The principles of restoration

Because of the fall God’s plan to build heaven did not come to pass. As a consequence God and mankind suffer. The Principle even indicates that also the creation is estranged waits for salvation, because it lost its center – mankind. This goes far beyond issues of environmental protection.

Immediately after the fall God started a process of recreation. Other terms used in this regard are ‘restoration’ and ‘rebirth’. The ultimate hope of history became the messiah, an individual that resembles God in heart. The messiah shall find a bride, establish a family and as ‘true parents’ give rebirth to all mankind. That is the end of Satan’s reign and the final liberation of mankind, the end of evil history. In the process of restoration the messiah’s family thus takes the place of Adam’s family.

God wanted to send the messiah as quick as possible, even already in Adam’s family. However, there are two issues that complicate matters:

1. Satan’s rule is based on coercion. As the ruler of the cosmos he would kill the messiah immediately. Thus a secure realm must be created to provide an environment where he can grow up, develop and prepare himself.

2. Human beings as the center of the cosmos have to take responsibility to prepare the foundation for the messiah. That will be their contribution to the restoration of the ideal. God doing it all for them is not an option. That would violate the dignity of human beings and make it impossible in eternity to come before God as free individuals.

Thus mankind has to prepare the foundation for the messiah to come, then accept and support him and cooperate with him in building heaven on earth, ending the rule of Satan. Mankind will learn to live according to the laws of the cosmos. Ultimately religion will disappear as mankind learns to communicate directly with God.

Two types of foundations make up the foundation for the messiah. The Principle calls these the ‘foundation of faith’ and the ‘foundation of substance’.