How did the prophets contribute to God's providence of restoration?
Prophets contributed to God's providence of restoration by serving as central figures, guiding humanity through conditional stages to fulfill God's absolute will. When human responsibility failed, God prolonged His plan through new prophets, establishing indemnity conditions to reverse the Fall's effects and prepare families, tribes, and nations for the Messiah. Their work laid foundations for the Messiah's coming, demonstrating God's unwavering resolve despite human shortcomings.
God's providence of restoration is His absolute and unchanging will to restore humanity to its original state of perfection and establish His Kingdom on Earth. However, the fulfillment of this will is conditional, dependent on the 5% human portion of responsibility (Romans 8:29-30, 9:15-16). When central figures fail in their responsibility, God's providence is prolonged, necessitating new figures to carry on the mission (Romans 9:20-21). Prophets, throughout biblical history, played a crucial role in this ongoing providence, serving as God's instruments to guide and prepare humanity for the coming of the Messiah.
The Divine Predestination of God's Will
God's purpose of creation and restoration is absolute, unique, eternal, and unchanging. This includes His will for perfect love in the family and the establishment of an ideal world. However, the way in which this will is fulfilled is conditional, hinging on human free will and the completion of our portion of responsibility. God does not absolutely predestine what happens to individuals, but rather the principles and natural laws by which things work. He plans missions for individuals, but their success depends on their 5% effort. When this human portion of responsibility is not fulfilled, the providence of restoration is prolonged. This explains why biblical accounts often describe God choosing another person to carry on a mission after a central figure's failure. History progresses in a spiral movement, repeating providential events appropriate to a later time when earlier foundations are not met. This prolongation can extend to as many as three stages, based on the principle of three stages in all created things.
Prophets as Central Figures in Providential History
Prophets served as central figures in successive stages of God's providence. When a previous foundation for the Messiah failed due to human irresponsibility, God called a new prophet to lay a new foundation. These figures were instrumental in restoring fallen humanity, primarily by establishing conditions of indemnity that reversed the effects of the Fall. Their missions were to raise individuals and families, and eventually nations, toward God's ideal, preparing the spiritual and physical environment for the coming of the Messiah. The providential history unfolded in distinct periods, such as the 2,000-year age to lay the foundation for restoration (from Adam through Jacob), the 2,000-year age of the providence of restoration (from Jacob's entry into Egypt to Jesus), and the 2,000-year age of the prolongation of the providence of restoration (from Jesus to the Second Advent). Each age involved various prophets guiding humanity through specific indemnity conditions and preparing for the next stage of God's plan.
The prophets' contributions often involved guiding chosen people through periods of tribulation and setting up conditions to restore earlier failures. For example, the 400-year period of slavery in Egypt, under figures like Moses, was an indemnity period to restore Abraham's mistake. Similarly, the 400-year period of rule by judges, following the exodus, involved prophets who filled the triple responsibilities of prophet, priest, and king, paralleling the period from Noah to Abraham. When Moses failed to fully achieve his mission, the providence was extended, and Joshua was raised to complete it, demonstrating how God re-starts and continues the work through new central figures (Joshua 1:1-9). "And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day" (Joshua 5:9). This pattern of repeated attempts and the raising of new prophets underscores God's unwavering commitment to His ultimate purpose, despite human failures.
Prophets also worked to restore the "foundation of substance" by guiding people to unite with God's will. For instance, the story of Jacob and Esau illustrates this principle. Jacob, representing Abel, had to successfully overcome the 'Cain' figure (Esau) to establish a foundation for God's providence, requiring a spiritual struggle and ultimate reconciliation (Genesis 32-33). "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Genesis 32:24). This familial foundation was crucial, and later prophets built upon such familial, tribal, and national foundations to prepare for the Messiah. The prophets consistently reminded people of God's covenant and called them to repentance and obedience, guiding them through symbolic and later substantial parallels in history to prepare for the ultimate fulfillment of God's will. "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place" (Jeremiah 7:3).
Living the Principle
The contributions of prophets teach us about our own role in God's providence:
1. Embrace Responsibility: Understand that God's will, while absolute, requires our 5% effort for its fulfillment; take ownership of our spiritual development. 2. Learn from History: Recognize that personal and collective failures can prolong God's plan, inspiring us to fulfill our missions diligently and avoid the repetition of past mistakes. 3. Seek Reconciliation: Actively work to heal divisions and foster unity, mirroring the providential need for Cain and Abel figures to reconcile. 4. Stand as a Central Figure: Strive to be a leader for good in our families and communities, upholding God's principles and preparing the way for a world of peace.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
Last reviewed:
Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.