Biblical Knowledge - Purim (Church of God&Christ Ahnsahnghong)

Purim is an Israelite feast which commemorates the event of Esther and Mordecai's repulsing Haman who plotted to kill every Jew in Persia [Media-Persia]. The word Purim comes from the verb "pur,' which means "to cast the lot."

In the Bible there are 7 feasts of 3 times which God appointed through Moses. And there are two civil feasts, 'Purim,' and the 'Feast of Dedication,' which do not belong to the law of Moses. Among them, let's study the origin of 'Purim.'

1. Historical background
The Jews were taken captive to Babylon. However, Babylon was destroyed by Persia [Media-Persia], and the Jews began to be ruled by Persia. The Jews were a minority race, but they were trying to follow the will of God in the pride in being God's people.

When the God's planned 70-year-captive in Babylon finished, they returned to Jerusalem twice: first return and the second return to Jerusalem. This is a story which happened between the first and the second return when King Xerxes ruled Persia.

2. Esther became the queen
Once Xerxes, King of Persia, gathered all the civil and military officials and had a banquet. He invited Queen Vashti in order to display her beauty. The queen, who was having a banquet with the women, ignored the king's command and refused to come before the king.

King Xerxes became furious and dethroned the queen. He decided to select a new queen, and 'Esther,' a niece of Mordecai, who was a Jew in Susa, the capital city of Persia, was selected and became the queen of Persia.

3. Mordecai saves the king's life
One day, Mordecai overheard two of the king's officers conspiring to assassinate King Xerxes. He saved King Xerxes' life by letting Queen Esther know it, and the two officers were hanged on the gallows.

4. Haman and Mordecai
Afterwards King Xerxes honored Haman, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. Haman was enraged at Mordecai, and began to plan to kill him. Finally Haman decided to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews. He made the royal officials cast the lot to select a day and month to kill the Jews, and the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
5. Haman's slander
Wicked Haman falsely accused the Jews to King Xerxes as follows.

"There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king's laws; it is not in the king's best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them. … "

6. The Jews came to a crisis
The king took his signet ring and gave it to Haman, saying, "Do as you please." The royal secretaries were summoned by Haman, the Jews' enemy. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring.

"Destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews-young and old, women and little children-on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month and to plunder their goods!"

In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. They lay in sackcloth and ashes, and asked God to save them.

7. If I perish, I perish
Mordecai, a Jew, sent a man to Esther and asked her to help the Jews get through the crisis, saying, "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Esther fasted for 3 days. She knew that in a Persian law, if anyone comes before the king without the king's call, she is to be killed unless the king extends the gold scepter to her. However she went to the king, thinking, "If I perish, I perish."

Esther asked the king, who extended the gold scepter, to come with Haman to a banquet she had prepared. Haman didn't know the inside story. He felt happy for the fact that he alone had been invited with the king by the queen.

8. Mordecai is honored
King Xerxes read the record of his reign at night and found that Mordecai didn't receive any honor or recognition even though he had exposed the two of the king's officers. Meanwhile Haman had built the gallows, seventy-five feet high, to kill Mordecai and he came to ask the king for an allowance. However, he was given a command from the king to honor Mordecai.

Haman had to robe Mordecai and put a royal crest on his head, and lead him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!"

9. Haman's death
At the banquet Queen Esther told the king about herself and her people, "For I and my people have been sold for destruction. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet."

"Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" King Xerxes became so furious when he heard that someone was trying to kill the queen and her people.

"The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman!"

Finally Haman, the enemy who tried to kill the Jews, was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and a way to live was opened to the Jews who were to die.

10. Dispatches for the Jews
In a Persian law, no one could revoke any document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring. Even the king was not an exception The king had to give new dispatches.

"The king's edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children; and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar."

For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. "The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them. They hanged Haman's ten sons on gallows, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder"(Est 9:5-16).

11. Purim
On the fourteenth day of the twelfth month the Jews made it a day of feasting and joy. They observed the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the twelfth month as days of joy and feasting, and called the days Purim, from the word pur which has a meaning of 'casting the lot.'

Purim is only a civil feast of the physical Jews, which has no relationship with salvation God gives us. It's like that Korean people celebrate their National Liberation Day and March 1 Korean Independence Movement Day.

12. Lesson for the spiritual Jews
What happened to Esther has a close relationship with us, the spiritual Jews in these last days.

(1) Vile Haman who falsely accused the Jews to the king represents the vile enemy devil who accused us before God (Rev 12:10).
"For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

(2) Just as the Jews came to a crisis by Haman's plot to kill the Jews, the spiritual Jews will come to a great crisis in the last days.
(3) The Jews who were in a crisis could save their life for Queen Esther's help. This represents that the spiritual Jews will escape from a crisis and be given life by the help of the Holy Spirit and the Bride in the last days.
(4) Like Haman who was hanged on the gallows he had prepared to hang Mordecai, the devil will be locked in the place he had prepared to lock the spiritual Jews in.
(5) Just as the physical Jews were united and won the fight against the enemy, the spiritual Jews will be united and win the fight against the devil the enemy.
Now the day will come soon when the spiritual Jews will need a beautiful unity and a strong faith to depend on the power of God.

It is written, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us"(Ro 15:4), and "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun"(Ecc 1:9-10). Amen.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Relative Heresy & Absolute Heresy(Christ Ahnsahnghong&God the Mother&WMSCOG)

2,000 years ago, the people who accused Jesus of being a heretic according to their own doctrines,were all destroyed.

It is the same in this age.
The church that follows man-made doctrines will perish in the end,
because what they follow is absolute heresies from the viewpoint of the Bible.
♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡
World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)
 
Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.
The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.
All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Biblical Characters - Noah (WMS COG Christ Ahnsahnghong)

★ Introduction
Noah was a righteous man who believed in God truly in a corrupt age. When everyone was destroyed in the flood, Noah and his family were saved.
The story of Noah and his ark is so famous that everybody has heard of it. When we had a childlike faith, we didn't think much of Noah's story; but very important lessons lie in the history of Noah. Noah obeyed God's will absolutely, did what pleased , and was saved. He walked with God. His faith delivers a great teaching to us who live in the last days.

★ Warning of Judgment
After God created the earth, people increased in number and sins overflew among them.

God was grieved and His heart was filled with pain, seeing from heaven the men full of wicked mind and sins. Finally He decided to bring a fearful judgment on mankind.

Ge 6:5-7 『The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth―men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air―for I am grieved that I have made them."』

Ge 6:11-13 『Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence.

God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.』

The end of the world was appointed because of its sins. All creatures, both men and animals, on the earth or in the air, were to be wiped with water. A terrible disaster, which no one could escape with his own power, was coming and Noah was chosen by God's grace.

Ge 6:8-10 『But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.』
★ Noah's ark
To save Noah and his family God ordered Noah to make an ark.

Ge 6:14-17 『So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.』

The ark was to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high, which was a huge ship. It was to save every kind of animals with flesh and blood as well as Noah's family that God ordered Noah to make such a giant ship.

Ge 6:18-19 『 … you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.

You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.』

Ge 7:2-3 『Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.』
There are many scientists who prove that the historical stories in the Bible are true. "Korean Industrial Standard" had lots of experiments on the movement and safety of Noah's ark with the standard of ship technology and made a conclusion that it is safer than any other modern ships.
The size of Noah's ark was big enough for couples of 17,600 kinds of animals. If Noah's ark had been 2/3 long of how long it actually was, it wouldn't have been big enough for every kind of animals.
Therefore, Noah's ark is not a fictional thing which exists in a myth, but a ship which was designed very scientifically in its size and safety.
★ Noah's faith and obedience
Long time ago when Noah lived, the technology or science was not developed that people had to make ships without any machine. In such a difficult condition Noah made an ark as God had ordered him.

How long would it have taken him to make a ship of 450 feet long? Today, the scholars who study the Bible estimate that it would have taken Noah to build the ark at least 40 years or even up to 120 years.
No one helped Noah. People who didn't believe God's warning ridiculed and blamed him. However Noah depended on only God and kept making the giant ship with his own family.

If Noah wanted only his family to be saved, he wouldn't have made that big ship, but only a small one.

God's will was to save every kind of creatures as well, so he didn't act selfishly but made a big ship according to His order.

According to the Bible, Noah's ark didn't have a mast nor rudder which are essential for a ship. Noah didn't ask God for an answer. He didn't have a humanly fixed idea, but made a ship, following God's order only; because the ark was not going to be controlled by a man, but by God. If Noah had made a mast or a rudder for the ark, he wouldn't have depended on God for his salvation, but tried to control the ark by himself.

That is why the ark which God directed to make didn't have these things. From this, we come to understand that our salvation depends on God only.

Ge 6:22 (7:5) 『Noah did everything just as God commanded him.』

Heb 11:7 『By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.』
★ Noah who preached righteousness
Noah heard God's warning to judge the world with water. If he hadn't informed the world the warning and the way of salvation, he wouldn't have been saved because of his selfishness, and he wouldn't have been called the heir of the righteousness, which is such a glorious title, and he wouldn't have been recorded as someone who has good faith that many people respect.

Noah was faithful and righteous. He preached the news of salvation to other people as well as his own family, and endured for a long time, making a giant ark, without complaints to save every kind of creatures.

2 Pe 2:5 『if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;』

Noah had to make a big ship to save many animals as well as his own family. He needed a work force and money to make it. He preached the warning of judgment and the way of salvation to people. He could have never done such things without faith and sacrifice.
★ The grace of God who is patient
Seeing the world full of sins, God decided to judge it with water. If judgment was God's only purpose, He could have judged the world right away. The sinful world didn't respect God, but opposed Him!
How much God was distressed when He waited with patience even though He wanted to judge the wicked sinners with wrath!

Among the sinners there was Noah whom God loved. God was slow to anger and judge the world because He wanted to save the righteousness man Noah and wanted many people to repent and be saved, leaving their sins.
God is truly merciful and kind, that He didn't judge the sinners right away, but waited patiently; He wanted the sinners to repent and God's people to be saved.

1 Pe 3:20 『who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water』

If God hadn't waited patiently, Noah wouldn't have been saved either. To save Noah God waited for a long time until Noah completed the ark, watching the sins of people.

How good it would have been if many people had repented when God waited patiently for the long time while Noah was making the ark! No one except the eight members of Noah's family believed in God or repented, so they were judged by water at last.

★ Proclamation of the appointed time
While God was waiting patiently for a long time, the world didn't repent, but sinned all the more. However Noah obeyed God's word with a righteous mind and completed the ark of salvation. The time of God's grace passed and the world came to face the judgment.

God waited for a long, long time. Now only 7 days were left before God poured out His wrath and judged the sinful world.

Ge 7:1-4 『The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. … Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made."』

Ge 7:10-12 『And after the seven days the floodwaters came on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month-on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.』

Ge 7:23 『Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.』
The judgment day was proclaimed 7 days before. What could the people do to get salvation for such a short time?
Even if they made a plan, could they make an ark which took Noah over forty years to make?

On the last day, the seventh day, the door of the ark was closed. What would the people think outside the ark when rain began to pour down from the sky? How miserably would they die, eagerly calling God and Noah toward the closed door of the ark while the rain of judgment poured down for forty days?

★ Days of Noah and the last days
It is written, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us" (Ro 15:4). The history of Noah is a prophecy of what will happen in the last days.

Mt 24:37-39 『As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.』

As the world was full of sins at the time of Noah, so is it today. Terrible and cruel sins and crimes are being committed and morality has lost its hold on the people. Most people do not hesitate to say that we are in the last days.

2 Ti 3:1-5 『But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.』

From the story of Noah, we think of what will happen to this world in these last days.

2 Pe 3:6-7 『By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.』
God said that as He judged the world with water at the time of Noah, He will judge the world with fire in the last days.

Just as God told Noah the day of judgment which only God knew and the secret of salvation, and let him do the work for salvation, in the last days God shows the secret of God to the chosen people, and make them do the work of Zion for salvation.

Just as in the time of Noah, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, not knowing what would happen until the flood came and took them all away, people in the last days ignore God's warning, eating and drinking.

★ Teaching for us
First, we should learn Noah's absolute faith and obedience. If Noah had decided that it is impossible to make a giant ship which is 450 feet long, he wouldn't have received God's grace nor been saved.
If he had made the ship small only for his family, how could the ship have been safe in the great wind and waves? However Noah was humble and obeyed God. He made the ark, following exactly what God said to him and saved himself and his family.

Ge 6:22 『Noah did everything just as God commanded him.』

Today God calls us by grace and wants us to do faithful acts, so that we may be saved. Just as Noah made a ship with woods, God orders us to make an ark of salvation through a faithful act of keeping His commands.

Jas 2:14 『What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?』

Jas 2:22 『You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.』

The Holy Spirit and the Bride taught us, "The ark Noah made with all his heart according to God's will was not for God. God told him to make an ark to save him out of the world which was destined to be destroyed. Because Noah obeyed God's word, he could be blessed with salvation." To observe God's commands, to preach the gospel, to love brothers and sisters, to serve others, to do the work of Zion … these are all precious works for making the ark of salvation.

Noah didn't stop preaching even though he was very busy making the ark; to save every kind of animals Noah made a big ark, sparing no effort nor his property, and preached the righteousness (2 Pe 2:5). We, too, should preach diligently in this age, imitating him.

Above all, we should remember the love of God who waited for us patiently for a long time. God waited until Noah was ready to be saved, and gave people a chance to leave their sins and repent. God Ahnsahnghong is waiting for our faith to be reborn and to resemble His divine nature. He has been waiting patiently for a long time, giving a chance to this sinful world to repent.

2 Pe 3:9 『The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.』

We should do our best right now. God proclaimed the appointed time 7 days before the judgment by flood. He waited patiently for a long time while Noah was making the ark, but after the time of grace passed, no more chance was given to people.
Think what we can do for 7 days after the proclamation of the appointed time! We should do our best to find our heavenly brothers and sisters during this period of grace when we can do God's works.

Jn 9:4 『As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.』
 

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Biblical knowledge - The time of prayer and calculation of time(wms cog)

There are many customs, handed down from Rome. Calendar, the days of the week, the calculation of time are all from Rome. Now a day begins at midnight, and it is divided into 24 hours. This calculation of time that we use now is the 'Roman calculation of time.'


Before the Roman calculation of time was used generally, every country had a different time calculation. In the days of Jesus, daytime was divided into 12 hours, and nighttime was divided into 4 watches (One watch of the night is about 3 hours).

Mt 20:1-16 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. … sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. … So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out … "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first … began to grumble against the landowner. 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,'

Those who were hired at the eleventh hour worked one hour, and when they worked one hour, evening came. It proves that there were 12 hours from sunrise to sunset.

The Jews decided to call the time of sunrise 0 o'clock and the time of sunset 12 o'clock. Science was not developed enough to exactly calculate 60 minutes as one hour and the length of daytime in summer and that in winter were different, so the length of an hour was irregular.

The people at that time used the sundial. They stood up a stick on the ground and graduated around the stick's circumference. It wasn't possible to know the exact time like now. However we can assume that they had a kind of concept about time.
In the days of Jesus, there was about 6-hour-difference between the Jewish time calculation and the Roman time calculation.

※ This is when we assume that the time of sunrise is 6 a.m. according to the Roman calculation of time (because sunrise time differs every day.)

The reason we study the time calculation in the days of Jesus is because the time Jesus was crucified on the cross and the time He died were appointed to be the times of prayer.

Mk 15:25-37 "It was the third hour [9 a.m. in Roman time] when they crucified him. … And at the ninth hour Jesus … breathed his last."

The apostles appointed the 3rd hour, the time Jesus was crucified, and the ninth hour, the time Jesus died, as the times of prayer, and they prayed to God at that times every day.

The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit at about the third hour [9 a.m.] while praying in the day of the Pentecost (Ac 2:1-15).

* the third hour ― KJV
nine in the morning ― NIV

The Apostles Peter and John went up to the temple at the time of prayer, at the ninth hour [3 p.m.] (Ac 3:1).

* the ninth hour ― KJV
three in the afternoon ― NIV

※ Sunrise time differs according to the season, so the 3rd and 9th hours in the Jewish time are 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in summer, and 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in winter. It is because the sun rises late and sets early in winter.

For calculating the nighttime, the Jews used the unit, 'watch.' It is the translation of the Hebrew word, (ashmurah). Night was divided into 3 watches according to the hebrew watchmen's changing time.

In the New Testament times, the Greek word 'Φυλακή (Phulake)' was used for calculating the nighttime, which means 'watch, warning, watchman, prison.' Night was divided into 4 watches according to the Roman watchmen's changing time.

Lk 12:38 "even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night."

Mt 14:25 "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake."

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.
The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

The spirit & the Bride(Father Ahnsahnghong&Jerusalem Mother-WMS COG)

2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came in the flesh and gave us the water of life.

In this age, God the Mother has come in the flesh and gives us the water of life.
♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡
World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)
Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.
The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.
All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Biblical Characters - Gideon (wms cog & Heavenly Mother)

Gideon was a judge in around 1,200 B.C.. When the Israelites were oppressed by Midian, he was called by God and defeated the Midianites.


☆ Sin of Israel

The Israelites came out of Egypt and entered the land of Canaan. As time passed, they began to forget God who had led them with His mighty power.

They intermarried with Gentiles and worshiped pagan gods such as Baal and Asherah. Whenever they did such corrupted things, the Israelites were oppressed by other peoples.

In the time of Gideon, son of Joash from the tribe of Manasseh, the Israelites suffered under the oppression of Midian for 7 years. They were afraid of Midianites and lived in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country and ruined the crops and did not spare a living thing for Israel. When they threshed wheat, they had to be careful not to be found by the Midianites. They had no other choice but to pray to God.


☆ God chose Gideon


God heard the prayer of the Israelites and chose Gideon as a judge. God decided to save Israel out of the hand of Midian through him.

Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from Midianites when he met God. That same night he tore down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it, and then built altar and offered a bull as a burnt offering to God (Jdg 6:25).

Next day, the neighbors found out that Baal's altar had been torn down and Asherah had been cut down. They tried to kill Gideon.

Then Joash, Gideon's father, told them instead of Gideon, "Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself." So that day they called Gideon "Jerub-Baal."

* Jerub-Baal means "Let Baal contend with him" (Jdg 6:26-32).


☆ Battle with Midian

Soon all Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped. Gideon contacted each tribe of Israel and gathered an army.

Before fighting against his enemy, he wanted to make sure that God was with him. So he asked God, "I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." And the next day he found that there was dew only on the fleece and that all the ground was dry. He double checked that God was with him and went to the battle field with faith in God.


☆ A hundred and thirty five thousand to three hundred

The enemy had 135,000 soldiers and Israel had 32,000. However, God said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her," and "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave for home." Then 22,000 turned back and 10,000 were left. God said again that 10,000 was still too many and selected only 300 soldiers.

From the view of man it is impossible that 300 soldiers defeat 135,000 soldiers. However, if there is God's help, only 3 men can beat 135,000.


☆ Gideon's victory

Gideon had to fight against 135,000 soldiers with only 300 men. What was required of him was an absolute faith in God.

To strengthen his faith God let him hear a conversation of Midian soldiers about a dream (Jdg 7:10-14). Gideon and 300 soldiers attacked the Midianites, blowing the trumpets and smashing the jars and shouting, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"

The Midianites turned on each other with their swords at that dark night and killed each other.

The Israelites wanted Gideon to be their king because he saved them out of the hand of Midian. However, Gideon refused it flatly.

"I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you" (Jdg 8:23).

Through this scene we notice that the Israelites wanted to be ruled by a king rather than by God. Their request was accepted as Saul was anointed in the time of Samuel; they had to obey the king whom they appointed and kneeled down before him.


☆ Teachings for us
We've studied the life of Gideon not to discuss his character, but to learn important how it is to obey God willingly whatever God orders us to do.

Gideon was afraid at first. That is why he tore down Baal's altar at night secretly rather than in the daytime. And that is why he asked God, "Please let there be dew only on the fleece," "Please make the fleece dry this time."

It was impossible for Gideon to win over the Midianites with his own strength. When God promised to help him, he could defeat the great army with only 300 men.

How should we act when God calls us? We can be answered through the history of Gideon who saved Israel, depending on God. And we can learn that it is not human's ability or common sense or wisdom but absolute faith in God that enables us get victory.

What is important is whether he is chosen by God, not what kind of person he is.

Let's absolutely believe in the power of God, who appointed us as the prophets in the last days, and obey God's calling.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Biblical knowledge - Israel (Church of God&Christ Ahnsahnghong)

1. Jacob's another name


Jacob was on the way to his hometown with his family from the house of Laban, his mother's brother. When he crossed the ford of the Jabbok, he sent all his family and possessions across the stream safely, and he was left alone. Then he wrestled with a man till daybreak.

Jacob said that he wouldn't let the man go unless the man blessed him. His hip was wrenched, but he still wanted the man to bless him.

Then the man asked Jacob his name and said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel" (Ge 32:24-28). Thereafter Jacob was called Israel as well as Jacob.

※ Israel : Overcoming a struggle with God


2. Jacob's offspring

Jacob's offsprings are called 'the descendants of Israel,' or 'Israel.'

Ex 11:7 “But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal. Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”

Therefore the word, 'Israel,' indicates Jacob or his offspring.


3. The name of the nation

After King Solomon died, Israel was divided into two, south and north. South was called Judah, and Rehoboam who was Solomon's son ruled the areas to which some of the tribe of Benjamin and the tribe of Judah belonged. North was called Israel and 10 tribes belonged to her. Afterwards the prophets called the two countries the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jer 11:10) [Judah of the south and Israel of the North].

Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70. When the offsprings of Jacob retook their country 1,900 years later, they called it 'Israel.'


4. The spiritual Israel

Israel indicated the children of promise who inherited the land which God gave. In the New Testament times, the chosen people who will inherit heaven through the new covenant are called 'Israel.'

"Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God" (Gal 6:16).

"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal 3:29).

"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel'" (Mt 2:6).

Eternal heaven will be inherited to the spiritual Israelites, not to the physical Israelites.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

veil(Christ Ahnsahnghong&Jerusalem Mother&WMS COG)

During worship, a woman should cover her head with a veil and a man should not.

This is one of regulations of the new covenant, which Jesus taught and Apostle Paul preached.


♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡
world Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.
All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Babylon the Great which is fallen, and Jericho (Christ Ahnsahnghong-wms cog)

Babylon the Great which is fallen, and Jericho


2,000 years ago, Apostle John saw a vision of what would take place in the future on the island of Patmos, and prophesied about the destruction of Babylon the Great.

Rev 18:1-10 『After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. . . . She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!

Babylon, which is so great and strong that no one dares look down on, is finally falling since God's judgment has come upon her. The scene where Babylon is falling is just like the scene where Jericho fell down in ancient Israel. The city of Jericho, which stood before the Israelites, fell down helplessly before the power of God.

Everything that occurred in the past is a shadow of what is to come. In the past history of the Old Testament as a shadow, the great city Jericho fell down. This is closely related to the destruction of Babylon the Great. Comparing Jericho with Babylon, let's think about what kind of faith God's people should have in this age.

Jos 6:1-5 『. . . Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."』

On the way to the entrance to the land of Canaan, the barrier that the Israelites encountered first was a strong fortress, Jericho. Without conquering the fortress, they couldn't attain the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey. It was a mountain they had to get over and a process they had to pass.

Then God showed them how to conquer Jericho easily, and all the people obeyed what He said.

Jos 6:15-20 『On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! . . ." When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.』

When the people marched around the city seven times, Joshua said it was time to get ready and commanded the people, "Shout!" Then the people shouted with one mind. At that moment, something unbelievable happened before their very eyes. God made the walls of Jericho fall down and gave the people victory as He had promised them.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

An International Bible Seminar Solves the Secret of "Elohim"

An International Bible Seminar Solves the Secret of "Elohim"

A thousand university students inside and outside of Korea gathered-

"A relationship between feminism and God the Mother gives refreshing shock"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Korean Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-Eun, US. First Lady Michelle Obama and renowned talk show host Oprah Winfrey - these women are on Forbes' list, "100 Most Powerful Women in the World." The increase of the number of women who stand out in their fields, proves that now is the age when the power of women is needed more than ever before.

The feminine style is not assertive and does not raise one's own voice but solves problems with gentleness and consideration, unlike the masculine style that is authoritative and charismatic. Recently, there was a statement clarifying the reason why feminism attracts people's attention.

On August 20, there was a seminar in which "feminism" had an interesting answer to the cause of the international situations. "The 1st International bible Seminar," which was held at Kunkuk University New Millennium Hall, was to help university students have an international point of view on things. Reasoning about international situations through the Bible, the seminar featured the presentations of two university students from Korea and America and the special lecture by Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim.

The seminar was attended by a thousand university students and professors, who were full of fervent curiosity. What caught the attention of the attendants was the fact that 86 university students from 18 countries, including U.S.A., Canada, England, Germany and Austria, had come together. After finishing their two week schedule, they left for their countries on August 27.

Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim (General Pastor of the Church of God World Mission Society) said that today's world situation is relevant to a conundrum of the Bible. The conundrum is about God Elohim, which many Biblicists, theologians and pastors have studied but have not been able to find an answer until today.

Pastor Kim said, "The Bible calls God, whom we've known as a singular being. 'We.' In the Hebrew bible, the word 'Elohim,' which is the plural term meaning 'Gods,' appears 2,500 times." He also emphasized, "When we understand the true meaning of 'Elohim,' we can understand the reason why this age is changing from a male-dominated society to a female-dominated society."

Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim explained the word "Elohim," which has been one of the mysteries of the Bible until now. "According to Genesis 1:26, the first chapter of the Bible, the first human Adam (male) and Eve (female) were created in the image of God. This shows that God has two images- male and female. Since we call God of the male image 'Father,' it is natural for us to call God of the female image 'Mother.' In other words, Elohim in the Bible is a plural concept of God-God the Father and God the Mother."
"On earth, life is given by mothers. That is God's providence showing the existence of God the Mother. And the feminism that currently appeals worldwide is a phenomenon informing us of the appearance of God the Mother," he said.
Does the appearance of God the Mother have something to do with feminism?

From the beginning of the 21st century, femininity started to appeal to people, and it is true that many regard motherly love as a key word for world peace; that's because there is an essential yearning for mother in the heart of all mankind living in this harsh world. In fact, recently there was an opinion that the existence of God the Mother is natural just as there exist parents, father and mother, who gives birth to the children. Some netizens explain the existence of God the Mother through Internet UCC, and media organizations express their curiosity about God the Mother.

Crystal Mouton (22) who visited Korea from the United States gave a presentation during the Bible Seminar and said, "I thought that feminism started in 1950-60s, but I was surprised to know that it appeared even when God created the world." After the seminar, Jung-ho Ji (21) who was the second presenter said, "As Father exists, Mother exists. It's very natural. This was an excellent opportunity for attendants to break their fixed idea that God only exists as Father."

Even in Korea, femininity like maternal love is needed more and more in various fields of society, economy and culture. From this point of view, we cannot ignore the claim that the current social phenomenon is a message that informs us of the appearance of God the Mother.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

The Soul -Christ Ahnsahnghong & Church of God(wms cog)

Alexander the Great, who conquered a fourth of the world and was highly esteemed by people, also finished his life in vain.

Although a man possesses everything in the world, if he doesnt know about the eternal world, his life is meaningless.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

world Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.

Christ Ahnsahnghong Who Restored Us the Tree of Life (Ahnsahnghong)

Christ Ahnsahnghong Who Restored Us the Tree of Life


We, human beings, who lost the tree of life and were destined to die, could have eternal life by God who came in the flesh and allowed the fruit of the tree of life, that is, the bread and wine of the Passover. However, the devil abolished the truth of the Passover at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. It means the tree of life was hidden and no one could have eternal life. We could not expect salvation without the Passover the truth about the tree of life. In this situation, the one who is able to restore the truth of the Passover, that is, the tree of life, is only God as it was 2,000 years ago.

Heb. 9:28 『so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.』

The purpose of Christ coming a second time is for our salvation. To bring us salvation the Passover is absolutely needed. The One who allowed us the Passover truth is Ahnsahnghong.

Therefore, Ahnsahnghong is Christ who came in this age according to all the prophecy of the Bible. He restored the truth of the Passover, the tree of life, and saved us from our sin and death. He is our God.

♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡

World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)

Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.

The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.

All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.