SECTION I – THE AGE OF PROVIDENTIAL TIME-IDENTITY
What is the “age of providential time-identity”? When we look into the course of human history, we often find that a certain historical course, similar to that of a past age, is repeated in later ages, although there may be some difference in degree and scope. Historians, seeing such phenomena, say that history progresses in a spiral of repeating identical patterns. They never know the cause, however. If a certain age is a repetition of the historical course of the previous age, that age is called the “age of providential time-identity”. The reason for calling this the age of providential time-identity will be explained later in detail, but it is mainly because all those phenomena are originally based on God’s providence of restoration through indemnity.
Why then does the age of providential time-identity occur? All the facts occurring in the course of fulfilling the purpose of God’s providence of restoration have formed human history. However, when a certain central figure who has been walking the providential course fails to carry out his portion of responsibility, the age of providence centering on that person comes to an end. Nevertheless, since God’s predestination for the will is absolute (cf. Part I, Ch. 6–193), God would set up another person in place of the former, and establish a new age to restore through indemnity the foundation to receive the Messiah. Since this new age is one of restoration through indemnity of the historical course of the previous age, the same course of history needs to be repeated, and thus the age of providential time-identity is formed.
Meanwhile, the persons in charge of the providence of restoration must restore horizontally through indemnity all the vertical conditions of indemnity belonging to the previous age. Therefore, as the vertical conditions of indemnity increase with the prolongation of the providence of restoration, the conditions of indemnity to be set up horizontally become heavier and heavier. Accordingly, the age of providential time-identity will also gradually become different in its content and extent. This is the reason the forms of the respective ages of providential time identity are not exactly the same.
In the meantime, when we classify the three stages of the period of growth by type, the formation stage is the symbolic type, the growth stage is the image type, and the perfection stage is the substantial type. Therefore, the ages in the providential course of restoration identically repeating these types have reproduced similar types of history. That is, when we divide the whole period of the providential history of restoration from the viewpoint of time-identity by type, the providential age for the foundation of restoration is the age of symbolic time-identity, while the providential age of restoration is the age of image time-identity, and the providential age of the prolongation of restoration is the period of substantial time-identity. Next, we must know the factors which form the age of providential time-identity. The ages of time-identity repeat themselves because the providence to restore the foundation to receive the Messiah is being repeated. Accordingly, we may first list, as the factors which help to create the age of providential time-identity, three conditions for the restoration of the foundation of faith: the central figure for this foundation, the necessary conditional objects, and the mathematical length of the period. Secondly, we can list the condition of indemnity to remove the fallen nature in order to restore the foundation of substance.
The ages of providential time-identity formed by such factors exhibit the following two characteristics:
First, the providential time-identity is formed by the factor of the number of the years or generations which make up the mathematical period of indemnity to restore the foundation of faith. The providential history of restoration was the history of God’s providence (through men), which involved repeatedly restoring through indemnity the foundation of faith. This foundation had been lost because the central figures in charge of the providence failed in carrying out their portions of responsibility. Thus it has been necessary to repeat the providence to restore through indemnity the mathematical period of faith. After all, the ages of providential time-identity have repeatedly formed identical types through the repetition of certain numbers of years or generations. The purpose of this chapter is to handle the questions concerning this process.
Second, the providential time-identity is formed by the factors of the historical facts in the providence such as: the central figure and the conditional objects to restore the foundation of faith, and the condition of indemnity to remove the fallen nature for the restoration of the foundation of substance. Since the purpose of the providence of restoration is to establish the foundation to receive the Messiah, the providence to restore this foundation should repeat itself if the providence is prolonged.
Meanwhile, the foundation to receive the Messiah can be established only by restoring first the foundation of faith through the symbolic offering, and then the foundation of substance through the substantial offering. Consequently, the history of the providence of restoration has been a repetition of the providence of restoring the symbolic offering and the substantial offering. Therefore, the age of providential time-identity is formed centering on the historical facts in the providence, which have been efforts to restore these two kinds of offerings. Questions concerning this will be discussed in detail in the following chapter.
SECTION II – THE FORMATION OF THE NUMBER OF YEARS AND GENERATIONS IN THE PROVIDENTIAL AGE FOR THE FOUNDATION OF RESTORATION
1. WHY AND HOW IS THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION PROLONGED?
We have previously discussed the fact that God’s providence of restoration had been prolonged from Adam to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, finally coming down to Jesus. Due to the faithlessness of the people, Jesus died without completely accomplishing his purpose. The providence of restoration is therefore being prolonged to the time of the Second Advent.
Why then is the providence of restoration prolonged? This is a question to be solved only by the theory of predestination. According to the theory of predestination, God’s will is predestined to be fulfilled as an absolute. Therefore, the will, once set up, must eventually be fulfilled. However, since the fulfillment of the will centering on any person is relative, the will would be fulfilled only when God’s portion of responsibility and man’s portion are combined. Accordingly, when God’s will is not fulfilled, because the person with the mission of fulfilling the will fails to accomplish his own portion of responsibility, God will set up another person, in a different age, in his place. Then He will work His providence of fulfilling the will without fail. Thus, the providence of restoration is prolonged.
Next, we must know the manner in which the providence of restoration is prolonged. According to the principle of creation, God is a being of the number “three”, and all things created in His image and likeness present themselves through courses in the number three, either in their aspect of existence, their movement, or their process of growth. Therefore, to fulfill the purpose of creation by establishing the four position foundation and performing circular movement, they must pass three points, by fulfilling the three objective purposes according to the three-stage action of origin, division and union. Meanwhile the providence of restoring the purpose of creation is that of recreation through the Word, so it may be prolonged to as many as three stages in the prolongation of the providence of restoration, according to the principle of creation.
In Adam’s family, when the “substantial offering” by Cain and Abel ended in failure, the will was prolonged three times, through Noah to Abraham. Upon Abraham’s failure in his “symbolic offering”, the will was prolonged through Isaac to Jacob. The courses of the restoration of Canaan centering on Moses or Jesus were prolonged three times each. The ideal of erecting the temple, due to King Saul’s mistake, was prolonged through King David to King Solomon. God’s ideal of creation, left unfulfilled through Adam, was prolonged three times, through Jesus, the second Adam, to the time of the Second Advent. One proverb says, “If not done at first attempt, it will be sure at the third.”, thus verifying the principle found in our actual life.
2. THE VERTICAL CONDITION OF INDEMNITY AND HORIZONTAL RESTORATION THROUGH INDEMNITY
The central figure in charge of the will of the providence of restoration cannot succeed and accomplish the mission of his predecessors unless he can restore through indemnity, in his time, all the conditions of indemnity which the persons in charge of the same missions, in the providential course until this time, tried to set up. Accordingly, when this person again fails to accomplish this mission, the conditions of indemnity which he failed to set up would be handed on to the next person with that mission. Those conditions, historically accumulated and added to by the failure of the persons in charge of the providence in the providential course of restoration, are called “vertical conditions of indemnity”. When they are restored through indemnity centering on one who has a specific mission, we call this “horizontal restoration through indemnity”.
For example, in order for Abraham to accomplish his mission, he would have had to horizontally restore through indemnity all the vertical conditions of indemnity which Adam’s and Noah’s families had tried to set up. Abraham’s sacrifices with the three offerings at once on the altar were to horizontally restore through indemnity the vertical conditions of indemnity, which had been prolonged through the three stages of Adam, Noah, and Abraham. Consequently, the three offerings symbolized all the conditions which Adam and Noah had failed to set up, and which Abraham himself was to set up.
Since Jacob had to set up the condition of restoring through indemnity, at once and horizontally, the vertical conditions of indemnity for the 12 generations from Noah down to himself, he had 12 sons and multiplied them into 12 tribes. Likewise, Jesus also had to restore through indemnity, horizontally and at one time, centering on himself, all the vertical conditions of indemnity left by the numerous prophets in charge of the providence of restoration in the course of the 4,000 years of providential history.
For example, Jesus set up the 12 apostles and 70 disciples to restore through indemnity belonging to Jacob’s course, in which God worked His providence, centering on the 12 sons and 70 kinsmen, and Moses’ course, in which God worked His providence centering on 12 tribes and 70 elders. Again, Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and prayer were to restore through indemnity (at once and horizontally centering on himself) all the vertical conditions of indemnity in setting up the 40-day separation from Satan necessary to establish the foundation of faith. Seen from this aspect, a person in charge of the providence of restoration stands not only as an individual, but also as the representation of all the saints and prophets who have previously been on earth with the same mission. At the same time he represents the sum total of the historical fruit of all of them.
3. HORIZONTAL RESTORATION THROUGH INDEMNITY CARRIED OUT VERTICALLY
Next, let us study what horizontal restoration through indemnity carried out vertically is. As already stated in detail in the section on the providence of restoration centering on Abraham’s family, Abraham’s case corresponded to the third one in the providence to restore the family level foundation for the Messiah. Accordingly, Abraham was, at that time, under the condition in the Principle to fulfill the will by all means. Therefore, he had to restore through indemnity, at once and horizontally, all the vertical conditions of indemnity accumulated by the failure of Adam’s and Noah’s family. However, Abraham failed in his symbolic offering, and the mission had to be prolonged to the next stage. Here, God had to set up Abraham, who failed, in the position of having succeeded, and also had to set up the vertical prolongation of the providence of restoration, in the position as if it were horizontally restored through indemnity, without any prolongation. In order to work His providence in such a way, God had Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob set up the condition of indemnity, all as a unit centering on the will, though they were three different individuals, as was discussed in the section on the providence of restoration centering on Abraham. Thus Abraham, Isaac and Jacob formed a unit, seen from the will. Therefore, Jacob’s success was Isaac’s success, while it was also Abraham’s success. Consequently, even though the will centering on Abraham was prolonged vertically to Isaac and then to Jacob, it was regarded as being horizontally restored through indemnity, centering on Abraham, without any prolongation, when we see it from the viewpoint of the will.
Therefore, we must regard Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the one man, Abraham, centering on the will. In consequence, it was as if the will was fulfilled in one generation of Abraham. In the Bible (Ex. 3:6), God is called “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”, thus indicating that those three generations were one when seen from such a viewpoint.
In this way, when Abraham failed to set up the horizontal condition of indemnity centering on himself due to his failure in the symbolic offering, God, after all, put the case in the position as if the vertical conditions of indemnity, set up while vertically prolonging the program through the three generations of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were horizontally restored through indemnity within one generation, centering on Abraham. Therefore, it is called the “horizontal restoration through indemnity carried out vertically”.
4. THE MATHEMATICAL PERIOD OF INDEMNITY TO RESTORE THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH
In the “Introduction” to Part II, we discussed that in order for the central figure, who is to set up faith, to restore the foundation of faith, he must restore the mathematical period of indemnity for it. Let us here study the reason for this.
God’s form is also mathematical. Therefore, the world of creation, centering on man, is the substantial object of God, with his dual essentialities mathematically developed. For this reason, the development of science, which is searching for the principle of created things on the horizontal plane, is possible only by mathematical research. The first human ancestor, thus created, was to become a substantial being, mathematically perfected, by setting up the foundation of faith, only after having undergone the mathematical period of growth. Since the world of creation, as such, fell into Satan’s dominion, man, in order to restore it, must restore through indemnity the foundation of faith, by setting up conditional objects symbolizing the world of creation, and then sitting up the mathematical period of indemnity to restore the number invaded by Satan. Then, by what number was the human ancestor, before the fall, to set up the foundation of faith originally, and what kind of mathematically perfected substantial being was he to become? According to the principle of creation, nothing can exist without establishing the four position foundation. Accordingly, Adam and Eve, who were in the period of immaturity, also continued their existence by establishing the four position foundation. Meanwhile, this four position foundation, with each position undergoing three stages of growth, producing the total number “12”, would altogether fulfill 12 objective purposes. Accordingly, the period of growth, which was the period for Adam’s establishing the foundation of faith, was truly the period for the completion of the number “12”.
Therefore, first, the first human ancestors, who were in the period of immaturity, had to establish the foundation of faith by the number “12”. However, due to their fall, this was invaded by Satan. Therefore, the central figure who is to restore this through indemnity in the historical course of the providence of restoration, cannot establish the foundation of substance to restore the substantial being having perfected the number “12”, unless he can restore through indemnity the foundation of faith by setting up the period of indemnity to restore the number “12”.
For example, the 120-year period of Noah’s building the ark, the 120-year period of the providence of restoration of Canaan, centering on Moses, the 120 years from the time Abraham was called until the time when Jacob set up the condition enabling him to restore the birthright from Esau, the 120 years of the United Kingdom in the Old Testament Age for the restoration through indemnity of the previous period, and the 120-year period of the Christian Kingdom in the New Testament Age are, without exception, periods of indemnity to restore the number “12”.
Next, Adam and Eve, in their immaturity before the fall, were supposed to complete the four position foundation by entering the sphere of God’s direct dominion, the fourth stage, only after having undergone the three stages of the period of growth. Consequently, the period of growth, in which they were to establish the foundation of faith, was also the period for the completion of the number “4”.
Therefore, the first human ancestors, who were in their immaturity, should have become the substantial beings having perfected the number “4”, by setting up the foundation of faith through the number “4” and by accomplishing the four position foundation. However, due to their fall, this was also invaded by Satan. Therefore, the central figure to restore this through indemnity, in the historical course of the providence of restoration, cannot establish the foundation of substance to restore the substantial being having perfected the number “4”, unless he can restore through indemnity the foundation of faith by setting up the indemnity period to restore the number “4”.
As already discussed in detail (cf. Part II, Ch. 1, Sec. II, 1.2–252), the 40-day judgment concerning Noah’s ark, Moses’ 40-day fast, the 40-day period of spying in Canaan, the 40-day fast and 40-day resurrection of Jesus were all periods of indemnity for the restoration of the number “4”, to restore the foundation of faith.
Again, the period of growth is also the period for the perfection of the number “21”. Therefore, the first human ancestors, in their immaturity, had to become the substantial beings having perfected the number 21, by establishing the foundation of faith through the number 21, and thus fulfilling the purpose of creation. However, due to their fall, this also was invaded by Satan. Therefore, the central figure to restore this through indemnity, in the historical course of the providence of restoration, cannot establish the foundation of substance to restore the substantial being having perfected the number 21, unless he can restore through indemnity the foundation of faith, by setting up the period of indemnity to restore the number “21”.
Let us then study why the period of growth becomes the period for the perfection of the number “21”. In order to know the meaning of the number “21”, we must first understand the significance in the Principle of the numbers “3”, “4” and “7”. God, who is the subjective being with the dual essentialities combined (and perfected), is a being of the number “3”. The perfection of a creature means to establish the four positions by becoming one body with God. Therefore, in order for an individual man to be perfected, he must establish the four position foundation by forming a trinity with his mind and body combined, in harmony, centered on God. Likewise, in order for a couple to be perfected, they must establish the four position foundation by forming a trinity with the man and woman united, centered on God. And, in order for the world of creation to be perfected, all things must establish the four position foundation, by forming a trinity with men and all things combined, in harmony, centered on God. Also, in order for the created things to establish the four position foundation by becoming one centered on God, they have to undergo the three stages of growth, thus fulfilling the three objective purposes. For this reason, we call the number “3” either the “heavenly number” or the “number of perfection”.
Thus, when a subject and an object form a trinity by becoming one harmonious united body centered on God, the individual body then decides his position, as a creature furnished with the four directions of north, south, east and west, by establishing the four position foundation. In that sense, we call the number “4” the “earthly number”.
Thus, when a creature establishes the four position foundation by going through the growth period of three stages and is perfected as an existence with a nature in time and space, he becomes a substantial being who has perfected the number “7”, the sum total of the heavenly number and earthly number. This is why the whole period of the creation of heaven and earth became 7 days. When we see the whole period of creation as one period, it becomes the period for the perfection of the number “7”. Therefore, we may regard a certain period for anything to be perfected, as the period for the perfection of the number “7”. Thus, if we regard the three stages (formation, growth, and perfection) forming the period of growth each as a single period, each period would become the period for the perfection of the number “7”. We can then understand that the whole period is also the period for the perfection of the number “21”.
The following are examples of the indemnity period of the number “21”, which the central figures for the foundation of faith set up. During the period of the flood in Noah’s day, God had Noah send out the doves three times in order to foreshadow His providence of three stages. By making the time spaces 7 days each, the whole period seen from the will became 21 days (Gen. 7:4, 8:10, 8:12). When Jacob set up the providential period of going into Haran and again returning to Canaan, in order to set up the course of the restoration of Canaan on the family level, he needed also 21 years, that is, three times seven years. Further, for the period of restoring through indemnity Jacob’s 21 years, the period of the Israelites’ captivity in Babylon and their return encompassed 210 years. The period of the popes’ captivity and return also took 210 years.
The period of growth is also the period for the perfection of the number “40”. Therefore, fourth, the first human ancestors, in their immaturity before the fall, had to become the substantial beings having perfected the number “40”, by setting up the foundation of faith through the number “40”, thus accomplishing the purpose of creation. Nevertheless, this was invaded by Satan due to their fall. Therefore, the central figure to restore this through indemnity could not establish the foundation of substance to restore the substantial being having perfected the number “40”, unless he could restore through indemnity the foundation of faith, by setting up the period of indemnity to restore the number “40”.
Let us then study why the period of growth becomes the period for the perfection of the number “40”. Before we can know this, we must first understand the significance of the number “10”. If we divide the three stages of the period of growth into three stages each, it makes a total of nine stages. The basis in the Principle of the number “9” lies here. Incidentally, the things of creation which were divided as God’s substantial object through the mathematical development of His invisible dual essentialities can fulfill the purpose of creation only when they become one body with God, by returning into the sphere of God’s direct dominion, the tenth stage, after passing through the nine stages of the period of growth. Therefore, we call the number “10” the “returning number”. God set up Noah ten generations after Adam to set up the period of indemnity for the restoration of the number “10” in order to have him return again to God.
Meanwhile, the four position foundation centered on Adam and Eve would become the foundation which had perfected the number “40”, by each position going through the “10” stages of the period of growth and thus completing the mathematical period of growth of the number “40” in total. Therefore the period of growth is also the period for the perfection of the number “40”.
Some examples of the indemnity period of the number “40” set up for the restoration of this foundation, in the historical course of the providence of restoration are: the 40-day period from the time when Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat until he sent out the doves; Moses’ 40 years in Pharaoh’s palace; his 40 years in the wilderness of Midian; the 40 years in the wilderness for the nationwide restoration of Canaan, and so on.
Here, we can understand that the number “40” in the providential course of restoration through indemnity has two kinds of character. One is the number “40”, with the number “10”, which is the returning number, multiplied by the number “4”, which fallen man must restore through indemnity. The other is the number “40” to restore through indemnity what Adam, before the fall, had to set up, as previously declared.
Meanwhile, the 40 years in the wilderness for the restoration of Canaan on the national level was the period to restore through indemnity Moses’ 40 years in Pharaoh’s palace and his other 40 years in the wilderness of Midian. At the same time, it was also the period to restore through indemnity the 40-day spying and Moses’ 40-day fast. Accordingly, this 40-year period, as discussed above, was to restore through indemnity both numbers “40” of different characters at the same time. This phenomenon occurs when the central figure to set up the foundation of faith horizontally restores through indemnity all the vertical conditions of indemnity at the same time. And, when the providence to restore through indemnity the number “400” or to the number “4,000”, according to the rule of multiplication by a multiple of the number “10”. The 400 years from Noah to Abraham, the 400-year slavery in Egypt, and the 4,000 years from Adam to Jesus are such examples.
According to what we previously discussed, let us summarize what kind of mathematical period of indemnity must be set up in order for the central figure in the providence of restoration to restore the foundation of faith. The first human ancestors should have fulfilled the purpose of creation, by setting up the foundation of faith according to the numbers “12”, “4”, “21”, and “40”, and by becoming the substantial beings who had perfected these numbers. However, due to their fall, all these were invaded by Satan. Therefore, the central figure to restore these through indemnity in the historical course of the providence of restoration cannot establish the foundation of substance for the restoration of the substantial being who had perfected all such numbers by restoring the foundation of faith, unless he sets up a mathematical period of indemnity to restore the numbers “12”, “4”, “21” and “40”.
5. THE PERIOD OF TIME-IDENTITY CENTERING ON THE NUMBER OF GENERATIONS
God chose Noah 10 generations (1600 years) after Adam, and set him up as the central figure to restore the foundation of faith. We must understand the significance of the “1600 years” and the “10 generations” as the indemnity period to restore certain numbers.
We have previously discussed that the number “10” is the “returning number”, and that the period of growth is also the period for the perfection of the number “10”. Therefore, the first human ancestors should have become the substantial beings having perfected the number “10” by going through the period for the perfection of the number “10” through the accomplishment of their own portions of responsibility. However, due to their fall, all these things were invaded by Satan. Therefore, in order to work His providence of restoration for the substantial being who has perfected the number “10”, the number which enables man to return to God, God must have the central figure set up the period of indemnity to restore the number “10”. In order to have man set up this period of indemnity to restore the number “10”, God called Noah ten generations after Adam and set him up as the central figure for His providence of restoration.
We have previously discussed that the first human ancestors could have become the substantial beings having perfected the number “40” only by undergoing the whole period of growth which served as a condition for perfection of the number “40”. Incidentally, fallen man cannot be set up as the central figure to restore the substantial being having perfected the number “40”, unless, by establishing the four position foundation, he sets up the period of indemnity to restore the number “40”, which Adam should have set up. Consequently, each position of the four position foundation must set up the period of indemnity to restore the number “40”. Therefore, all those must become the period of indemnity to restore the number “160”, and since this must be set up during 10 generations as the returning number, all those must be the period of indemnity to restore the number “1600”. It was because the fallen man had to set up such a period of indemnity to restore the number “1600”, that God chose Noah 1600 years–which was “10” generations–after Adam.
After His providence of restoration centering on Noah’s family had ended in failure, God again chose Abraham after “400” years, which was “10” generations, and set him up as the central figure for His providence of restoration. Consequently, the period from Noah to Abraham was the period of time-identity to restore through indemnity the period from Adam to Noah, centering on the number of generations.
We have already discussed how this period became “400” years (cf. Part I, Ch. 1, Sec. III, 1–41). God had Noah set up the 40-day judgment period to accomplish the whole purpose of the mathematical restoration through indemnity, by the 1600 years or ten generations. However, this 40-day judgment period was invaded by Satan due to Ham’s mistake. God was therefore compelled to have the central figure in charge of His providence of restoration set up again the period of indemnity to restore this. Since God had worked to restore the indemnity period for the restoration of the number “160” in each generation after Adam, having it continue for ten generations until Noah, he also had to set up, as the indemnity period to restore the judgment number “40”, each of the ten generations from Noah to Abraham, which formed the period identical to the former.
However, because He could not set up the indemnity period for one generation with only 40 days, God had His people set up the indemnity period for one generation with 40 years, in order to indemnify the failure in the 40-day judgment with the 40-year period, according to the law of indemnity. This was similar to the Israelites’ restoration through indemnity of their failure in the 40 days of spying with the 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness (Num. 14:34). Since God’s providence of having the people set up the one generation with 40 years lasted for 10 generations, 400 years were needed for the whole period of indemnity.
6. THE PROVIDENTIAL PERIOD OF HORIZONTAL RESTORATION THROUGH INDEMNITY CARRIED OUT VERTICALLY
As already clarified above, the central figure in charge of the providence of restoration must horizontally restore through indemnity all the vertical conditions of indemnity. Therefore, the longer the providential history is prolonged, the heavier become the horizontal conditions of indemnity which the person of a later generation in charge of the providence of restoration must set up.
In the providence of restoration centering on Adam’s family, God started His providence of restoration for the first time. Naturally there was no vertical condition of indemnity as yet. Accordingly, they could establish the foundation to receive the Messiah very simply, by Cain and Abel offering the symbolic sacrifices, and by Cain’s offering substantial sacrifices through establishing the condition of indemnity to remove the fallen nature in obedience to Abel. Consequently, they could also restore the mathematical period of indemnity to restore the foundation of faith, by the period of offering symbolic sacrifices and substantial sacrifices. Because the mathematical periods of indemnity remained as the vertical condition of indemnity, as a result of the prolongation of the period for the providence of restoration due to the failure of the offerings in Adam’s family, the central figure who had to set up faith after Adam had to establish the mathematical period of indemnity to restore the numbers of “12”, “4”, “21”, and “40” in order to restore the foundation of faith.
Accordingly, Noah was in the position, horizontally, to restore through indemnity that condition of indemnity. Therefore, for the mathematical period of indemnity to restore the foundation of faith, he had to set up the following periods: the 120 years for the period to build the ark, the 40 days for the period of flood judgment, the 21-day period (three times seven days) which he set up in order to send out the doves (Gen. 7:4, 8:10, 8:12), and the 40-day period from the time when the ark rested on Mount Ararat until he sent out the doves (Gen. 8:8-12).
Due to Ham’s failure, such mathematical periods of indemnity, set up by Noah, were again invaded by Satan, thus remaining as vertical conditions of indemnity. Therefore, Abraham had to restore that period through indemnity, horizontally and at once, through a symbolic offering. However, Abraham also failed in the symbolic offering, and could not restore those periods through indemnity. Thus, in order to restore this period as the horizontal period of indemnity carried out vertically, God again had to set up the period of indemnity corresponding to each number of “12”, “4”, “21”, and “40” by extending the fulfillment of His will to Isaac and Jacob.
The providence of restoration centering on Abraham lists the following: 120 years from the time Abraham left Haran, until the time when Jacob took the birthright from Esau; the 40 years after that, until jacob was Blessed by Isaac with the birthright, and then again by God on his way to Haran (Gen. 28: 10-14); the 21 years after that until the time he returned to Canaan with his wives, children and his wealth after having completed his drudgery in Haran (Gen. 31:41); and the 40 years from Jacob’s return to Canaan, until he went into Egypt to visit Joseph who had been sold. All these were the horizontal periods of indemnity carried out vertically to restore the foundation of faith. In this way, the length of the period of horizontal restoration through indemnity carried out vertically was decided.
SECTION III – THE FORMATION AND LENGTH OF EACH PERIOD IN THE PROVIDENTIAL AGE OF RESTORATION
The providential age of restoration is the age to restore through indemnity, as the image time-identity, the providential age for the foundation of restoration, which is the age of symbolic time-identity. Let us now study the formation and length of each period.
1. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF SLAVERY IN EGYPT
Noah established the foundation of faith on the foundation of separation from Satan by the 40-day judgment. This foundation was nullified because of Ham’s failure, and God, in order to set up Abraham in the same position, commanded him to offer symbolic sacrifices on the foundation of having restored through indemnity the 400 years. However, due to Abraham’s failure in the offering, the foundation was again invaded by Satan. Thus, God had the Israelites undergo the 400-year slavery in Egypt for the separation from Satan again, in order to restore the 400-year foundation invaded by Satan (Gen. 15:13). This period we call the “period of slavery in Egypt” (cf. Part II, Ch. 1, Sec. III, 1–262). This period was that in which to restore through indemnity, by the image time-identity, the 1600 years from Adam to Noah, out of the period of symbolic time-identity.
2. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF JUDGES
In I Kings (6:1) it says:
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.
When we see that the fourth year of King Solomon after the 40-year reign of King Saul and the 40-year reign of King David was said to be the 480th year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, we can understand that it was approximately a 400-year period after the Israelites’ return from Egypt into Canaan, until the time King Saul was enthroned. This period we call the “period of Judges”.
The Israelites, centering on Moses, had to stand on the foundation of separation from Satan by the 400-year slavery in Egypt, in order to restore on a national level the position of Abraham, who had been set up on the foundation of separation from Satan by the 400 years from Noah. But, due to the faithlessness of the Israelites who returned to Canaan centering on Joshua in place of Moses, this foundation was again invaded by Satan. Because of this, the Israelites had to separate themselves from Satan again so that they could restore through indemnity again the foundation of the 400-year slavery in Egypt, which was invaded by Satan. The period set up again for that reason was the 400 years of the period of the Judges, from the Israelites’ return into Canaan until the time King Saul was enthroned.
This period could restore by indemnity, as the image time-identity, the 400-year period from Noah to Abraham.
3. THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEAR PERIOD OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
With the development of the providential age of restoration in order to restore by indemnity the providential age for the foundation of restoration, Abraham, who started this providential course, was in the position of Adam, while Moses was in Noah’s position, and King Saul in Abraham’s position. Abraham was the person to complete the providential period for the foundation of restoration, and at the same time was the person to start the providential period of restoration. Therefore, Abraham had to set up first the family level foundation to receive the Messiah and, on this, he had to set up the nationwide foundation to receive the Messiah. Just as God had to realize, by all means, the family level foundation to receive the Messiah at the time of Abraham, because it was His third attempt, He now had to realize, by all means, His providence to set up the nationwide foundation for the Messiah at the time of King Saul, because it was also His third attempt.
Abraham did not realize this will since he failed in his attempt to horizontally restore by indemnity, centering on the symbolic offering, the periods of 120 years, 400 days, 21 days, and 40 days, which were the mathematical periods of indemnity to restore the foundation of faith, set up at the time of Noah. Now, in order to restore these as the horizontal period of indemnity carried out vertically, Abraham again set up the 120 years, 40 years, 21 years and 40 years. Likewise, King Saul, who, nationwide, restored by indemnity the position of Abraham, also tried to restore horizontally by indemnity, by erecting the temple and centering on it, the periods of 120 years (Moses’ life consisted of three 40-year periods), 40 days (period of fasting), 21 days (period of the first nationwide restoration of Canaan), and 40 years (period in the wilderness), which were the mathematical periods of indemnity to restore the foundation of faith of Moses’ time.
However, King Saul also fell into faithlessness, thus failing to fulfill this will (I Sam. 15:11-23). In order to restore those periods as the horizontal period of indemnity carried out vertically, as in the time of Abraham, God set up the 120 years of the period of the United Kingdom, the 400-year period of the Divided Kingdoms of North and South, the 210-year period of the Israelites’ captivity and return, and the 400-year period of preparation for the coming of the Messiah, finally to receive the Messiah.
Therefore, the period of the United Kingdom was the period to restore by indemnity the 120 years in which Moses set up, three times, the foundation of faith for the nationwide restoration of Canaan.
Let us study this more concretely. After the Israelites centering on Moses had stood upon the foundation of separation from Satan by the 400-year slavery in Egypt, Moses set up the foundation of faith by his 40-year life in Pharaoh’s palace. Then he attempted to lead the Israelites into Canaan to erect the holy temple. But, due to the faithlessness of the Israelites, this course was prolonged to Moses’ 40 years in the wilderness of Midian, and then to the 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness.
Likewise, after the Israelites had stood on the foundation of having restored the 400 years of slavery in Egypt through the 400 years of Judges, King Saul had to set up the foundation of faith by restoring, with his 40-year reign, the 40-year life of Moses in Pharaoh’s palace; then he had to erect the temple. However, King Saul fell into faithlessness (I Sam. 15:11-23), and as in the time of Moses, the will of erecting the temple was prolonged to the 40 years of King David, and to another 40 years of King Solomon, thus making the 120-year period of the United Kingdom.
This period was the period to restore by indemnity, as the image time-identity, the 120 years from the time of Abraham’s departure from Haran until Jacob took the birthright from Esau. Accordingly, just as the will for Abraham was prolonged to Isaac, and then to Jacob, when it was realized, King Saul’s ideal of the temple was also prolonged to King David, and then to King Solomon, when it was finally fulfilled.
4. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOMS OF NORTH AND SOUTH
King Saul attempted to horizontally restore by indemnity Moses’ 40-day fast for the restoration of the words, by realizing the ideal of erecting the temple during the period of his 40-year reign.
However, due to his faithlessness, this period had to be restored as a horizontal period of indemnity carried out vertically. This was the providence behind the 400-year period of the divided kingdoms of Northern Israel and Southern Judah, which lasted until the Israelites became captive in Babylon.
This period could restore by indemnity, as the image time-identity, the 40-year period from the time when Jacob had set up the condition of taking the birthright from Esau by some bread and pottage of lentils until he again received the blessing from Isaac and from God (Gen. 28:13) and entered Haran.
5. THE TWO HUNDRED AND TEN YEAR PERIOD OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE’S CAPTIVITY AND RETURN
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, due to the people’s faithlessness, was taken captive by Assyria. After that, the Southern Kingdom of Judah, due to its faithlessness, was also taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia. After spending 70 years as captives in Babylon, they were at last liberated by a royal decree from Cyrus, the king of Persia, after Babylon’s fall to Persia. The Jewish people later returned to Jerusalem, and Nehemiah, leading the remaining Jews, returned and built the walls again. They then entered the period for the preparation to receive the Messiah, centering on Malachi the prophet, according to Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 4:5). This was the 210th year from their captivity in Babylon, and about the 140th year from the time of their liberation. The sum of those periods is known as the “period of the captivity and return of the Jewish people”.
By realizing the ideal of the temple, King Saul tried to horizontally restore by indemnity the 21-day period in which Moses first attempted to lead the Israelites into Canaan. However, since he failed, due to his disbelief, the 210-year period for the Jewish people’s captivity and return came about in order to restore this period as the horizontal period of indemnity, carried out vertically.
Meanwhile, this period was that in which it was possible to restore by indemnity, as the image time-identity, the 21-year period of Jacob’s drudgery in Haran (Gen. 31:41). The first 7 years Jacob spent in order to take Leah, the second 7 years in order to take Rachel, and the third 7 years from then until the time he returned to Canaan.
6. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH
The Jewish people, after having returned to Canaan, their homeland, rebuilt the temples and walls, and thus stood as a nation to receive the Messiah according to the prophecy of Malachi the prophet. The 400-year period from that time until the birth of Jesus we call the “period of preparation for the coming of the Messiah”.
King Saul attempted to horizontally restore by indemnity the 40-year period in the wilderness which the Israelites, centering on Moses, spent in their third course of restoration into Canaan, by realizing his ideal of the temple. But, due to his faithlessness, this again ended in failure, and the 400-year period of preparation for the coming of the Messiah was set up, in order to restore this period as the horizontal period of indemnity, carried out vertically.
This period was again that in which to restore by indemnity, as the image time-identity, the 40-year period from Jacob’s return from Haran into Canaan until he visited Egypt to meet Joseph, who had been sold by his brothers.
SECTION IV – THE FORMATION AND LENGTH OF EACH PERIOD IN THE PROVIDENTIAL AGE OF THE PROLONGATION OF RESTORATION
The providential age of the prolongation of restoration is that in which it is possible to restore by indemnity, as the substantial time-identity, the providential age of restoration, which is the age of image time-identity. Therefore, in this age, each unit of time and its length forming the providential age of restoration is restored by indemnity.
1. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF PERSECUTION BY THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Jesus came to fulfill the will for Abraham, the father of faith. We know that the Israelites had separated themselves from Satan through their 400 years of slavery in Egypt in order to restore by indemnity, on the nationwide base, the foundation of faith which Abraham had failed to establish, due to his mistake in the symbolic offering.
Likewise, the Christians had to endure a period similar to the period of slavery in Egypt, in order to restore by indemnity the foundation of faith left unaccomplished, due to the Jewish people’s failure in offering Jesus as a living sacrifice. This was the reason for the 400-year period of persecution by the Roman Empire. In 313 A.D. after bitter persecution by the Roman Empire, the Emperor Constantine publicly recognized Christianity. In 392 A.D. Theodocius I declared Christianity as the state religion. Therefore, this period was that in which to restore by indemnity, as substantial time-identity, the 400-year period of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt out of the period of the image time-identity.
2. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES UNDER THE PATRIARCHAL SYSTEM
The 400-year period of Judges occurred in the period of the providence of restoration, the period of the image time-identity. During this period the people of Israel were ruled by the Judges. Therefore, during the providential age for the prolongation of restoration, the period of substantial time-identity, there also had to occur the period in which to restore by indemnity this 400-year period of Judges. This was actually the 400-year period of Christian churches under the patriarchal system, in which the people were led by the Patriarchs, corresponding to the Judges. It lasted from the time when Christianity had been publicly recognized by the Roman Empire as the national religion, until the time of the enthronement of the Emperor Charlemagne in 800 A.D. Therefore, this period was that in which to restore by indemnity, as the substantial time-identity, the 400-year period of Judges out of the period of the image time-identity.
3. THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEAR PERIOD OF THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOM
In the providential age of restoration, the people of Israel established a kingdom for the first time, centering on King Saul. After that, they formed the period of the United Kingdom for 120 years from King Saul through King David and King Solomon. Accordingly, in order to restore this age by indemnity, the period of the Christian Kingdom came about. It covered the 120 years from the enthronement of the Emperor Charlemagne in 800 A.D., until his royal heritage ceased, and Henry I was elected as King of Germany in 919 A.D. Therefore, this period was that which restored by indemnity, as the substantial time-identity, the 120-year period of the United Kingdom, out of the period of the image time-identity.
4. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOMS OF EAST AND WEST
During the period of the United Kingdom in the period of the providence of restoration, the holy temple failed to stand in God’s will. Finally the kingdom was divided into North and South, thus beginning the 400-year period of the divided kingdoms. Therefore, in the providential age for the prolongation of restoration also, there had to occur a period to restore this period by indemnity.
This was the 400-year period of the divided kingdoms of East and West, which lasted from the time when the period of the Christian Kingdom was finished until the Vatican moved to Avignon in Southern France in 1309. At first the Christian Kingdom was divided into the three kingdoms of the East Franks, West Franks, and Italy. But, since Italy was under the rule of the East Franks, who had succeeded the Holy Roman Empire, the kingdom was in fact divided into two kingdoms of East and West. Therefore, this period served to restore by indemnity, as the substantial time-identity, the 400-year period of the divided kingdoms of North and South, out of the period of the image time-identity.
5. THE TWO HUNDRED AND TEN YEAR PERIOD OF PAPAL CAPTIVITY AND RETURN
During the period of the divided kingdoms of North and South, the idol-worshipping Northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah also fell into faithlessness and failed to rebuild the ideal of the temple. Therefore, 210 years elapsed from the time when the Jews were taken captive in Babylon, the Satanic world, until they again set up the temple after their return. Consequently, in order to restore this period by indemnity, there came about the 210-year period of papal captivity and return. It lasted from the time when Pope Clement V moved the Holy See in 1309 from Rome to Avignon in Southern France, until the popes returned to Rome and later saw the religious revolution in 1517. Therefore, this period served to restore by indemnity, as the substantial time-identity, the 210-year period of the Jewish captivity and their return, out of the period of the image time-identity.
6. THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH
The Jewish people, who returned to Jerusalem after their liberation from captivity in Babylon, rose in action for the renewal of the politics and religion, centering on Malachi, the prophet. According to his prophecy (Mal 4:5), they began to make preparation to receive the Messiah; and, after the 400-year period, they finally received the Messiah.
Therefore, in order to restore the period by indemnity, even in the providential age of the prolongation of restoration, there had to be a 400-year period, from the time when the religious revolution broke out in 1517, centering on Luther after the Pope had returned to Rome from his imprisonment in Avignon, before we can ever receive the Lord of the Second Advent. This period is the period of preparation for the Second Advent of the Messiah. Therefore, this period serves to restore by indemnity, as the substantial time-identity, the 400-year period of preparation for the coming of the Messiah, out of the period of the image time-identity.
