Victory of God

Belvedere

Good morning, everybody. My topic this morning is "Victory of God." When I said "victory," you applauded, even though I had not said anything yet. Victory sounds good; it tastes good to the tongue, but its contents are very difficult. Let us consider where we can apply the word 'victory."

Imagine a contest of all different kinds of hands. To win this contest, a hand must have all its necessary components. It must be perfect in everyone's eyes.

The same is true about the eyes, the nose, and all the different organs of the body. To be perfect, all the essential components must be in place.

At an arboretum, you see millions of different plants; each has its own characteristics, its own shape and form

Suppose there were a contest or an exhibit of human beings. There is actually such a thing as the Miss Universe and Miss America pageants, for example. I have always wondered why they have such contests for individuals, Miss America, Mr. America, but they don't have a "Mr. and Mrs." contest, a Universal Couple pageant. What about a contest of families?

Even more valuable would be a universal tribe contest.

What about a contest of nations?

All the heads of state, starting with the U.S. president, could join to judge the nations. Why not a world and a cosmic contest?

We see that the world is full of contests and competition. This is an aspect of life.

Among all the contests, which would be the most precious? What would be God's victory? What contest is so close to the heart of God? It is the contest of true love.

Are there many different true loves, or only one true love?

Consider pure 24-karat gold. Is 24-karat gold different in Korea from gold in America? No. The standard, the criterion for pure gold, is universal; it is the same everywhere. The same is true for diamonds; identical criteria and standards for diamonds apply in America or in the Cape Horn of Africa.

What is the essence of the diamond?

Is a diamond a diamond because it glitters so brilliantly or because it is so hard? Hardness is the standard for diamonds. Why is the pearl considered precious?

Does the pearl's value also lie in its hardness?

No, the harmony of its coloring is the essence of the pearl's value. The pearl's colors are unchanging, so it does not lose its value over time. Its luster will not change with the seasons, and it will be the same underwater or on dry land.

Think of these values applied to human beings. Who will be the diamond-like man?

Who is the pearl-like person?

How can we judge a person's value? You say the standard is unchanging love, yet in America today, everyone is dashing one way and another, chasing ephemeral fads and fashions. Is that the way of life of the precious man, the diamond-like person?

Don't you have some urge to follow current fashions?

When we say 'urge in English, it means moving toward something without thinking, almost unconsciously.

I want you to know that precious things, like the diamond, carry their own value. Others see that value and respect it and are affected by it.

Who is the more precious person, one who is influenced by others or one who can influence others? Of course, there are both good and bad influences.

Would the Jewel-like, pearl-like person give a good or bad influence?

You say "good," but is your standard of goodness the same as God's?

There are so many varieties of goodness, so many different standards and definitions. When God says "good," it is one thing; when people say "good," it is often something else. God's good is plus, and your good is also plus. Then, which one takes the initiative? Should God's standard take the initiative, or should ours?

Because you are Moonies, you say God's standard should be taking the initiative. But if you ask a communist, he will say, "My standard should take the initiative.

There is no such thing as God." Communists have their claim, and Moonies have their claim. Which one is true?

Why is the Moonies' claim true?

Because you are Moonies? I am sure there are many answers, but the most important point is that the Moonies' definition of good is unchanging, no matter what. Wherever a Moonie goes, he is always the same person.

Do you become different at night?

No. A Moonie is a Moonie at night, at dawn, and during the day. That means your contents are the same, inside and out.

The communists are different. They say one thing and do something else. They lie for the sake of their cause, for their own purposes, and they do not feel any pain in their conscience.

They would do anything to advance their cause; for them, the end justifies the means. Communists want to create some conflict that they can fight about and win over others, to beat them down and destroy them.

So communism seeks to influence others, but it is a bad influence. They seek to govern the world by fear and threats. They threaten lives, and they carry out those threats, resorting to violence. They are not the same inside and out. They promise the most peaceful things through propaganda, but they do the most terrible things.

Their words and deeds are different because of their concept of struggle.

Communist theory holds that changes for the better will always come up against a force opposing them, so by overcoming that force, something greater can be created. But this theory is completely false.

Do you think that by fighting, a greater thing can be created?

No. Struggling reduces people. They are hurt, and ultimately, they destroy themselves.

You must understand that struggle decreases value, not increases it. So when communists claim that struggle creates greater value, it is baloney.

The truth is that only through harmony and mutual give-and-take through fusion, in scientific terms, can greater results come.

When parents send their children to school, they say, "Don't be a problem. Don't get into a fight with anybody." Why? Parents know that fighting only brings harm to their child, so they want him to harmonize with others.

Learning to be harmonized with others, to embrace others—that is the essence of education.

The communist theory of struggle is truly destructive. It is a straight-line theory, with no way to turn and make a circle. Circular motion is the only lasting, eternal motion, and it requires give and take between the extremes of high and low.

If the lower echelon and the higher echelon are fighting each other, that only brings destruction. Therefore, the communist theory of dialectical materialism will not suffice. It is not true.

They came up with that theory after observing certain phenomena on the surface; it appeared to be true. But when we look deep inside to the essence of things, there is no "dialectical materialism."

Let us look at a mature tree in full flower. Would the flowers say, "I must continue to struggle, even up to the sky"? No, to bring new growth, the flowers must drop to the ground, become seeds again, and another cycle must begin. It is only through such circular, give-and-take motion that we find development and advancement.

The diamond maintains its own value and gives influence to others in a good way.

Let us consider the influence of the United States, one of the great nations of the world today. More and more nations are accusing the United States and turning against it.

Why is that?

America is being rejected by the world because it is not a true nation. It is a false nation. America has become so self-centered that it is always taking resources and pulling them into its own pockets. According to God, anyone thinking first of himself is false.

What is the definition of an evil person? Is a Black man bad according to a white man?

Why do you say no?

The definition of a bad man is not connected with the color of his skin but with his inner motivation. Anyone who tries to take everything for himself and to sacrifice others for himself is evil.

We must understand clearly the definition of evil. A synonym for "evil" is "greediness." Satan is the most greedy one who is trying to pull all God's assets to himself. That is evil, and Satan is evil.

Are you bad or good? Each "I" is good when it serves the sake of something else.

"I" must be looking at things not for my own sake, but for the sake of others.

Your ear should listen to something for the sake of the nation or world, for greater things, not just your own pleasure. If your mouth eats not just for you but to gain energy to serve the nation and world, that is good.

Do American youth like this definition of goodness?

Americans are said to be pragmatic. Pragmatism in itself is not evil. The question is, for whose sake are you pragmatic—for others or just yourself? Is America's pragmatism sacrificial or self-centered?

All these are basic, fundamental aspects of good and evil.

A person who lives only for his or her own sake will encounter the entire universe coming against him. The universe is looking to promote goodness. When it sees selfishness, it repels it and tries to throw it out.

That is why anyone who lives a selfish life will be fearfully lonely. He has no true friends. Can such a person find peace, happiness, or tranquility? Is that possible?

Do you think there are more happy or unhappy people in the world? What about you? Why are you happy?

It is because you are living like the diamond and the pearl. Your way of life is to give a good influence to others.

In what way are we influencing this world?

What does the vast cosmos desire? Does it want bread and butter?

Does it want a great fighter, a powerful general? Would the universe find joy in a brilliant Nobel Prize winner? Well, what does the cosmos want to see? You say true love, and I cannot find any answer better than that.

When you say true love, are you speaking of the kind of love you give once and then never again?

Is it the kind of love you give out, waiting for it to come back, with interest? That is pragmatic love; you give it once and wait for it to come back.

Does true love give only once, or is it giving continually?

If you give and keep giving, unconditionally and unselfishly, you may think you are losing everything, but a great circular motion is bringing everything back to you.

You see, I am very pragmatic too. In true love, everything comes back to you without any confrontation or deviation.

There is no special way that a loving husband must touch his wife. Anywhere he touches, it feels good to her. The bottom of the foot or the top of her head, wherever he touches, it becomes a love spot.

Love has no limits; therefore, there is no resistance to love. This means there is no concept of struggle in love. Harmony, welcoming, and warmth are within love. There is no repulsion, coldness, or rejection. Do you agree?

When parents correct their children with a loving heart, they will speak unselfishly and for the good of the children, even when they scold.

Sometimes parents may be so harsh that the child becomes furious. He may run away a few miles and then repent. He will realize, "Oh no, they scolded me because they love me. Otherwise they wouldn't do that.'

True repentance is engendered only by the power of love.

When Jesus proclaimed, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," it meant that true love was near, because only true love can give the power of repentance.

Do you agree with me? Even if this theory is false, I would like it because there is nothing better.

Now we know that the universal, never-ending topic for literature or music is the topic of love. Tell yourself that true love is dwelling within you and that no power under the sun can diminish or destroy it. The color of pure gold is wealthy.

That rich gold color is also very calming; it imparts a feeling of peace. The color of the sky at sunrise and sunset is a rich golden color. God is trying to influence you with these peaceful colors. He wants you to wake up with a peaceful mind and go to sleep in peace.

Gold is also a soft metal. It can be molded and is not as hard as a diamond. The person who has a character with the quality of gold is a peaceful person. The essential quality of the pearl is harmony.

I am a spiritual leader, but I do not dress like one and wear a high collar or black robes. I am capable of harmonizing with any sort of environment. When I went to the prison labor camp, I did hard labor. When I go out to fish, I am a successful fisherman.

When I go to a factory, I become one with the factory workers. In a mine, I can be a good miner. When I meet with scholars, I gain their respect. So I can harmonize with everybody.

What about you, young people?

You love Reverend Moon, don't you? Old people and children also love me. Young women look at Reverend Moon as an ideal type of husband and think, "Where can I find another man like that?" My character is deep, not shallow, so wherever I go, I instantly harmonize with the environment, and I am friendly with it.

In the Unification Church tradition, should a newly assigned leader show up at his new center saying, "I am the king, and you are the subjects.

Must you obey me?

No, not at all. There is a typical Moonie follower who wants to hide in an easy role, an easy position. Is that true? Some of you are saying "no", but not so many. When I say to the Korean leaders, "Let's go riding in the boat," they know my standard for riding in the boat, so they would like to hide. I am deliberately testing them, watching their faces.

Should a harmonious person hate the sea?

No, he should be welcomed even by the sea. The ocean has something to offer.

When you ride around on the vast ocean, it will say, "Move on me at the fastest possible speed." I always want to respond to that. I tell the ocean, "All right, I will ride on you as fast as possible," and the engines start to burn at that point. I have such a dialogue with the ocean.

Because I go to the ocean, does that mean I hate the mountains? What about you women?

You love to behold the mountains, but you don't like to climb them, do you?

If you only look at the mountain, you will never become the master of it. Do you men want to climb mountains?

When I first came to the United States, I traveled for 40 days and nights. I crisscrossed this country from north to south, from east to west. The land was speaking to me, saying, "Come visit my state.

Please walk on me." When I was riding in the station wagon, I was feeling the land's desire, so I had to respond to that and keep going. But the driver didn't know about my conversation with the land. He would say, "It's midnight, so why don't we stop at the next Holiday Inn?' But I said, "No, please keep going." One a.m. came, then 2:00 a.m., and we would pass another motel. Still, I pushed the driver to keep pinging.

Why was I pushing him to drive even at 3:00 in the morning?

At those hours, no one else was driving, so we had the entire highway to ourselves.

I really want to be the champion in demonstrating love for this land. I felt that in the 200 years of American history, no one else had done that.

I wanted to set the record. I wanted to greet all 50 states because I knew each one was waiting to see me. I visited each one of the 50 states, and I went out to meet the people with a genuinely loving heart.

Even so, many people were very unkind and persecuted me. That negativity almost became like a neurosis or an obsession for some people. When they heard the word "moon," they thought "Reverend Moon."

They would go out at night and see the moon shining and think, "Oh no, that reminds me of Reverend Moon." But I knew that nature in this country had genuinely welcomed me, even though the American people hadn't.

Why do I stay in this country? Who loves Reverend Moon?

The Jewish people, organized Christianity, the U.S. government, and Congress—everyone hates me, so how can I stay here?

Who loves Reverend Moon?

You say you do because you are Moonies, but there are other kinds of Moonies, ex-Moonies. Some of them even came to court to testify against me. Therefore, even Moonies don't love me. It seems that clever Moonies are rejecting Reverend Moon and leaving. Are you all dumb for staying here?

The situation here in America is absolutely incredible. The authorities are trying to say that the Unification Church is not really a religion. They say, "We will not treat Reverend Moon as a religious leader or his followers as religious people."

They are trying to take away the tax exemption on our church property. Not only that, they are trying to kick me out of the country. That is what is behind this court battle.

However, I feel such negativity is okay. Let them begin with this giant amount of negativity. When they learn a little more, their negativity will decrease. As they learn still more, it will become smaller and smaller and finally disappear.

Then they will become slightly positive, and as they learn more, their positivity will grow and grow until it is a giant positivity. Do you think that will happen in the future, or not? That is the history of the Unification Church.

In the past, there was great negativity, but eventually it came to a crossroads, and that negativity became positivity.

Some of you women are already thinking about the family you will have someday. You have started pulling on your fiancé, saying, "You are so busy doing home church, witnessing, and fundraising. When are you going to take care of me?"

Some are saying, "I don't want my husband to be only a high school graduate. Give up your mission and go to college!" I know that this is going on now.

Some members are thinking, "Well, I have done enough for the church, and I have given enough years of my life. It is time to start thinking of the future, of my family to come."

So far, we have been fighting a fierce front-line battle, and the victory is coming—the victory of God. But a fierce battle causes much destruction. The victors in battle must rebuild the area they have gained.

That is where we are now, beginning a great reconstruction. The time to rebuild is a painful period. It is the time when we will truly shed our tears, our sweat, and our blood.

The time will come when the American people realize what a great mistake they have made, and they will welcome you, Moonies. I worry that, when that time comes, you may be totally exhausted. Mothers, please raise your hands.

If I asked you to go out and work for the mission, leaving your family behind, would you like it?

Would you say yes or no?

When you received such a direction, would you immediately worry about your baby, who would feed him and change his diaper? Or would you think, "No matter what, I will go!"

What about me?

Don't you think I received that type of mandate from God to march forward to the enemy camp? Actually, I received the worst persecution from the members of my immediate family, especially in the case of my first marriage.

At that time, I had a child, too, but when I received the order from heaven to go to North Korea, I just went. Nothing could stop me.

I knew that suffering and possible death were waiting for me there, but I marched forward, toward the prison camp in North Korea. God was pushing me to go, and I did not hesitate to say yes.

When I left Korea for the United States, the Korean members were very unhappy.

They said, "What about us? Why are you going to the United States? Please stay here and give the orders; we will take care of everything."

The 36 couples implored me to stay in Korea. I told them that I was not going for glory but that I was willing to endure anything and be imprisoned. Only after that could the final victory come.

Now my prediction has come true. That battle is at its peak. The power of the United States of America has come against me in the form of an indictment. I do not fear it; I am walking straight into this battle and meeting the challenge.

When the government initiated the tax case, they thought that I would not come back to fight it. That is what they wanted; they wanted me out of the country.

But they were wrong, weren't they?

I did not take the pragmatic way; I took the providential way, the spiritual way. I walked straight into their trap, knowing full well it was there.

Next week will be the final week when the verdict will be reached. The court has decided that we are a legitimate religion, so we may raise funds legally and proselytize to increase our membership. But they still hold on to one thing: they don't want Reverend Moon. They want to kick me out. Well, we'll see!

So far, we have been engaged in hundreds of court battles in different states and cities throughout the United States. Some of the most famous lawyers are connected with the Unification Church.

Whatever field you name—constitutional lawyers, litigation lawyers, or tax lawyers—the best are connected with us. These people not only come to know the legal problems of the Unification Church, but they also come to know our religion. In particular, they come to know Reverend Sun Myung Moon. They come to feel that America has treated me wrongly, and they want to fight for us.

Many leading philosophers and theologians have come to our seminary for seminars or orientations. Great scientists and scholars from all over the world have known about Reverend Moon and his teachings for years.

That is the achievement of the science conferences. This year, we are organizing the Professor's World Peace Academy in forty different nations.

Now we have organized the "God Conference," inviting top scholars and theologians from all religions. These scholars come together to discuss the subject of God. It is wonderful!

That is the only word for it. But to bring this wonderful thing about, I have spent so many, many hours. I have spent sleepless nights for years.

I have been engaged in the court battle since March 22, but throughout that time, gigantic things have been happening. First was the creation of The Washington Times. Another is the creation of the Victory Over Communism organization among Korean residents in this country, about 600,000 people.

Why are we doing all these things? Is it for the sake of Reverend Moon? Is it for the sake of America?

We are doing these things for the sake of the world and the sake of God. To serve humanity and to serve God, I will walk any kind of stony path.

At the grassroots level, you encounter a great deal of opposition in this country, but I want you to realize that there is a great deal of breakthrough at the highest possible levels.

As we penetrate higher and higher, the negativity will decrease and turn into positivity. When the leaders and educated people in this country come out supporting Reverend Moon, the ephemeral public opinion will change. There is no question about that.

Ordinarily, when someone is involved in a court battle, their appearance and demeanor are like someone going to a funeral. But I am looking at the court battle as a harvest.

There is a big job to do; the mission goes on, and nothing will deter me. This will remain true even if I must go to jail. The march of the Unification Church and of God's providence will not pause for even one second.

The purpose of our fundraising is obvious; it is not for ourselves. We are making money with sweat and tears for the sake of the world.

The funds earned in America are for the whole world. In this way, we are actually doing a great favor to America.

Resentment against this nation has been building throughout the world. We are working to change the viewpoint of America from selfish to unselfish. Today, the attitude of the rest of the world is 'Yankee, go home." We are going to change that to "Welcome, Yankee."

Who shall create that turning point?

The Moonies will do it. Even though the U.S. is trying to throw us out the door, we are doing them a great favor. We collect dollars from them and use that money for the whole world. That is how the turning point is being created. In this way, we are making America into a place where God can dwell.

Consider how much money is wasted in this country for the worst purposes. Drugs are becoming a bigger industry than automobiles. More than 40 billion dollars every year is wasted on drugs, and the cost in human life is horrendous.

Who can stop this?

We can. We are converted people, made anew. Without using drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol, we are spearheading a worldwide revolution.

As the power of our movement increases, it is bringing the solution to America's problems. If this becomes a truly national movement, with television advertisements, schools, and colleges supporting it, what will happen?

In that case, will America become more corrupt and be destroyed, or will it be truly resurrected?

America is the leader in the world, and the youth of the whole world adopt and follow what is happening here. So if this. Movement of goodness turns America around; won't the youth in the rest of the world follow?

What will happen if the Moon movement becomes the newest fashion?

They will want to dress the way you dress. They will look at how you live, and they will want to live just as you do. Then they will quit smoking, drinking, and using drugs. They will work hard and go fundraising and witnessing. If this becomes the worldwide fashion, will you like it?

People will look at the Unification marriage tradition and say, "They are engaged by matching, and then they wait three years or more to prepare a spiritual foundation. That is the best tradition.' More and more youth of the world will come to Reverend Moon to be matched.

After matching, you hardly even shake hands. In the Unification tradition, kissing and calling each other sweetheart are virtually unheard of before marriage. Let's imagine that this became the fashion of America. Do you think this country would be destroyed by that?

Another great sickness of America today is the gay movement. I pity them because they do not know the Principle of Creation. They need to be taught that men must love women, not other men. Once the Principle of Creation is understood, will that inspire America or push America in the wrong direction?

Another aspect of America today is the attitude: "Let's just have fun and indulge in so-called 'free sex." But once you understand the fall of man, you cannot have free sex. Even if a person goes dancing all night at the disco, if he knows the Principle, he will have nothing to do with free sex.

We are going to create a moral, clean America. So can everyone marry twice, and more?

Is that what the Principle of Creation says?

Some of you may even think, "Well, Reverend Moon finally engaged me, but my fiancé is not my ideal. Something is lacking. Maybe I should go back to the free way of life, where I can do anything I want."

Let's make a simple decision in our minds: there is an incredible, extraordinary Moon Boom coming.

Do you think that Moon Boom will destroy America and the rest of the world?

Or do you think that for the first time, the world will see hope? Would God cry out at that sad and tragic condition, or wouldn't He rejoice? What about Satan: would he rejoice too? He would be miserable.

Then God could say, "All right, Satan. You see the Moon Boom out there. You have no chance for victory. Surrender now." Even Satan will resist until the last minute, but he will have to surrender. He will know his last day has arrived.

Finally, he will submit and say, "Yes, my God." After all, he is a former angel, and there will be no Satan anymore.

Until World War II, the struggle between God and Satan was over the land. Since World War II, the struggle has been over people.

Now we are at the point where the struggle is between two ideologies: that which affirms God and that which denies God's existence.

The final battle to come will be the true love battle. It will be the ultimate, climactic battle, and the Unification Church and you Moonies are now engaged in that battle. Go forward without fear, without becoming tired.

We will conquer the hearts of men not with money, not by power or schemes, but with true love.

God and Satan have been waging a battle throughout history. What has been the focal point of that battle? True love, centered on the true definition of good and evil. True love is the ultimate weapon to defeat Satan.

When Satan is hit by true love, he will be finished. But that true love must be absolutely pure. If a portion of it is tainted, then Satan can still invade. When pure true love strikes Satan, that is the end of the battle.

How long will this battle continue?

Will it take thousands more years or hundreds of years? There is a providential period of seven years. If victory is not achieved in seven years, the period will be prolonged to twenty-one years. If it is still not finished, the period will be prolonged to forty years.

I have been walking this path, and the three seven-year courses are over. Did I complete those courses successfully, or did I fail?

I proclaimed the second three seven-year courses. Are the second twenty-one years my path or your path? They are yours. And if you are successful, whose course will be the third twenty-one years? Your children's.

The heavenly four positions must be united in three generations. In your case, it is your grandparents, your parents, and you.

God is the first generation, Adam and Eve the second generation, and their children the third. When their true love was not consummated, the fall of man came about. The binding force of these three generations is true love.

Grandparents should recognize the importance of their children, and they, in turn, should recognize the importance of their children, the third generation. They must stand behind them and influence them from the back.

Looking at your face, the eyes represent God's level. The eyes are the universal watchers, seeing in every direction, moving back and forth. The eye is the only truly round shape in your body. That is why your eyes are at the top.

The forehead represents the spirit world. The mouth deals with all the things of creation, such as the food we eat, so it represents the fact that man is given dominion over all creation. The nose represents Adam and Eve.

When you move forward, the nose goes first. The nose has two holes, the nostrils, which are united into one at the top. The nose connects eventually to all five openings through the sinuses. The right nostril represents men, and the left represents women.

The nose breathes; God is breathing through men. We breathe air, but in the case of God, God is breathing love through man.

In the spirit world, there is no oxygen, so the air we breathe is love. God wants to train you to breathe this atmosphere of love before you reach the spirit world; for that reason, God created men and women on earth.

When you have a bad cold and you can only breathe through one nostril, that is like a divorce. Then you have to breathe through your mouth. God can breathe through all things of creation, but He needs men and women to breathe properly.

What about the teeth?

You have 32 teeth, four times eight. Four represents all things of creation in the four directions: north, south, east, and west. Eight represents a new start. That is why the digestive system deals with the entire universe.

When a man laughs, what begins that action: eyes, nose, or mouth?

First, the eyes laugh. That means that God should rejoice first, and then man. When you laugh, your nose flattens out. Then you make a loud noise with your mouth; all things of the creation respond.

For an Oriental baby, the nose is the last part to grow. A newborn baby's face just has two holes; the nose grows slowly as the baby grows. Among all the creatures, man was the last to be created and to grow. The shape of the nose is critical.

When I look at a person, the shape of his nose tells many stories about him. You, white people, have ancestors from the polar regions of the north. That is why you have a longer nose with narrow holes.

Air must be warmed before it can go to the lungs. Oriental people come from a semitropical area, so their nose is shorter, and the nostrils are wider.

The Black race comes from the hottest climates, so their nose is even shorter and the nostrils are wider because they have to take in lots of air. This is the law of nature, so that when you accept nature's law, you can accept the white, black, and yellow races. But if you reject Black people, for example, and become racist, it means you are rejecting nature.

The technology of transportation has advanced to the point that this planet has become a small unit. Therefore, the time has come when all people should be united into one. By what means is this unity to be achieved?

What power can do that?

It is only the power of true love.

Does true love mean that white people must only marry whites and that Black people must marry blacks?

Would you like the distance between plus and minus to be small or to be very great? (The greatest!) You're greedy, aren't you? You want to encompass more territory, don't you?

Would you like to make just a vertical motion or only a horizontal motion? Would you like to make a circling motion? So motion should not just be East to West or black to white, but it should encompass 360 degrees.

You come from Western culture, and you've eaten cheeseburgers all your life, so you don't like kimchi, right? You have always sat on chairs, but can you sit on the floor, too?

The very first American member came to visit me in Korea after he joined. He sat down on the floor and proceeded to lie down. In Korea, it is inexcusable to sit like that in front of an elder.

Why did he do that? He said, "I have no chair here." Chair or no chair, if someone acts like that in front of the chief of any village in Korea, he will be thrown out.

With this Belvedere training, you have a double benefit: You are listening to Reverend Moon and also learning about the Oriental way. You will be able to go to Korea or Japan and fit in just fine there.

You are lucky to have the carpet here. Not long ago, there was no carpet, only the concrete floor. In Korea and Japan, you sit on the stone or wooden floor, so if you are accustomed to carpet, you are not sufficiently trained yet.

For many centuries, Western missionaries made terrible mistakes in Africa. They were supposed to be the messengers of the word and the love of God.

But they went there saying, "You are primitive people, and we are civilized. You live in your grass shack, and I will live here in this nice house."

For centuries, Africans have known white people through the deeds of these missionaries, and how much damage has been done?

Then, suddenly, a new kind of missionary has come to Africa: the Moon missionaries. They came and lived as Africans, together with the people, so that they might all be elevated together.

They became very fond of the African culture. To raise and educate people, you must become one with them. There is no other way to do it. That is the way we work. That is the natural way.

The higher person goes down to the lower level, and the lower person is raised. That is a beautiful, dramatic way of life. Meanwhile, the universe is moving in the circular motion of give and take.

When people feel that they have been deserted and deceived, it is because someone has acted selfishly toward them. If you live for the sake of others, there is no way that others can feel deceived by you. So our way of life is the eternal way of life.

The law of the spirit world is the same. I am teaching you this way so that you will be ready to obey the spiritual law in heaven. I want you to become people who habitually obey spiritual law here on earth.

Life is ruled by habits, so you are usually obeying spiritual law. Unification Church members are people who habitually live for the sake of others, wherever they go.

When you are elevated to the spiritual world, you will automatically live that law, and you will have no limitation; you will be totally free. So make good habits, good eternal spiritual habits, here on earth. That is our way of life.

Those who welcome MFT and fundraising, raise your hands. You are lying, aren't you? Maybe everyone thinks that relaxing, having an easy day, is the best life.

Those who were willing and happy to go to school every day, raise your hands. If you claim that, I don't think you are telling the truth. There are certain things we are not born to do, but which we MUST do by the force of will. And we make a habit of these things.

An example is going to school and studying hard, creating a discipline and habit of that. In doing MFT fundraising, also make a habit of it. And along the way, you learn to read people.

When you are trained in fundraising, you will not starve; you'll never be economically stranded.

Witnessing is nothing other than acquiring the habit of liking people.

One part of you is saying, 'I hate it,' but you go anyway. That is the habit of loving people. When you form that habit in this world, and you go off to the spirit world, you will be loved there.

When you go to the spirit world, you will be able to see and hear things for a million miles without limit. The spirit world is full of people because no one dies there. There are so many people everywhere.

If you are a person who does not like other people, what will you do in the spirit world?

You have to confine yourself in a place of solitude, a dark place, and that is hell.

But when you are disciplined to love people, you will be full of vitality. With so many people to love, you will have a wonderful life, without a single dull moment.

When you are elevated to that world with so much love to sprinkle over the people, what a wonderful life you will lead!

Perhaps you are complaining a bit now, but when you get to the next world, you will say, "Reverend Moon, thank you! Your teaching trained me to love people."

The Bible teaches us to love even our enemies. If you can love your enemies, then as a matter of course, you can love everyone.

The number one enemy of God on the world level is communism, and we have to solve that problem. Meanwhile, every other enemy is a lesser one.

If we can love everyone else, how can we not love the communists?

If I ask you, "Do you want to go to the Kingdom of Heaven in heaven', everyone's answer will be yes. If I tell you what you have to do to go there, will you do it? What you have to do is to love the nation of your enemies.

Actually, it is not necessary to go to another nation. If you love your enemy, just one man, in the spirit world, you will be given credit for loving an entire nation.

The other day, a former member of the Unification Church testified against me in court. Many of our members were furious, saying, "How can he do such a thing?"

But I was not angry at him. He is a pitiful person, for his mistake will follow him during his life here on earth and for all time to come in the spirit world. In the future, the transcript of the trial will be used in thousands of sermons, and scholars will discuss it and write dissertations about it. In those sermons and papers, he will be identified as a betrayer.

What a pitiful road he is taking! He may not realize it, but his children and his tribe shall regret his actions. Therefore, he is a pitiful person, and I am truly sorry for him. Instead of hating him, I love him.

I want you to know that my words today are not ephemeral or temporary. I am deadly serious about this. This is the way of life I want you to live, here on earth and afterward in the spirit world. Do not take this teaching lightly.

Fundraising is the way you can be trained, usually loving the creation.

Witnessing trains teaches you the habit of loving people. These are the two most fundamental activities of the Unification Church.

Once these two ways of loving become habits for you, when you go to the spirit world, you will continue on the same road. If you walk that road and practice it, then you can say you are loving the enemy.

I am walking that road, practicing these things. You may be following me now, but when you get tired, will you quit? What is your destination? Do you think that your goal and mine should be separate?

Do we have two different goals?

That means you have no choice but to go my way and to accept my teaching, doesn't it? I want to help you become people who habitually follow a Godly way of life.

After you have been habitually living this way of life, you don't have to try anymore. You just live. When your life on earth is consummated, you will enter the Kingdom of Heaven in heaven automatically.

Therefore, restrain yourself from doing comfortable things. Eat less, sleep less, and go out and face more tribulation. For sixty years, I have been running on the front line, taking the arrows and headwinds first, but nothing can stop me. I am always pushing myself out first.

Think of it, one Korean man came here to America and became a nationwide controversy. It is not easy to become controversial according to 240 million people! Furthermore, even the communists are trembling because of Reverend Moon.

After the completion of this court battle, I will have shown you everything I want you to see. That will not be the end of it, however. I will go on.

Will you follow, even if I give you a hard time? Why is that?

Your mind and heart know that this is the right direction to go. You recognize that true love lies in that direction and the true way of life.

This morning, our topic is the victory of God.

Can any nation say that it is God's nation?

Is there any sovereignty that belongs to God? What about God's people? Where are they? Some people want to become God's people, but there are no true, perfected people of God.

Therefore, God has no nation, no sovereignty, no citizens, and no land that He can claim as His own. Actually, the entire earth was supposed to be God's land. Who will make that happen in reality? Will you do that? It won't be easy.

Who is supposed to be God's people?

All mankind was supposed to be God's people.

Do you want to become a U.S. citizen, a French citizen, or a citizen of the Kingdom of God?

There are now about 150 to 200 sovereignties on earth, but where is God's sovereignty? Korea has its sovereignty, as do Germany and America.

Each country has its head of state, but where is God's sovereignty?

God created this world; it was to be His. So once again, the sovereignty of God must be established in reality. But now, the planet Earth is governed by Satan, who cleverly chopped up the planet into so many sovereignties.

Satan's tactic is to keep them separated permanently, not allowing them to unite.

Division is always the work of Satan. He wants to divide people between Black and White. He is dividing the communist world and the free world.

Who shall unite this world into one?

If Billy Graham says that he will make white and Black into one, would anybody listen? Particularly, Black people would say, "Billy Graham, you are white. No matter what, your skin cannot become darker."

What if a Black man says, "I am the one to bring unity? All white people, come unto me." Would they listen? No. We need glue in the middle.

Who will be the best glue in the middle?

A yellow man. He can say to both the white man and the black man, "Come here and hold my hand." Then, should that hand be a weak hand or a strong one?

There are roughly 650 million Black people and 850 million White people in the world. In contrast, there are about 3.2 billion yellow people.

How strong is that?

So the Asian race must unite first, not to conquer the other races but to bring about unity with them. I am a representative of the yellow race; therefore, you, white and black people, came to me.

Ultimately, if you want to follow me, you must first help to make other people citizens of the Kingdom of God.

When you unite people and make them citizens of the Kingdom of God, you have automatically achieved the sovereignty of God.

This is why I am installing the home church in Providence. If we can make New York State an ideal model for the home church, it will have a historic impact.

Where should we win, then?

God wants to be victorious first over ideology. Then God would like to be victorious over effort, because if you win the battle without effort, you will be accused.

If we buy the victory with hard work and pay the price, then it is assured. Then God would like to be victorious over love, and finally over domain. Those are the four points: ideology, effort, love, and domain.

You want to love the country, to control it, and keep it under your domain. Love has discipline, a certain control, and administration. You have to control love.

We have to exercise dominion even over the loving husband and wife so that they can keep that love; that is the common goal. In a family, parents and children have to help each other to discipline themselves in a common goal.

Can you find any greater ideology than that of the Unification movement?

The Unification ideology is God's ideology; there is nothing greater or more complete than that. If you follow this ideology, whether you live for one year or many will not matter. You will reach the highest level of value.

Do you have that conviction?

Now you have to implement this ideology, giving all your effort to it. You should determine that you want to make the most effort of anyone in human history. You should feel that you want to be foremost and do the utmost.

Determine to make so much effort that no one in history can judge or accuse you.

Then your ancestors will have to bow down to you, and even in the future, no one will be able to surpass your efforts.

You must love the world and all people. You must live love and practice love. Then you must control and administer. When God created everything, He gave the commandment to Adam and Eve not to eat of the fruit. Love cannot be without discipline and order.

Do you think God ever declared His victory over these four conditions: God's love, the earth, discipline, and ideology?

No, they were all lost. That is why we are the revolutionaries for heavenly independence. How serious we must become! There were so many saints in history who lived and passed away without knowing this bare, basic truth.

I have lived my entire life knowing that I cannot allow any condition to be taken by the other side. I started this way of life pledging to God that I would not let any difficulties stop me, that I would go over the family, tribal, national, and world levels, and reach His throne in due course. That was my pledge.

Now we have come to the point in America where the Unification Church will be making its settlement. We are digging in and hoisting our flag. More than any other flag, our flag represents the power and glory of God.

We are revolutionaries of heaven, and therefore we cannot be claimed by our families or by one tribe or one nation. The five oceans and six continents are our stage. We do everything on this grand stage. We are creating the best factories and machine shops.

We are going to farm the oceans; that is one of our important goals. The ocean occupies two-thirds of the planet's area, and we must utilize its resources.

That is how I think, for the sake of God, God's country, God's nation, God's people, and God's land. When something is happening in Africa, I do not think, "Oh, it's only far-away Africa." I am intensely interested in what happens there. When I hear of a problem in South America, I do not think, "It's not my problem." It is my problem because it is God's problem, and I immediately want to tackle it.

The conflict between communism and the free world is not someone else's problem. It is God's problem, so I am facing it squarely as my problem.

I will devise a way to resurrect it, because it is God's problem.

What about the corruption and decline of young people today?

That, too, is my problem because it is God's problem. I am in the forefront of the fight against communism, and I am reaching out to cleanse the young people.

I want to free them from "free sex," which has been their habitual way. That is why, even after you join our church, you can easily fall right back into that way. That's why we don't allow kissing or a casual attitude toward relationships.

The greatest, most significant revolution in human history is taking place, greater than you know. Just as native African children might play with and discard a rough diamond because they don't realize its value, you do not know the value of where you are now, your mission, and your position.

God knows that value, and so do I, but apparently you do not know it. If you do not realize this value, then you will eventually throw it away or lose it out of carelessness.

Do you think that our movement can ignite a heavenly revolution, or not?

What is the proof? You are the proof and the product of that revolution, right?

When any evil thought comes to your mind, you automatically shy away from it as if it were a snake, because a new habit has been formed.

America is dying morally and spiritually. It cannot survive the way it is going; there is no question about that. No political power can cure this disease; there must be a religious solution.

The traditional religions have not been able to cure it. The Unification Church has a new method, a new solution. With pride and confidence, you can move forward to the goal.

I know that if I did not return to America for this court battle, the foundation I have built up to this time would all have been lost. If I had not returned, people would say to you, "Your leader grabbed lots of money and left." Then what would you say?

I came back to face my accusers directly. People respect a fighter. Above all, you yourself must know that we are God's righteous people, and we have nothing to be ashamed of. You must have that pride and confidence.

Our adversaries are opposing us only because they do not know me. As soon as they know, their opposition will end.

Knock on every door in your home church. Show them, teach them the truth. Once they learn the truth, they will not oppose you. Your battlefield is the home church.

Through the home church, God will restore His sovereignty, His people, and His land.

Ideology, effort, love, and dominion are our weapons. You must become a logical person; when you speak, the logic of truth must come out.

You must be capable of teaching, and you must try to create an achievement that no one can beat; your effort, however, must be based on love and lived in the dominion of God. That is what home church is all about. Home church is making a new nation of God.

You go there to serve the people, to register them, to make them citizens of that new nation. By doing this, we are making one people and one land, and automatically it will come under one sovereignty. Then we can declare the victory of God. We are marching now for the victory of God and the victory of mankind.

Once the victory of God is declared, we shall all meet in a glorious banquet in heaven. At that party, Arty, you can do anything you like. I may even disco dance and serve you wine! You women have been longing to wear nice cosmetics.

At that celebration banquet, you can put makeup not only on your face but also on your head and from head to toe. You will have a beautiful gown for the banquet, and you may change every minute, if you like. You can wear rings that day, not just one, but one on each joint! So you can wear twenty-eight rings in all.

You can wear a necklace, earrings, bracelets, a ring, armbands, whatever you like. If it seems impossible, just wait. The spirit world will make it happen.

We are already living in rhythm with the spirit world, though we are still here on earth. I am at home in nature; wherever I go, I can enjoy that place as my home. I don't need a house. I can lie down in the green grass and feel like a king. I can go to the beach and live like a king. Nature is my home.

When I look at you, Moonies, I feel you are very stuffy and closed. Open yourselves up! Be dramatic!

We are the ones to proclaim the victory of God. By our own words and deeds, the victory of God is possible. When you walk down the street, you are not doing just a mundane thing. You can feel the entire universe echoing your movement; you are shaking the earth.

When I lift my arms, the entire spirit world is watching and wanting to imitate me.

So spiritual men and women, lift your arms with me. How do you like that? It is exciting to live that kind of life. It is indeed happening.

So today, on this day in May, let us open our hearts, open our arms, and welcome and embrace the universe.

There is no worldwide or universal matter that escapes my attention. That has been my way of life since I was a young boy. I am always thinking of solutions for the world. Many people look at me as though I am crazy. I may look and sound crazy now, but wait for five or ten years, and every word that I have spoken will be fulfilled.

Will a person who brings the victory of God be considered a servant of God or a son of God?

He will be known as the Son of God. And if God in heaven has a sense of greatness and ambition, would He like to see a servant accomplish the victory or His own son?

I want you to know, therefore, that God's greatest glory is to see His own children go out there to fight the battle and win the victory.

What about you?

What is the difference between you? I am the parent, but that is the only difference. There is no real difference.

The roots, trunk, and branches are basically the same; they are all parts of the same tree. Even if the trunk and roots have died, but the branches are still living, you could cut those branches and stick them into the ground, and they would grow roots.

Are you becoming the kind of branch that can be transplanted into the ground to give new life?

Even if we are planted in very dry land, we must hang on and survive and prosper. If we are planted in a small tin can, we will survive and be victorious.

I am that kind of branch, giving life everywhere. Whether I go to Africa or America, I will survive. If he goes to Moscow, he will survive.

If you are sure that you are branches of this big trunk called Reverend Moon, all you have to do is go and plant yourself anywhere. Those who want to do that, raise your hands, please.

Where are you going to plant yourself? Plant your branch in your home church.

Then a root will grow from you, and you will become a strong trunk with beautiful branches.

You will grow to be a strong tree that will give branches and seeds to other lands, spreading all over the world. Your branches will flower, and the seeds will float on the wind and be carried to other lands.

New trees will grow from them. One branch can have that kind of life and prosperity. Have you been thinking about that when you go to your home church?

Do you think God will appreciate the men and women who think about home church this way, or will He prefer those who think, "I am tired of home church. I want to go on a picnic. God, may I have some time off?" No, just push yourself deeper. Every time you visit, you are pushing yourself deeper and deeper.

Go for the victory of God. What a dramatic goal, the victory of God! We are pursuing that goal, and the day will come when we obtain it. The dwelling of God shall be with men, and we shall rejoice together with God, and God with us.

I am the happiest man, the happiest person. There are no dull moments for me, and I am always free. Do you want to live your life as I do?

Do you want to be the sons and daughters who can bring liberty and victory to God?

We conclude that at the family level, you will become sons and daughters of filial piety. At the national level, you shall become patriots. In terms of the world, you shall become saints.

In heaven and earth, you shall become princes and princesses of God. You are moving, step by step, toward that ultimate goal. Do you want to become a prince or a princess?

This morning, let us determine clearly the way of life we are going to live and pursue it. Each of you should say, "I am going to bring the victory of God."

Our attitude should be, If there is a conflict, I will be the first to volunteer to solve it.

If there is a Goliath, I will be David. So next time, I won't even have to ask you to do home church. You will be at home church already, right? I believe you.

Let us pray.