Exposition of the Divine Principle
1996 Translation

 

Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Sun Myung Moon

 

Click here for detailed hypertext Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

TITLE PAGE

PREFACEXXI

INTRODUCTION1

 

PART I

CHAPTER 1. THE PRINCIPLE OF CREATION15

CHAPTER 2. THE HUMAN FALL53

CHAPTER 3. ESCHATOLOGY AND HUMAN HISTORY79

CHAPTER 4. THE MESSIAH: HIS ADVENT AND THE PURPOSE OF HIS SECOND COMING111

CHAPTER 5. RESURRECTION133

CHAPTER 6. PREDESTINATION153

CHAPTER 7. CHRISTOLOGY163

PART II

INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATION175

CHAPTER 1. THE PROVIDENCE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR RESTORATION189

CHAPTER 2. MOSES AND JESUS IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION225

CHAPTER 3. THE PERIODS IN PROVIDENTIAL HISTORY AND THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR LENGTHS289

CHAPTER 4. THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE TWO AGES IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION313

CHAPTER 5. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH347

CHAPTER 6. THE SECOND ADVENT381


Exposition of the Divine Principle
1996 Translation

[Detailed Table of Contents]

PREFACE XXI

INTRODUCTION 1

 

PART I

CHAPTER 1. THE PRINCIPLE OF CREATION 15

SECTION 1 - The Dual Characteristics of God and the Created Universe 15

1.1 The Dual Characteristics of God 15
1.2 The Relationship between God and the Universe 19

SECTION 2 - Universal Prime Energy, Give and Take Action and the Four Position Foundation 21

2.1 Universal Prime Energy 21
2.2 Give and Take Action 22
2.3 The Four Position Foundation Which Realizes the Three Object Purpose through Origin-Division-Union Action 24

2.3.1 Origin-Division-Union Action 24
2.3.2 The Three Object Purpose 25
2.3.3 The Four Position Foundation 25
2.3.4 The Mode of Existence of the Four Position Foundation 25

2.4 The Omnipresence of God 31
2.5 The Multiplication of Life 31
2.6 The Reason All Beings Are Composed of Dual Characteristics 31

SECTION 3 - The Purpose of Creation 32

3.1 The Purpose of the Creation of the Universe 32
3.2 Good Object Partners for the Joy of God 33

SECTION 4 - Original Value 36

4.1 The Process and Standard for the Determination of Original Value 36
4.2 Original Emotion, Intellect and Will; and Original Beauty, Truth and Goodness 37
4.3 Love and Beauty, Good and Evil, Righteousness and Unrighteousness 38

4.3.1 Love and Beauty 38
4.3.2 Good and Evil 39
4.3.3 Righteousness and Unrighteousness 40

SECTION 5 - The Process of the Creation of the Universe and Its Growing Period 40

5.1 The Process of the Creation of the Universe 40
5.2 The Growing Period for the Creation 41

5.2.1 The Three Ordered Stages of the Growing Period 41
5.2.2 The Realm of Indirect Dominion 43
5.2.3 The Realm of Direct Dominion 44

SECTION 6 - The Incorporeal World and the Corporeal World Whose Center is Human Beings 45

6.1 The Incorporeal World and the Corporeal World as Substantial Realities 45
6.2 The Position of Human Beings in the Cosmos 46
6.3 The Reciprocal Relationship between the Physical Self and the Spirit Self 47

6.3.1 The Structure and Functions of the Physical Self 47
6.3.2 The Structure and Functions of the Spirit Self 48
6.3.3 The Spirit Mind, the Physical Mind and Their Relationship in the Human Mind 50

CHAPTER 2. THE HUMAN FALL 53

SECTION 1 - The Root of Sin 53

1.1 The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 54

1.1.1 The Tree of Life 55
1.1.2 The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 56

1.2 The Identity of the Serpent 57
1.3 The Fall of the Angel and the Fall of Human Beings 58

1.3.1 The Crime of the Angel 58
1.3.2 The Crime of the Human Beings 59
1.3.3 The Illicit Sexual Act between the Angel and the Human Beings 59

1.4 The Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 60
1.5 The Root of Sin 61

SECTION 2 - The Motivation and Process of the Fall 62

2.1 Angels, Their Missions and Their Relationship to Human Beings 62
2.2 The Spiritual Fall and the Physical Fall 63

2.2.1 The Spiritual Fall 63
2.2.2 The Physical Fall 64

SECTION 3 - The Power of Love, the Power of the Principle and God's Commandment 65

3.1 The Power of Love and the Power of the Principle in the Human Fall 65
3.2 Why God Set Up the Commandment as an Object of Faith 66
3.3 The Period During Which the Commandment Was Necessary 67

SECTION 4 - The Consequences of the Human Fall 68

4.1 Satan and Fallen Humanity 68
4.2 Satan's Activities in Human Society 68
4.3 Good and Evil Seen from the Viewpoint of Purpose 69
4.4 The Works of Good Spirits and Evil Spirits 71
4.5 Sin 72
4.6 The Primary Characteristics of the Fallen Nature 72

SECTION 5 - Freedom and the Human Fall 74

5.1 The Meaning of Freedom from the Viewpoint of the Principle 74
5.2 Freedom and the Human Fall 74
5.3 Freedom, the Fall and Restoration 75

SECTION 6 - The Reason God Did Not Intervene in the Fall of the First Human Ancestors 76

6.1 To Maintain the Absoluteness and Perfection of the Principle of Creation 77
6.2 That God Alone Be the Creator 77
6.3 To Make Human Beings the Lords of Creation 78

CHAPTER 3. ESCHATOLOGY AND HUMAN HISTORY 79

SECTION 1 - The Completion of God's Purpose of Creation and the Human Fall 80

1.1 The Completion of God's Purpose of Creation 80
1.2 Consequences of the Human Fall 81

SECTION 2 - God's Work of Salvation 82

2.1 God's Work of Salvation is the Providence of Restoration 82
2.2 The Goal of the Providence of Restoration 83
2.3 Human History Is the History of the Providence of Restoration 84

SECTION 3 - The Last Days 88

3.1 The Meaning of the Last Days 88

3.1.1 Noah's Day was the Last Days 89
3.1.2 Jesus' Day was the Last Days 89
3.1.3 The Day of Christ's Second Advent is the Last Days 90

3.2 Bible Verses Concerning the Signs of the Last Days 90

3.2.1 Heaven and Earth Destroyed, and a New Heaven and a New Earth Created 91
3.2.2 Heaven and Earth Judged by Fire 91
3.2.3 The Dead Rising from Their Tombs 93
3.2.4 People on Earth Caught Up to Meet the Lord in the Air 94
3.2.5 The Sun Darkened, the Moon Not Giving Light and the Stars Falling from Heaven 94

SECTION 4 - The Last Days and the Present Days 96

4.1 Signs of the Restoration of the First Blessing 96
4.2 Signs of the Restoration of the Second Blessing 98
4.3 Signs of the Restoration of the Third Blessing 101

SECTION 5 - The Last Days, the New Truth and Our Attitude 103

5.1 The Last Days and the New Truth 103
5.2 Our Attitude in the Last Days 106

Chart 1: The Unfolding Manifestation of God's Word in the Creation of the Universe and the Providence of Restoration 109

CHAPTER 4. THE MESSIAH: HIS ADVENT AND THE PURPOSE OF HIS SECOND COMING 111

SECTION 1 - Salvation through the Cross 112

1.1 The Purpose of Jesus' Coming as the Messiah 112
1.2 Was Salvation Completed through the Cross? 113
1.3 Jesus' Death on the Cross 114
1.4 The Limit of Salvation through Redemption by the Cross and the Purpose of Jesus' Second Advent 118
1.5 Two Kinds of Prophecies Concerning the Cross 119
1.6 Gospel Passages in Which Jesus Spoke of His Crucifixion as if It Were Necessary 121

SECTION 2 - The Second Coming of Elijah and John the Baptist 122

2.1 The Jewish Belief in the Return of Elijah 123
2.2 The Direction the Jewish People Would Choose 124
2.3 The Faithlessness of John the Baptist 126
2.4 The Sense in Which John the Baptist Was Elijah 130
2.5 Our Attitude toward the Bible 130

CHAPTER 5. RESURRECTION 133

SECTION 1 - Resurrection 133

1.1 The Biblical Concepts of Life and Death 133
1.2 The Death Caused by the Human Fall 135
1.3 The Meaning of Resurrection 136
1.4 What Changes Does Resurrection Cause in Human Beings? 137

SECTION 2 - The Providence of Resurrection 138

2.1 How Does God Carry Out His Work of Resurrection? 138
2.2 The Providence of Resurrection for People on Earth 139

2.2.1 The Providence to Lay the Foundation for Resurrection 139
2.2.2 The Providence of Formation-Stage Resurrection 139
2.2.3 The Providence of Growth-Stage Resurrection 139
2.2.4 The Providence of Completion-Stage Resurrection 140
2.2.5 The Kingdom of Heaven and Paradise 140
2.2.6 Spiritual Phenomena in the Last Days 141
2.2.7 The First Resurrection 143

2.3 The Providence of Resurrection for Spirits 144

2.3.1 The Purpose and the Way of Returning Resurrection 144
2.3.2 The Returning Resurrection of the Spirits of Israelites and Christians 145
2.3.2.1 Growth-Stage Returning Resurrection 145
2.3.2.2 Completion-Stage Returning Resurrection 146
2.3.3 The Returning Resurrection of Spirits Who Abide Outside Paradise 147

2.4 The Theory of Reincarnation Examined in Light of the Principle of Returning Resurrection 149

SECTION 3 - The Unification of Religions through Returning Resurrection 150

3.1 The Unification of Christianity through Returning Resurrection 150
3.2 The Unification of All Other Religions through Returning Resurrection 150
3.3 The Unification of Non-Religious People through Returning Resurrection 151

CHAPTER 6. PREDESTINATION 153

SECTION 1 - The Predestination of God's Will 155

SECTION 2 - The Predestination of the Way in Which God's Will Is Fulfilled 156

SECTION 3 - The Predestination of Human Beings 158

SECTION 4 - Elucidation of Biblical Verses Which Support the Doctrine of Absolute Predestination 159

CHAPTER 7. CHRISTOLOGY 163

SECTION 1 - The Value of a Person Who Has Realized the Purpose of Creation 163

SECTION 2 - Jesus and the Person Who Has Realized the Purpose of Creation 165

2.1 Perfected Adam, Jesus and the Restoration of the Tree of Life 165
2.2 Jesus, Human Beings and the Fulfillment of the Purpose of Creation 166
2.3 Is Jesus God Himself? 167

SECTION 3 - Jesus and Fallen People 168

SECTION 4 - Rebirth and Trinity 169

4.1 Rebirth 169

4.1.1 Jesus and the Holy Spirit and Their Mission to Give Rebirth 169
4.1.2 Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the Dual Characteristics of the Logos 170
4.1.3 Spiritual Rebirth through Jesus and the Holy Spirit 171

4.2 The Trinity 171

PART II

INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATION 175

SECTION 1 - The Principle of Restoration through Indemnity 176

1.1 Restoration through Indemnity 176
1.2 The Foundation for the Messiah 179

1.2.1 The Foundation of Faith 180
1.2.2 The Foundation of Substance 181

SECTION 2 - The Course of the Providence of Restoration 181

2.1 The Ages in the Course of the Providence of Restoration 181
2.2 Categorization of the Ages in the Course of the Providence of Restoration 183

2.2.1 The Ages Categorized with Reference to God's Word 183
2.2.2 The Ages Categorized with Reference to God's Work of Resurrection 184
2.2.3 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Providence to Restore through Indemnity the Lost Periods of Faith 184
2.2.4 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Expanding Scope of the Foundation for the Messiah 185
2.2.5 The Ages Categorized with Reference to Responsibility 186
2.2.6 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Parallels in the Providence 186

SECTION 3 - The History of the Providence of Restoration and I 187

CHAPTER 1. THE PROVIDENCE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR RESTORATION 189

SECTION 1 The Providence of Restoration in Adam's Family 189

1.1 The Foundation of Faith 190
1.2 The Foundation of Substance 192
1.3 The Foundation for the Messiah in Adam's Family 195
1.4 Some Lessons from Adam's Family 197

SECTION 2 - The Providence of Restoration in Noah's Family 198

2.1 The Foundation of Faith 199

2.1.1 The Central Figure for the Foundation of Faith 199
2.1.2 The Object for the Condition in Restoring the Foundation of Faith 199

2.2 The Foundation of Substance 203
2.3 Some Lessons from Noah's Family 205

SECTION 3 - The Providence of Restoration in Abraham's Family 206

3.1 The Foundation of Faith 206

3.1.1 The Central Figure for the Foundation of Faith 206
3.1.2 The objects for the Condition Offered for the Foundation of Faith 208
3.1.2.1 Abraham's Symbolic Offering 208
3.1.2.2 Abraham's Offering of Isaac 213
3.1.2.3 Isaac's Position and His Symbolic Offering in the Sight of God 215

3.2 The Foundation of Substance 217
3.3 The Foundation for the Messiah 220
3.4 Some Lessons from Abraham's Course 222

CHAPTER 2. MOSES AND JESUS IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION 225

SECTION 1 - The Model Courses for Bringing Satan to Submission 225

1.1 Why Jacob's Course and Moses' Course Were Set Up as the Models for Jesus' Course 226
1.2 Jacob's Course as the Model for Moses' and Jesus' Courses 227

SECTION 2 - The Providence of Restoration under the Leadership of Moses 230

2.1 Overview of the Providence Led by Moses 230

2.1.1 The Foundation of Faith 230
2.1.1.1 The Central Figure to Restore the Foundation of Faith 230
2.1.1.2 The Object for the Condition in Restoring the Foundation of Faith 232
2.1.2 The Foundation of Substance 233
2.1.3 The Foundation for the Messiah 233

2.2 The National Courses to Restore Canaan under the Leadership of Moses 234

2.2.1 The First National Course to Restore Canaan 234
2.2.1.1 The Foundation of Faith 234
2.2.1.2 The Foundation of Substance 235
2.2.1.3 The Failure of the First National Course to Restore Canaan 236
2.2.2 The Second National Course to Restore Canaan 237
2.2.2.1 The Foundation of Faith 237
2.2.2.2 The Foundation of Substance 237
2.2.2.3 The Providence of Restoration and the Tabernacle 244
2.2.2.3.1 The Significance and Purpose of the Tablets of Stone, the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant 245
2.2.2.3.2 The Foundation for the Tabernacle 248
2.2.2.4 The Failure of the Second National Course to Restore Canaan 252
2.2.3 The Third National Course to Restore Canaan 252
2.2.3.1 The Foundation of Faith 252
2.2.3.2 The Foundation of Substance 253
2.2.3.2.1 The Foundation of Substance Centered on Moses 253
2.2.3.2.2 The Foundation of Substance Centered on Joshua 259
2.2.3.3 The Foundation for the Messiah 263

2.3 Some Lessons from Moses' Course 264

SECTION 3 - The Providence of Restoration under the Leadership of Jesus 266

3.1 The First Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 267

3.1.1 The Foundation of Faith 267
3.1.2 The Foundation of Substance 268
3.1.3 The Failure of the First Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 269

3.2 The Second Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 270

3.2.1 The Foundation of Faith 270
3.2.1.1 Jesus Takes On the Mission of John the Baptist 270
3.2.1.2 Jesus' Forty-Day Fast and Three Temptations in the Wilderness 271
3.2.1.3 The Result of the Forty-Day Fast and the Three Temptations 275
3.2.2 The Foundation of Substance 276
3.2.3 The Failure of the Second Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 277

3.3 The Third Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 277

3.3.1 The Spiritual Course to Restore Canaan under Jesus' Leadership 277
3.3.1.1 The Spiritual Foundation of Faith 278
3.3.1.2 The Spiritual Foundation of Substance 279
3.3.1.3 The Spiritual Foundation for the Messiah 280
3.3.1.4 The Restoration of Spiritual Canaan 281
3.3.2 The Course to Restore Substantial Canaan under the Leadership of Christ at the Second Advent 281

3.4 Some Lessons from Jesus' Course 286

CHAPTER 3. THE PERIODS IN PROVIDENTIAL HISTORY AND THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR LENGTHS 289

SECTION 1 - Parallel Providential Periods 289

SECTION 2 - The Number of Generations or Years in the Periods of the Age of the Providence to Lay the Foundation for Restoration 291

2.1 Why and How the Providence of Restoration Is Prolonged 291
2.2 Vertical Indemnity Conditions and Horizontal Restoration through Indemnity 292
2.3 Horizontal Restoration through Indemnity Carried Out Vertically 294
2.4 Numerical Indemnity Periods for Restoring the Foundation of Faith 294
2.5 The Parallel Periods Determined by the Number of Generations 299
2.6 Providential Periods of Horizontal Restoration through Indemnity Carried Out Vertically 301

SECTION 3 - The Periods in the Age of the Providence of Restoration and Their Lengths 302

3.1 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Slavery in Egypt 302
3.2 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of the Judges 303
3.3 The One-Hundred-and-Twenty-Year Period of the United Kingdom 303
3.4 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of the Divided Kingdoms of North and South 305
3.5 The Two-Hundred-and-Ten-Year Period of Israel's Exile and Return 305
3.6 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Preparation for the Advent of the Messiah 306

SECTION 4 - The Periods in the Age of the Prolongation of the Providence of Restoration and Their Lengths 307

4.1 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Persecution in the Roman Empire 307
4.2 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Regional Church Leadership 308
4.3 The One-Hundred-and-Twenty-Year Period of the Christian Empire 308
4.4 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of the Divided Kingdoms of East and West 308
4.5 The Two-Hundred-and-Ten-Year Period of Papal Exile and Return 309
4.6 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Preparation for the Second Advent of the Messiah 309

Chart 2: Parallel Providential Periods 311

CHAPTER 4. THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE TWO AGES IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION 313

SECTION 1 - The Period of Slavery in Egypt and the Period of Persecution in the Roman Empire 315

SECTION 2 - The Period of the Judges and the Period of Regional Church Leadership 317

SECTION 3 - The Period of the United Kingdom and the Period of the Christian Empire 318

SECTION 4 - The Period of the Divided Kingdoms of North and South and the Period of the Divided Kingdoms of East and West 321

SECTION 5 - The Period of Israel's Exile and Return and the Period of the Papal Exile and Return 323

SECTION 6 - The Period of Preparation for the Advent of the Messiah and the Period of Preparation for the Second Advent of the Messiah 325

SECTION 7 - The Providence of Restoration and the Progress of History 328

7.1 The Progress of History in the Age of the Providence of Restoration 329
7.2 The Progress of History in the Age of the Prolongation of the Providence of Restoration 332

7.2.1 The Providence of Restoration and the History of the West 332
7.2.2 The Mutual Relations between Religious History, Economic History and Political History 333
7.2.3 Clan Society 335
7.2.4 Feudalistic Society 336
7.2.5 Monarchic Society and Imperialism 337
7.2.6 Democracy and Socialism 340
7.2.7 The Ideals of Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universally Shared Values versus Communism 342

Chart 3: The Progress of History as Guided by the Providence of Restoration 345

CHAPTER 5. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH 347

SECTION 1 - The Period of the Reformation (1517-1648) 347

1.1 The Renaissance 351
1.2 The Reformation 352

Section 2 The Period of Religious and Ideological Conflicts (1648-1789) 353

2.1 The Cain-Type View of Life 354
2.2 The Abel-Type View of Life 356

Section 3 The Period of Maturation of Politics, Economy and Ideology (1789-1918) 357

3.1 Democracy 358

3.1.1 Cain-Type Democracy 359
3.1.2 Abel-Type Democracy 360

3.2 The Significance of the Separation of Powers 361
3.3 The Significance of the Industrial Revolution 363
3.4 The Rise of the Great Powers 364
3.5 Religious Reforms and Political and Industrial Revolutions since the Renaissance 364

Section 4 The World Wars 365

4.1 The Providential Causes of the World Wars 365
4.2 The First World War 367

4.2.1 Summary of the Providence in the First World War 367
4.2.2 What Decides God's Side and Satan's Side? 368
4.2.3 The Providential Causes behind the First World War 369
4.2.4 The Providential Results of the First World War 370

4.3 The Second World War 371

4.3.1 Summary of the Providence in the Second World War 371
4.3.2 The Nature of Fascism 371
4.3.3 The Nations on God's Side and the Nations on Satan's Side in the Second World War 372
4.3.4 The Providential Roles of the Three Nations on God's Side and Satan's Side 372
4.3.5 The Providential Causes behind the Second World War 374
4.3.6 The Providential Results of the Second World War 375

4.4 The Third World War 376

4.4.1 Is the Third World War Inevitable? 376
4.4.2 Summary of the Providence in the Third World War 377
4.4.3 The Providential Causes behind the Third World War 378
4.4.4 The Providential Results of the Third World War 379

CHAPTER 6. THE SECOND ADVENT 381

SECTION 1 - When Will Christ Return? 382

SECTION 2 - In What Manner Will Christ Return? 383

2.1 Perspectives on the Bible 383
2.2 Christ Will Return as a Child on the Earth 385
2.3 What is the Meaning of the Verse that Christ Will Return on the Clouds? 393
2.4 Why Did Jesus Say that the Lord Will Come on the Clouds? 395

SECTION 3 - Where Will Christ Return? 396

3.1 Will Christ Return among the Jewish People? 396
3.2 Christ Will Return to a Nation in the East 398
3.3 The Nation in the East is Korea 399

3.3.1 A National Condition of Indemnity 399
3.3.2 God's Front Line and Satan's Front Line 401
3.3.3 The Object Partner of God's Heart 402
3.3.4 Messianic Prophecies 404
3.3.5 The Culmination of All Civilizations 406

SECTION 4 - Parallels between Jesus' Day and Today 407

SECTION 5 - The Chaotic Profusion of Languages and the Necessity for Their Unification 410