2022/08/08

51. Completion of God's Wrath (Revelation Chapter 15-16)

As discussed in the previous issue, it is no coincidence that in John's Gospel, the words "the Sheep Gate" (John 5:2) appear at the beginning of chapter 5. The story on the sheep's theme that Jesus said in chapter 10, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep" (John 10:7), had already begun in chapter 5. The series of disputes between Jesus and the Pharisees and Jews also begins with the incident in chapter 5, where Jesus not only broke the Sabbath but also said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God (cf. John 5:18). Furthermore, this theme of the sheep leads to the scene in chapter 21 where the risen Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Thanks to John the Evangelist, who was so persistent in this theme, Christians can directly derive the image of Jesus' "my church" (Matthew 16:18) and its structure from his own words. In addition to the gate for the sheep, Jesus used expressions to describe it, such as sheepfold, shepherd and flock. Jesus' words, "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11), show that God is the parent who has both paternal and maternal nature (cf. this blog № 29, №43). God is the true parent of man. We can also see this characteristic of God in the following description in Revelation 15:3: "And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." It depicts those whom Jesus had redeemed with his death and those whom the descended Holy Spirit redeemed with the death of the Holy Eucharist in Jesus' future (cf. this blog № 49, № 50), together praising and singing that the ways of God Almighty and the Lamb are just and true (cf. Revelation 15:3). Here we see God who "lays down his life for the sheep." The Gospel of John describes how the Jews "had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue" (John 9:22) and that they publicly stated of Jesus, "We know that this man is a sinner" (John 9:24) in the events in chapter 9, which are the introduction to chapter 10. They had, in their hearts, the danger that led them to commit murder, which God had first called sin in Genesis 4. Murder is the distinct denial of God's work of human creation. Man's accidental information, which makes man demonic (Satanic), is closely attached to man's thoughts that lead him to murder. When the last seven plagues are poured out in this situation, God's wrath will be completed (cf. Revelation 15:1) because if they do not repent, they will have no choice but to become evil spirits after they die (cf. this blog № 49). (To be continued)

Maria K. M.

 2022/08/01

50. Revelation Chapter 15-16

As discussed in the previous article, if a person dies with the accidental information attached closely to his will, he becomes an evil spirit and remains in the world. In the same way, man's will that was too attached to earthly life, even if it does not become an evil spirit, will also remain in the world because it cannot follow the Word, "Let there be," returning to God at the time of his death. This fact is in accordance with the parable in which Jesus talked about the rich man clothed in purple and fine linen who enjoyed a lavish life every day and the poor man Lazarus (cf. Luke 16:19-31). They both died, and Lazarus was taken to Abraham's bosom by angels while the rich man was tormented in Hades. Abraham gave the reason for this, saying, "Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish." The Holy Eucharist awaits the cooperation of the faithful to take with Him, one by one, upon His own death, these tormented wills that had died and remained on earth and the wills of those who were evil spirits (cf. this blog № 49). In other words, He is waiting to be received by the congregation. Therefore, when a believer bravely sets out for the Mass, God will protect the realm of the consciousness of this believer who decided to go to the Mass. The "temple" mentioned in Revelation as "the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended" (Revelation 15:8) refers to the realm of the believer's consciousness at this time. So, what are the "seven plagues of the seven angels" described here? First, we can see that the "one of the four living creatures" (Revelation 15:7) that gave these angels the golden bowls full of the wrath of God is the Gospel of John (cf. this blog №12). That is because the phrase in chapter 16, "The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, 'It is done!'" (Revelation 16:17), coincides with the phrase in John's Gospel, "When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30). In addition, this scene of Jesus' death on the cross is linked to the parable of the Good Shepherd, in which Jesus repeatedly said that he would lay down his life for his sheep (cf. John 10:1-42). In the Gospel of John, after Jesus entered public life, he had constant disputes with those who heard him speak. The first of such disputes happened in the scene of Jesus healing a sick man on the sabbath at a pool called Beth-za'tha (cf. John 5:1-47), and the Gospel writes this pool is by the "Sheep Gate." From the description of chapter 10, which begins with the parable of the sheepfold, we can read the psychological transition of those who took offence at Jesus' words and eventually tried to kill him. This process coincides with the "seven plagues of the seven angels" in Revelation. The words, "seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended" (Revelation 15:1), can be understood by this coincidence. (continued)

Maria K. M.

 2022/07/25

49. Salvation of Evil Spirits

God, who calls himself "I AM," created everything granting spontaneity by his word "Let there be" (cf. Genesis 1). When a living thing dies, "Let there be," which has been keeping its life alive, accomplishes God's will and returns to him. For man, on the other hand, unlike other creatures, after granting the spontaneity, "Let there be," God breathed into him the breath of life, the will of God. It is with his knowledge (cf. this blog № 41). Therefore, when a person dies, his will is separated from his "man's knowledge" that decays together with his body, and it can follow the Word "Let there be" returning to God. "Man's accidental information," which in the Bible is called by the name of the serpent or dragon, when taken up by a man and stuck to his will as his own knowledge without distinction, makes him satanic. Therefore, many people are apt to personify evil, but evil is the work of the living human being. If a person who has become satanic dies, the "accidental information" stays closely attached to his will as his own knowledge. So, his will remains on the earth without being drawn to "Let there be" and becomes an evil spirit. His will that has become an evil spirit suffers and attaches itself to a living person and tries to liberate itself by killing the person and dying again. In the Gospel, the evil spirits who encountered Jesus said, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29). In this scene, Jesus allowed the evil spirits to enter the swine as they wished and gave them the chance to die again (cf. Matthew 8:30-32; Mark 5:11-13; Luke 8:32-33). The disciples could drive away evil spirits that had attached themselves to others by the authority given to them by Jesus. But only God can give death to evil spirits. On the Cross, Jesus drew all men to himself (cf. John 12:32). In particular, he drew the wills of evil spirits and the other dead who remained in the world until his appearance and took them with him at his death. That is the time that the evil spirit said, "the time." Jesus prepared to continue this work of God's salvation in his future when God would be present on earth as the Body and Blood of Christ and would die by being eaten by Christians. When Jesus spoke of the parable of the weeds, he compared man’s will to wheat and "man's accidental information" to weeds (cf. Matthew 13:24-30). The two are separated from each other by "the reapers." "Man's accidental information," which had stuck to one's will even after his death and made him an evil spirit, is pulled away from his will and bundled up to be burnt. Jesus entrusted the continuation of God's salvific work to the Holy Spirit sent in his name and to believers. When the believers eat the Holy Eucharist in the Mass, it dies, and the Word "I am" (John 8:58) returns to God. At this time, the Word, as Jesus did on the Cross, takes with him one by one the evil spirits that died and remained on earth and the other spirit that was wandering on earth as well. Thus, the blessedness of "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9) will become everyone's. Therefore, just before receiving the Holy Eucharist, the believer must declare clearly in front of the dying Holy Eucharist by the words revealed by the Heavenly Father to Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16) (cf. this blog № 32).

Maria K. M.

 2022/07/18

48. Revelation Chapter 14

"Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1). The name of the Lamb mentioned here was the worldview of Jesus Christ injected into their unconscious realm, while the name of the Father of Lamb was the Lord's Prayer inscribed in the realm of their consciousness. Next, a voice like the sound of rushing water and like the sound of thunder echoed from the heavens, signalling the beginning of the heavenly Mass (cf. this blog № 18). They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. Their new song was the song of the worldview of Jesus Christ, and nobody except those on whom the names of the Lamb and the Father of the Lamb were written could learn it. They had never been defiled by associating with the woman, namely the city, "Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of her impure passion" (Revelation 14:8), because their memory was chaste, protected by the name of their heavenly Father. They had freedom through the Holy Spirit to be always with the Lamb. Once the worldview of Jesus Christ begins to be infused into the trainees of Revelation who live on earth, they unknowingly come to sense within themselves the presence of the one who "worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand" (Revelation 14:9). This information is conveyed to the realm of their consciousness. And they dimly come to distinguish between divine knowledge and human knowledge (cf. this blog № 46). Then, spontaneously, they go to the "hour of his [God's] judgement" (Revelation 14:7) by the Word – they attend the Mass, visit the Eucharist and participate in the formation of the Holy Spirit (cf. this blog № 37-40). God present in the Eucharist is no information. When this no-information connects with the realm of the trainee's consciousness, the Holy Spirit pierces their illusions and fictional memories with the double-edged sword of the Word. The trainee is then tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). Then, the second blessedness appears for further training and encourages the trainee. "'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'" (Revelation 14:13). Eventually, the trainee awakens to the enmity God has placed in the realm of his consciousness (cf. this blog № 23, № 24). That is, the angel threw a sickle into the earth. It relentlessly reveals his contradictions, and he comes to acknowledge the contradictions he has. He drinks the wine of God's wrath poured unmixed into the cup of his anger. The winepress is trodden outside "the city," i.e., outside the realm of his consciousness, namely in his concrete life. The trainee's realm of consciousness is purified in concrete situations. When the trainee resolves his contradictions and improves his words and deeds before people, he will attain the blessedness of "the dead who die in the Lord."

Maria K. M. 

2022/07/11

47. Structure of the Book of Revelation

The Gospel of Matthew described the wise men visiting from the East when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea in the time of King Herod. They asked Herod: "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2). Herod, getting uneasy with the reason for their visit, did not realise that these words of theirs were subtly different from the prophet's words quoted by the chief priests and the people's scribes whom he had summoned: "For from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel" (Matthew 2:6). Then Herod "summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him'" (Matthew 2:7-8). However, they did not return to Herod but returned to their country following a warning in a dream. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the wise men, he became furious. He, becoming suspicious, "sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men" (Matthew 2:16). Here, we can see that the characters – King Herod, the wise men from the East and Jesus' parents – each have their own principles of action. Herod, connected with the emperor and taking in the information of the dragon, had become a beast (cf. this blog № 44, № 45, № 46). On the other hand, the wise men, who had come to worship the newborn king of the Jews, seeing his star in the East, and departed to their own country being warned in a dream, had a worldview acquired through their search for truth. Jesus' parents, who left for Egypt by night and remained there until Herod’s death following the words of the angel of the Lord in a dream, had a worldview based on the words of prophecy as it is written in the Gospel: "This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'" (Matthew 2:15). Both the wise men and the parents, as the signs and words they each had received pointed to the very things drawn from their worldview, believed them and acted according to them with conviction. However, when Jesus grew up later, his parents encountered a situation where they "did not understand the saying which he spoke to them" (Luke 2:50). That happened because the parents did not yet have the worldview of Jesus Christ. Jesus came of age and injected his worldview into his disciples. Then the Holy Spirit descended and let them know the meaning of "the saying which he spoke to them." The first half of the Book of Revelation prophesies the formation of the New Testament and injects the worldview of Jesus Christ into the trainees. In the second half, the "blessedness" appears one after another and directs the trainees towards the formation of the Holy Spirit, accompanying them. This structure of Revelation reflects the flow of the Gospel.

Maria K. M.

 2022/07/04

46. Divine Knowledge and Human Knowledge Part 3

"Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation" (Revelation 13:7). This first beast, who became emperor with power and authority, controls politics and the economy and rules over the people. "Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon" (Revelation 13:11). The horns of this second beast symbolize the fact that this beast is clothed with someone else's authority and power. He is the false prophet who, with eloquence, made the people worship the emperor and showed great signs by starting wars and taking the wealth and territories of other nations (cf. Revelation 19:20). He even made fire fall from heaven to earth with new weapons and deceived the people. Before the people, who were deceived, a monetary system of coins with the mark of the name of the beast (cf. Revelation 13:16), i.e., the name and image of the emperor, was set up. As is still the case today, once a person comes to use money, there is no escape from the system, as if he were marked on his right hand or his forehead. The people become accustomed to the sight of money transforming into bread, fish, and everything else. When people start to live in a monetary economy, they unconsciously begin to think of everything in terms of money. It was the same for Jesus' disciples. In the scene where Jesus multiplied bread, the disciples immediately responded to Jesus that it would cost about 200 denarii to provide bread for a crowd of 5,000 people (cf. Mark 6:37, John 6:7). The disciples, who were in this state, witnessed the sign of the multiplication of bread and fish but did not come to realize that it was from God. So, Jesus "made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds" (Matthew 14:22). And "in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, 'It is a ghost!' And they cried out for fear" (Matthew 14:25-26). Then Peter, asking Jesus to command him, had the dramatic experience of walking on the sea to him. The disciples worshipped Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33), but again, perhaps because of fear, they still did not understand (cf. Matthew 16:5-12). Jesus continued to teach his disciples by making them experience many signs and miracles so as to release them from the mark of the name of the beast and write on their foreheads "his name and his Father's name" (Revelation 14:1). In the Gospel of John, Jesus reveals the true meaning of the sign of the multiplication of bread through his exchange with the crowds (cf. John 6:22-58), leading the disciples to the confession of faith. For the disciples, the three years they spent with Jesus were also a series of experiences of distinguishing divine knowledge from human knowledge (man's accidental information). So, the worldview of Jesus Christ in the Revelation of John aims to provide the same experience for the trainees.

Maria K. M. 

 2022/06/27

45. Divine Knowledge and Human Knowledge Part 2

"And again, she bore his brother Abel" (Genesis 4:2). Adam and Eve became the parents of the two children. Parents are like gods to their children. In fact, Adam and Eve seemed to be as if they had become God. As we have discussed, Adam had the illusion that he had power like God, and he made up the fiction in which he had also gained authority as the "mother of all living" by naming and ruling over his wife as he did over other creatures. On the other hand, in the words of Eve, who gave birth to Cain, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD" (Genesis 4:1), we can sense the meaning of making God a men's helper, a subordinate. Eve, who had in her body the womb, the castle of life, made up the fiction connected to the mysterious pleasure. She understood she had gained the symbol of power, a male child, and that by divine authority. Eventually, a murder was committed under the condition of these parents. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy. Murder was something God called sin for the first time because it was an explicit denial of the work of God who created man. In this way, the community of kinship based on the relationship between a man and a woman that had difficulties from the beginning was called a family and cemented by the social institution of marriage. The marriage system became the foundation of society, which always seeks power and authority with its built-in risk of sin. Eventually, society demanded kings and emperors with power and authority (cf. 1 Samuel 8:1-22). God accepted the demand but planned to establish a parent-child relationship between God and man in due time (cf. 2 Samuel 7:14). However, people sought an image of marriage rather than a parent-child relationship in their relationship with God. That was the "human knowledge." In this situation, by the Word being born human and calling God his father, God made it clear to the world that the relationship between God and man is parent and child. Joseph and Mary were also placed on Jesus' side, who called God his father, by accepting Jesus the Word as their son. Moreover, Mary conceived God's only begotten Son and had an experience of complete union with God. This experience was a foretaste of Jesus' disciples receiving the Holy Eucharist. That is suggested by the answer of the boy Jesus one day when his parents found him in the temple after they had lost him: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49). Just as his parents found Jesus in the temple, so his disciples will find the Eucharist in "my church" (Matthew 16:18). And when they receive the Eucharist at the Mass, they will have an experience of union with God. Jesus' disciples have the daily routine of returning to the next Mass when they leave the Mass. This routine is not an easy one. So, Jesus admonishes them as follows. "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27). The "divine knowledge" is here.

Maria K. M.