Shincheonji, Holy City of Truth: Explanation of some Biblical Words

Shincheonji, Holy City of Truth: Explanation of some Biblical Words

Agape:

The Greek word agape is often translated 'love' in the New Testament. How is 'agape love' different from other types of love? The essence of agape love is self-sacrifice. Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.

Agape is love which is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself. The apostle John affirms this in 1 John 4:8: 'God is love.' God does not merely love; He is love itself. Everything God does flows from His love. But it is important to remember that God’s love is not a sappy, sentimental love such as we often hear portrayed. God loves because that is His nature and the expression of His being. He loves the unlovable and the unlovely, not because we deserve to be loved, but because it is His nature to love us, and He must be true to His nature and character. God’s love is displayed most clearly at the cross, where Christ died for the unworthy creatures who were 'dead in trespasses and sins' (Eph 2:1), not because we did anything to deserve it, 'but God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us' (Ro 5:8). The object of God’s agape love never does anything to merit His love. We are the undeserving recipients upon whom He lavishes that love. His love was demonstrated when He sent His Son into the world to 'seek and save that which was lost' (Lk 19:10) and to provide Eternal Life to those He sought and saved. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for those He loves.

In the same way, we are to love others sacrificially. Sacrificial love is not based on a feeling, but a determined act of the will, a joyful resolve to put the welfare of others above our own. But this type of love does not come naturally to humans. Because of our fallen nature, we are incapable of producing such a love. If we are to love as God loves, that love—that agape—can only come from its true Source. This is the love which 'has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us' when we became His children (Ro 5:5). Because that love is now in our hearts, we can obey Jesus who said, 'I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another' (Jn 13:34). This new commandment involves loving one another as He loved us sacrificially, even to the point of death. But, again, it is clear that only God can generate within us the kind of Self-sacrificing Love which is the proof that we are His children. 'By this we have known the Love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers' (1 Jn 3:16). Because of God’s love toward us, we are now able to love one another.
              (http://www.gotquestions.org/agape-love.html)

 Apostle:

The word apostle means 'one who is sent out.' In the New Testament, there are 2 primary usages of the word apostle. The 1st is in specifically referring to the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. The 2nd is in generically referring to other individuals who are sent out to be messengers/ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

The 12 apostles held a unique position. In referring to the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:14 states, 'The wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.' The 12 apostles are also referred to in Mt 10:2, Mk 3:14, 4:10, 6:7; 9:35, 14:10, 17, 23, Lk 6:13, 9:1, 22:14, Jn 6:71, Ac 6:2, and 1 Co 15:5. It was these 12 apostles who were the 1st messengers of the gospel after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was these 12 apostles who were the foundation of the church—with Jesus being the cornerstone (Eph 2:20).

This specific type of apostle is not present in the church today. The qualifications of this type of apostle were: (1) to have been an witness of the resurrected Christ (1 Co 9:1), (2) to have been explicitly chosen by the Holy Spirit (Ac 9:15), (3) to have the ability to perform signs and wonders (Ac 2:43, 2 Co 12:12). The role of the 12 apostles is to lay the foundation of the church.

Beyond the unique 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, there were also apostles in a generic sense. Barnabas is referred to as an 'apostle' in Ac 13:2 and 14:4. Andronicus and Junias are possibly identified as apostles in Ro 16:7. The same Greek word usually translated 'apostle' is used to refer to Titus in 2 Co 8:23 and Epaphroditus in Php 2:25. So, there definitely seems to be room for the term apostle being used to refer to someone besides the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Anyone who was 'sent' could be called an apostle.

In a sense, all followers of Jesus Christ are called to be apostles. We are all to be His ambassadors (Mt 28:18-20, 2 Co 5:18-20). We are all to be 'ones who are sent out' (Ac 1:8). We are all to be preachers of the Good News (Ro 10:15).
            (http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-an-apostle.html)

Ark of the Covenant:

As a sign of God's covenant He had the Israelites make a box according to His own design, in which to place the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. This box, or chest, was called an 'Ark' and was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. The Ark was to be housed in the inner sanctum of the tabernacle in the desert and eventually in the Temple when it was built in Jerusalem. This chest is known as the 'Ark of the Covenant.'

The real significance of the Ark of the Covenant was what took place involving the lid of the box, known as the 'Mercy Seat'. The term ‘mercy seat’ comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'to cover, placate, appease, cleanse, cancel or make atonement for.' It was here that the high priest, only once a year (Lev 16), entered the Holy of Holies where the Ark was kept and atoned for his sins and the sins of the Israelites. The priest sprinkled blood of a sacrificed animal onto the Mercy Seat to appease the wrath and anger of God for past sins committed. This was the only place in the world where this atonement could take place.

The Mercy Seat on the Ark was a symbolic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice for all sin—the blood of Christ shed on the cross for the remission of sins. The Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee and one familiar with the Old Testament, knew this concept quite well when he wrote about Christ being our covering for sin in Ro 3:24-25: 'and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.' Just as there was only one place for atonement of sins in the Old Testament—the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant—so there is also only one place for atonement in the New Testament and current times—the Cross of Jesus Christ. 
       (http://www.gotquestions.org/ark-of-the-covenant.html)

Book of Life:

Rev 20:15 declares, 'If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.' The Book of Life is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in Heaven. It is the Roll of those who are saved. This Book of Life is also mentioned in Rev 3:5, 20:12 and Php 4:3. The same book is also called the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the Names of those who have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lord Jesus (Rev 13:8, 21:27).No true believer should doubt his Eternal Security in Christ (Jn 10:28~30).

The Great White Throne Judgment described in Rev 20:11~15 is a Judgment for Unbelievers. That passage makes it clear that no one at that Judgment has his Name in the Book of Life (Rev 20:12~14). Since their Names are not in the Book of Life, their fate is sealed, their punishment is sure.

The Promise of Rev 3:5 is clearly that the Lord will not erase a name: 'He who overcomes. I will not blot out his Name from the Book of Life.' An Overcomer is one who is victorious over the temptations, trials, and evils of this world—in other words, one who is redeemed. The saved are written in God’s Registry and have the Promise of Eternal Security. God keeps good records. He knows His own, and He has set the Names of His children permanently in His book.
                      (http://www.gotquestions.org/hosanna.html)


Hosanna:

Hosanna is a word used in some songs of praise, particularly on Palm Sunday. It is of Hebrew origin and was part of the shout of the multitudes as Jesus entered Jerusalem: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest Heaven!' (Mt 21:9).

Hosanna is often thought of as a Declaration of Praise, similar to 'Hallelujah', but it is actually a Plea for Salvation. The Hebrew root words are found in Ps118:25, which says, 'O Lord, Save us; O Lord, grant us success.' The Hebrew words 'yasha' (=deliver, save) and 'anna' (=beg, beseech) combine to form the word that, in English, is 'Hosanna.' Literally, hosanna means 'I beg you to save!' or 'please deliver us!'

So, as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem, the crowds were perfectly right to shout 'Hosanna!'. They were acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah, as shown in their Address 'Son of David.' There was a Cry for Salvation and a Recognition that Jesus is able to save.

Later that day, Jesus was in the temple, and the children present were again shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' (Mt 21:15). The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were displeased: 'Do you hear what these children are saying?’ They asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?' (Mt 21:16). In saying, 'Hosanna!' the people were crying out for Salvation, and that’s exactly why Jesus had come. Within a week Jesus would be hanging on a cross.
                  ( http://www.gotquestions.org/hosanna.html)

Crucifixion:

Crucifixion was an ancient method of execution in which the victim's hands and feet were bound and nailed to a cross. It was one of the most painful and disgraceful methods of capitol punishment.

Hallelujah:

The word Hallelujah is most familiar in the context of the 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel’s Messiah. Hallelujah is a Hebrew word meaning 'praise the Jehovah.' Hallelujah appears 4 times in the NIV. Phrases which appear over 50 times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. It is interesting to note, however, that in none of the places where 'praise the Lord' or 'praise Jehovah' appear are they a translation of the Hebrew Hallelujah.

What, then, is so special about the Word Hallelujah that it is only used in Rev 19? The scene in this passage opens in Heaven where a great multitude has gathered before the throne in the immediate Presence of God Himself, after the final overthrow of the enemies of the church and the Triumph of the Gospel. In such circumstances, it was fitting that all heaven should render praise and that a song of thanksgiving should be uttered in which all holy beings could unite. Reasons for this glorious outpouring of praise are God’s righteous victory over His enemies (Rev 19:1~3), His sovereignty (Rev 19:4~6), and His eternal communion with His people (Rev 7). The sound of the outpouring of praise and worship is so overwhelming that the apostle John can only describe it as the roar of rushing waters and loud peals of thunder.

So great is the rejoicing by God’s people at the Wedding Feast of the Bridegroom and the Bride that Hallelujah is the only word grand enough to express it. Handel’s version of the great chorus in heaven, as glorious as that music is, is only a feeble foreshadowing of the magnificence that will be expressed by the heavenly chorus as we sing 'Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns!'
                        (http://www.gotquestions.org/hallelujah.html)

Immanuel:

The Hebrew word 'Immanuel' means 'God with us.' Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy Spirit made that Old Testament promise come true. The word 'Immanuel' appears only 3 times in the Bible: Isa 7:14, 8:8, Mt 1:23.

Manna:

The food miraculously provided for the Israelites in the wilderness during their flight from Egypt. Spiritual nourishment of divine origin. The dried exudate of certain plants, as that of the Mediterranean ash tree, formerly used as a laxative. A sweet granular substance excreted on the leaves of plants by certain insects, especially aphids, and often harvested by ants.
                  (https://www.wordnik.com/words/manna)

Manna kept the Israelites alive in the desert for 40 years. This bread from heaven foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life Redemption. Redemption is an important concept in Christianity. This act always means going from one thing to another. Redemption takes a believer from the bondage of sin to new life in Jesus Christ.

Sin:

The Bible describes Sin as the breaking, or transgression, of God's Law. It is also defined as Disobedience or Rebellion against God, as well as Independence from God.

Sin is 'any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God' (1 Jn 3:4, Ro 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Ro 6:12~17, 7:5~24). The moral character of a man's actions is determined by the moral state of his heart. The disposition to sin, or the habit of the soul that leads to the sinful act, is itself also sin (Ro 6:12~17, Gal 5:17, Jas 1:14~15).
           (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/sin.html)

Amen:

The Hebrew word translated 'amen' literally means 'truly' or 'so be it.' 'Amen' is also found in the Greek New Testament and has the same meaning. Nearly half of the Old Testament uses of Amen are found in the Book of Deuteronomy. In each case, the people are responding to curses pronounced by God on various sins. Each pronouncement is followed by the words 'and all the people shall say Amen' (Dt 27:15~26). This indicates that the people applauded the righteous sentence handed down by their Holy God, responding, 'So let it be.' The Amen attested to the Conviction of the hearers that the sentences which they heard were 'true, just, and certain.'

7 of the Old Testament references link Amen with Praise. The sentence 'and all the people said, Amen, and Praised Jehovah' found in 1 Ch 16:36, typifies the connection between Amen and Praise. In Ne 5:13, 8:6, the people of Israel affirmed Ezra’s exalting of God by worshiping Him and obeying Him. The Highest Expression of Praise to God is Obedience, and when we say 'Amen' to His commands and pronouncements, our praise is sweet music to His ears.

The New Testament writers all use 'Amen' at the end of their epistles. The apostle John uses it at the end of his Gospel, his 3 Letters, and the Book of Revelation, where it appears 9 times. Each time it is connected with praising and glorifying God and referring to the 2nd Coming and the End of the Age. Paul says 'amen' to the Blessings he pronounces on all the churches in his Letters to them, as do Peter, John and Jude in their Letters. The implication is that they are saying, 'May it be that the Lord will truly grant these Blessings upon you.'

When we as believers say 'Amen' at the end of our prayers, we are following the model of the apostles, asking God to 'please let it be as we have prayed.' Remembering the connection between Amen and the Praise of Obedience, all prayers should be prayed according to the Will of God. Then when we say 'Amen,' we can be confident that God will respond 'so be it' and grant our requests (Jn 14:13, 1 Jn 5:14).
Amen~
  
                (http://www.gotquestions.org/amen.html)