What is the realm of God's direct dominion and how does God relate to us during this time?

Question

Sun Myung Moon · Accepted Answer

The realm of God's direct dominion refers to a state of being where perfected individuals live in complete unity with God, their hearts and wills spontaneously aligning with His. It is the culmination of human growth, where individuals have fulfilled their portion of responsibility and achieved full maturity, exercising goodness, exchanging love and beauty, and living in perfect harmony with God's will. This state signifies an eternal, unbreakable union, often described as "Emmanuel" or "God with us." The Process of Growth and God's Indirect Dominion God's creation developed over a set period, with all things requiring a growth period to reach maturity, passing through three ordered stages: formation, growth, and completion. During this process, created things were designed to grow autonomously, in accordance with the Principle itself. God, as the ultimate supervisor, manages this growth indirectly through the Principle, relating only to the results. This period is known as the realm of God's indirect dominion, or the dominion over the results of the Principle. However, human beings were created uniquely. Unlike other creations, we are meant to reach maturity not only through the independent force of the Principle but also by fulfilling a given portion of our own responsibility. God’s ultimate desire was to bestow upon us a degree of creative potential akin to His own, giving humanity a portion of responsibility that even He Himself would not interfere with. This responsibility enables us to stand in the position of creator and exercise dominion over creation, just as God exercises dominion over humanity, reflecting that we are created in His image. As it is written in Genesis 1:27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." God's command to Adam and Eve, "In the day that you eat of that fruit, you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17), illustrates this unique human responsibility. The decision to obey or disobey was theirs, not God's. This indicates that human completion is not solely dependent on God’s power. God did not give such a commandment to other creations, only to humanity, highlighting our unique role and the necessity of our fulfilling our portion of responsibility to become complete. For "the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us" (Isaiah 33:22), and yet He grants us this significant role. For "the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6), guiding our responsible choices. The Transition to Direct Dominion The realm of God's indirect dominion is therefore a necessary period for humans to develop genuine individuality, creativity, and the ability to offer true love to God. During this time, God governs through His Word, conscience, and established principles, refraining from directly interfering with human free will. This freedom is crucial because genuine love, truthfulness, and goodness can only develop through self-initiated effort and responsible choice. If God were to directly control human actions during this period, humans would resemble automatons, incapable of developing genuine character. "For ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). The Lord knows that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Unification Principle highlights that perfection is achieved only when human beings fulfill their portion of responsibility in addition to God's responsibility. Upon the completion of this human portion of responsibility, we will come to reside in the realm of God's direct dominion. This transition signifies a state where, having fully harmonized with God's heart and will, our choices would spontaneously align with His, making us incapable of initiating evil. God would then perpetually guide us directly through His inner love, without the need for external commandments or indirect methods. This acquisition and experience is Emmanuel, "God with us." This principle provides the key to understanding the problem of evil. The Fall, as described in Genesis, occurred precisely because humanity was in the growth period under indirect dominion and abused the freedom inherent in that state. God, out of respect for human free will and the ultimate goal of developing true children, did not unilaterally prevent the Fall, as doing so would have negated the very conditions necessary for genuine perfection and love. This understanding illuminates that our struggles and challenges are not arbitrary but opportunities for growth, pushing us to exercise our freedom responsibly and cultivate character, ultimately leading to God's direct dominion. Living the Principle Embracing the principle of indirect dominion means recognizing our profound responsibility and capacity for genuine growth, leading us towards God’s direct dominion. 1. Fulfill Y

What is the realm of God's direct dominion and how does God relate to us during this time?

The Process of Growth and God's Indirect Dominion

The Transition to Direct Dominion

Living the Principle

Sources and further reading