian, but in Abel's position, representing God's side. This time the majority in America is white and is rejecting me for the most part. On which side will God stand this time? I do not represent only the yellow race. In this congregation we have all races united together in support of me. You are not supporting an Asian-you are supporting God's Abel. The entire world will respond when it sees that the real hope for tomorrow begins by siding with God.

As you know, the history of restoration is the history of indemnity, and unless the price of indemnity is paid then nothing can be restored. The most sorrowful event in the history of God was the death of Adam through the fall, and second, the crucifixion of His own son Jesus. God's goal is to restore the entire world, not just one nation; therefore, these two events have to be indemnified on the worldwide scale. This is God's plan.

God chose America to be His foothold or foundation. Taking the position of the Roman Empire of 2,000 years ago, America was to have been God's sanctuary. Early Christianity finally prospered in Rome, and in the same way America is the representative Christian nation today. Christianity has expanded to the worldwide level and people from all the races of the world came to this country and have been living together as a nation of all nations, a microcosm of the world. The Roman Empire did not begin as a God-centered nation, but God prepared America from the very beginning to be a God-centered country. Meanwhile, God chose Korea to fulfill the same role as Israel of 2,000 years ago. Together America and Korea are to consummate human history.

The situation 2,000 years ago was very different since the huge Roman Empire, for Rome's own advantage oppressed Israel. Today, however, America is in a position to assist Korea instead of conquering it, and Americans have even died trying to protect Korea. This is the fruit of God's labor for 2,000 years. Can America withdraw its assistance from Korea? If America severs its relations with Korea then all Asia will quickly fall to communism. America cannot abandon Korea.

Jesus' mission must be consummated in our time

The mission of Jesus must be consummated in our time, and the Unification Church was born for that mission. Korea regained independence from Japan in 1948. If the sovereign nation of Korea had united with the spirit of the Unification Church and accepted me, then Korea could have fully united with America and a glorious history would have begun at that time. In order to be successful, Jesus had to win his own family and nation, and then prevail over the Roman Empire. By carrying out that pattern the kingdom of God could have been established 2,000 years ago.

Likewise, in the age of the new Messiah the Korean people should be the first to accept God's champion, in order to indemnify and restore the failure of Israel. Following God's pattern, the Messiah should then come to America, which is serving in the position of the Roman Empire of 2,000 years ago. The American people represent the population of the world and the American nation represents the territory of the world. When this parallel sequence is fulfilled then history will be consummated.

If Judaism had accepted Jesus 2,000 years ago and united with him, then he could have completed this course successfully. In the same way, if modern day Korean Christianity had accepted the Unification Church, then mankind could have quickly gone through the entire course, all the way to the final goal. However, that was not done; Korean Christianity rejected the Unification Church.

When the Jews failed to accept Jesus they became separated and scattered. In the same way, if modern day Christian churches fail to recognize God's work they will rapidly decline and become divided. The Unification Church and I have to pay the indemnity for the failure of the Christian churches in Korea. For 33 years I have been paying indemnity on one level after another, gradually accumulating a new foundation on the worldwide level. Originally I was supposed to fulfill my mission while in my 30's; however, I had to begin all over again because of the rejection of the Christian churches and another 30 years was needed to pay the necessary indemnity. Korea was liberated in 1945, and the period up to 1978, two years from now, will represent 33 years of work. These 33 years are equivalent to the life of Jesus Christ. This 33 year period is the time to indemnify and completely redo his course on earth.

At the age of 30, Jesus initiated his public ministry, which lasted three years. My life in America since 1972 is 31/2 years, paralleling Jesus' public ministry. For 30 years I worked in Korea to pay the indemnity for the failure of the Christian churches. On the foundation of that victory I came to America and stage by stage I have been laying the foundation for the worldwide level of restoration.

My first major victory was at Madison Square Garden, September 18, 1974. That represented spiritual victory. In order to bring that American victory back to Asia, I organized the IOWC and we conducted an unprecedented campaign all over Japan and Korea. After the spiritual victory here in America was linked in a physical way to Japan and Korea, I brought it back to America in order to win physical victory on the worldwide level. In short, the spiritual victory went back to Asia, and returned here as a physical victory. I am sure this is somewhat difficult to follow but this has very deep meaning.

Upon returning to America with a condition for physical victory, I commenced a war. Two thousand years ago Jesus' foundation was lost and he could only work defensively. However, a foundation was now laid which allowed me to take the offensive, starting with Yankee Stadium. The final, most dramatic offensive was Washington Monument.

Our assault on America had the effect of a shock wave. Everybody was startled and now people are getting organized to retaliate, demanding, "Is there any way to get rid of Reverend Moon?" Even the American government is trying to work out something with the Korean government, paralleling the events of 2,000 years ago when the Roman and Jewish governments plotted together to crucify Jesus.

In the sight of God, the victory at Madison Square Garden represented the worldwide victory on Adam's level. Yankee Stadium represented a victory on Jesus' level. Since Jesus was crucified, our Yankee Stadium campaign was conducted in the face of much danger. During that campaign I received more threats on my life than ever before and there were many threats of bombing and violence to the church. I knew all along that the most crucial moment would come at Yankee Stadium because Jesus actually died and then was resurrected. Likewise I was symbolically killed and then resurrected at Yankee Stadium.

Crucifixion and resurrection on June 1

The rainstorm on June 1 was truly the dispensation of God. Because of that storm an even greater catastrophe was averted; the rain changed the minds of those who had plotted something most tragic. Our enemies thought, "Well, Reverend Moon has already faltered; this rain will stop his rally. Even God has judged him. No one will come; the program will be cancelled and he will be a complete failure." Therefore they cancelled their plans for disturbance, but we did not cancel our plan.

At that time I witnessed the profound way that the law of indemnity works. I was not aware that a storm had come, but at the very moment that the heavy rain began to fall outside a very mysterious thing happened. A huge poster with my portrait was hanging in my waiting room, and suddenly it crashed to the floor. Nobody had touched it; it fell for no apparent reason. There was chaos at that moment, and then I knew that something extraordinary was happening outside. The leaders fled in and Mr. Kamiyama cried out, "Father, forgive us! Awful things are happening outside and we may not recover for the rally. What can we do?" Everybody was in despair.

But then another miracle happened. In the pouring rain the Go-World Brass Band struck up and all our members began singing, "You Are My Sunshine." It was a protest to God, "Give us sunshine!" At that time came the most ardent, intense prayer ever offered in human history. Then what happened? Everybody in Yankee Stadium responded, even non-members, parents and guests from Korea and Japan. Nobody wanted to take shelter. In the pouring rain everyone responded, singing together. That paralleled the moment of judgment that took place in Pilate's court 2,000 years ago, when Jesus was sentenced to death. At that time the people had been outside the court screaming, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" That moment in Yankee Stadium was my moment of crucifixion. God had nailed me down but you, the disciples, never ran away. Furthermore, the people united with you in support of me. This was the complete reversal of Jesus' course. Instead of demanding crucifixion of the chosen one, the people cried, "We'll win, Father! God, let him win!"

During the crucifixion there were three dark hours in heaven and earth. In the same way, I went through three dark hours at Yankee Stadium. But what happened? The miracle came and God answered your prayer. Immediately after that crucifixion in Yankee Stadium resurrection came. The rain stopped and the sun came out; the people arrived and instead of being cancelled our rally went on to have even greater impact. At Yankee Stadium we tasted crucifixion; we tasted the three dark hours, and then we truly tasted resurrection and the joy of life.

We won the victory at Yankee Stadium, yet something was lodged in your hearts. There was some emptiness since we could not bring a full house for God. Every one of you decided that day, "Father, give us one more chance. This time we will truly bring a total victory." The period between Yankee Stadium and Washington Monument was an intense period, indemnifying the 2,000-year dispensation of Christianity. It was as though you had received partial salvation at Yankee Stadium; the physical salvation was lost and you gained only spiritual salvation. However, you were all determined, "Father, at Washington Monument we are going to have a spiritual and physical victory that will represent a total victory. Give us that opportunity." With that commitment work began for the Washington campaign.

Two thousand years ago a black man assisted the work of God in a peculiar way. Simon of Cyrene bore Jesus' cross on the way to the Mount of Calvary. The Washington Monument Rally was equivalent to the perfection stage in the final dispensation. Therefore, I knew there would be many black people who would respond to me. To begin with, the population of Washington is predominantly black, but there was a deeper reason why primarily black people responded to our work.

I am sure you remember vividly what we accomplished in Washington. While we were working many observers were debating the outcome of our rally. They were looking for one thing: "What will happen this time? Will he succeed or be defeated again? What will happen to Reverend Moon?" In Washington we were in the Abel position, with the rest of the city in Cain's position. But instead of hating Cain as Abel did, we loved him. We visited the people two and three times, sincerely inviting them to come. We did our absolute best to lead them into salvation, into new hope and understanding. Then what happened? A victory happened. There were many that expected to see a complete fiasco, even with violence and killing. I am sure they prayed for bad weather and all kinds of disturbances. Instead everything ran beautifully, the most disciplined and orderly demonstration that the nation's capital has ever seen. That was the victory that occurred.

People could see for themselves what the Unification Church did in Washington. Though they were not necessarily Christian or even religious, people of conscience knew that I had been unfairly treated. In the eyes of the citizens and the government our rally was responsibly handled in the most amicable, glorious way. We won many, many friends who may not join the Unification Church but who will fight for us out of their sense of justice.

Our victories in Washington

We won a triple victory. More than 300,000 people came; this was one victory. Delivering my message was the second victory, and the peaceful, orderly procession of events was the third victory. But an even greater victory came after the rally; that night we cleaned up the entire Monument area and completely de-postered the city. In all the history of Washington and America no one has seen any group carry out a promise so precisely as you carried out my promise to clean the city. The next day the government and media alike praised us. They even praised me. WMAL Television said, "We don't know much about Reverend Moon's religion, but we know one thing, Reverend Moon is a man of his word."

The decisive judgment was made that no organization like the Unification Church has been seen in the 200 years of American history. My leadership is something they cannot understand and could never duplicate. This was their verdict, and it was in our favor. The Washington police were apprehensive as they contemplated the possibility of many anti-Moon demonstrations, as well as racial violence. They predicted violence and worried about how they would handle it. But no violence came, not even a single incident. They were amazed. Who in the world could control such a gathering of all races? Black, yellow and white responded together to this one man; the authorities had never seen anything like it.

Some eminent scholars came and concluded that the Unification Church cannot be compared to any other religion, that it is indeed the only religion, which truly has the power to unite all the religions of the world. Having black, yellow and white gathered in oneness with me is in itself a victory for us to celebrate. This is now happening on earth because this unity has preceded us in the spirit world, the world of cause. Nothing can happen here unless it first happens there. Throughout the entire spirit world whites, blacks and Orientals are now all united together in support of me. This is why this most beautiful, historically unprecedented scene of unity could happen here now.

The world of Cain attacked and persecuted the world of Abel, but under those adverse conditions we rose above the persecution and won the victory. From this time forward we will be advancing at super speed. On the very day of the rally another providential event occurred. September 18 was picked as the date for the funeral of Chairman Mao Tse-tung of China, the principal leader of the ungodly world, who imposed the rule of communism on one billion people. It is most providential that the hour of his funeral was set at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the same hour that the Washington Monument Rally was to begin. Chairman Mao, representing the side of Satan, was buried underground at the same time that the champion on the side of God was raised up at Washington Monument.

The next day the hot news in the media was our rally. Even the Washington Post had to recognize us with a big picture on the front page and several pages of coverage. It took us two hours to read the whole article in the Washington Post on September 19. Our articles began on page one and continued through the first section. Then we found the article of Mao's funeral buried way down on page 18.

Thoughtful citizens and government officials were shaking their heads, thinking, "I just can't understand the secret of Reverend Moon's power." If they cannot see God they can never understand my secret. But they also say, "This organization has formidable power, drive, and sense of conviction. Perhaps this group will change the destiny of the world." Through the victory at Washington Monument the Unification Church has been firmly established on a universal scale. Nobody can disregard us anymore; they must recognize this extraordinary group and recognize my leadership.

Our victory represents Jesus' intended course of sealing his victory in Israel by going to Rome to make a proclamation there before the Senate. There were several consequences of our victory. First, Jesus' sorrowful heart was vindicated, and because of that, the grieving heart of God was liberated. There have also been many righteous men and martyrs, men of justice whose hearts have been filled with grief and suffering. These people were lifted up too, vindicated and liberated. Finally, my own ardent struggle of 33 years and my own grief were resolved and liberated at Washington Monument.

Liberation of spirit world and forgiveness of past sins

Through the victory in Washington we fulfilled the conditions needed to liberate the sorrow of the entire spirit world and the physical world together. I declare today that the time has come for the total liberation of the spirit world and the forgiveness of past sins.

In the spirit world there are no national boundaries. Korea, Japan and America do not exist in the spirit world; however' there are different realms based on the different religions. Those who believed in Buddha are in Buddha's realm and those who believed in Jesus live in the Christian realm, and so forth. Throughout man's history individuals in spirit world have always lived in distinctly separate realms and have never harmonized. They surrounded themselves with walls, waiting for the day when the new Messiah would come to the earth and declare their liberation. Only then could they break down the walls and finally unite into oneness. They have been waiting throughout history for this day, but it could not be declared until the sorrowing hearts of God, Jesus Christ, and the True Parents were vindicated. There has been no such day in the past. Today, however, through the victory of the Washington Monument Rally, all the past sorrow of God, Jesus, and the True Parents is vindicated, and today I declare the liberation of the entire spirit world. Even at this moment the barriers are broken down.

Now spirit world has formed one world of unification; the territories have merged and everyone can communicate freely, traveling back and forth. Since the spirit world is in the subject position, this unity will eventually be reflected here on earth. According to the Principle, if the three levels-God, Adam and Eve, and the Archangel-had united together there would have been no fall. Now here on earth that unity has been established between God, the True Parents, and the members of the Unification Church, who are in the position of the angelic world as well as of children. This unity was not made on the level of one small nation; we have achieved this unity on a worldwide level. This is most significant.

What is the significance of this unity? Simply this: Satan no longer has the condition to attack Adam or Adam's family. This means that Satan no longer has any power to defeat the Unification Church and the True Parents. Satan may still attack, but now God is in a position to exact a penalty for that, and blessing will be withdrawn from the satanic side accordingly. From this time on our battle is still going to be hectic but the consequences will be very different. We must press the battle and work hard, and then we will see the blessings of the other side shifted to ours. God will transfer the blessing from the other camp to ours.

The wind has changed. In the past Satan was constantly attacking and God's people were always on the defensive. But from this time on Satan will be on the defensive and God's side will begin to attack. If Satan's side attacks us it will have to pay a tremendous penalty, and ultimately we will win.

The entire spirit world is now completely united behind us. The consequences are many, and at this juncture of human history we must understand clearly how to conduct ourselves to avoid being hurt by conditions we might make for Satan; from this time on we should not violate any heavenly laws. As we gather fresh determination to win new battles, our standard must always be to go beyond the intensity of our work for Washington Monument. Then we will always be victorious and the heavenly spirit world will always assist us.

We must not lose our momentum, but rather surpass the intensity of our campaign for Washington Monument. Then God and the spirit world will always assist us. If our standard drops, then Satan will have a condition to interfere. When your physical resistance is lowered, then harmful germs can easily invade your body; likewise, if your spiritual resistance is weakened, then Satan can easily invade.

Today we are celebrating the Day of Victory of Heaven. Our pledge should be that we will maintain the standard of effort that was established by the Washington Monument campaign. As long as we do that then God can be with us all the way, and the entire spirit world will come to assist us without reservation. Can you understand this?

You are privileged to attend this celebration, and you were privileged to have participated in the campaign for the Washington Monument Rally. It will probably be the greatest honor bestowed on you. But our final qualification to be here today will be our determination before Heavenly Father to maintain or surpass the momentum of the Washington campaign. Then we can qualify to be a part of this celebration. If you pledge this to God and heaven and earth, please raise your hands. Thank you.

Liberation of the communists

From this time on we solemnly declare that we have an additional goal. That next goal is Moscow.

There will still be many people who are jealous of us and who will accuse and persecute us, on the governmental level as well as the individual level. Do not worry about them. They may try to stop us, but in the end they will come with us. We have to leap beyond their interference. Instead of the free world, communism is our target from this time on. The time will come when the entire communist world will unite together trying to block me; this is the enemy we are going to face. So far the North Korean government has mostly ignored the Unification Church, and me but now they are no longer ignoring us. Recently their official government radio program broadcast that I am the enemy of mankind and should be ousted by the American government. They are also warning President Park that I will overrun his government. But on the contrary, the U.S. State Department and the Korean government should not worry; my ambition is not to take over their position or to control them. My ambition is to save the world, not just this nation or Korea, but all the countries of the world. My ambition is to give the blessing of God to all of them.

Today communism presents a global crisis for everyone. But the nation of America is retreating as communism advances; even Judaism and Christianity are retreating. No one will confront communism face to face with a plan of action and the conviction to be victorious. I alone am pushing forward like a bulldozer, heading fearlessly towards communism. Soon the free world will discover that only one champion is fighting communism: Reverend Moon. Our opponents will continue to criticize my actions, but soon they will realize that I am their only hope to stop the advance of communism. While their mouths are criticizing, their hands will be applauding.

Inevitably we will gain the reputation of being the worst enemy of communism, and the communists themselves will spread it. Communists all over the world will agree that their worst enemy is the Unification Church and that Reverend Moon is the worst rascal and villain. Let them say that. The worldwide Cain and the worldwide Abel will stand face to face. Are you ready?

Our weapons are not bullets or guns, but the Principle of God. Our purpose is not to destroy the communists but to save them, to liberate them. This is our job. When we have the truth we do not need a sword. The myriad of spirit men are our greatest allies and our strongest weapons. They can go anywhere and since they do not need a passport to get into Moscow they can easily descend to influence the children of the present communist leaders.

The second generation

During the Old Testament era the elder son always represented the satanic side, while the second son was in the position to receive God's blessing. God chastised the faithlessness of Israel during the Exodus by destroying the first generation in the desert; however, the second generation was permitted to enter Canaan. In the same way, even though the communists are evil in the sight of God, their second generation will be drawn to God's side. God will not punish them but will work through them to destroy the ideology of the first generation.

The more intensely we wage war against communism, the more powerful will be our assistance from the spirit world. The children of the present communist leaders will speak in tongues, see visions and talk to God and to Jesus. Then they will ask their parents, "Why do you say there is no God? I talked to Him last night." I am sure there are some newspaper reporters listening to me now and probably laughing inside, "He must be crazy to talk like this!" But I want to tell anyone who thinks this that they are blinded by their ignorance of the spirit world. They can say I am crazy, but I am telling you the truth. This is the reason that I have the power to stand fearlessly against worldwide communism. Without this knowledge I could not dare to speak out, but because the spirit world is with me, I confront communism fearlessly.

Even if I were killed in the battle against communism, in the future my statue would be erected in the very heart of Moscow by the children of the communist leaders. I am not just expressing unfounded feelings; I have the power in heaven and earth to declare this. I know the truth about both worlds while the communists do not even understand the truth about this world. Thus I am the only one in heaven and earth, in the east or the west, who can proclaim such a bold message.

So far everything that I have prophesied has come true. When I first came to this country to work 31/2 years ago, I unfolded my plan for the future. At that time no one believed me and even our members were shocked by my plans. But I do not blame them because without knowing the spirit world they had no way to understand; do not worry, I sympathize with them.

The ground that we have covered from that time up to the Washington Monument Rally is far greater than the remaining distance to Moscow. Here, in historical Belvedere, I am declaring to you that the final Abel of God's world, the Unification Church, is confronting communism, the final enemy of God. Shall we retreat from this battle? Those who say, "I want to march on," raise your hands.

Only if Cain and Abel are united together into oneness can the parents' position be restored. Only after Abel and Cain unite together through our own activities and together we serve True Parents can they be lifted up. God's Abel on the worldwide level is the Unification Church, and we will eventually liberate Cain, or communism, and come together in harmonious unity. Then the True Parents will emerge on the worldwide level, and God will emerge as the Father of mankind.

Now we are in the third seven-year course, which will terminate in 1981. Until that time we must maintain our momentum as we go on to achieve this final victory. You must have absolute faith and conviction in that victory. If the American government and particularly the State Department heed my advice, then global problems will be solved in the shortest time possible, and peace can be established.

God always claims the second generation. Your parents and grandparents are the first generation, or on the level of the first sons. Because you are the second generation, God is primarily claiming you young people to do His new work. Without knowing this truth many parents and the media are puzzled, asking, "What is Reverend Moon's attraction? What appeal does he have for these bright young people of America?" This phenomenon is difficult to understand without knowing God's mind; it is because God is pushing the second generation of America to this new movement that you are joining.

Single members, raise your hands please. Practically all of you here are single; this is phenomenal. This is the work of God, not my work; I could never have done this. If we believe in that power of God, why should we worry? No matter what people may say, trying to persecute us and even kill us, the same power of God that pushed you here will push millions of young people into this movement. If the older generation remains negative toward us, they will be chastised and will suffer the judgment of God.

The first generation is opposing us in a fanatic and tragic way, but at the same time they are desiring the success of you, their sons and daughters. Knowing this truth strengthens my conviction. Many people of the Washington Post and the New York Times are highly critical of us, but once their high school and college-age children hear the Divine Principle those children will defend us to their own parents. This time will definitely come and that is why I am not concerned about the media. God will assemble the second generation to help in my work. The more criticism and threats I receive, the more jubilant I am. I have marched forward under persecution all my life, and prospered all the way. God has made all of this possible. Knowing that God and the spirit world are with me gives me power under any circumstances. Nothing can deter me; I can continually march on.

If someone working against us is listening to my speech and trying to record my words to use against me, I ask them to please think twice. Do not judge me too quickly. I am speaking here on the basis of the deepest conviction. I also say this to the communist world

Our new dimension

We are entering a new dimension. The same power of God, which has assisted the Unification Church until now will continue to move us upward to a higher dimension. When we involve ourselves in greater things we will reap greater victories. We are discovering God in our lives. God is not a concept to us; He is our way of life. We find God in our society, nation and world; we know that God is everywhere.

Some people say, "There is no God," but that is the most foolish lie under the sun. Shall we go ahead or not?

If any communist is listening to my speech today he must be laughing inside, thinking, "What a crazy handful of people. You have a few thousand people compared to two-thirds of the world's population and one-third of the world's territory which communism has already conquered. Yet still you are trying to wage a war against global communism! " Let him say that. I say what I do because the communists are the minority when we count the spirit world together with us.

Spirit world has many advantages. First of all spirits are not hampered by language or territorial barriers. In spirit world Chinese or Japanese or Americans or anyone can travel without visas. That is the way they will work on earth. Today I can declare that the entire spirit world is completely mobilized and free. Raise your hands if you have ever seen the True Parents in dreams or visions. Almost everyone. If anybody was trying to research this phenomenon in the encyclopedia, they would find no explanation. The spirit world can come and speak to you of truth because there are no barriers.

I am sure that some of you wanted to attack us when you first visited the Unification Church, but as you listened to the Principle you gradually changed your opinions. How much faster can those with a welcoming heart from the very beginning be converted into champions for God!

Spirit world is now besieging people on earth. To them the world is small, almost like the size of an ice cube. A treasure chest has been opened but most people are unaware that a new treasure has been discovered and a new power has been released. Spirit world has opened up, but nobody realizes what has happened.

This world is God's world and we are His champions; the time will come when God's philosophy, conviction and way of life will be expanded to the worldwide level. If there were any better way to go to heaven then I would have gone that way a long time ago, but this is the only way to go directly to heaven, and I am inviting you to come together with me. Once you decide then do not hesitate. Commit yourself 100% and fly to the goal like a bullet.

I was faced with an impossible task when I initiated all these gigantic works. But today every American knows about me. If I were white then most white people would not be concerned about me. But I am Korean and no American can afford to ignore me. People have at least been curious when they heard about me, and those who are concerned for this nation must have thought seriously about whether I am good or evil. There are a thousand different levels of understanding. Even you people here understand very little; how much more difficult is it for those who have no relationship with us? Therefore our job is to educate the world.

In this situation it is best to be either hot or cold. Those who are lukewarm and just ignoring us are the worst off. Students who oppose their professor often receive high marks simply because they were interested and paid attention to his course. We are often confronted with ardent opposition, but once our adversaries know the truth they can quickly turn around and become great champions for God's cause. I have a special interest in how the people of America will respond in the future.

Once the American people know what I have done since coming to this country they will truly bow down in thankfulness, realizing how my deeds have been so misunderstood. So far the truth is not yet known: everything I have done was absolutely for the sake of this country and these people. Members of the older generation are unconditionally opposing us without knowing the truth, but ten or twenty years from now their children and grandchildren will come to understand me as the man who truly saved their lives. You are stubborn young people, aren't you? Usually you never listen to anybody, and I am sure it is not easy for you to sit here and listen to me. This in itself is a miracle.

Today we have pledged solemnly before Almighty God that our next goal is to have a victorious rally in Moscow in the name of God. In order to do stat, we will have to mobilize all the youth of America. That is your job. You must go out and reap a harvest of conscientious, righteous young people. Then we will all unite as one great force and ready ourselves to save this free world, and we will create an opportunity to hold a rally in Moscow.

America is the younger brother of the European countries; therefore we will mobilize this nation in order to save them. Religiously speaking, the European continent is predominantly Roman Catholic, while America is predominantly Protestant. The Catholic nations are being ruthlessly attacked by communists and are being taken over one by one. As their younger brother, America is in the position to bring them salvation. For this reason we must decisively act to unite Christianity.

We must also save Judaism and the people of Israel, as well as the millions of Jews who are scattered around the world. If the communists take over the world, the Unification Church members will be their number one target, but the Jews and Christians will not be far behind. We are in a position to unify Christianity and Judaism in order to save them. Once Judaism, Christianity and the Unification Church are united, then communism will pose no threat. Do you have confidence in this?

America is a Christian nation, a beautiful land of fertile ground and high spiritual values. But the ungodly ideology of communism has come creeping into this land little by little, enticing the beautiful youth of America and drawing them to Satan's side. The communists brag that they will not need to fire even one bullet at America. They are using more effective weapons to take over this nation: drugs and immorality. American young people are the victims of drug abuse, many even dying from its effects. I am determined to wipe drugs out of America. Many of you have been liberated from drugs, and we must do the same for millions of American youth.

Does your commitment transcend death?

What does the Unification Church stand for? Our moral standard is very high because it is God-centered; we do not use drugs; we do not smoke or drink, and we do not tolerate free sex. These are all the weapons of Satan. Satan is scared as he sees how the Unification Church is bringing young people to God's side, one by one. He is losing them to us, the people who completely oppose him.

Today, in the name of God, the True Parents, and all the people of the world, we are now rededicating ourselves as front-line soldiers in this new battle for the final victory of God and the heavenly kingdom. Shall we commit ourselves to do that? Have you ever seriously thought that some day you might be struck by a communist bullet? You have to think about it. What would you think if that happened? Would you regret how foolish you were to follow me? Or would you say, "God, my blood will not spill in vain; my blood will cleanse the world for You to take it over. Even though I falter, my spirit will continue on with You, and fight on to the very end." If you are this type of person then even though you drop dead, at that very second you will be lifted up to the highest realm of heaven. You would not have to wait for your application to be processed. More than anybody else I understand this principle very well.

For us there is no death; we conquered death a long time ago. Our lives, our minds and souls, our everything is in the hands of God. Why should we worry? He has a plan and He has already established when we should live and when we should die. What if something goes wrong with God's computer and you die prematurely? When God discovers it He will come down and lift you up saying, "Don't worry. You will have eternal life, and furthermore, I will personally take over your mission and finish it for you." How glorious!

In the eyes of those around him, Jesus was a miserable failure who was crucified. But God came down to Jesus saying, "My son, do not worry. I will take over your mission." That promise became God's work of Christianity. In the same way death is unimportant to us; we will live forever anyway, so we can do whatever God orders us to do, even if it means being shot to death. As martyrs we would be elevated as heroes in the kingdom of God. Even though we could not preach Divine Principle any more on earth, our deeds would preach to millions of generations to come, inspiring them and lifting up more patriotic and God-centered people than you can imagine.

There is a final chapter to be written in Unification Church history, and there will be martyrs recorded there. Who will become a martyr? No one knows but God. We must be willing to just obey the will of God. Righteous parents would want to have their children honored by God. With this conviction and faith, and with an intensity that surpasses the Washington Monument campaign, we will go on to our final victory. Can you do it? I am closing my eyes so I cannot see your response to this question. If your conscience says, "I can do it," then raise your hands. Thank you. It is difficult, isn't it?

In the era of the True Parents, God will dwell with all men

Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, the separation between the spirit world and physical world stretched miles wide. Even though the people in spirit world wanted to descend to the earth to intervene in the life of the physical world, they could not do it because between the two worlds lay a chasm which was in the hands of Satan. Adam was supposed to be in the father's role, but because he failed then all his children failed. Spirit world could not freely descend until the mission of the father was consummated here on earth, and he could open a path to the spirit world. This is the rule of heaven.

God's plan was to work on the individual level with Abel, then with Abel's family, tribe, nation, and the Abel side on the worldwide level. No one could bridge this chasm during the 4,000 years before Jesus' coming. Jesus came in the role of the father of mankind, and in him the spirit of God was manifested through a perfected man for the first time. At that time God wanted to pioneer a breakthrough in history. Because of Jesus' crucifixion, however, this pioneering task was accomplished only spiritually. That is why the Second Advent became absolutely necessary. The position of the True Father must be established in order to pioneer complete salvation from the individual level to the worldwide level, as well as to open the pathway to the spirit world.

All the wrong doings and mistakes of the past, including the mistakes of Judaism and Christianity must be indemnified. The Unification Church thus has a mending mission. By paying indemnity we are mending the mistakes of history in the shortest possible time. You call me the True Parent. Why? Because for you my role is that of a true parent, true father, or Adam. I must mend all of the past mistakes, and step by step bring about wholesome restoration from the individual level to the worldwide level. This was symbolically consummated at Washington Monument, so that the individual failure' family, tribal, national and worldwide failures were mended. Thus I opened wide the highway between this world and the spirit world, so that anyone can ascend or descend without restriction.

The perfection of Adam and Eve would have allowed God to dwell with them. In the same way God wanted to dwell with Jesus when he consummated his mission. In the era of the True Parents the consummation of their mission will allow the dwelling of God to be with all men. This is the point of this detailed explanation.

Now your ancestors can come down freely on the highway between the spirit world and the physical world. Our ancestors in the spirit world are our allies and will help us witness to others. They will come down in an unprecedented avalanche, like Niagara Falls. They will pressure their descendants, "You must become a champion. Go out and witness. You must do more." They will not only come down to you, but to their descendants who are not yet members, directing them to go to a workshop, or to meet a person from the Unification Church. This phenomenon will happen increasingly.

In the wake of the victory of Washington Monument a far more jubilant victory celebration is being held in the spirit world because they have now been liberated. Now they can freely come to the earth and work with you, their own descendants. From this time on, when you go out on your mission you will receive all kinds of spiritual experiences visions, speaking in tongues and special dreams. Not only you but many people outside our church will experience these things.

We must sway three countries to God; once God can influence at least three nations, the whole world will tumble into His arms. Presently in the spirit world there is a great deal of competition. Because good spirits can descend first, the country, which has more good ancestors will be benefited first, directly affecting the destiny of that nation. We are not just mobilizing Christian spirits, but even Jesus himself, as well as Buddha, Confucius and Mohammed. Taking a father's role they will come down to their own followers on earth. Not many people understand these things precisely, but I can clearly testify to them because I am the pioneer who opened the pathway. What I have prophesied has been fulfilled.

You can mobilize your ancestors

In your prayer from this time on you can command the spirit world in the name of the True Parents, and in the name of the Day of the Victory of Heaven. You can insist that your ancestors in the spirit world must come down to co-operate with their descendants and bring them into salvation. They are supposed to obey, and if they do not you can warn them that they are in trouble. You can give a command like this because you are the direct heirs of the true Adam. Spirit world, including the angels, is in the servant position; the sons of Adam have the authority to command those in the spirit world and they must obey you. Even though they lived 1,000 years ago and are your elders many times over, those in spirit world will listen to you.

But you must never ask for a legion of angels or spirit men to attack anyone opposing us. Would that be a real prayer? That is not the prayer of a parent. You must have mercy upon our enemies and pray for them. They are Cain and it is Abel's responsibility to love and unite with Cain. Until we are united with Cain, we are not in a position to survive and prosper. The New York Times and Washington Post have criticized and slandered me, yet when I have some money to spend for advertising I always go to them. We can forgive them. I always maintain the position of a true son of God, the position of victorious Abel.

We do not really have any enemies. Even though people may curse us and persecute us, we can sleep well. We do not have much time to sleep, but when the time does come, we sleep well because we have no one to curse, no one against whom we are seeking revenge. God will take care of it all.

I will pray on a special prayer -- I will ask God to mobilize all those spirits who were martyred in the name of God. Uncounted millions of Christians died under the tyranny of Nero, for example, or as the victims of communism. I can mobilize those innocent people who were murdered, commanding them to stir up the communist world, for instance, to turn those nations to God's side. In this way we can reduce the sacrifice and casualties on the side of goodness. God's camp should not suffer too many casualties. You cannot give this type of command yet because you are still operating on the individual or family level, and this does not qualify you to demand such a thing. But the descent of your ancestors is definitely possible, and you can ask for that.

The important thing is this: once you seek out the help of the spirit world you must be responsible for yourself and your ancestors. If you falter and fall away, your ancestors will be trapped. In that case your children will suffer because they will have to indemnify your failure.

You have one simple mandate from God and from the True Parents: to have absolute unwavering faith. Press forward and work more intensely than in the Washington Monument campaign. Then the power of God and the assistance of your ancestors will come with you. Any amount of spiritual assistance you require will be no problem. You will only prosper.

This morning I had a special spiritual ceremony from 7 to 8 o'clock to seal these things, and they are yours. October 4 is the Day of the Victory of Heaven. Never be discouraged. Cheer yourself up, and pull yourself together. Go forward until we secure the final victory.

Thank you.

Perfection and Gratitude

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
October 3, 1976
Belvedere, New York
Translator - Bo Hi Pak

The ideal of God's creation was for Adam and Eve to reach perfection and enter into the realm of happiness where they and all their descendants would experience the deepest appreciation of life and God's blessings. The fall of man has prevented Almighty God from seeing that day of perfection, however. Because the day of perfection has not been seen, there has been no real day of appreciation or gratitude either. Even God has never had a day of gratitude because there has been no perfection. Certainly mankind and creation have never seen the day of perfection and the day of gratitude.

Who is responsible for this grievous situation? Not God or the things of creation, but man. Man is the creature who failed and fell. Man's fall was his defeat, and for man to advance to perfection and occupy the place of gratitude the first thing he must do is be victorious over evil. To be victorious man must wage a battle against evil, fighting on every level to recover the true individual, family, nation and world. After victory on each level man will attain perfection and reach the place of gratitude.

What kind of failure was brought by the fall? Because of the fall, man is relegated to a realm outside of God's Principle. Adam and Eve fell from being the prince and princess of God and from having God as their King. From being God's precious children Adam and Eve became the servants of Satan living in an unprincipled world. After the fall man's value became less than that of God's own servants. No matter how much man might try, there is no way for him to attain perfection or gratitude by living in that realm.

There are four kinds of words surrounding man

Why was man defeated? Did he lack power? Did he lack judgment? Not at all. The first cause of the fall of man was his disobedience of the word of God. What will play the most vital role in the process of restoration, of man's returning to his original place? Nothing external like money, power and knowledge, but instead the word of God. Therefore, throughout history man has been destined to search for the truth of God, and furthermore to believe in and fulfill that truth.

Because of the fall there are several kinds of words being spoken. Since the fall Satan continually speaks to man and therefore, we must be aware of the lies which originally persuaded man to fall. Words are also spoken by men who have become servants of Satan. At the same time words are spoken by God and also by men on the side of God. You must be able to distinguish between these four different kinds of words that surround man. What determines which side you are on? The words you speak determine where you stand. Each one of you inevitably follows one of these four kinds of words, thus establishing your position.

What is the real difference between the word of God and the word of Satan? Do you realize that out of four men speaking on the Divine Principle, two could be men of God and two could be men of Satan? There is some internal factor distinguishing diem. Is this thought surprising to you? How could a man of the satanic side even be speaking of the Divine Principle? There is no visible boundary line between God's camp and Satan's camp but a boundary does exist nonetheless.

In order to understand this, consider whether you have ever been able to pinpoint the exact moment in time when today becomes tomorrow. No one can do that. The transition from 11:59 to 12:00 is invisible. Likewise, somewhere within you is an invisible boundary that puts you either on the side of Satan or on the side of God.

You must be absolutely certain of the criterion needed to distinguish the satanic side of man from the heavenly side of man because, as small as you are, you are the center around which the boundary is formed. On your left-hand side you have a connection to hell and on your right-hand side you have a connection to heaven. Individually you form the boundary between heaven and hell and no one else but yourself determines where you are. Many people may think that heaven and hell have nothing to do with them, thinking that heaven is somewhere up in the sky and hell is somewhere down below. Perhaps they associate heaven or hell with their parents, blaming their parents for their troubled situation, but this is not the case. Heaven and hell are within you.

Your two eyes usually move together in one direction and your two legs walk together toward one destination, but suppose that each tried to go its own separate way. It would not be much fun, would it? Yet this very tendency describes human behavior most of the time. Your mind should be united and moving in one direction, but instead your mind is divided. This makes your entire life miserable because you wander around, vacillating between crossing the boundary of good and evil, heaven and hell. You may start out as a person on the side of good but some temptation crosses your path and you wander into the evil camp, then repent and return again to the good camp. If another temptation lures you away at the right moment, you'll be trapped on the side of evil at the moment of death.

Former President Nixon contributed much to humanity and to America during his life of public service, but in the public mind it was all nullified by the Watergate crisis. The things Nixon did for the sake of America and the world were justified because they were unselfish deeds done for the public good. On the other hand, the decisions made in the Watergate situation were self-centered and done for his own advancement and benefit. Selfish decisions, no matter how small, cannot be forgiven. In my case the entire world has been affected by the controversy and criticism generated about me by my enemies. However, as long as I remain public-minded and my motives continue to be unselfish, no matter what may happen I cannot be uprooted.

Final judgment is based on a single, simple formula: whether or not a person is motivated by selfish or unselfish desires. If my deeds are supremely selfless and for the sake of the public good then the sacrifice and what appears at times to be defeat will turn out to be a greater victory. For example, I am accused of brainwashing the youth of America. Suppose;, however, that the end result of the brainwashing was the emergence of truly unselfish men and women, living their lives for the sake of God and the world. For doing that I will receive blessing from God and my work will be a victory instead of a defeat. On the other hand, suppose the purpose of brainwashing was to sacrifice young people for my personal benefit. Then certainly I would deserve all the present accusation and persecution and more.

The true man can be a slave to heaven

People claim that I enslave the good and beautiful young people of America, but if by doing that young men and women become dedicated, committed people for the sake of God and humanity, willingly living for a purpose far beyond themselves, then what I do is justified in the sight of God. Patriots and saints all go through that process, the greatest example being Jesus Christ, who became a perfect slave to the will of God. For the will of God he wept, prayed, agonized and finally gave his life on the cross. He was the Messiah and savior and was enslaved by God in order to bring the resurrection of mankind.

If you wholeheartedly serve your parents then in a way you are enslaved by them, yet society does not consider that slavery! It is a pious deed to glorify and praise your parents. The same principle also applies to the patriot.

During the Revolutionary War many men were captured by the British army, tortured, threatened with death and actually killed, but they never betrayed their nation and the principles they upheld. They are recognized as being patriots for their loyalty, but weren't they enslaved by the nation even to the point of death? I want you to understand that when you enslave yourself to the unselfish cause of working for God and humanity, you become a hero and great leader. The one criterion God has given throughout history is whether or not a person's purpose is selfless and public-minded.

There are two types of men-those who live as the servants of God and those who live as sons of God. Which type would you prefer to be? In most cases you would prefer to live as the son of God, but I want you to know that the person who lives for God with the dedication and commitment of a servant will certainly be greater than those who only dank of themselves as sons and refuse the role of servant. Even so, the person who is a son of God and yet ascends in the shoes of the servant will not only be greater than the son of God, but will eventually win the heart of God completely; he will even control God Himself and inherit His entire fortune.

If your brother proudly boasts that he is your parents' son while you look at the value of your life in terms of sacrificial service to your parents then eventually you will become the head of the family. That principle is true throughout God's entire universe.

What criterion does God use to choose which religion will be His champion? God is looking for the religion which teaches people how to be His son and daughter yet also to serve the purpose of His kingdom. What kind of religion should we live? We must inherit the sonship of God yet be willing to enslave ourselves to God. By trying to pursue this standard, the Unification Church is certainly not heretical but truly the central religion of God on earth today.

The most important standard for leadership is unselfishness

Now you must make one important decision: Who is Reverend Moon? Am I a fraud? Is my teaching going to lead all mankind towards service to God and humanity, the life in which God is the center? Or will the members of the Unification Church be forced to serve only my private purpose instead of the work of God? If you see that I myself live for service to God and humanity then this teaching is right and good. If the Unification Church is moving forward for the benefit of God and humanity then we are in the center and mainstream of God's work and this is a genuine religion.

I am pushing each one of you to totally enslave yourselves to the purpose of God and humanity. This is actually the opposite of making you a slave for it is from among you that heroes, patriots and saints will come. As your sacrifice and greatness become apparent it will become more and more recognized that you follow a good leader who can be approved by heaven and earth. Sometimes I may force you out in an almost cruel way and at other times strongly discipline you, but this is not for my own benefit or for any selfish purpose. It is only to make you greater in the sight of God. Thus these are merciful and loving acts.

There are many statesmen in the world today but even so it is very difficult to find even one truly dedicated, unselfish person among them. This year there are many candidates running for all the various offices throughout America, and in evaluating each candidate one must ask what his true purpose is in seeking a political office. Often his selfish desire to hold office is much more important to him than his concern about what happens to America or to the rest of the world. The leaders America needs won't be found among people with such attitudes, yet it is often those people who are elected and occupy the most important offices of the nation. Since they are not God-centered and unselfish they are not the best people to represent and lead the nation.

I am not demeaning democracy by saying this. I am saying that even under a seasoned and sophisticated system of democracy the most important factor is not the system itself but the spirit of those who serve in the system, for they must go beyond their own personal interest and the level of their own party. ][f they recognize some greater devotion, dedication and God-centeredness in an opposing candidate then they must have the moral courage to admit that and support him, regardless of party differences. Only with that kind of spirit can we find truth.

In the Unification Church we evaluate leaders by precisely this standard, valuing those who will benefit the nation, world and God, but trying to enlighten those self-centered and selfish candidates who think only of themselves, their own party and their own nation. In light of this, our work is focused on educating leaders as well as the general public and on lifting up a new set of moral standards. This is the reason I have sent missionaries into all echelons of society. Is that wrong? I want you to come to know all kinds of people, including our opponents and their criticism. In addition, I want them to know that you are not meeting them for the benefit or fame of Reverend Moon but for the sake of this nation and the world.

Our young people are going onto Capitol Hill with burning zeal to appeal to the politicians and leaders concerning the salvation of this nation and the need for them to become unselfish and God-centered. Each of you can be nobler and greater than those politicians themselves and your deeds can be the most patriotic deeds in the sight of God. This nation needs our movement, doesn't it? Because only religious people are equipped to educate people about these values, you are the ones to mark the dividing line or the boundary between good and evil.

If America were to initiate a war for the sake of its own selfish interests then that act would be the height of wickedness and evil. Yet sometimes an act of war may be inevitable for the sake of God and humanity and may be carried out with a totally unselfish motivation. Throughout the history of this fallen world there have been many wars that God has had to wage, for example the wars of die Old Testament. When taking an unselfish viewpoint, killing or engagement in war has sometimes been inevitable and is justified in the sight of God.

Criminals are sometimes sentenced to death and the government of the nation is responsible for their deaths. Does the nation itself become criminal then? Should it be held guilty for executing those people? If the execution was carried out for the benefit of the society or nation and the world then no crime has been committed. If one evil man harms many lives then the termination of that person's life cannot be regarded as a crime.

In examining history we find that sometimes God has killed men. Can we then accuse God of being a murderer, even insisting that He cannot be God? God makes His decisions only on the most public-minded level and these decisions sometimes include killing. Such acts are absolutely not to advance His own selfish cause but only the unselfish cause of mankind.

We are concerned with the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth, which many people equate with unrestricted freedom to do all kinds of crazy things. Is that the Kingdom of God? No, the world of God is a world of discipline and order.

I expect everything to block my way.

I receive instructions from God day to day and sometimes we must carry out what may seem to the world an evil act, but no matter what the world may say, we must go the way that God leads. When God instructed me to hold the Washington Monument Rally I organized everyone for that task and we won a victory, didn't we? The next target after Washington is Moscow, but it is not at all like Washington. In the process of getting there we won't be received as friends. However, even if we must penetrate past bombs and cannon, and even if the entire Unification Church is demolished, leaving but one person to go through to the final goal, still we must start out. I'm sure that while we are going through this endeavor the entire world will criticize me, saying that I am the worst dictator that the entire religious world has ever seen. For whom would such a sacrifice be made? This price would be paid solely for the sake of God and for the sake of the world. Anyone who loses his life in this campaign will shine before mankind for eternity. This would never be for my sake or even for the Unification Church, but for the sake of all mankind.

I know so well that even though you may be sacrificed and die before you reach Moscow, your death will not be in vain. It shall be glorified and the blessing that you shall reap will be many hundreds of times greater than that of those who survive. You shall be remembered as a great patriot and hero in the Kingdom of God on earth.

I am the one leading the final emergency push, even if it means going to the place of sacrifice and death, knowing that history will honor you. In the past there were many patriots and great saints, yet their cause was not the building of the Kingdom of God here on earth. If you die in pioneering the path of that kingdom, you will be the greatest soul who ever lived and you shall be remembered as a hero in that kingdom. I will go to your tomb and bow down to you. All of heaven and earth shall bow down to you for giving your life for the same cause to which we are all committed.

When I came to America only several short years ago I feared nothing, especially not controversy. I have forged ahead toward the final goal, with only my sense of justice, my love for God and my conviction in God's ideology giving me power to continue. When I came to America I had already determined that I was ready to pay any price, including facing government investigations and the worst kind of criticism and even prison. I expected everything to block the way, but I also knew that nothing could stop me. Suppose America finally deports me or even publicly chastises me. I do not fear either one. If that should happen then in the name of God millions of people will rise up to finish my task.

Perhaps the State Department thinks that I am the problem and that by kicking me out of the country the tension will be solved. Nothing could be further from the truth. If I am deported from America you will all become Reverend Moons. If the State Department proceeds to kick all of you out of the country then God will raise up millions more like us. As long as we are standing side by side with God and doing His will then absolutely nothing can stop our march. If we are ever persecuted like that would you still be able to inherit my mission? If ever such a situation occurred, would you be relieved to have the controversy subside, or would you determine, "That outrageous act makes me 1,000 times stronger! I will become the greatest champion of all and complete his task!"

Why are you really ready to complete the task? It is because you are aligning yourself with the justice of God, the justice that will not be tarnished by history, the justice of eternity. This justice will eventually win. Those who can determine that no matter whether America comes against us or even the entire world comes against us, they will be champions of the Unification Church, continuing on even in my absence, raise your hands. There are so many Reverend Moons sitting here that you really do not need me nor does America need me! If I leave for Europe, you have no problem. If I leave for the Far East, Korea or Japan, America will be no problem. As long as you are so determined, I am already victorious and there is no place I cannot go.

Presently the free world is submerged in confusion and chaos, having almost no distinction between good and evil. Without knowing what is good and what is evil they don't know how to act. The conclusion we draw is this: Justice upholds the man who remains God-centered, working for the will of God, the purpose of history and the benefit of humanity. That which is just will remain and ultimately be victorious. That is truly a public life. On the other hand, anybody who lives for himself, regardless of what he may do or say is on the side of Satan,

The public-minded person is the one who stands before God and humanity. The selfish-minded person is the one who pushes himself away from God and mankind. The public-minded person accepts the suffering of God as his own and the suffering of humanity as his own. On the other hand, the self-centered person disregards the suffering around him and is concerned with only his own amusement.

The criterion that determines whether you are going to hell or heaven is whether you are living for the sake of God and humanity or willing to sacrifice others for your own glory. The greater your unselfishness and public-minded activity the higher you will be in heaven. The greater your self-centeredness the more terrible your hell will be. The person who thinks, "I don't care about God or His suffering or humanity. I just have time to worry about myself," will find himself in the deepest dungeon of hell. On the other hand, those who suffer in service to mankind and are willing to sacrifice themselves for others will constantly move toward the highest heaven. Do you now understand the criterion of good and evil, heaven and hell?

Who is Abel?

Now it is 7:30 and my stomach is giving me the message that I need a good breakfast. But the important thing as you are having breakfast is for whom you are eating. Are you merely satisfying your own stomach or are you eating breakfast for a greater purpose? Some might ask how your stomach can be God's stomach and mankind's stomach. When you take a meal you should pray, "This meal is for the sake of God and the sake of humanity. In taking this food let me be of greater service to God and man." In that case, the meal in front of you will smile before going into your stomach.

Everything functions within this principle. Your eyes see, but for whom do they see? Is your vision for the sake of God and humanity? Maintain the desire for your eyes to see the things that even Jesus Christ could not see. People might say you are a heretic to have this desire, but on the contrary, this is the heart of the children of God. Furthermore, have the desire that your eyes will see what even God has not seen. Will God say, "How can you presume to talk in such a way?" No, He will say, "My son, I hope that your eyes are better than mine."

What I want you to understand is that it is not your deed by itself but the motivation behind the deed that will direct you toward heaven or hell. Even if I were to suddenly die here in America and be buried in some unknown cemetery, there will be millions and millions of people in the future who will come to bow down and shed tears at my tomb, because I have given my life to God and humanity. People will come regardless of nationality and race and creed. Looking carefully at your present motivation you can know clearly if you will obtain heaven or deserve hell.

Who is Abel? Abel is the unselfish person who dies for the sake of God, for mankind, and for his family. 'nose selfless people throughout history who gave their lives and maintained the fire of God's justice are the very reason that this world still exists. Moses is an example, and also Noah, who for 120 years persevered despite the criticism of all his people. Noah upheld his faith and loyally obeyed the word of God. Abraham was another public-minded person. When God asked him to leave his homeland he did so, traveling toward an unknown destination, solely in obedience to the word of God. On Mount Moriah Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his own son in order to fulfill God's direction. It seemed to be a crazy act but knowing that it was God's order Abraham was ready to go ahead. Even Isaac did not rebel but readied himself to die for the sake of God, as meek as a lamb.

Jacob suffered in a strange land, enduring 21 years of his uncle's harsh treatment for the sake of his own family. Later in history Moses rejected his opulent life as a prince in order to become a champion for his own people, disregarding the difficulties awaiting him. Jesus Christ lived the supreme example of a sacrificial life and in 2,000 years of Christian history there have also been countless martyrs. They are the people who have loyally upheld the work of God, living with one criterion for their lives: to obey the word of God and to serve humanity. They could reject all Satan's lies in this world and uphold God's word under adverse conditions, becoming the people who could speak for the side of God.

The fall of man was the result of man's failure to obey God's word. We are here to absolutely uphold and obey the word of God. What type of men and women are centered upon the word of God? They are the people who give their first priority to God, to mankind and to the world, and their last priority to themselves. We members of the Unification Church are not living for the present moment but for the future, going far beyond the comforts of the present. We are pursuing the ideal of the world where the word and ideal of God will blossom. We are not living for our personal ideal but for the ideal of God. Certainly this is not an easy way of life. We are not sitting idle and waiting for tomorrow; with our own hands we are constructing tomorrow's world.

When God thinks of tomorrow and dreams of His own ideal, He must look toward the Unification Church. If men look toward an ideal and a better world then they must look toward the Unification Church. As founder of the Unification Church I am the center of much attention and controversy and everyone is scrutinizing me. Some observers are using binoculars and others are wearing tinted glasses. I don't care what color glasses they wear as long as they are looking at us.

All the spirit world is watching us as well as God. Members of Congress are watching, the reporters of the Washington Post and New York Times are watching. All are asking, "Where will he move next?" It is funny to see what is happening; if they hate me, why don't they just ignore me? They just cannot forget about me! Although they join with the crowds in criticizing me, somewhere in the depths of their hearts they feel something else. They reject me but the depths of their original minds keep whispering, "No, no you need him. Where else is there hope?"

A leader can only be approved by heaven if he pushes himself the hardest.

Is it clear now that you have four choices? Will you listen to the word of Satan or the words of the men on Satan's side, or will you listen to the word of God or the words of men on the side of God? Would you prefer to listen to the word of God, even before my word? My hope is that you will reach out to God My desire is for you to sincerely want to fulfill some direct instruction from God that even I cannot do. If each one of you will fix your determination this way, then think of what kind of America we will be able to see three years from now. America will truly be a God-centered nation, leading the world in the right direction. Will that be your determination today? I can only hear a handful of people saying yes. How about everybody, can you determine this? You had to be asked this question twice before giving the answer. That's no good. Without hesitation you should be able to give a confident answer. Even if it's short but terse, if your yes is given immediately it demonstrates a willingness. That is the best.

You can find each of the four types among your friends, leaders or new acquaintances: those who speak the words of Satan or the words of Satan's side, those who speak the word of God and those who speak the words of God's side. Always remember that Satan's lies are very sweet, while the word of God is bitter and sometimes very painful to accept, pushing you into the sacrificial role. If the word is bitter yet good for you then you know that it is truly the word of God because it is never easy. It will make your eyes difficult to open, your hand crippled and your whole body sick. The word of God will push you to the sacrificial role. It is terse and unmerciful and may go something like this, "Go out today and die for God." There is no sweetness, yet this is the closest to His will. Can you understand this?

In the Unification Church your leaders may sometimes be really crazy, going from place to place, without sleeping or eating, chasing you and pushing you out, watching you and chastising you sometimes, and then with a hard word pushing you out more. Such a leader may truly be working beyond his own mind, truly doing the work of God. I keep thinking about how I can drive you, how I can push you to the point where you have no moment to think of anything but God and His mission. I am trying to push you to become a truly public-minded person. Can you welcome this without feeling resentful?

You must have mercy upon me, realizing what a tough job I have of working to bring the yellow race, the white race and the black race together into one new breed of men, trying to push them out to sacrifice themselves for God. What a tough job! Have you ever thought about that? I have the toughest job. You are the driven and I am the driver. Which position is easier? Actually it is easier to be driven because driving others for the sake of God is nothing like the eight hours a day labor of the everyday world, where there is time to eat and sleep.

To win God's approval to drive others a leader must work far harder than those he drives and prove himself worthy. After this desperate struggle by both the leader and those he leads, the joy and happiness they share with God after the victory has been won cannot be described with any words, laughter or tears. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can describe that joy. Embracing each other in ecstatic joy, even standing in dirty water in a ditch or a septic tank would be like heaven to them because their joy would convert any place into a holy place.

In a setting like that you can become a child of God and truly be heavenly brothers and sisters. The inheritance of the heavenly kingdom is not found on a throne, but only at the bottom of hell. When you descend into hell to taste its misery but then overcome that misery, then you can inherit the Kingdom of God. Then you can feel the joy of heaven.

When you go on your mission, be someone who is ready to speak out directly for the sake of that city or town, even if it means getting on people's nerves and having them turn against you. In this way you will become the true leader of that town. Now look at the youth of America. Are they working for a heavenly purpose? We are striving for that and they are not yet they are criticizing us! The more our opposition attacks us the faster they will decline, while the more we are accused, the more we will prosper. I am convinced that the greater the hurricane that pushes us forward, the quicker we will reach our goal. We have chosen to travel this road and those who do not wish to do so should leave now because they will only be hindrances.

What benefits do you derive by remaining here? You have no money in your pockets, your clothing is old, and you gather at 5:00 in the morning and sit on a hard cement floor! There is only one church like this under the sun. Why don't you join a church with wall-to-wall carpeting, stained glass windows and worship services at I 1:00 in the morning instead!

You have weaknesses which I have experienced, so I understand you

I know better than anyone the road we must travel. It has been a very painful, exhausting and agonizing road that I have walked for thirty years and the only reward I received is criticism and opposition. Probably you face the same criticism and nobody is sympathetic with you. Your parents, your brothers and sisters and friends all say you are crazy and they ridicule you. Do you still mind? Then truly you are crazy, aren't you?

Throughout history there have been many people crazy for themselves, crazy for their own families, crazy for their own glory, but it has all been a self-centered craziness. How many crazy people have there been solely for the sake of God? Not too many. If there are a few who are crazy for God, we will never leave them alone until the goal of God is achieved. That craziness is a glorious craziness.

If I am the crazy one in the sight of God then I'm the glorious one. My craziness will turn my parents, family, this nation, the world and the spirit world all around 180 degrees, heading from hell into heaven. Suppose a loved one is sick and you sacrifice yourself totally for the sake of curing his illness. Once you have bestowed that kind of love then your relationship will never be broken. That is truly the oneness of love.

Actually I have the disease of craziness for the restoration of mankind. I am helpless to cure my own disease, but God and mankind will cure me. If you really know me you will not be able to leave. Those who leave do so because they do not know me as well as you do. Nobody has chained you here but you have stayed because some power binds you. You are the physicians, the black, white and yellow people gathered together to cure me by achieving my crazy goal. When I am cured, which means when the Kingdom of God is established, I will have a great big banquet and I will invite God and all the black, white and yellow people. There will be a crazy kind of music and a crazy kind of dancing at that heavenly banquet.

Those who have not swayed even one bit, please raise your hands. You are greater than I because I have tried to get out of this. I looked for something better, but the end result was that I came back here because there is no other road to go. I know so well how you suffer and agonize and that is why I overlook your mistakes and forgive you all the time. You have human weaknesses that I have experienced myself and I understand you. I am a man to be pitied and I deserve mercy. You also are very pitiful people, chosen by God for a peculiar mission. We have to stay together and comfort each other. All of us come from different cultures, races and nationalities, but we transcend all these things and are united in heart. That is our way of life.

While doing all these difficult tasks you get really tired, but even so God wakes you up over and over again, pulling and tugging you. That is God's role. Then who is the most miserable and pitiful person? God. When you know this, you may have no more energy to go on, but you still march forward. That is the road of restoration and there you are united in heart with God, in a relationship that becomes deeper and deeper. On our path of restoration there will be lots of tears, without which you cannot consummate this way of life. You will actually shed the tears of God and taste His sorrow and misery.

Many people wonder how they can imitate my accomplishments

In the last 3% years since I came to America I sacrificed everything and devoted every ounce of energy, not just for my own sake or for the Unification Church, but for the sake of God and all humanity. Recently I went to Montreal and had lunch with the members there. One man who has been a member of the Unification Church for eight years vividly remembered my arrival in America on December 18, 1971. At that time I did not have a visa to enter America from Korea, so I came to Canada instead. Our members in America were very persistent in asking the State Department, "Why won't you issue a visa to Reverend Moon?" Ironically, officials kept telling them that I was a communist in 1968 and so I was undesirable in this country. Finally it was proven to them that I have truly been crusading for the victory over communism and they couldn't resist any further. That was the beginning of my actual ministry in America.

At that time the Canadian members asked me to stay in Canada, but I told them that according to God's plan I must achieve certain goals in the next 3% years in America, since America is the focal point of world restoration. The eight year member confessed that four years ago he doubted me and couldn't trust my words. He thought at that time that I was a very crazy person. Now everything has been accomplished as I said and he is willing to hear my plans for the next 3% years. He has no doubt that they will be accomplished also.

When my achievements in the last 3% years are reviewed will I be considered a man of success or a man of failure here in America? Even those who adamantly oppose me recognize that I succeeded in my goal. Those people who supported us all along will exclaim, "I told you Reverend Moon would succeed!" Every American, particularly the leadership in America, would like to do what I have done and have loyal young people behind them. Even if they don't admit it verbally or in print this is the way they feel and eventually they will come to our side. Through my work a large foundation has been laid that will expedite our victory by leaps and bounds. A mood and atmosphere has been created in which we can achieve great success.

Ambitious young people of America look at me closely and wonder what the secret behind my power is. They see I have a philosophy and conviction, that I have young people and organization, discipline and money. They think if they learn my secret that somehow they can do the same. In the future the people who want to influence the world will study and research my methods. Those who want to become great businessmen, religious leaders, social leaders, even great industrialists will study the Unification Church. A fresh new wind will blow across the nation, particularly in the academic world of universities and colleges. Even though America's intellectuals generally are very critical of me, inside they are intrigued by me and are curious enough to research this giant new phenomenon. You will see one dissertation after another being written about me.

How could I organize a most disciplined campaign consisting of people from the six continents of the world? There was not even a common language in which they could converse yet everyone worked as one unit. Behind each one of you there are many invisible influences pulling; your family ties pull you, your cultural ties, your personal interests, your educational ties also pull you, but when I say something you are pulled another way in spite of all that. What energy is there? Even though I have created controversy all over the world, I have made an impact on human history because there is an invisible yet irresistible power working behind me and behind each one of you.

The Yankee Stadium campaign was held on June 1, and three months later we held the Washington Monument Rally. Actually we did not begin to work in the Washington Monument campaign until 40 days prior to September 18. Even the government cannot hold two big events like that only three months apart. They plan years in advance.

Organizing the Washington Monument Rally was far more difficult than running ten senatorial campaigns in ten different states. People who study sociological movements must admit to the discipline and organization that the Unification Church has. Normally after a campaign victory there is a celebration with drinking and dancing, but the Unification Church is different. The very night of our greatest victory we changed into our working clothes and cleaned up the Monument grounds. No one had ever seen anything like it before. The morning of September 19th people were astounded. The impact was tremendous.

In Washington people were saying that I was a man of my word. They now know that once I say I will do something, I will accomplish it. Eventually they are bound to believe whatever I say I will do. What I am saying is that together we will build the Kingdom of God on earth. People must believe it because I am a man of my word.

In the sight of God what I have achieved in America in 31/2 years is an extraordinary achievement. Many ministers insist that I am a heretic and they don't accept my theology, but they are beginning to think they must adopt my methods. The Washington Post has been negative towards us in its articles yet during our campaign we ran twelve full page ads in that paper. No other campaign in history has ever run twelve full page ads in the Washington Post. The Washington Post became famous because of former President Nixon and Watergate; now it will become famous because of Reverend Moon. The Washington Post was influential in Nixon's decision to resign, but it will never be able to push me away. The entire world will look at the two sides, the Washington Post and Reverend Moon, and wonder which one is the righteous one.

The Washington Monument grounds are at the center of the nation's capital, with the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the White House on each side. It is one of the most beautiful park areas in the world. My desire was to gather hundreds of thousands of people there and speak to them. Billy Graham, a white man, spoke at the Lincoln Memorial on Honor America Day and Martin Luther King, a black man, spoke there and now finally a yellow man, Reverend Moon, has spoken there in the name of God. This will be remembered for generations.

After God's victory there, the Washington Monument symbolizes God's hope. I made a proclamation of the truth and by our upholding that philosophy America will never decline. Initially September 18 shall be a great day of celebration by Unification Church members but eventually by the entire United States. The day will come when September 18 will be declared a holiday in Washington. There may appear to be no tangible results since September 18, but spiritually we have laid a great foundation to bring future prosperity and the blessing of God.

What I said at the Washington Monument was a prophecy, and people will be watching to see how it will be fulfilled. My message was simple, that Judaism, Christianity and the Unification Church must become one and also that Judaism and Christianity have not achieved that goal but that the Unification Church would not fail. I have the conviction that the restoration of the Kingdom of God will be brought about by our efforts.

Now is the time for gratitude. The topic of today's sermon is "Perfection and Gratitude." Gratitude will come after perfection. To reach perfection we must be victorious, rising above every level of opposition. The people who gathered together at the Washington Monument should be regarded as champions of the world. In addition many people from spirit world descended to assist in the Rally. In this way past and present were united and all horizontal elements were assembled together on that day which will alter the world in the future.

The Washington police warned us that there was always an unpleasant incident whenever there were more than 100 people gathered together. That's why on September 18, they were amazed that our rally was so peaceful, with not a single accident on the Monument grounds. All of us are deeply grateful to Almighty God. God is grateful because His victory was achieved in Washington. The fall of man occur-red when Adam and Eve and Lucifer lost the word and the love of God, and ever since God has been looking for the men and women who can restore all of that.

The Washington Monument Rally was a victory on the perfection level, so now we can move into the realm of gratitude. You must stand as the men of God. When you speak the word of God, you must be the embodiment of the word and the love of God; then you can be restored from the satanic realm.

What is your next goal? Where do you go from here? Your final destination is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Would all of you who are unmarried want to go to your wedding or to the kingdom? You have to marry because that is how you will enter the Kingdom of God. I'm sure that pleases you. What can qualify you to live there? Simply this: Living in the image of God by having God's words become your words and God's love become your love. That is your first goal, and your next goal is to have a God-like mate. I am tailing the people of the world that they must go to the Kingdom of Heaven, which means that they must love the universe and mankind and bring mankind into God's kingdom. That is God's desire. Anyone who can do that is a man of God and is ready to be blessed and become a candidate for the Kingdom of God.

After the Washington Monument Rally you all felt that I would be so happy that I would have a blessing. In itself such thinking was not good or evil, but who was at the center of your thinking, you or God? We marry for the sake of God and mankind. At the time of blessing the man or woman next to you represents all of mankind as well as all the sons or daughters of God. If you are able to love your husband or wife as a son or daughter of God then you are entitled to become a husband or wife. Until that time you are not ready for the blessing.

When you marry do not look at your spouse as merely your husband or wife and expect to be loved and served by him. You should see your husband as the representative of all the men of the world, and also as the representative of the sons of God. You must love your spouse as God loves him. You must love him as you love mankind. In your marriage you are setting a new tradition of God, leaving your footprints as a public-minded couple. If we say that the right leg represents the husband and the wife is represented by the left leg, then it's clear that you must not become a cripple. You should be a balanced couple.

Shall I keep on talking? You are just waiting to hear when there will be a blessing; that's why you want me to continue! Those who want to get married, please raise your hands. Now those who want to build the Kingdom of God on earth, raise your hands. Which desire is stronger? You are determined to build the kingdom first. That means on your wedding day you will be marching towards it. After it is built on earth we will keep marching with our families. You must know the priorities.

Now your task as members of the Unification Church is gratitude. You must be thankful that you were able to participate in the Washington Monument Rally as people living on earth. That is the first condition of gratitude. Secondly, you can be grateful not only to participate but to labor and shed tears and give your whole heart and soul for this work. The Washington Monument Rally was our victory which includes God, mankind, True Parents and all of you. When you shout Mansei the spirit world and all mankind and also God will participate because that victory also belongs to them.

The fireworks on September 18 symbolized the beauty and unity of the entire heaven and earth together. Each set of fireworks represented a continent of the world, symbolically joining them together in one display. God knows that the Washington Monument Rally was the only festival and the only fireworks display given in His name, and in reality God is actually the one who did it. Anyone who praises God's own work certainly deserves God's blessing. Nobody watching the fireworks rejoiced more than the Unification Church members and when God looked at us, He beamed from ear to ear. The Washington Monument Rally was so historic that even if God shifts the blessing from America, He will still bless us. In this respect the Washington Monument Rally was the supreme victory among victories.

One outstanding characteristic of the rally was the overwhelming number of blacks and Hispanics who came. The white people who refused to come did so because of arrogance. Because God abhors arrogance, He will bless the humble people who came. Much persecution will come to me but the humble people will rally around me and protest against this discrimination. The white members of the Unification Church bear a double burden: You must pay your own individual indemnity and you are also responsible to pay the indemnity of the white race. In the future when I am worn out and the Japanese and Korean members are worn out you white members should aggressively forge ahead to restore the white race. You know how much the Japanese and European members have worked and suffered here in America. You know how much I have suffered in this country. We have no reason to come and suffer in a foreign country. You are indebted to us and the time has come to repay the debt by asking me and the Japanese and Europeans to step back so that the Americans may take a major role in the restoration of this nation. When the white people who are opposing the Unification Church see only white people defending it they will stop their opposition. But if they don't stop, what will you do? People should not regard me as merely a private individual from Korea. God does not want to see the races divided, with some opposing me while others support me. If the white people oppose me to the end, the outcome could be tragic. God cannot retreat.

I am making a tremendous effort to prevent a separation of the races. The members, particularly the white members, must become humble and not only indemnity your own sins but the sins of your whole race.

If you have made a serious commitment to God then you have nothing to fear

After we achieve God's goal and liberate all of mankind we will finally come to perfection. We want to go to Moscow and have a worldwide rally but to do that we must become stronger than the communists and demonstrate God's power. Communism denies God and that ideology must not continue. To achieve the goal of our rally in Moscow, we must be more determined than ever before to keep marching toward supreme perfection. We will confront communism in a head-on collision, and I know that even now the communists' goal is to eliminate me. They have already taken over two-thirds of the world's population so of course America is being shaken by communist activities.

We are only a handful of people compared to the communists, but there is a way to win. Communism is a self-centered ideology, but the Unification Church stands in the name of God and the power of God is our power. God will decide the final outcome. Once you become one with God you are greater and stronger than the communists, but if separated from God then you are as small as peanuts.

Our situation is analogous to David and Goliath's. We don't have weapons and we are like the humble shepherd David, but we do have the word of God as our weapon. Whether in America, Korea or the Middle East or Russia, we will clash with Satan's forces and we'll win. No matter what happens to me I will go. Soldiers from sixteen nations fought and shed blood defending Korea. In the future fight against communism, Unification Church members all over the world may shed more blood than the United Nations soldiers did in Korea in 1950 and 1951. We must go on regardless. If we feel threatened by the difficulties ahead and retreat then this world has no hope for a new tomorrow. The destiny of heaven and earth is in our hands. We must march forward with that conviction to the ultimate perfection, until the third seven-year course is consummated in global victory.

Three and a half years ago when I came to the United States I clearly mapped out certain goals and now all these goals have been accomplished. Now I am setting new goals for the current seven-year course, one of which is to forge ahead to Moscow and be victorious in a global confrontation against the ungodly ideology of communism. We cannot die without that mission being accomplished. We have been hand-picked by God for this sacred task. If you have that kind of serious commitment then there is nothing to fear about giving your sweat, blood and even your lives because you have already conquered the fear of death. If you die in this battle you will go to the highest position in the Kingdom of God in heaven.

Of the people who died in battles throughout history, 80% ended up in hell because they were afraid and had no power to overcome death. This is the first time in history that God has had an army like the Unification Church. There is no racial barrier here. Everyone's blood is red and all our hearts are united as one with God. The most hectic time is ahead of us. The day of perfection and gratitude on the worldwide level of history is calling you now. Will you respond? Will you mind postponing the blessing until then? You must feel that in order to achieve that goal there is nothing you cannot sacrifice, including the blessing.

This is a gigantic task and I have many more hectic days ahead of me. Since we need money we have to create more resources, whether building factories or fishing or fund raising. Fund raising in the name of God is nothing to be ashamed of at all. Unless for some heavenly purpose, I don't want to spend even one penny of the money earned in that way. I don't want to spend anything without heavenly meaning. I want to increase the money you earn in order to do bigger tasks. I want you to have participated as a coworker in this work.

In the near future we have to mobilize at least 10,000 members for the IOWC all over the world. God wants to have our IOWC land in one country in thirty jumbo jets, mobilizing to shake that nation. Could you postpone your marriage in order to tackle this task?

Everyone is scrutinizing what I am doing and thinking and saying, but my attention is focused upon the final task of liberating the communists. America's opposition to me is peanuts compared to the future opposition of the communists on a worldwide scale. The day will come quickly when global communism will move against me with force. If the U.S. will not awaken and champion our cause then the communists will annihilate this country. That kind of battle is what lies ahead of us.

l get much advice to be more diplomatic and quiet, but there's no time for that. We have a little time at the moment to ready ourselves and still we need manpower and money to wage the large battle. The time will come when we'll make an even bigger noise. We must earn the necessary money with our sweat and blood. While other people rest, we will keep on going night and day on our power and energy. Can you do it? It is not for my sake or your sake but for the sake of God and the sake of humanity that we must push ourselves forward.

We will create the economy that will restore the world.

When I ask you members who are not United States citizens to go back to your own countries, will you be willing to tackle the missions there? You cannot say that you want to stay in this country. We are a great peoples' movement, going from one corner of the earth to the other. Our Tong-Il factories in Korea are known to build very accurate and sensitive machinery and I would like to see that fame and tradition expanded to every comer of the earth. I want to set up an economy that can rebuild the world. The money we are earning now is nothing compared to our goal.

Do you want to participate in the creation of the economy that will restore this world? I am now starting our fishing industry and with that purpose in mind I experimented with the tuna trade this summer. No matter what time of day or night or what type of weather there was I went out to sea. If the sea was rough the captain of the "New Hope" used to ask whether we were going out, but now he knows I will go out no matter what the circumstances.

The members who finished at the Unification Theological Seminary and now have their master's degrees may work at sea. The captains of our boats may have Ph.D.s. Don't laugh. It is that kind of condescending attitude that has caused the decline of America's fishing industry. Unless I resurrect it, the fishing industry in this country will die. I will contribute to America by restoring the dying marine industry. We are now negotiating to buy a mother ship, but it is not for a pleasure cruise to the Caribbean. It is to catch the treasures of the sea. I don't like the smell of fish but we have no choice. Fishing is the area in which we can create a great economic foundation for God's work. Catching fish is not our goal, but the liberation of the communist world. That is why we must advance. Do you agree? If you unmarried women don't want to be blessed to fishermen you should leave now. If you don't want to marry a sailor then you will have to marry someone outside our Church.

There is a vast treasure lying in the sea, waiting to be harvested by our hands, but right now the American fishing industry is dying because American young people do not like the hard work of going out to sea. When they go out to sea for three months, they return to find that their wives have left them and their money has been squandered and they never want to go out to sea again. If they are not married then still they are not interested in going out because sometimes the weather is so brutal. You women who marry fishermen must be proud of them for working for God and mankind.

I have experienced how the sea will make a man more reverent. At sea you need faith in God because you must totally rely on Him. Furthermore, when the men go out to sea they will not forget their families. In my own experience I thought of Mother and my children more at sea than at home because at sea I never knew what would happen in the next moment. At sea I love and pray for my wife and children more than anywhere else. When the "New Hope" docks and Mother and the children are waiting and waving to me, I feel as though I have met God at that moment. The women who can love their husbands when they return from harsh work at sea will be the most superb, exemplary wives in the sight of God.

l have been a champion in creating factories and churches in Korea. Many nights while you rested I could not sleep because I have had a vision of all the consequences of the future. You have fund raised very hard in the past and you will probably do more, yet what do you have to show for it? I feel responsible to provide an economic foundation for you and your families. This is my ambition and I want to achieve it within ten years. In Korea I bought houses for many early members of our Church and in the future I would like to take the responsibility of buying houses for all the black, white and yellow people. I am the only one in history who is doing this, but it isn't easy.

I will persevere until the day of my death for the total consummation of God's will and my life will be a life of hardship. The world is not sympathetic, and even you are not sympathetic with me, but one thing is certain: God knows my situation. When I seriously pray and ask God for His confirmation, Heavenly Father always answers, "You are my loving son." The love of God is there. God and the spiritual world are pushing me to succeed. Do you ever have such experiences with God directly?

A while back there were 82 traffic accidents reported in one month in our movement. Many vehicles were damaged but not one single life was lost, even in the severest accidents. It was a miracle that people were unhurt. That shows that God truly does love our members because they are performing important functions in pioneering God's work all over the world. God knows our members are absolutely needed and as a special grace He protects them in impossible circumstances. God will never overlook those who follow His will.

We achieved victory at the Washington Monument Rally and Madison Square Garden and in a different way at the Yankee Stadium Rally, but I never thought that the Unification Church did it or I did it; God made those victories possible. I was ashamed to hear people praising my leadership as the cause for victory. Heavenly Father did it all. There is one secret to victory and that is to be crazy to fulfill God's will. Then your mission will be a great success.

No one can raise his head in front of God because no one can keep up with His pace. I want you to know that God is working harder than anybody else. Every day there must be tears of gratitude and tears of repentance and tears of sympathy for God and the True Parents. God knows that as His children you are the only ones who can understand His heart. During the last three years nobody truly knew why I went to sea so many times. Only God knew that I went to hide the tears I was shedding. I am walking the road of tears, shedding more tears than anyone else.

I often get utterly tired, but I never mention it. Sometimes I get sick but I never say one word about it. I resist the temptation to sleep and shorten my rest as much as I can. No matter how hard you are working, I am working harder. I will not be indebted to you.

We need vast resources and manpower to build the Kingdom of Heaven. Who will be responsible? By speaking the word of God, I will move the hearts of men; that is the way to acquire manpower for God. We will build the resources we need with our own hands. During the period of four years remaining before this seven-year course ends, you must cry out that you will never be indebted to me. You should want me to be indebted and grateful to you. Then we will certainly achieve our goal.

When I look at your radiant faces I sometimes feel that I am a sinner. I can hardly open my eyes and look at those members who wear very humble clothing. Inside I am crying, asking you to keep on working for a little while longer. There are many treasures to be restored for the sake of the world, but I certainly will use them for you also.

This is the third day of the tenth month and the first Sunday of October. It is a very, very precious day. We want to declare on this meaningful day that our goal is to liberate communism and go beyond. We want to define our goal clearly and declare that we must go to Moscow, When we achieve that goal, eternal gratitude will begin. Those who agree with this proclamation, please raise your hands and pledge to Almighty God. Let us pray.

A New World Will Be Definitely Coming Soon

Sun Myung Moon
September 20, 1976
Excerpt
Untitled Address to Conference of U.S. and International Leaders

Sun Myung Moon, Hak Ja Han, Hyung Jin Moon April 22, 2011

"Soon the new heaven and earth will open up in front of you. I know that timetable so clearly. It is coming, and it will bring a new world and a new way of life."

Even though I have suffered, and will suffer still more, and I will be misunderstood and accused even more, by taking this treatment without protest I continuously nurture this tradition, and eventually our way of life and our truth will prevail. I know it. The work will never stop, whether I am here on earth or up in heaven.

Thus it is immaterial whether or not I can unify the world within my lifetime, for this work will go on and on, and I will continue to lead it, whether I am here on earth or in the spirit world.

This ideology, this philosophy, this tradition and this heart will inevitably unify the world. Even after my death, as a spirit man I will constantly appear and lead you into the same tradition, the same way of life, until we have achieved the complete kingdom of God here on earth. This is the principle under which I am operating. I do not expect this to happen in ten years or even in my lifetime, but within eternity.

I know the spirit world so well. I know its system and organization inside out. Soon the new heaven and earth will open up in front of you. I know that timetable so clearly. It is coming, and it will bring a new world and a new way of life.

Address to Conference of U.S. and International Leaders

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
September 20, 1976
Tarrytown, New York
Translator - Col. Bo Hi Pak

This morning I'm sure you can almost fly. You have been very heavily burdened, and now all the burden has been lifted. I think everyone must be on cloud nine, so be sure to land safely when you come back to earth.

Let us together extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to God, our Heavenly Father, for the victory at Washington Monument! And to all of you who made this victory possible, congratulations from the depths of my heart. Let us thank God, thank one another, and thank all those hundreds of thousands of citizens who participated in this rally.

I hereby proclaim that, culminating with the victory at Washington Monument, the first phase of the ministry that I initiated when I came to America in 1972 has been successfully concluded. The target has been reached. The goal has been won. This I proclaim and declare.

As I look back three and a half years ago to my arrival in Washington on December 18, 1971, to begin this crusade, I recall that at that time nobody knew my plan, but my heart was truly trembling with God's great command, His scheme and His instructions. At that time there was already a master plan and strategy for this crusade in America. God has called me to proclaim the great truth which He was unable to proclaim 2,000 years ago in the Roman Empire. Today the United States holds a world position similar to that of Rome in those days. And so now when I look back, I see just how momentous an occasion this victory in Washington really is.

The American news media and many narrow-minded American people rose up against me and against our movement. They scorned us and persecuted us. Yet even under such adverse conditions our movement forged ahead and won a tremendous victory. It is clear that our Heavenly Father, the living God, is with us.

In Washington when we held the first meeting of all the American members, do you know how many there were? Seventy-two! And to those 72 members gathered from all around the nation I revealed plans to speak in every major city, to form the IOWC, and to hold huge rallies at Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium and the Washington Monument. Among our members absolutely no one could believe it, so how could we expect the American people and the media to believe it?

Back in 1972 the American people didn't pay any attention to Reverend Moon. I was just a stranger from Asia, another yellow man who came to America. But what they saw at that time was only horizontal, whereas I was looking vertically, two very different views. All my life I have clung to that vertical reality, when often from a horizontal perspective things looked so poor, so impossible. Yet I always upheld the vertical as being the reality, and my conviction never diminished. the unchanging eternal truth, represented by this vertical line, cannot be bent, undermined or altered by any power or persecution. From the very beginning our movement had this vertical axis, and although initially we had no foundation, no ground upon which to stand, it has been our job to create that ground, to build that foundation. This is what we have been doing. Each time we elevate ourselves to a new level there is always additional attack, additional persecution. It is inevitable, and without it we cannot progress. But it has always been my attitude and my strategy never to bend even one iota. I have struggled all alone to keep that vertical trunk line strong and solid. That has been my policy for the last three and a half years, although I knew from the very beginning that until after the Washington Monument Rally there would be a most heated battle.

Our victory in 1974 at Madison Square Garden laid our first substantial foundation, and it was an eye-opener for the American people. For the first time the American public paid some attention to Reverend Moon. On September 17th at our Waldorf-Astoria Day of Hope Banquet, Mike Wallace from CBS News stuck a microphone in front of my face and asked if I were confident I could fill Madison Square Garden. "Yes," I said immediately, "100 percent." He couldn't believe what he had heard, but the very next day my prediction was proved true. It is a well-known fact that our most influential newspapers, including the New York Times, tend to have a certain bias in their expectations, and so they all predicted that Reverend Moon could not fill Madison Square Garden, that it would be empty. They did not just hint at this but stated it blatantly in the headlines. But my prediction was different, based upon information from God's computer, and God's computer proved to be superior to theirs.

After Madison Square Garden I emerged as a powerful and almost fearful or somehow threatening leader, and so the mass media collectively took the offensive to attack me and our movement. And after the Watergate crisis when we pleaded with Americans to "Forgive, love and unite," they twisted my words, and my message and used them as further ammunition against me. But through their attack I was able to fulfill my God-given responsibility to become known not only in America but throughout the Free World during the past three years.

With the coming of the new year of 1976, the real showdown battle between God and Satan commenced with the opening of the Yankee Stadium campaign. Here in this room again and again we pledged a great historical victory for Heavenly Father at Yankee Stadium. Yet nature intervened, and because of the rain every member of the Unification Church felt anguish and heartbreak over Yankee Stadium. But I felt differently. I knew God had a better and longer-range strategy aiming at victory at Washington Monument. Stop and think for a minute: if we had won a spectacular victory at Yankee Stadium, wouldn't you have been proud, perhaps a little boastful? Relaxed? Less desperate about the Washington Monument campaign? That kind of feeling would creep in unconsciously. It's human nature. Then what would have happened? It means that we would not be having this joyful and liberating victory celebration here today. It could never have happened. But because of what happened at Yankee Stadium,. every member of the Unification Church got something stuck so deeply in his heart that he was able to really give himself totally to bring about the more important victory in Washington.

These last several months since Yankee Stadium have been a test period for the Unification Church. Many members have doubted God, wondering how this could have happened, if God is really with us. Many of the leaders assembled in this room today begged me desperately for one more chance and pledged to do their absolute best to win victory for Heavenly Father at Washington Monument, and our members in every echelon of the Unification Church were united with them in that determination. With that heart we immediately plunged into the Washington campaign, shooting forward like bullets, without first taking time to evaluate or review anything. Then eventually the leaders met with me and we analyzed what went wrong at Yankee Stadium. We realized we had not placed enough emphasis on individual contact, so this time I instructed person-to-person, heart to-heart contact. That and the bus method of mobilization were the keys to the success of the Washington Monument Rally.

I was determined from the very beginning of the campaign for us to break all past records for attendance at an evangelistic religious meeting in Washington, D.C. I knew very well how awesome the consequences would be, based on our success or failure. The impact, whichever it might be, would be truly fearful. If we were to fail with the Washington Monument Rally, people might conclude that God does not dwell in the Unification Church, and nothing we could say would convince them otherwise. There would be no way we could refute or explain, no excuse. Our critics could say, "Reverend Moon claims God is with him and the Unification Church, but he failed. Obviously he is wrong." And to this allegation there could be no satisfactory answer. Moreover, should we fail, there would be a great and terrible impact upon the spiritual state of every Unification Church member throughout the world, and nothing, no power, could lift that burden. The consequences would be immeasurably serious. If we had failed, I would have unveiled a strategy today which we would have followed from now on, but there would have been no way to execute God's plan, with Reverend Moon and the Unification Church standing in such a miserable position. So the destiny of the Unification Church depended upon the Washington Monument Rally. With success there would be new hope, new horizons, but with failure, on the contrary, we would move down into the dungeons of hell.

I determined that if white people refused to respond, that was fine; I would mobilize all the black people. At the time of Jesus Christ a black man, Simon of Cyrene, carried the heavy cross to the Mount of Calvary for Jesus, so I knew that black people were destined to play a most important role in this final day dispensation. That expectation was fulfilled at the Washington Monument Rally, and I now know that the black community is going to play a most important role in the future of the Unification Church.

I proclaim to you that the Washington Monument Rally was an unqualified victory. It is a victory for God and a victory for the providence, and it is a fact. It has been recorded as truth in heaven and earth.

I confess I feel light as a feather. I feel like I can fly. I have borne a tremendous burden of responsibility, but with the victory at Washington Monument I feel like I have been liberated from that weight. I can now walk as a free man. I can hold my head up before heaven and earth, and I can now proceed with the original strategy. So I say to you again that with the Washington Monument Rally we, the Unification Church, won the victory. It is the truth, recorded by history.

Then what shall we do from now on? This is a most important and critical question. Washington Monument has been our goal until this time, but after that beautiful victory, in what direction should we be moving? This is the most important purpose of this meeting. First of all, let us decide: shall we retreat or move on? (MOVE ON!) Once we have decided to move on, we must decide in what direction. We can move on a horizontal level, or at a 45 degree angle, or even at 90 degrees straight up, which one? We must look straight upward, yet our two feet must be steadily and soundly planted on the ground. Don't lie down and look up! Unless your feet are securely planted on the ground, when you look up like this, just a little push can cause you to fall down. A normal person walking along looking straight ahead would not be thrown off balance by a little push or a kick, but the person looking straight up is in a way vulnerable. We must decide to look both straight up and down at the ground, up and down. Your body should not lean backwards at a 45 degree angle, nor should you wiggle and sway and twist. You must be solid like a statue, like a rock. Stand firm, and then move ahead. This way if some powerful force kicks you, you will not be affected by it. What kind of facial expression would you be wearing, show me. Would you look tired out? Or would your smile reflect confidence and power and peace? (Confidence!) You answer well, don't you? From today on, I make one policy: I trust your words 100 percent.

You have seen me in action, working, time after time. You know that when I tackle something, sooner or later I always achieve it. From this time on you can be 100 percent confident that whatever we plan, we can accomplish.

Let me ask you a question: are you superior to me or inferior, better or worse? You say worse, but I think you are better. You speak better English, your faces are white, and you are young. In all those things you have the advantage. You are model young American citizens, so you are superior in every respect. Also, most of you are a little taller than I am, and your eyes are deep and large. In so many respects your qualifications are superior to my own. Moreover, I have had to work on faith alone, without any living example to follow, but you can follow me. I have shown you the way. You have been eye-witnesses to what I have been doing during these last three years, isn't that true? I want you to feel confident that if you do the same things and follow my example, you can win the same victories. Only then can this movement forge ahead. Otherwise we will stagnate and decline. You must be convinced that, "I can do better than Reverend Moon, because he has shown me the way. Reverend Moon didn't have an example to follow, but I have him and by following his example I can accomplish more than he did." The time is ripe. After the Washington Monument victory I concluded that I must inspire you with the conviction, power and confidence that you can exceed even that victory, because I have shown you how. That kind of confidence has to be planted in your heart.

This morning after our victory you probably expected me to say only rosy, sweet and glorious things in my speech, but this is not the way it's going to be. The weather is good outside, but you are going to have to face something tough inside. You don't mind, do you? So are you going to achieve more than Reverend Moon? Can you do it? Only one-third of you answered. What about the other two-thirds? Think of it: I came to America three and a half years ago, and in those short three and a half years this victory has been won. Let's say that each one of you in this room determines right now to be another Sun Myung Moon. That means in another three and a half years there will be thousands more Sun Myung Moons, soon hundreds of thousands around the world, all working for God's providence. We can shatter the sin of this world, transform it, turn it upside down. Can you picture it?

From today on, we are different people. You must walk differently, to save even one extra second and get there faster. Normally in the past you would look this way and that as you walked, and take a certain amount of time, but from now on your every moment and every action must be done double-time, even triple-time: walk faster, look around faster, read faster, grasp everything faster. Do not be limited by the old standard. Your hair should be cut even slightly shorter than in the past, instead of growing longer, and you women with tong and polished fingernails must cut them short like your toenails. Everything must change. You are a different being from this morning on. You move in the opposite direction, towards heaven and God. Even normal breathing is no good anymore. You must save up air, and inhale and exhale in a different way with the heart of God, with a different meaning. You have no time to exercise, so you can exercise simultaneously while you are sleeping. You must determine to visit mountains and jungles no man has ever visited. Then you will become an entirely different person. Your attitude, your outlook and your way of thinking must all change. Nobody will have to tell you to climb, because you will have already taken off straight up.

World unification is a tremendously huge task, yet success is determined by an accumulation of little things. Gigantic accomplishments are composed of success in millions of little tasks. Thus you must be a most thorough person in everything you do, When you go to a meeting, for example, you must be the first one to show up and the last one to leave, not going out until you have taken care of the last person, straightened up the room and turned out the lights. What makes news? If the meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. but the person arrives at 8:00 o'clock, he creates one hour's worth of news, because the meeting isn't until 9:00 o'clock. But suppose he comes at 6:00 a.m.? He creates three hours' worth of news. Unexpected situations happen all the time in our lives. We never know what to expect. Heavenly Father might suddenly decide one morning that He will give His most cherished prize to the person who shows up at 6:00 o'clock for the meeting scheduled for 9:00. Then that person is the winner, because he expected the unexpected.

Imagine this situation: the meeting is to start at 9:00 a.m. but the person comes at 9:00 a.m. one day early. He creates news for 24 hours. They ask, "Are you crazy? The meeting is tomorrow morning. Why did you show up at 9:00 o'clock today?" He will be abused and criticized, treated almost like a criminal, and in a way his whole day is spent in hell. But the greater the degree to which you are crazy, the greater your prize will be in the sight of God. God measures that way. He doesn't look at things from our normal perspective. In the past the patriots and saints and great men who accomplished something in history were all thought to be crazy by the people of their day, but were they? They were crazy about something, some value or dream they clung to and never released, sometimes even at the cost of their lives.

For 2,000 years Christians have been crazy people, in this sense, because they've been waiting for the return of Jesus Christ. There was no sign or anything, yet still they have waited for 2,000 years. Thus from a worldly viewpoint Christianity can be said to be 2,000 years of crazy people. But the important thing is not how the people in the world look at you, but how Heavenly Father's heart looks at you. If what you do is seen as crazy by the people but it moves God to exclaim, "What faith! What commitment! What dedication!" then as Creator of all, God can arrange things to make the impossible happen. Do you understand?

We of the Unification Church are crazy people, too. Our Washington Monument Rally was a crazy act. And after the rally was over we did still another crazy thing: that very night we cleaned up all the debris and refuse on the monument grounds, and we took down all our posters throughout the city. We did that while everyone else was at home asleep. We have done all these crazy things, but in the sight of God that's the way history is made.

And even among the Unification Church members we compete to see who can be craziest. In de-postering and cleaning up the monument grounds, the person who remains longer than anyone else, walking around several additional hours picking up more things, taking down more posters, that person is even crazier than the rest of you. Then that person is the winner, right? Other people say, "Well, tomorrow is another day. We can clean up tomorrow," but we don't think that way. We live life like there is no tomorrow. We want to do everything today.

Show me your hands. When you walk, what do you do with your hands? Maybe you haven't ever thought about it. From now on, decide to do some crazy thing no other people do, even secretly-perhaps you stretch out one finger like this when you walk, whatever. You are a new person. You must say to yourself, "From today on, I am different. I am not the same person I was yesterday. I look at things differently, and hear things differently, and different things are attractive to me now." Do you understand?

Why should we be that way? It is because the victory that is coming to us from this time on will come faster and faster. The blessings we have received so far are peanuts, compared to the blessings to come. I am telling you these things so that you can make yourself ready to deserve those extraordinary blessings that are coming to you. You must prepare yourself in every aspect of your life-at home, working, eating, sleeping, washing, in virtually every mode of your life.

How different should you be? Let me draw an analogy. When a single man marries, do you think that man's way of life becomes different from that moment on? When you are a bachelor, you tend to be careless. You can eat or brush your teeth when you feel like it, throw things on the bed or stack dirty dishes on the floor, and nobody cares. But once you have a wife, you have to behave differently, don't you? By the same token, we must become that different. You must change yourself more than a single person does when he marries.

From this time on, you don't need my presence. Each one of you can go on and achieve greater victories than I have achieved. When the mature son gets married he doesn't come nagging to his father, "Daddy, do this for me," "Daddy, give me an allowance," "Daddy, solve my problem." Nag, nag, nag. That is not the way of a good and loyal son. The mature and pious son instead becomes independent and takes over the father's role. By the same token, you must do the same in the Unification Church. Do you love me? Then you must become a person who deserves the Heavenly Father's love more than Reverend Moon does, by accomplishing more. Then you can come to me with your love and I'll accept it. Until then, I won't. Do you understand? Only if you are truly a God-centered person, and God dwells with you, can you come and profess your love to the True Parents. Only then is your love worthy to be received. Until then nobody is worthy of love.

From this day on we move to a new plateau, a new stage of our movement. I want you to remember that from today on you are different. How different? You are becoming a true representative of Heavenly Father and of the True Parents.

We won a victory at the Washington Monument, but do not be boastful or vain or arrogant. This is the worst thing you can do. Thus far we have fought together in a collective battle, but from now on each individual will fight his own battle to show how worthy he is, so an even greater battle is ahead for each of you. In the collective public crusade we won a great victory, but unless each of you shows himself individually worthy and deserving of God's blessing, unless each of you is individually victorious, your foundation of our public victory is going to be in vain. The era for the collective unified campaign has passed, and from this time on will be the era of individual achievement, in which you must prove your worth in the sight of God. It doesn't matter what city or state you work in. You must emerge as a champion on the universal level and win in that final battle. The blessings from heaven are all packed up and ready to be shipped; now is the era for distribution. You are the ones who must be worthy to receive the package from heaven to distribute. Those of you who have confidence and can pledge yourselves unquestionably as sons and daughters of God, raise your hands. Look at your hands, and at the same time examine your hearts to see whether or not they show the same thing. Thank you

What about me, am I a son of God or a son of Satan? (God!) From a worldly viewpoint I may look like a son of Satan. What makes me a son of God? It is because everything I do is 180 degrees opposite of what Satan would do. What Satan likes, I hate. I am 100 percent, 180 degrees absolutely different. That's why I am the son of God.

I am not afraid of arousing controversy or comments. I have stirred up controversy on a universal scale, in both the physical and spiritual worlds, in all of heaven and earth. People not only in this world and in the good spiritual world are talking about Reverend Moon, but also those souls suffering down in the dungeons of hell, in the unquenchable fire. I want to be so controversial that even the damned forget their own pain and want to hear more about Reverend Moon.

Yesterday our Korean leader, Mr. Moon, told me that when he introduces himself as Mr. Moon in his travels around the world, everyone looks at him with interest and wants to know if he is Reverend Moon, or related to Reverend Moon, so it seems that Reverend Moon is known throughout the world. Is it because I am a gangster, or a bank robber, or was involved in the notorious sex scandals in Washington'? Not at all. Am I famous because I kidnap young people? I am blamed for that, and people say I brainwash young people like yourselves. Some people seem to think that at the Barrytown Training Center Reverend Moon comes out with a big needle and injects something-maybe ginseng juice-into your bloodstream, and that converts you. You laugh, because you know that it was the truth of the Divine Principle which converted you, as it converted me. You know that it is God's power dwelling in you, so you can laugh at their accusations. The things they say about us on the radio and television and in the newspapers are like autumn leaves. Winter will come, and they will all blow away.

The news media are trying to brand Reverend Moon and our movement as political, and again we have to laugh. We are not interested in any worldly power or sovereignty, or in moving into the White House or any such thing. Not at all. When you call someone political, it means they are ambitious to take over the government or some public office, but that is not my goal. Our crusade is not political; our crusade is one of education. We seek to educate the leaders of this country, one by one, to become God-centered, God-oriented.

Would you rather I became president of the Republic of South Korea, or that I remain a spiritual leader to the whole world? You would much rather I became a teacher of the heads of state, preaching Godism and a God-centered way of life, wouldn't you? That's the way I feel, and that's why my job is one of education. The American leaders, for example, have become corrupted in many ways. They are asleep and do not recognize the menace of Communism. We must shake them awake, and inspire them with the conviction and confidence to lead this world into becoming a God-centered world. That is why Reverend Moon's job is one of education, not politics.

People criticize me for making slaves of you, because you work harder than anybody else, but that is not enslavement, because you work of your own free will. You want to do still more and more, and even that is not enough. You know that I am working harder than anybody else, and you have seen our European and Japanese and Korean Church leaders come to America and work very hard. How could you conscientious, patriotic, God-loving young people work any less hard? That is what motivates you. You are driven not by force but by your own willing desire to join this crusade and give your lives and sweat and labor for the purpose of God. I could never force you to work like this. You are working hard because you want to preserve your dignity as Americans; your conscience would not let you do otherwise. This movement is absolutely and totally voluntary, and this is our strong point, compared to any other ideology. Go ahead and speak out. Tell them, "We are working hard to save this nation, to preserve the dignity and pride of the American people. America has too much to be ashamed of; we cannot let her fall still farther. That is why we are working so hard." If the Japanese brothers and sisters come here and work 15 hours a day for America, can you work only 12'? That's the way you will become enslaved, not by Reverend Moon but by the Japanese. You must rise up and work hard to maintain the dignity of America.

Many people criticize me and say that I make you slaves to earn money for myself and for Korea, but like the autumn leaves, those criticisms will fall down and blow away, because they are absolutely untrue. I am not going to cam money through you for Korea or for myself, to make the remainder of my life a materially comfortable one. No, absolutely not; this is absurd. I am rather giving myself and everything I possess for the sake of America, not taking from her. No matter what they say, you know that I came to America to teach young people, to create a new breed of leaders who can save this country in the future. If I am successful, then my contribution to this country will be immeasurable.

You are for the most part young Americans in your 20s. When I was 20 1 had absolutely nothing, and on that foundation I started this movement. You, on the contrary, have all the foundation you need, so there is no reason why you cannot do far better than I have done. You have materials and experience and confidence, and my example to follow. I have worked like a slave myself for the past 30 years. I enslaved myself in the sight of God, yet I did not look upon myself as a slave. I saw myself as a champion, a pioneer 6f the kingdom of God. I suffered in prison, literally in chains, for the millions of people, both here on earth and in the spirit world, who are in chains and crying out at this very moment. But the important point is this: I worked like a slave and I suffered in chains in the prison camp, not as a slave but as the son of God. In that capacity, as a son of God, I took the role of the lowest slave. History will show that when you whip a slave the consequences are this small, but when you whip a son of God and treat him as a slave without realizing he is a son of God, the consequences will be grave and history will judge you severely.

You are sons and daughters of God, even though you are working like slaves. Do not be discouraged. This is a most normal and sacred responsibility. Hold onto your dignity inside yourself. Many people were enslaved and suffered in the past, but without any meaning. But you are suffering as the sons and daughters of God, and the heart of Heavenly Father is with you. In that dedication and commitment you are suffering, and your suffering thus has a different meaning. The suffering you endure on this earth sets a condition to establish God's kingdom for all eternity, and each pain you suffer sets a condition for God to praise you. As a slave your suffering would have no meaning, but as a son of God, the more severe your suffering, the more glory you earn from God. Which route shall we take then? We must take the latter one, suffering as the sons of God.

God knows how I have suffered all these years, and asks me if I don't want to sit back and relax for a while, but I reject His offer. I will run even faster and harder than ever before. And do you think Heavenly Father will criticize or reject me for this? I am 57 years old, and I expect that generally we can work for God up to the age of 70, so do you suppose I want to rest for the next 13 years, then go to heaven? No, I would never take that route. I want to fill the remaining 13 years with even greater achievement, greater suffering, greater hardship, to bring even more extraordinary impact in heaven and earth. Then God will give me my blessing to take and enjoy, but I will tell Him to give it instead to the members of the Unification Church. Do you think He would curse me? It will touch Heavenly Father's heart more than anything else, and He will pour down limitless abundance and blessings for thousands of years upon our movement and upon all mankind.

I will never retire. The only thing you can do to stop me is to leave no work for me to do. Do you think that if you do, I would hit you with a baseball bat and tell you to go away, stop blocking my way? Suppose I were to hit you with the baseball bat to stop you, bloodying your ear and breaking a bone or two, yet still you insisted on doing more work for Father. Imagine that scene and put yourself in Father's position. You would think, "Boy, that's an impossible son. I surrender." And God will surrender before you in the same way. That's the only way you can have God surrender. Then God will call loudly to Satan, "Come here and look at this man. Don't you think he deserves my help?" And Satan has no choice but to answer, "Yes, Heavenly Father, that man deserves Your love." Satan has to surrender and admit that kind of man deserves to be called the son of God for eternity. Satan will have to approve your claim and testify to it. Today, in that frame of mind, let us begin our new work.

We know that all men eventually die, physically. And we know that God is just like a person in that He, too, has emotions. Now when He sees the deeds of an absolutely pious son, like Jesus Christ was 2,000 years ago, His heart is melted. If you demonstrate that kind of loyalty you can have God as a complete prisoner of your heart. That's why God resurrected Jesus and initiated Christianity on that foundation. So no matter what happens, never complain or blame anyone. Don't seek revenge. God knows very well what you have endured, and Satan knows too. When you die you stand right in between God and Satan, and your own deeds during your earthly lifetime determine to which side you belong. In order to subjugate Satan, you have to demonstrate absolute loyalty as the son of God. You must walk side by side with God every step of the way. In that manner you can eliminate Satan's role on earth, because he is left with no human connection through which to work.

We now know that yesterday and today are totally different. Today we are new people. Give yourself for this cause as a son of God and you will leave behind such a great legacy and tradition that your deeds will be remembered and praised for all eternity.

I would like to share something important with you. I have had many experiences in which I was misunderstood, yet I remained absolutely silent without protesting and stood quietly on the side of God, giving Him my utmost loyalty and knowing that He was on my side. There is no death anymore, and if I were to suddenly die I would continue to work in the same way in the spirit world. That is why I don't protest, even though the world curses and criticizes me and is scornful to me. After my death millions of people in the spirit world and here on earth will testify to my deeds, and to what f have done in history. This may not come in my own lifetime, but in eternity I know that my deeds will shine.

Moreover, I will have opened the way to help those who suffer most, after I go to spirit world. I can be in a position to assist those who are suffering here on earth, because by my suffering I will have set the condition. You see, in the spirit world those in history who suffered the most in the name of God occupy the central positions, so I intend to outdo or surpass the suffering of all the past saints, so as to not only dwell among them but rise up above them, so that together we can more quickly liberate the suffering souls of the world. Do you understand? It's all a part of heavenly strategy. Even though I have suffered, and will suffer still more, and I will be misunderstood and accused even more, by taking this treatment without protest I continuously nurture this tradition, and eventually our way of life and our truth will prevail. I know it. The work will never stop, whether I am here on earth or up in heaven.

Thus it is immaterial whether or not I can unify the world within my lifetime, for this work will go on and on, and I will continue to lead it, whether I am here on earth or in the spirit world. This ideology, this philosophy, this tradition and this heart will inevitably unify the world. Even after my death, as a spirit man I will constantly appear and lead you into the same tradition, the same way of life, until we have achieved the complete kingdom of God here on earth. This is the principle under which I am operating. I do not expect this to happen in ten years or even in my lifetime, but in eternity.

I know the spirit world so well. I know its system and organization inside out. At present that world is invisible to you, but the assault of the spirit world upon the physical world is almost like a hurricane or a typhoon. Soon the new heaven and earth will open up in front of you. I know that timetable so clearly. It is coming, and it will bring a new world and a new way of life. When an extreme high pressure point and an extreme low pressure point confront, the impact is great and the result is new form. We might say that an historical typhoon has come to blow in front of the Unification Church, and the high and low pressures will clash and explode, opening up the way for us. That time is not very far away. The spirit world and the physical world are getting closer and closer, and I must lead you and this movement in the right direction.

But no matter what the mass media may say about the Unification Church, it won't hurt us one bit. Nobody can touch us anymore. And the harsh treatment and persecution and scorn Reverend Moon receives from America and from all of the world in his lifetime is actually a blessing for the Unification Church. Even if it were to be prolonged for 2,000 years, I would receive it and digest it, in order to pay the indemnity for the future in the shortest possible time, to make the future rosy and prosperous. Do you understand?

This is a tremendous and extraordinary contribution to history. Many people say, "Reverend Moon, why can't you slow down a little bit? Why can't you be diplomatic and present yourself more acceptably?" They don't know anything about it. That is definitely Satan's recommendation, not God's.

For you, though, the days are rosy and your opportunity is great. You don't have to suffer and be tortured for three years in a Communist prison camp. All you have to do is pour yourself into your work.

The Washington Post said we drew 50,000 people at Washington Monument. I sometimes wonder why they didn't say 5,000 or even 500. If they are going to tell a lie, why not a bigger one? I wish they had said 5,000, because eventually the truth is going to be revealed, and I want it to be as dramatic as possible. That time will come, and soon. We have film and videotape of the rally which will be shown on television, and how dramatic it would be if while the announcer was saying, "Here you see what the Washington Post called a 'crowd of 50,000,' " the camera panned the crowd, showing a sea of faces as far as the eye could see. I would actually prefer they had said 500, but I know that Satan is too clever to give us such a dramatic victory. He wants it to look like just an adequate victory, nothing spectacular. So don't be heartsick because of the Washington Post and the Washington Star. Have pity upon them, because when we show our film and videotape the people can see for themselves the size of the crowd, and no word of explanation will be needed.

This morning Bo Hi Pak came running to tell me he had the most wonderful news, that Korea's leading newspaper reported a crowd of 200,000 to 300,000 people at Reverend Moon's Washington Monument Rally, and that it was an absolute success. I looked at his ecstatically joyful face and I had to smile. Do you understand?

Right now there is a kind of war between the East and the West, the Orient and the Occident. It's a struggle in every way, just like the struggle between the white and black races. And who can mediate between them? Can the media do it? Can a white man or a black man? Only one person can bring about a reconciliation between white and black, between East and West, and that is Reverend Sun Myung Moon, through the Divine Principle revelation. In that respect the Washington Monument Rally was a most historical event.

Then let me draw the conclusion. Ask yourself, "Where am I going? What am I going to do? What kind of person am I?" Today you must set your respective individual goals and pledge your life to bring victory to Heavenly Father. Today is the day to plan your own campaign, your own Washington Rally. Follow in my footsteps, in the tradition I have set, but resolve to move even faster, to go even farther. That should be your determination. Think ahead to 1980, to the end of the third seven-year course, and what kind of victory you will have won by that year. By then the Unification Church will stand upon an invincible foundation. Visualize that day. From now on you don't have to walk each step but can race forward, progressing by leaps and bounds. That's the way our movement will grow from this time on.

So from today you are the representative of God and the representative of the True Parents. You are another Sun Myung Moon. With that dignity and that confidence and that sense of responsibility you can forge ahead, no matter what the difficulties and hardships, knowing there is nothing you cannot shatter and that you will move on to the final glory, the ultimate victory. In my youth I could not win such a victory, because we had no yet prepared the foundation. I could not rejoice as you can today, because we had not yet prepared the environment for such a victory. But the time is ripe for you to win similar victories, if you harbor that same ambition. That you can escape the suffering I endured at your young age gives so much comfort to your True Father.

This is a universal conference, with leaders assembled here from the United States, Europe, Japan and Korea, and I want to say to you that we must all be different together on a worldwide scale. We must all become different people and begin anew.

The main theme of my Washington Monument address was the necessity for the unification of religions, particularly the central religions of Judaism, Christianity and the Unification Church. Before world unity can come about, there must be religious unity, and we of the Unification Church are going to undertake that role. History has reflected the struggle and gap between Cain and Abel, and much blood has been shed. We are going to bring the universal historical Cain and Abel together into one unity.

Israel, the United States and Korea each represent the base of one important central religion in history, namely Judaism, Christianity and the Unification Church, and all three are being persecuted by the Communist world and in world public opinion. There are dispensational reasons why they are being pushed into a corner and chastised at the United Nations. Therefore, these three must unite and rise up together. Then, and only then, is there hope for mankind. Think of it: if the three religions united together and understood each other, we would have the power together to save the world, isn't this true? But if this unity doesn't come in the foreseeable future, then all the blessings accumulated by Judaism, Christianity and the Unification Church will be lost to the Communists. So in order to avoid that sad and tragic destiny, the three nations and the three religions must be united and must demonstrate one common principle of God: unselfishness. In a totally unselfish, sacrificial, public-minded spirit, they must elevate the most impoverished and miserable nations, one by one, creating the kingdom of God in each one. Is it possible? Yes, and it is absolutely essential. And before that, I want to build the kingdom of God for you. I would like to buy houses by the thousands for black people, white people and yellow people, and then you, in turn, could go out and buy thousands of houses for Africans, Americans and Asians. Some day those who know the truth will do that very thing.

The history of restoration is the history of persecution and oppression. Then who is going to bear that burden? Those who know, those to whom the revelation was given. Can you disagree? No, that's God's dispensation and God's will. The more the Unification Church membership grows, the more our wealth and power will grow, and I am going to mobilize them, not for our own selfish glory but unselfishly to expand God's kingdom.

Suppose the State Department and the American government listened to my advice and followed that principle? Within seven years the world would become an entirely different place. But they don't understand yet, so we must pioneer and educate them as quickly as we can. I proclaimed all these things in my address at the Washington Monument Rally. I said something which I had never before proclaimed in public: I proclaimed the Divine Principle as the Completed Testament, God's final declaration.

We successfully consummated that rally, that proclamation, and now history has moved on to another chapter. So from this time on I want you to know that you are my representatives. Each of you is another Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Go out, win the world. Forge ahead to the ultimate goal, giving your life as your investment. God bless you all!

Thank you.

America And God's Will

United States Bicentennial Speech given by
Reverend Sun Myung Moon
September 18, 1976
before an audience of 300,000 people at a rally in Washington DC at the Washington Monument.

Honorable Citizens of the United States and world delegates: I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of you for "Meeting us at the Monument." Tonight we are celebrating America's Bicentennial in the Name of God. For you and me, this is an historical moment.

Tonight I would like to speak on the subject "America and God's Will."

God is eternal, unchanging, unique and absolute. If those are the qualities of God, His purpose of creation must also be eternal, unchanging and absolute. In the beginning, God's ideal was to create one world of unity and harmony.

Today, however, out world has no unity or harmony. Instead there is much division, disharmony, confusion and chaos. Individually, our minds are separated from our bodies, and our families, races, nations and our world are torn apart. This reality is in total contradiction to God's original intention. Clearly something is fundamentally wrong.

Victory over Evil

Religion has an explanation. It says that this worldwide division is the result of our first ancestors' rebellion against God, the Fall of Man.

In order to save fallen man, God sent the Messiah. His purpose was to restore man to his original state before the Fall. Therefore, Salvation is the same as Restoration.

The Fall of Man brought about this fallen world. Disobeying God's Word, man rebelled against Him. This put him in the position to be overpowered by Satan's lies. And so, finally man united with Satan, receiving Satan's personality and love instead of God's personality and love.

To be restored as an original man, we must reverse the process of the Fall. This time we must separate ourselves from Satan, reach out to God whom we have lost, and obey His Word. In this way we can receive God's personality and His love.

Selfishness is Unhappiness

God is supremely selfless and supremely public minded; whereas Satan is absolutely self-centered and only out for himself.

God's formula to restore man is for us to become God-like. This means that we must become completely selfless and public minded. Each of us must become a person who is able to sacrifice himself for the sake of others.

Such a selfless and public minded person will prosper because he is the image of God. The selfish, self-centered person will decline because he is the opposite of God. This is God's rule.

Human history has been a history of struggle, a history of war. It has been almost like a tug-of-war between God and Satan with man as the prize. Good and Evil have been struggling to win man to their respective sides.

Because human history started with the Fall, Evil got a head start. Therefore, in history the evil side has always taken the aggressive and offensive position. Good has been passive and defensive; yet, God is on the side of Good. In the end, the good side always wins the victory. The good side is always the underdog; yet, it comes out victorious and expands.

For example, during World War I and World War II, the evil sides attacked first, yet they were the ones to be defeated. Today, there is much talk about World War III. This time Evil, represented by the Communist nations, is challenging the free world, provoking conflicts and war everywhere. But again based on God's formula, the ultimate victory will surely be on the side of God.

Has the Messiah Completed His Work?

There is another formula in God's Work of Restoration. Before God sends the Messiah to restore man, He always prepares a central religion and a chosen nation as the foundation to receive the Messiah.

According to this formula, God established Judaism as the first central religion, and Israel as the first chosen nation. Upon this base, God sent Jesus Christ as the Messiah. His hope was that the chosen nation and religion become one with Jesus to establish the Kingdom of God on earth and restore the world to God.

For this purpose, God prepared Judaism and Israel for nearly 4,000 Biblical years. If they had recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah and worked with Him in a spirit of sacrifice, He would not only have been successful in Israel, but also would have gone on to unite all the Arab nations and Asia, linking the East and West. By unifying the world under the sovereignty of God, He would have established the Kingdom of God on earth at that time.

Israel and Judaism, however, did not fully realize their responsibility. Jesus was not accepted as the Messiah, and finally was crucified on the cross. Thus, God's Kingdom remained unfulfilled. However, Jesus opened the way to spiritual salvation and started Christianity which is spiritually in the position of the Second Israel.

A Quick historical Glimpse

The early Christians marched towards Rome only to find terrible persecution. For 400 years the blood of many martyrs was spilled. Their sacrifice atoned the for loss of 4,000 years of God's preparation for the Messiah. The Christians finally triumphed in Rome and Christianity became the state religion. Thus Rome came to occupy the position of the Second Israel physically and receive the blessing of God.

At that time God expected the Papacy and Rome to completely unite and unselfishly build the unified world left unaccomplished at the time of Jesus.

However, the Papacy also did not realize the significance of its mission and often used its power for its own glory. There was abuse and corruption in the Church and it departed from the will and expectation of God. The dignity of the Papacy fell.

In reaction, humanism arose, and Protestantism called for reformation of the Church. Instead of heeding the call, the Papacy and the Roman authorities increased their persecution of the reformers.

During that period, it was no coincidence that Henry VIII, King of England, also revolted against Roman Catholicism and, enacting a new law through Parliament, founded the Anglican Church. This was actually a golden opportunity for Great Britain to join the Protestant movement of Europe and bring about a new hope for the advancement of God's will.

At that time, the British Empire became the greatest in the world, inspiring the famous saying, "The sun never sets on the British Empire." This extraordinary blessing was not just for England, but was for the advancement of God's Kingdom. If Britain had understood God's Will, she would have supported the Puritan and Protestant movements and tackled her God-given task of world restoration. Through that she could actually have built a United Kingdom of God, transcending all national barriers.

However, Britain persecuted the Puritans, and was apathetic to the Protestants. These persecuted people had to look for a land of hope. They were united by a common destiny. Transcending race and national barriers and fleeing from persecution, they came to the new world, the American continent. Here they established an independent Protestant nation. This is the providential background of the birth of America.

America: God's New Nation

Today, America and Christianity together must take up the sacred task of world restoration. America must unite the cultures of the West and the East, as well as the Middle East, and create one great unified culture, ultimately fulfilling the mission of establishing the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Judaism was God's first central religion, and Christianity was the second. The Unification Church is the third, coming with the new revelation that will fulfill the final chapter of God's Providence. These central religions must unite in America and reach out to unite religions of the world

Judaism, centered upon the Old Testament, was the first work of God and is in an elder brother's position. Christianity, centered upon the New Testament, is in the position of the second brother. The Unification Church, through which God has given a new revelation, the Completed testament, is in the position of the youngest brother.

Israel, the United States and Korea are Brothers

These three religions are indeed three brothers in the Providence of God. Then Israel, the United States and Korea, the nations where theses three religions are based must also be brothers. Because these three nations have a common destiny representing God's side, the Communist bloc as Satan's representative is trying to isolate and destroy them at the UN

Therefore these three brother nations must join hands in a unified effort to restore the United nations to its original purpose and function. They must contribute internally to the unification of world religions and eternally to the unification of the world itself.

Have you heard about "Godism"?

"One World Under God" is the unchanging, eternal and absolute desire of God. This goal will be realized; yet, in order to accomplish this goal, the unity of religions is the first and essential task. When all men worship one God as Father, accept one Messiah and uphold one Godism, an absolutely God-centered way of life, then the dwelling of God will be with men. It will be only a matter of time to see the Kingdom of God here on earth.

The United States of America, transcending race and nationality, is already a model of the unified world. She must realize that the abundant blessings which God has been pouring upon this land are not just for America, but are for the children of God throughout the world. Upon the foundation of world Christianity, America must exercise her responsibility as a world leader and the chosen nation of God.

Israel did not meet the expectation of God, nor did Rome, nor did Great Britain. Now what about America?

To inspire America to avoid the same mistakes, to inspire America to sacrifice herself for the sake of the world, to inspire America to work towards "One World Under God", God summoned Reverend Moon to his country to proclaim God's new revelation. And in particular, God called me to lead the young people of America, the leaders of tomorrow, back to God.

Today, America is plagued with problems: racism, juvenile delinquency, and immorality. Christianity is declining. Communism is rising. The menace of Communism is everywhere. Of all these problems, atheistic Communism is the worst. Is it not just America's problem; it is the problem of religious people, it is the problem of God Himself.

"I love America"

Ladies and gentlemen, at this crossroads of human history, we must listen to the calling of God. God prepared America for 200 years. This is the time for awakening. America must accept her global responsibility. Armed with Godism, she must free the Communist world, and at last, build the Kingdom of God here on earth. God has chosen America as the flag bearer. America must rise up. Today. Tomorrow may be too late.

I not only respect America but truly love this nation. I respect and love her as a great nation, as a godly nation, and as the central nation in God's Providence. She is now at the threshold of her third century. She must not disappoint God. Today let us pledge to God Almighty that we shall do His will. We shall never let Him down. Never!

Today in this holy place, let us together lay the cornerstone of the Kingdom of God on earth. Let us all join together as the co- workers of God. Let is be the pioneers of His Kingdom.

My dear brethren who long for unity, this is the place of commitment, the moment of decision. If you are willing to give your sweat, your blood, and your very lives to the call of Gird, then in this sacred moment before heaven and earth and before all mankind, let us shout it out. We know we can build the Kingdom of God here on earth, in His power, and with our own hands.

May God bless you and your homes, and forevermore, God bless America.

Thank you very much.