Response to the article “A  Cloud of Witnesses: The Saints’ Testimonies to the True Parents”

          This article was published in some 45 newspapers in the United States and in about 40 other countries.  The article cost the Unification Church/ Family Federation for World Peace and Unification about $7,000 to $9,000, per newspaper, which is over $360,000 to produce.  The Vice-president for Public Affairs for the FFWPU is quoted in the New York Times stating; “We are not asking people to believe this.  We are just putting it out there.”  Even the president of the FFWPU takes the official position that they cannot confirm or deny the authenticity of the messages.  Yet, at that high cost it is presented to the general public.  The first question is: under those conditions why would they invest such a large amount of money in something they cannot confirm and do not expect people to believe?  Even with their denial we believe that we have to respond to this article.

            The article appears to be a summary, with some modification, to a larger article published in the Washington Times, December 30, 2001.  That article, “God is the Parent of Humankind” is suppose to be the “reflections of 120 Christians who illuminated history conveyed from a seminar in the spirit world.”  The background of this seminar is that a Dr. Sang Hun Lee, who was president of the Unification Thought Research Institute, and passed away in 1997, interviewed the participants and conveyed the messages to Mrs. Young Soon Kim, at her center between August 27 and November 13, 2001.

            We need to start our review of these articles with some quotes from the Scriptures to understand and clarify the Christian view of these articles.

            Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.  I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19: 31 – NIV) (Emphasis mine)

             I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, I will cut him off from his people. (Leviticus 20:6 – NIV) (Emphasis mine) 

            A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death.  You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:27 – NIV)

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, casts spells, or is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - NIV): Emphasis mine)

            When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God?  Why consult the dead on behalf of the living. (Isaiah 8:19 - NIV)

            Thus the Scriptures are very clear that we should not consult the dead or try to communicate with them.  Therefore, before even starting to evaluate the articles we are clearly told that they are against the Lord our God’s command.  In simple language, God does not approve of the articles.  Having said that, allow me to go on and further demonstrate some major problems with the article.  Let us start with the closing letter from God.

Dear Beloved True Parents,

I am the God of all people. I am the God of all people. I am the God of all people.

My beloved son. My beloved son. My beloved son,

I, the God of all people, love True Parents! I love you greatly! I hold you dearly!

How could I help but feel happiness and gratitude for you, who are my son? If there were a word better than “love,” I would like to borrow that verb, but I can't think of a better word. Although the True Parents reside in a deep place in my heart, I cannot adequately express my love for you in words.

As you, the True Parents, have now succeeded in everything and have raised everything to its true level, you are now the Savior, Messiah and King of Kings of all of humanity!!! Because on December 25, 2001, the Founders and representatives of Christianity and the other religions adopted written resolutions in which they without exception resolved to participate in realizing the peaceful unification of the cosmos, while attending the True Parents, it is right and proper that the True Parents are exalted in the position of True Parents of all humankind. I, the God of all people, desire this and want to see it happen.

Despite the people of the world not yet fully understanding the position of True Parents, because the position should be fulfilled internally, I, the God of all people, invite the True Parents to the position of King of Kings.

Because the True Parents have, in my place, endured countless difficult paths, I now want to bestow upon you all of the gratitude, inspiration, excitement and joy that I have been feeling. I want you to inherit all that is mine.

My beloved True Parents! I have wanted to express my heart to you for a long time, but I have not had such an opportunity. However, now this daughter of mine has looked into my heart. This has allowed this time to come to pass, and I would like to express to you my gratitude.

True Parents! My beloved True Parents! I want to hold you in my bosom and not let you go! It is a waste for me to walk the floor with my two legs. I want to hold you all night and talk to you!

I, the God of all people, have faith. I believe in the True Parents. I know and remember all of the difficulties, pain and suffering that you have had to endure. I have seen it all. It was all my responsibility, yet you endured and raised a victorious standard. How can I ever forget you? I am grateful.

I am so happy because of you. Truly, I thank you for your hard work.

My beloved True Parents, victory to you! Victory to the Saviors of humanity! Victory to the King of Kings, True Parents!

I, the God of all people, sincerely convey this to my beloved True Parents.

Midnight, December 28, 2001

            This closing letter from God immediately confused me, and brought up several questions.  The first, was it an e-mail or regular mail, and if the later what was the postage.  More seriously, if God is Omnipresent why was a letter submitted if He was there?  The in the letter God sates:” If there were a word better than “love,” I would like to borrow that verb, but I can't think of a better word. Although the True Parents reside in a deep place in my heart, I cannot adequately express my love for you in words.”  If God is Omniscient why is He having trouble finding the right words?  Thus, I must conclude that this must be a different god then the one I believe in.  This is further confirmed as one reads the letter.  The letter states that the “True Parents” are now the Savior, Messiah and King of Kings.  This is because according to the letter the Founders and representatives of Christianity and other religions adopted written resolutions exalting the True Parents in this position.  He then goes on to officially make them the King of Kings. 

            The Scriptures very clearly tell us that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior.  In Revelations 17:14 we are told: “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is the Lord or lords and King of kings- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”  Thus that title and the others belong to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Is their god indicating that the leaders such as Confucius, Buddha, Muhammad and others can out vote or pass resolutions that contradict the Scriptures and God’s teachings?  The Scriptures clearly teach that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).   It is important to realize that Sun Myung Moon contradicts the Christian faith and has done so since he began by claiming that Jesus failed to complete His mission because He did not marry.  Yet, Jesus very clearly stated in the cross that it is finished, meaning his mission.

                Thus, without even reading the rest of the article it is clear that there is no truth in it.  The reasoning behind the article is part of Sun Myung Moon’s master plan to rule the world.  This is not something new just dreamed up by a few in the movement.  Back in 1999, Sun Myung Moon wrote the book, “True Parents,” which of course was published by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.  Several statements from this book may help explain to you the real purpose of the newspaper articles.

            Therefore, the Messiah has to take the course to finally win over even Christianity, after having victory in the realm of Satan, the entire spiritual world, and various other religions.  Why is that?  It is because he has to inherit everything from them.  

Then, who is the Lord to come?  He has to win over Satan, numerous spiritual beings-including many founders of religions and many leaders-face-to-face. (page 43)

God may feel that he wishes I had not come to earth.  However, because I came as a person who has to judge people, God listens to my words. (page 24)

The mission of religion until now was to find one man.  Even thought religions have pursued various things, such as salvation, repentance, etc., the ultimate purpose of religion is to find one person who can transcend the highest position among the various religions.  In this sense, the centers of all religions converge on one person.  Who is that person?  He is the very Messiah. (page 37)  (Remember clearly that Sun Myung Moon claims he is that Messiah.)

The Messiah is the person who liberates not only human beings, but also even God.  He is the Savior who judges evil and liberates God. (page 40)  (My God does not need liberation, but frees us from our suns)

Today in the world with a population of 4 billion, history is seeking for one leader, who can guide and lead a true world and heaven and earth. (page 61)  (Moon is claiming to be that leader and ruler of the world)

God says this.  God is the owner of owners.  True Father is also to be owner or owners.  When kingship is restored, True Father will also become the owner of owners. (page 86)  (Father here is Moon)

Therefore, Christianity is making a big noise, saying that there is a rumor that Rev. Moon is a Messiah.  In Western society it is the conclusion that if the Lord is coming as a human being, it must be Rev. Moon. (page 105)

We do not need the Bible.  The purpose of the Bible is to find one couple, True Parents.  Isn’t that so?  Therefore, you understand why the name True Parents is the most precious, don’t you? (Page 164)

Look, when I went to prison in North Korea, the whole heartistic foundation of 6000 years of history just collapsed in one day.  Christianity, which was in the position of the bride, betrayed me.  The bridegroom who had been searching for his bride was betrayed by his only bride.  (page 199)

            Without going through the rest of the book or articles, it is easy to understand the motivation of the articles.  Moon clearly tries to set the stage that once he has those in the spirit world saying what he wants you to believe then you will do so and follow him.  Since he is in his eighty’s, if his hopes of ruling the world are to come about he must put on the big push now.  Unfortunately many ministers have been deceived and have become involved with the American Clergy Leadership Conference, which is a project of Sun Myung Moon, without standing for their Christian values.  They need to remember that Jesus clearly tells us that we cannot serve two masters. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus states:  “No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money.”  While Jesus is talking about money here it is important for those ministers to look at their gold watches (given by Moon) and the free trips that got them to follow the wrong master.