Ascension Day Commemorative Service and the Sacred Assembly of the Day of Pentecost 2023

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Ac 1:8

Two thousand years ago, Jesus left these words and ascended to heaven in front of His disciples. Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, He poured out the Holy Spirit upon His disciples and the saints of the early Church, who were together constantly in prayer, giving them the gifts to fulfill His command.

The members of the Church of God all around the world, who had been striving to spread the gospel in the hope of saving 8 billion people, prayed with one mind for the gift and power of the Holy Spirit throughout the prayer week of the Pentecost, starting with the Ascension Day service on May 18. At the Sacred Assembly of the Day of Pentecost on May 28, they gave thanks to God Elohim for the Holy Spirit, and made a resolution to complete the world evangelism through the power granted during the feast.

Ascension Day Commemorative Worship: the Mission of the Gospel Fulfilled by Those Who Will Advance to the Glory of Ascension

Jesus‘ ascension to heaven on the 40th day after His resurrection and the pouring down of the Holy Spirit ten days later on the day of Pentecost are all fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. At the time of the Exodus, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, and Moses was called by God and went up to Mount Sinai 40 days later, which is the origin for Ascension Day. Ten days after that (50 days after they came out of the Red Sea), Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, and it became the origin for the Day of Pentecost (Old Testament name: Feast of Weeks).

On Ascension Day, Mother prayed that all the saints who kept Ascension Day would receive the glory of ascension which Father set an example for. She also hoped to find all the lost heavenly family members and lead them to heaven by putting the Passover seal on their souls by the power of the Holy Spirit.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol emphasized the mission that must be fulfilled by those who received the promise of ascension. According to the Bible, those who will be saved will either be resurrected at the last trumpet, or be changed suddenly and caught up in the clouds. They will experience the amazing power of receiving God in the air (1 Co 15:50–58; 1 Th 4:16–17).

Pastor Kim Joo-cheol said, “Jesus asked the saints, who are the citizens of heaven and are promised salvation, to preach the gospel of the new covenant to all people around the world. Having received the mission on this earth, let us realize what we must do on this earth, so that we can preach the gospel to all nations and walk on the path that is destined for glory and blessings” (Ac 1:6–11; Php 3: 20–21; Rev 22:1–5; Mt 28:18–20).

The Sacred Assembly of the Day of Pentecost: Those Who Are Born Again by the Holy Spirit Preach the Gospel to All Nations With Love

During the prayer week of Pentecost, which began in the evening of Ascension Day, the members prayed for the grace of the Holy Spirit, morning and evening for ten days, and they welcomed the Sacred Assembly of the Day of Pentecost with anticipation and excitement.

Mother earnestly prayed that the blessings of the Holy Spirit would descend upon Her children seven times greater and stronger than that of the early Church, as everyone had hoped for with one mind. Mother reminded them of the fact that the greatest love and righteousness is to save dying souls by diligently preaching the new covenant that God established with love. Mother hoped that all Her children would participate in the gospel work to deliver hope and love to the world and share the food that endures to eternal life, so that all the lost family members of heaven would be found soon.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol encouraged their faith and passion, saying, “As God pours out the Holy Spirit today, we will experience the gospel work that we have never been able to accomplish on our own.” He also looked back at the history of the saints of the early Church, who trembled in fear while watching Jesus’ suffering on the cross, boldly preached the gospel to Asia Minor and Europe with their faith strengthened after receiving the Holy Spirit. He said, “People change, depending on what they have in their minds. Since we’ve received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, let’s be completely changed as the workers of the new covenant, whom God is pleased with, and boldly preach the Spirit and the Bride, the Saviors in this age, to all mankind” (Ac 2:1–13, 37–47; Ac 4: 1–4; Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15–16; Ps 34:2–3).

From that day on, the Pentecost Preaching Festival began in the Church of God throughout the world. The members from all over the world embarked on the 40-day long journey, making a resolution to spread the gospel in Samaria and to the ends of the earth and save all people by adding the love of God, who sacrificed to save sinners, to the Holy Spirit God granted during the festival.