IS REV. MOON THE MESSIAH?

Jesus taught, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am the Christ (or Messiah),' and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5 niv)

Is Rev. Moon really the Messiah (Lord of the Second Advent) or is he one of the many false Messiahs that Jesus warned us about? Jesus said that these false Messiahs would deceive many people. Is Rev. Moon the true Messiah, or is he deceiving people? Let us consider the following: Rev. Moon has said:

"The major criticism Christians have is their contention that I pose as the Lord of the Second Advent. But I never said that."(Sun Myung Moon, God's Warning to the World, 1985, p.152.)

Even if up to that time (1985), Rev. Moon had not actually said the words, "I-AM-THE-LORD-OF-THE-SECOND-ADVENT", and though he had not yet said it publicly, nevertheless he had said it and taught it many times by inference in private meetings with his followers. For example, in private lectures with Unification Church members entitled, "Master Speaks" (as far back as 1965), in explaining to them how to identify the Lord of the Second Advent, and how to reveal his identity to others, Rev. Moon has said,

"They should find the conclusion, the being of the Messiah, by themselves through the Principle."

(Principle refers to the Divine Principle, the sacred book of the Unification Church, which contains some of Rev. Moon's teachings.) Rev. Moon further taught,

... "A medium in Korea said this: `The mission of the Lord of the Second Advent is to bring the Truth, the words of God.' So if this Principle is Truth and from God, then the one who brought this message is to be the one." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-1: "Lord of the Second Advent," 1965, p.2.)

Aside from the obvious error of endorsing mediums, Moon clearly taught that if the Principle is Truth and from God then the one who brought it (which was Moon himself) is the Lord of the Second Advent. Previously, in the same lecture Moon had stated,

"They have to accept the Truth, the Divine Principle, first." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-1: "Lord of the Second Advent," 1965, p.1.)

And in another `Master Speaks' session Moon had claimed,

"The Principle is not the word of man, but the Word of God." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-3: "Prayer and the Spirit World," 1965, p.8.)

So, Moon claimed that the Principle is Truth and from God and simultaneously taught that if the Principle is Truth and from God, then the one who brought it (namely, Sun Myung Moon) is the Lord of the Second Advent! When you put these quotes together it can be clearly seen that he was indeed posing as the Lord of the Second Advent! Rev. Moon has taught:

"...the Lord of the Second Advent comes as the Third Adam. Then he will restore Eve, and they will be inaugurated as the True Parents." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-1(2): "The Lord of the Second Advent," 1965, p.3.)

"By blessing the three couples...I was inaugurated as the True Parents." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-2: "The Blessing and Witnessing," 1965, p.2.)

"The Lord of the Second Advent is in Adam's position..." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-3: "Prayer and the Spirit World, "1965, p.22.)

"Because for you my role is that of a true parent, true father, or Adam." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks: "Day of Victory of Heaven," 1976, pp.14-15.)

"The New Messiah must come to earth to finish Jesus' uncompleted work." (Sun Myung Moon, Public Talks, p.49)

"I have inherited the mission and the work, and succeed Jesus in this work. I am fulfilling what Jesus left undone." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-3: "Prayer and the Spirit World" 1965, p.14.)

DECEIVER

It is obvious that Rev. Moon had said, taught and claimed many times, by inference and association, that he was the Lord of the Second Advent. He was indeed posing as the Lord of the Second Advent. His 1985 statement, quoted and underlined above, was just a deceptive maneuver to avoid criticism from Christians at that time. Then, finally, came the big announcement. In a speech given on July 6, 7, 8, & 9, 1992 at Chungju, Pusan, Kwanju and Seoul Korea, respectively, and August 26, 1992 in Seoul, Korea, Rev. Moon publicly proclaimed:

"God chose me to be the Messiah, and during this time He has been performing His work of salvation. I have fulfilled my mission as the Lord of the Second Advent, Savior and the True Parent." (Rev. Sun Myung Moon, "The Reappearance of the True Parents and the Ideal Family," from the Unification Church magazine, Today's World, September 1992, p.6.)

When did he all of a sudden become "the Lord of the Second Advent"? Obviously that is the role he thought he had been filling all along! Rev. Moon has taught his followers,

"In restoring man from evil sovereignty, we must cheat." ("The Secret Sayings of `Master' Moon," Time magazine, June 14, 1976, p.49.)

Is Rev. Moon really the Messiah, or is he deceiving people?

Notice that in the above statement Moon claims to be the Messiah, the Lord of the Second Advent (which is just another way of referring to the Messiah, meaning the Second Coming of Christ); Savior (only the Messiah is the Savior), and the True Parent (a title from Moon's doctrine referring to the Messiah). He made that proclamation in speeches in Korea. Many people here in America, including many Christian Ministers, are not aware that he made such claims.

Today's World is a magazine published by the Unification Church for Unification Church members. In a speech given to Unification Church members by Rev. Ahn of the Unification Church, and recorded in Today's World, he gives their teaching:

"Today, God's word comes only through Father. If other people receive God's word, that word is that Reverend Moon is the Messiah. There is always a central person. If God gave His word to two or three people, they would fight and destroy God's providence. That is why God chooses only one person." (Rev. Ahn, Today's World, Jan. 1995, p.39)

Despite the teaching of the Bible and of Christianity for 2000 years, Moon teaches that Jesus was not supposed to be crucified but was supposed to marry John the Baptist's younger sister, and that Jesus and her were supposed to start a family of sinless children, etc. Moon teaches:

"God intended him [Jesus] to bring forth upon this earth his own sinless children. Then Jesus and his bride would have become the True Parents for humankind, and all humankind would have found life by grafting onto them." (Sun Myung Moon, "God's Warning", p. 42.)

"Abraham was the father of faith, Moses was a man of faith, Jesus was the son of man, trying to carry out his mission at the cost of his life. But they are, in a way, failures." (Sun Myung Moon, "Victory or Defeat," from Master Speaks, March 31, 1973, p. 1.)

He also teaches:

"This means that the failures of Adam and of Jesus Christ have been restored by the appearance of True Parents." (Sun Myung Moon, Today's World, Jan., 1995, p. 8.)

Sun Myung Moon claims to be "sinless", he claims to have more wisdom than Jesus, he has often said that he is greater than Jesus and he has even claimed that Jesus Christ has bowed down to him! And from the above quote we can also see that he claims to have "restored" the "failures" of Jesus Christ! So we see that to support or to participate in Moon's so-called "Blessing Ceremony" is to also endorse Moon's teaching that Jesus Christ is a failure, that Jesus failed in His mission and that Moon is greater than Jesus!

Moon teaches:

"I am now making a prototype of the perfect family, accomplishing what Jesus could not do." (Sun Myung Moon, Today's World, May, 1995, p.12.)

"Humankind needs the Messiah. The Messiah comes as the True Man who can establish the sinless family just like Adam and Eve were supposed to establish in the Garden of Eden for all humankind. Once the Messiah's family is established, all human beings can be engrafted into it and we can build a society, nation and world." (Sun Myung Moon, Today's World, Sept. 1996, pp. 8-9.)

"Thus, I established the True Parents' family, the origin of true love, true life, and true blood lineage, based on God." (Sun Myung Moon, "True Parents' and the Completed Testament Age", p.10.)

"Through the blessing of new marriages that pass on God's original blood lineage, the True Parents will be able to give salvation to all humanity." (Sun Myung Moon, "View of the Principle of the Providential History of Salvation", Today's World, May, 1996, p. 10.)

"Thus, it is the international holy weddings that establish this new blood lineage when the Lord of the Second Advent comes in the flesh." (Ibid.p. 10)

"Father said that the most important thing about True Parents is their authority to give the Blessing." (Unification News, June, 1997, p.32.)

In line with all this, Moon and his Unification Church (now called "The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification" [FFWPU]), also teaches:

"...the only way you can be saved is by believing in Rev. Moon and receiving the marriage blessing from him." (Sun Myung Moon, "Let Us Fulfill the Victorious Realm of True Children", Today's World, Dec. 1997, p.8)

"The Messiah comes to give the Blessing to everyone who will receive it." (Rev. Joong Pak, "The Open Blessing", Unification News, August 1997, p. 4)

So to support or participate in the so-called "Blessing" is tantamount to endorsing Moon's claim that he and Mrs. Moon are the "True Parents" of mankind -- and that Moon is the "Sinless Messiah" the only way of salvation!!! (For more information see WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF THE "BLESSING"?, The Family Federation for World Peace, and "Blessing '98" in New York City)

The Unification Church/ FFWPU has gained much acceptance and support from the Christian community in the past several years. The "American Clergy Leadership Conference" (ACLC), a Moon sponsored project, has been holding meetings around the nation gaining influence among Christian Ministers. By holding other meetings under the name the "Family Federation for World Peace" (instead of the Unification Church) and presenting family values themes (e.g. "True Family Values" seminars, "True Family Values" prayer breakfasts, etc.) instead of hard core Unification Church doctrine - they have been able to get many Christians and Christian Ministers to come to their meetings. But then they seek to get these Christian Ministers and their congregtations to participate in the "Blessing" Ceremony. Most of these Christians don't know the true underlying meaning of the "Blessing" Ceremony according to the teaching of the Unification Church/ FFWPU and as indicated in the above quotes from Unification Church publications. Some have expressed concern that they have heard that Moon has said that he is the Messiah. These have been lied to in order to pacify them and gain their acceptance. Below is a documented example of such deception.

The Thursday Aug.16, 2001 New York Newsday (City Edition) Newspaper was emblazoned with a huge picture of Sun Myung Moon on its front page with the captions, "Reverend's Growing Influence Among African-American Ministers Has Many Clergy Worried" and "Moon Orbits Harlem". Page A7 of that paper was filled with a whole page of articles about Moon and his upcoming "Blessing" to be held at Madison Square Garden, under the heading,"Moon A New Star". A sub-article on that page, "His Church's Beliefs", mentions that Moon has called himself the Messiah. After questioning a Unification Church / FFWPU official about this, Newsday then reported:

"But a church official said yesterday that Moon uses the term, Hebrew for 'the anointed one,' for all pastors, in the sense that they are chosen for a leadership role." (Paul Moses, "His Church's Beliefs", Newsday (City Edition) Newspaper, Aug. 16, 2001, p.A7)

This is an outright boldfaced lie by a Unification Church official, as every Unification Church member knows full well! The Unification Church knows that if the truth gets out it would cause the many Christian Ministers they have been deceiving to withdraw their support and actively speak out against them. But the thoroughly documented quotes from Unification Church publications listed above (as well as many more on our website) clearly prove that Moon claims to be the Messiah (a unique individual), the source of salvation for all mankind, sinless, the Lord of the Second Advent, the Second Coming of Christ, the Savior of the world, the only way to be saved!

Again, we remind the reader of the previous quote from a Unification Church leader to Unification Church members, recorded in an official Unification Church publication - which tells us what they really believe and what their true position is concerning this subject:

"Today, God's word comes only through Father. If other people receive God's word, that word is that Reverend Moon is the Messiah. There is always a central person. If God gave His word to two or three people, they would fight and destroy God's providence. That is why God chooses only one person." (Rev. Ahn, Today's World, Jan. 1995, p.39)

4. The Unification Church denies the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Trinity, cornerstones of the Christian faith and major themes of the Bible (John 8:58 cf. Exodus 3:13-15, Zech. 12:1-10 cf. John 19:36-37, John 1:1-3+10, Titus 2:13).

5. The Unification Church teaches a strict doctrine of works as payment for sin. They call this "indemnity". They teach you to pay indemnity for your sins and the sins of your ancestors. But the Bible teaches salvation by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 3:20-27, Rom. 5:1-2+9, Rom. 1:16-17, Heb. 10:17-18, Titus 3:5).

6. The Divine Principle vehemently denies the physical bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Again, this is an essential foundational teaching of the Christian faith, a major teaching of the Bible (John 2:18-21, Luke 24:39-47, Psalms 16:9-10, Acts 2:23-32, Acts 13:29-37, Heb. 5:12-6:2).

7. The Divine Principle teaches that Jesus Christ did not provide for complete salvation by His death on the cross, but only partial salvation. It then goes on to teach that therefore we need another Messiah to come and finish the job that Jesus failed to complete by being crucified. Again, this is totally against many Scriptures.

IS THE UNIFICATION CHURCH REALLY SEEKING TO UNIFY CHRISTIANITY?

By now it should be obvious that the Unification Church denies most of the major doctrines of Christianity. But the Unification Church claims to be Christian, and one of its stated goals is the unification of Christianity. This is even declared in the official name of their organization, "The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity." This goal of seeking to unite Christianity is especially emphasized by them to Christian Ministers and Christian congregations whom the Unification Church tries to influence and convert. But is the Unification Church really unifying Christianity, or is it leading people away from Christianity, from the Bible, and from the real Jesus Christ?

Privately, Rev. Moon has instructed his followers, "Until our mission with the Christian church is over, we must quote the Bible and use it to explain the Divine Principle. After we receive the inheritance of the Christian church, we will be free to teach without the Bible. Now, however, our primary mission is to witness to the Christian church." (Sun Myung Moon, Master Speaks-7: "Bible Interpretation," 1965, p.1.)

In the Unification Church book, The Victory of Love, concerning how to deal with Christian Ministers and accomplish the real goal of the Unification Church, the supposed spirit of Heung Jin Nim Moon has instructed Unification Church members, "Of course, in order that the Ministers feel at home, you must declare your love to Brother Jesus, but at the same time do not forget your goal, which is to bring them to the Lord of the Second Advent." (Purportedly by the spirit of Heung Jin Nim Moon, The Victory of Love, New York, NY: The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, 1992, p.41.)

Rev. Moon teaches his followers: "I know the established Christian theology. ...I know the enemy, but the enemy doesn't know me. Thus the enemy has already lost the war."(Rev. Moon, Today's World, Feb. 1995, p.14) (See Examples of the Use of Deception By the Unification Church)

IS REV. MOON REALLY THE MESSIAH OR IS HE DECEIVING PEOPLE?

As mentioned before Rev. Moon has taught his followers: "In restoring man from evil sovereignty, we must cheat." ("The Secret Sayings of `Master' Moon," Time magazine, June 14, 1976, p.49.)

He has also taught them: "So telling a lie becomes a sin if you tell it to take advantage of a person, but if you tell a lie to do a good thing for him that is not a sin." (Master Speaks, Speech Given at the Rowlane Farmhouse, March 16, 1972)

Of course, for the Unification Church, leading someone to the (supposed) "Lord of the Second Advent" and persuading them to follow him would be considered "a good thing". This is classic cult indoctrination of "the end justifies the means". But God's Word strictly forbids such practices: "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)

I am not advocating persecuting the Unification Church or hating them. Of course not! We should love them and pray for them as we should for all people. But if we truly love them, we must warn them that they are following a deceiver and false Messiah. And we must warn others lest they be caught up in his quagmire of deception. Sun Myung Moon and his Unification Church need to repent as lying to and deceiving people is sin, the breaking of the ninth of the Ten Commandments, bad and evil fruit (Prov. 12:5, Matt. 7:15-23). You cannot walk in lies and deception and walk in fellowship with the one true and Holy God of the Bible! (1 John 5:3, 1 John 1:6) How can Rev. Moon claim to be the Second Coming of Christ, sinless, and at the same time teach and encourage people to cheat, which is so contrary to the perfect example, integrity and teaching of Jesus Christ? The Bible says of the real Jesus Christ: (I Peter 2:21-22 niv) "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth."

The Word of God warns us that there are many other Jesus' out there, but only one true Lord Jesus Christ, and warns us not to be deceived by them. "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) God also commands us to use our minds and to test all things so that we not be misled or deceived. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) "... Test everything. Hold on to the good."(1 Thessalonians 5:21)

The Word of God is the standard for discerning spiritual truth. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."(John 17:17) If the Bible and the Jesus of the Bible say one thing, yet Rev. Moon and the Divine Principle say something totally contradictory concerning the same subject, which is the truth and final authority? Jesus taught, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."(Luke 21:33) And Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

As said before, Jesus warned us: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, `I am the Christ (or Messiah),' and will deceive many."(Matthew 24:4-5) Sun Myung Moon claims to be the Christ, the Messiah, and he has deceived many. Jesus also taught: "Then if anyone says to you, `Behold, here is the Christ,' or `There he is,' do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. If therefore they say to you, `Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go forth, or, `Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be."(Matthew 24:23-27)

This article by David Wolfe

Note: Whenever in this article quoted words are put in bold print or underlined, these were used by this author for emphasis.