Why will the world not be able to kill the messiah at the second advent?
The Messiah at the Second Advent will not be killed because, unlike at Jesus' first coming, humanity benefits from 2,000 years of spiritual Providence and the establishment of religious freedom and separation of church and state. These conditions prevent the unified political and religious persecution that led to Jesus' crucifixion, ensuring the Messiah can complete the physical Kingdom of Heaven on Earth despite enduring other forms of suffering and rejection.
This question addresses a core misconception, often drawn from the first advent, that impacts our understanding of the Second Coming. The Divine Principle offers a profound clarification for why the Messiah at the Second Advent cannot be killed by humanity, unlike Jesus, thereby illuminating God's providential course and the crucial role of human responsibility.
The Biblical Foundation
The Biblical narrative surrounding Jesus' death is clear: "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). Jesus himself prophesied his crucifixion, stating to his disciples, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and after three days rise again" (Luke 9:22). This sacrificial death was a redemptive act for the sins of humanity (Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 2:24). The New Testament emphasizes that Jesus willingly laid down his life: "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord" (John 10:18).
However, without a deeper understanding of God's providence, a question arises when considering the Second Advent: Will the Messiah face the same fate? A simple projection of the human failure at the first advent onto the second creates doubt and confusion about God's perfect plan and the progress of human responsibility. While the Bible speaks of overcoming antagonists in the end times (Revelation 19:11-21), it does not explicitly detail the physical vulnerability of the returning Messiah, leading to questions about whether humanity will repeat its past error. Importantly, Jesus also said, "But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation" (Luke 17:25), referring to His return, implying continued suffering and rejection. This seemingly contradicts the idea of protection but is reconciled through the distinction between spiritual and physical death.
Divine Principle's Clarification
The Divine Principle clarifies this critical difference by emphasizing the Principle of Creation and the purpose of the Messiah's coming. It asserts that Jesus' crucifixion was not God's original will but rather a consequence of human disbelief and failure to unite with him. God's original intention for Jesus was to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth during his lifetime, not to die on the cross as a sacrificial lamb for all generations.
The Divine Principle reveals that Jesus' mission was to save humanity both spiritually and physically. However, due to the disbelief of the Jewish people and their leaders, particularly John the Baptist's failure to recognize and serve him, Jesus could only accomplish spiritual salvation. His physical body was then subject to their condemnation and execution. The Christian saints inherited original sin and were still part of Satan's blood lineage, much like the Old Testament saints. This is why even faithful Christians today still battle with their fallen nature. Their bodies were in the same position as Jesus on the cross, invaded by Satan. Therefore, a new foundation was needed for the Second Coming. The Bible confirms this, stating in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
At the Second Advent, the Messiah comes to complete what Jesus could not accomplish physically. His mission is to establish the physical Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. By this time, humanity has undergone a providential process of restoration. The Second Coming Messiah inherits Jesus' mission, but also benefits from 2,000 years of spiritual Providence through Christianity, which introduced the age of the separation of church and state and religious freedom. Therefore, "no matter how much he is persecuted or called a heretic or a bad person, the institutions of the Christian world will not be able to put him to death." This freedom and separation of powers prevent the kind of unified religious and political persecution that led to Jesus' crucifixion. Although the Messiah will face many hardships and suffering, the world will not be able to physically kill him, ensuring he can fulfill the Providence on the third attempt. As it is written in Matthew 19:26, "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
The Completed Understanding
When combining the Biblical narrative with the Divine Principle, a holistic and profound understanding emerges. The Bible recounts Jesus' redemptive blood sacrifice (Ephesians 1:7) necessitated by humanity's failure to accept him as the King of Kings and form a visible Kingdom (John 18:36). The Divine Principle clarifies that this was a secondary path God took due to the Fall and humanity's continued lack of faith at the first advent.
The Divine Principle explains that the Second Messiah is called to complete the physical aspect of salvation and establish God's ideal of true families and a world of peace. He will "complete the foundation for the Messiah on the substantial global level by creating the foundation of faith and substance." The "new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1) spoken of in the Bible refers to the realization of this ideal on a global scale. Humanity's collective consciousness and the establishment of a foundation for religious freedom mean that the institutions of the world will not be able to put the Messiah to death. This does not mean the Messiah won't face challenges or opposition, or even significant suffering as prophesied, but it clarifies that humankind will not succeed in killing him, unlike at the first advent. The purpose of restoration will have matured to the point where humanity collaborates with God, rather than obstructing His final plan for a physical Kingdom of Heaven. For "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).
Living the Principle
1. Educate ourselves and others about the Divine Principle's clarification of the Second Coming, recognizing that humanity's preparedness and the foundation of religious freedom prevent the Messiah's physical death. 2. Actively work to build a foundation of faith and unity through God's word and truth, recognizing our collective responsibility to welcome and sustain the Messiah, ensuring his mission's success. 3. Strive to overcome our fallen nature and grow spiritually, fostering a world where love, truth, and peace prevail, thereby creating an environment where the Messiah can safely fulfill his mission. 4. Support the Messiah's mission by embodying true love and family ideals, becoming part of the "new heaven and new earth" where humanity proactively participates in God's completed providence.
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.
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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.