Biblical Characters - Jeremiah 2(Church of God＊Christ Ahnsahnghong-wmscog)

Persecution

The prophets who preach the truth are always to be persecuted. Jeremiah was also persecuted by the king, priests, people and the false prophets who were admitted at that time.

Jer 37:15-21 『They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary … 』

Jer 20:1-2 『When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the chief officer in the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the LORD's temple.』

The false prophets always proclaimed peace but Jeremiah proclaimed the destruction and judgment toward the people who had left God's commands and law. So it is not strange that the religious leaders and the people didn't like Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was distressed because he was persecuted unfairly. He sometimes decided, 'I will not speak any more in the name of LORD,' but whenever he thought like that, his heart became like a fire and proclaimed the people's sins and persuaded them to return to God (Jer 20:7-13).


Jerusalem's Destruction

In eleventh year of King Zedekiah, the people of Judah were destroyed, who neglected the decrees and laws of God and persecuted the prophet who prophesied a disaster which would come upon them (Jer 39:2).

King Zedekiah tried to flee but was caught. He couldn't save his son who was being slaughtered before his eyes and couldn't stop the Babylonian soldiers who put out his eyes (Jer 39:7).

All the nobles were killed; the royal palace and the houses were burnt and the walls were all broken down.

Those who had gone over to Babylon as Jeremiah had suggested were not killed, but they were carried into exile to Babylon. Only the poor people were left behind in Israel and were given the vineyards and fields (Jer 39:8-10).


Moving to Egypt
Nebuzaradan the commander released Jeremiah among the captives, following the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. However the corrupt Jews ignored God's command to stay in the land of Judah. They assassinated Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor and they fled to Egypt, being afraid of the revenge (Jer 41:16-18).

The Jews who moved to Egypt followed the false gods in Egypt and stirred up God's anger again (Jer 44:12).


God Promised to Establish the New Covenant

One day, God gave words of grace about the Israelites to Jeremiah who was prophesying a terrible disaster and judgment to the Israelites and the Jews who had left God's law.

Jer 31:31-34 『"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. … "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.』

About 600 years after this prophecy was proclaimed, the new covenant was established by Jesus Christ. However the truth of the new covenant couldn't last.

After Jesus and His disciples left the world, the Church began to accept the false religions of the pagans and abolished the new covenant of the Passover in A.D. 325.

Jeremiah warned the people who had violated the law of Moses; and we are warning the people of this age who have violated the new covenant, the everlasting covenant established by the Christ.

Heb 10:28-29 『Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?』


Teachings for Us

What happened just before Judah was destroyed was a shadow of what is happening now just before the judgment which will be brought upon the whole earth.

The people at the time of Jeremiah left God's commands and followed the pagan customs. It was a copy of this age when people follow the polytheism of Rome and oppose God by keeping Sunday service, Christmas and so on.

The priests, prophets and the people of Judah left God. They wanted peace with their lips but destroyed peace and stirred up God's anger. Today's people are in the same situation.

God said, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecc 1:9). The destruction of Jerusalem represents that of the earth in the last day.

Jeremiah warned the coming disaster, saying, "Let us flee to the fortified cities [Zion]!" (Jer 4:5). This warning is speaking for ours, "Gather to Zion where God's feasts are celebrated before the last disaster comes upon the earth!"

In conclusion, the mission of Jeremiah is a model of that of the 144,000, the last living saints.

Just as Jeremiah obeyed God's will, not being afraid of people, we should enlighten those who do lawlessness and preach the true love of God to them.

Let us preach the commandments of God to the whole world!

♡ 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 earthly sanctuary and the heavenly sanctuary(Church of God)

The earthly sanctuary and the heavenly sanctuary


As mentioned, the earthly sanctuary built by Moses was the shadow of the heavenly sanctuary where Christ would offer the true sacrifices as the mediator in the future.

When we pray to God at the appointed times every day and on the Sabbath day, Christ serves as priest in the heavenly sanctuary, so our prayers go up before God with the smoke of the incense to be answered. At the prayer times in God's commanded feasts, too, Christ serves as priest and mediator in the heavenly sanctuary, so we are able to communicate with God.

※ Mediator is the one who goes between two groups or persons to help them work out their differences and come to agreement. Christ became the fellowship offering to reconcile us to God. He was the mediator between God and us. He turned the heart of God to their children and the hearts of the children to God by establishing the new covenant (Heb 9:15; Ro 3:25).

The Apostle Paul wrote that the saints in the Old Testament times kept the feasts of God on earth and the saints in the New Testament times are keeping the feasts of the new covenant in heaven (Heb 12:22-23).

Therefore, through the regulations kept in the earthly sanctuary, we can understand the heavenly sanctuary and the meaning of the feasts which are kept in the heavenly sanctuary. Unless we understand the heavenly sanctuary, we can never understand the feasts of the new covenant nor observe them.

Christ is still mediating for us in the heavenly sanctuary. He causes the prayers of the saints to come before God at the times of regular burnt offering, of the Sabbath day services and of the feasts. Let us give thanks to Christ for His mediation and keep the decrees and laws of God holy so that we can have the forgiveness of our sins.
 
 

♡ 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.

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.