Religion and Law
Main Reference: Ex 34:28, Dt 4:13, Jn 12:48, Jn 8
(Reference: Article
20 Clauses 1 and 2 of the Korean Constitution)
There are various kinds of people and religions in the world, and there are the laws of heaven and the laws of the world. The laws of the world vary slightly per country.
Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Mt 5:17-18). Believers must keep both the laws of heaven and the laws of the earth.
In the world, one is judged according to the laws of the earth. In heaven, one is judged according to the laws of heaven. God revealed to Moses the general account of the events that took place before Moses’ time, and Moses recorded Genesis and other books of the Five Books of Moses. The Old Testament is the Five Books of Moses and the recordings of what the prophets in various eras saw and heard in events and visions thereafter. The New Testament was recorded after Jesus’ time regarding what took place and what was heard. The Book of Revelation, found in the New Testament, is what Apostle John recorded regarding what he saw and heard in vision after Jesus’ ascension. In every generation, there were people of religion who persecuted those who were sent by God. Such persecutors did not know the Bible or God’s will. They did not receive any revelation; they were ignorant of the Bible.
It is specified in the Korean Constitution that every citizen has the freedom to choose his or her religion, and that politics and religion are separate from each other (Article 20 Clauses 1 and 2). However, as people of religion became politicians, the politicians began to listen to the religious leaders and govern with bias. This is how religion became deteriorated and lawlessness increased. This not only creates division within religion, but also creates division among the citizens.
The origin of religion is from God. He put an end to a previous era when religion grew corrupt, and started again with a new thing. However, God never fulfilled something new without first making a prophecy. He made known through prophecies then fulfilled what He had promised.
Believers in the era of the New Testament (new covenant) must understand the promises that have been prophesied, and must believe them and wait for them. Those who see, hear, and believe when the promised prophecies become fulfilled are saved by their faith.
Whenever a generation ends due to its corruption and a new era comes, there are big changes and events that take place; this is why the word “salvation” exists. Just like the laws of Moses that came about 4,000 years ago (refer to Ex 34:28, Dt 4:13), the words of Jesus, who is the living stone (1 Pt 2:4), become the laws of the New Testament because those words judge on the last day (Jn 12:48). Jesus’ words of the new covenant are the New Testament, the Book of Revelation. Because it is written that those who add to or take away from Revelation will not go to heaven but will become cursed (Rv 22:18-19), the Book of Revelation becomes the law of the New Testament. At the time of the fulfillment of Revelation, the Book of Revelation is the law. But on this earth, there are laws of the earth—people are punished according to the laws of the earth.
Moses and Jesus received the authority to judge, and the shepherd whom Jesus sent today also received the authority to judge (white stone, Rv 2:17). However, this authority is not used to judge the matters of the world. He received the authority to judge things of heaven, the religious matters. Just as one receives the authority to judge the things of the world after mastering the laws of the world, the judge of heaven must master the laws of heaven, the Bible, and receive the revelation. At the First Coming, Jesus, the Son, did what he saw his Father does (Jn 5:19). Just as such, the messenger whom Jesus sent at the Second Coming does what he sees Jesus does. Therefore, the judgment is not an arbitrary one but it is done according to the Lord’s will. But the work of saving people’s lives comes first before putting them to death.
SHINCHEONJI Healing All Nations