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The Bible refers to a “prophet” as a person who realizes God’s will first and carries out the work of God. God did nothing without revealing His plan to His prophets, and in every age He sent His prophets again and again to His elect (Am 3:7; Jer 29:19).
The Old Testament shows well the activities of the prophets who warned the Israelites whenever they went astray, conveyed the true will of God to them, and prophesied of the impending disasters and the salvation of Christ. The New Testament also talks about the gospel prophets who received the good news of salvation first when Christ came to the earth, and preached it to the whole world. In actuality, all 66 books of the Bible are God’s words written by the prophets who were moved by the Holy Spirit, and also God’s voice conveyed through the prophets to the whole world.
God wants all the members of Zion to be great prophets. If we are the prophets of God, we should first know the will of God correctly and should also behave accordingly, in addition to preaching the gospel properly. Now let’s take some time to think about what we should do to become the great prophets God wants us to be.
Difference between knowing and unknowing
Penicillin, the best-known antibiotic, is very effective in the treatment of wound infections. However, when the penicillin injection was first made, people were reluctant to take it. That was because they knew little about the effectiveness of penicillin. Even a bold person was reluctant to get a shot of penicillin, with the fear: ‘Can I really get better with this injection? What if I get worse?’ It was all because they did not know its effectiveness.
However, as the effect of penicillin became known gradually, people’s response started to change. They came to trust in penicillin as the people who were cured with a shot of penicillin began to advertise its effective-ness. From then on, people spontaneously visited the hospital and waited in line to receive a penicillin injection, and as a result, many lives were saved.
It is the same with Tamiflu, an antiviral drug. Before H1N1 became pan-demic, there were only a few people who knew the value of the medicine. However, as the influenza A[H1N1] virus was spread throughout the world, Tamiflu attracted international attention every day. People came to know that the drug, which they had never even heard of, was the only effective drug for the flu, and the governments of the countries that failed to secure the antiviral medicine Tamiflu were severely criticized and blamed by their people. From that time on, every country in the world was struggling to secure the Tamiflu drug.
It is the same spiritually. A medication in this world has just an instant effect for the treatment of a disease, but the new covenant that Heavenly Father and Mother have given us is the medicine of salvation that gives eternal life to human beings, who are in slavery to sin and death, and revives and heals the nations. However, since people in the world do not know about the Spirit and the Bride, the Saviors in the age of the Holy Spirit, they hesitate to receive Elohim even though They are giving the water of life that can save us forever (Rev 22:17).
We are responsible for it because we have not fully preached the truth and its value to them even though we have already known about the power of the truth. Since they have not heard of the truth before and do not know its value, they cannot accept it easily, can they? If we fully explain to all people in the world about the new covenant and about Elohim, the Spirit and the Bride, who have given us the new covenant, they will be willing to stream to Zion in order to receive the blessings of salvation as prophesied in the Bible, even if they are not persuaded.
In the days of Moses, when the Israelites gathered the materials for the building of the tabernacle, they were willing to bring their offerings to God with joy because they realized how blessed it was to offer God the materi-als for the tabernacle. As the people continued to bring freewill offerings more than enough for building the tabernacle, Moses had to even restrain them bringing more (Ex 35:20–29; 36:2–7).
This is a prophecy which is to be repeated in this age when God’s chil-dren, represented as the materials for the Heavenly Temple, are gathered. So, we should first go to people and let them know about the value of the gospel. When we, the prophets in this age, preach the word of God to the whole world, many people will be willing to knock at the door of Zion and come to have a desire for salvation as they realize the value of the truth and its blessings, just as the Israelites continued to bring freewill offerings to God for the building of the tabernacle, when they realized its blessings.
Gospel prophets who will enlighten the world
Now, the overseas visiting groups from all over the world are flying into the arms of Heavenly Mother like doves to their nests. Our brothers and sisters in Zion, who have gone out into the world, have been diligently introducing the spiritual effects of the truth through the Bible. After listening to their detailed explanation, the overseas members have come to understand who the Savior in the age of the Holy Spirit is, what the new covenant is, and why Mother the New Jerusalem must exist. So they have been able to possess great faith within just a short period of time, and are continuously making a true pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
However, there are still many people in the world who are ignorant of the truth. In order for them to receive the truth, all the members of Zion should become the great prophets of the gospel and awaken them by diligently preaching the Word to them. We should let them know fully and correctly about the power of the new covenant, the value of the new name, and the glory of the New Jerusalem, so that they can shake off all the fears and receive the truth of salvation.
Many of the people who hear the truth for the first time are very amazed and surprised, saying, “Why on earth have I not heard this wonderful truth before?” We must not just keep this amazing truth to ourselves. It is our mission to help them understand on behalf of God.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.” Eze 3:17
Since God has given us the mission to awaken the world, let us preach the truth to people more boldly, with conviction in the truth. We do not need to hesitate at all, worrying if they may not listen. When we just deliver the truth as it is, the day will quickly come when all the people of the world will be saved.
The gospel God has declared to us is likened to the choicest fruit (Isa 5:1–2). Since people do not know this choicest fruit, the perfect truth, they just cannot receive it. If we go to Samaria and to the ends of the earth and preach the truth to all people, they will surely show a different attitude than they had when they did not know about it.
How to bear much fruit
We can do nothing if we just hesitate while thinking of our own ability and circumstances. In carrying out the holy mission as the prophets, we have to go forward by trusting only in Elohim and depending on Their power, getting rid of negative thoughts such as, ‘I can’t do it because I have no ability,’ or, ‘I can’t do it because I am slow of speech.’
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Php 4:13
God has prepared all things so we can do everything through His power. So there is nothing impossible for us. Nevertheless, if we are unable to do anything, it is just because we do not try to do it.
When a seed is sown, it sprouts and bears fruit. It is the same with the seed of the gospel; as we sow, so shall we reap. This is God’s providence shown through all things in nature.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit un-less you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Jn 15:1–5
As the branches of God, we have been created to bear much fruit if we remain in God. God draws up the sap from the roots and provides all the nutrients to us so that we can bear fruit.
Bearing fruit is the unique role of the branches of the vine. What if we do not bear fruit even though God has given us the mission of the branches? Since God has made us the branches of the vine, why would He not grant us fruit? God will surely give fruit to His children who earnestly ask and make efforts (Mt 7:7–11).
God helps us do everything, so we do not need to find it difficult to bear fruit. If we fail to bear fruit, it is probably because we try to do it by depending on our own thoughts, not on the power of God.
If we try to preach the Word with the eloquence of our own words or knowledge, without an earnest mind like that of God to save a soul, we can achieve nothing. We can never bear fruit if we try to do it with our own strength apart from God, setting aside God’s teaching that we should preach the Word boldly and enthusiastically while humbling ourselves and considering others better than ourselves.
God clearly said, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” We are able to bear much fruit when we remain in God who is the source of power that enables us to bear fruit and who is the source of water of life and salvation. Nothing is impossible if we abide in the teachings of Father and Mother.
Preach the new covenant of eternal life throughout the world
As for many good medicines, if their effects had not been rightly known to people, they would never have been able to save people’s lives but might have just ended up being something fearful. It is the same with the new covenant that brings eternal life to human beings; it is useless unless it is preached. We should proclaim the new covenant, which grants eternal life, to the whole world, so that no one will not feel afraid to receive it just because they do not know about it.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Ti 4:1–5
When God tells us to do the duty of an evangelist, He means that we should bear much fruit as the branches of the vine, doesn’t He? Unless we preach, there is no way the world can know the truth of God, and that is why people feel afraid to accept it. No one can be saved if they reject the truth.
Since God has given us the mission of the prophets, we have to enlighten the world on behalf of God. As children of Zion, let us preach the truth of the new covenant, which Heavenly Father and Mother have taught us, to more people, so that we can save the world. I hope that all our brothers and sisters in Zion will lead many souls to the way of life by faithfully carrying out the mission God has entrusted to us, as great gospel prophets.