Korea in Prophecy: Any Witness?
By Bob Thiel
While there has been a great increase of interest in Western religion within Korea (mainly the area of South Korea), the reality is that true Christianity is almost completely unknown there.
So why write an article about Korea?
Three scriptures immediately come to mind:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:19-20).
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)
Now all the above apply to every nation and peoples. But there is something different about the Koreans.
In my opinion, overall:
… they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).
There is certain zeal among the Koreans I believe that God can use in these latter days.
There has only been a limited witness to Korea, and because of that, I believe that not enough knowledge of the truth of God is in Korea.
This article will briefly discuss where the Koreans came from and what is expected to happen to them.
Where did the Koreans Come From?
The Bible teaches that all peoples descended from Adam and Eve:
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20).
This would include those now considered to be Korean, as well as all other groups and races of humans.
Noah had three sons. And one of them, Japheth, is believed to be the father of the oriental races, which would include the Koreans. The Bible teaches:
The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations (Genesis 10:2-5).
A Chinese tradition says that Korea came from a small kingdom within China:
Somewhere north of that vast region watered by the Sungari River, itself only a tributary to the Amur, there existed, according to Chinese tradition, in very ancient times, a petty kingdom called Korai, or To-li. Out of this kingdom sprang the founder of the Corean race…Arriving at their city, he became the king of the tribe and kingdom of Fuyu, which lay in the fertile and well-watered region between the Sun- gari River and the Shan Alyn, or Ever-White Mountains. It extended several hundred miles east and west of a line drawn southward through Kirin, the larger half lying on the west. Fuyu, as described by a Chinese writer of the Eastern Han dynasty (25 B.a-190 A.d.), was a land of fertile soil, in which ” the five cereals ” (wheat, rice, millet, beans, and sorghum) could be raised. The men were tall, muscular, and brave, and withal generous and courteous to each other. Their arms were bows and arrows, swords, and lances. They were skilful horsemen. Their ornaments were large pearls, and cut jewels of red jade. They made spirits from grain, and were fond of drinking bouts, feasting, dancing, and singing. With many drinkers there were few cups. The latter were rinsed in a bowl of water, and with great ceremony passed from one to another. They ate with chopsticks, out of bowls, helping themselves out of large dishes. It is a striking fact that the Fuyu people, though living so far from China, were dwellers in cities which they surrounded with palisades or walls of stakes. They lived in wooden houses, and stored their crops in granaries (Griffis, William Elliot. Corea, the hermit nation: I. Ancient and mediæval history. II. Political and social Corea. III. Modern and recent history 8th Edition. C. Scribner’s sons, 1907, pp. 19,21).
Koreans have their own tradition about where they come from:
Korean legends say that Tangun, who lived in the 2300’s B.C., was the father of the Korean civilization. Korea developed by itself until Kija, an exile from China, led about 5,000 followers to Korea in 1122 B.C. He founded a kingdom called Chosen (Hu, Charles Y. Korea. World Book Encyclopedia, 50th edition, Volume 11. Chicago, p. 296)
Chosen is also spelled Chosun and means Morning Calm. One of Japheth’s son had a name that ended with an “n” (Javan) and it may be possible that the Koreans may have partially descended from one of his descendants.
An account penned in the nineteenth century appears to claim that the Koreans (called Corea below) descended from Gomer through Ashkenaz:
According to the Tartars and Orientals, the Chinese are descended from Tchin, or Gin, the son of Japheth, and brother of Tarag, or Turk, from whom came the Turkmans. Tchin is the Ashchenaz of Scripture, the son of Gomer : and Turk is Toragmah, the brother of Ashchenaz. The Orientals call all grandsons, sons. Another division of the descendants of Aschenaz or Atchinez—as his name was pronounced in the following parts—migrated across the Imaus mountains, now the great Altai and Changai. These people spread to a vast extent, till they reached the Pacific Ocean. They formed the following nations:
First. —The Issedones, about the river Etchine, on the borders of China and the Desert of Thamo.
Second. —The “Kin Tartars, inhabiting the territory round the north of Corea, and along the shores of the Pacific Ocean…
Tonkin, Cochin-China, Tciampa, Laos or Schan States, and Cambodia, anciently formed part of the Chinese Empire, the name of which was Tchin, so called from Atchinez, from which the names of nearly all these countries are derived.
(Source: Painter, John Thomas. Ethnology: or The history & genealogy of the human race: Or, The History & Genealogy of the Human Race. Baillière, Tindall & Cox, 1880 Original from Oxford University Digitized Jul 3, 2006, p. 106)
Some within Church of God circles have also speculated that the Chinese and Koreans have descended from Magog (e.g. Generations of Japheth. Church of God News. Chicago District, 1965). On this point, I have not seen convincing evidence–but am simply not sure either way. It is not impossible that perhaps some descendants from Magog intermarried with some of the descendants of Ashkenaz and likely Javan.
Since Japheth means “expansion” (which the orientals have done in terms of numbers) I believe that the oriental races (and some of the Caucasians), including the Koreans somehow descended from Japheth–but specifically through whom is harder to determine. The Korean language was originally written using Hanja (Chinese characters) pronounced in the Korean way.
Koreans Have Been Unaware of the Early History of the Christian Church
Although the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches have had a presence in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) for a long while, the fact is that those churches have made many changes in doctrine that most in Korea do not realize are changes from the early Christian Church (and the Bible). And many were compromises with pagan sun-god religions such as Mithraism.
A leading Protestant scholar (Harold Brown) has admitted:
It is impossible to document what we now call orthodoxy in the first two centuries of Christianity (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, p. 5).
In other words, much of what now passes for “orthodox Christianity” did not exist in the first two centuries after Jesus was crucified and resurrected. This is basically because while there was only one original church, another major group emerged in the second century who changed certain original Christian practices and became what most now seem to feel represent “orthodoxy.” Most people in Korea and elsewhere have been deceived about this and do not understand true Christianity.
Korea Has Had a Limited Witness in the 20th Century
Korea has received a limited witness to the truth. In addition to having Bibles, some of the message of the Church of God has sometimes made its way into Korea.
Herbert W. Armstrong was the leader of the old Worldwide Church of God in the 20th century. And he spoke to many world leaders, including Korean ones. But not to the degree that he wanted to. Here are three reports related to some of his efforts:
“On this present trip, we left Pasadena Monday, March 6, flew out to Honolulu, stopped overnight, then Tuesday morning flew (one stop for fuel at Wake Island) to Tokyo. We did not disembark, but Dr. and Mrs. Ohama came aboard our aircraft and flew with us to Seoul, Korea. Dr. Ohama is the leading educator of Japan, and perhaps the leading nonofficial adviser to the Government. He has visited both our Pasadena and Texas campuses, and addressed the student bodies. I had never been to Korea before. Dr. Ohama and I had expected to have a meeting with the President of Korea, but, as frequently happens with heads of state, emergency matters came up that prevented. However, I did have a very fine meeting with the Minister of Education and his two chief aides ….” (Armstrong H.W. Coworker letter, March 26, 1972, in Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Volume 2).
“Last Wednesday night, in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, I was given just such an opportunity. I did not know of it in advance. But a banquet was held in a special banquet room of my hotel in my honor. Present were Ambassadors representing the governments of Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Ethiopia and Israel, the President of the University, and Her Royal Highness the wife of the recent Prince Regent of Thailand, and other important guests. I was given a very warm — even emotional — introduction, and asked to speak ” (Armstrong H.W. Coworker letter, September 24, 1973, in Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Volume 2).
“A trip has been planned from Tokyo to Seoul, South Korea, to meet with the President. I was to be accompanied by the Japanese Minister of Labor, Toshio Yamaguchi. I had become ill and was forced to return to Pasadena from Orr, Minnesota, early in the morning, too ill” (Armstrong H.W. Coworker letter, December 9, 1985, in Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Volume 2).
So, one of the last international trips that the late Herbert W. Armstrong planned before he died (he died on January 16, 1986) he intended to go to Korea and meet with South Korea’s President. His old Plain Truth magazine also had a half dozen articles or so that were focused on Korea.
Herbert W. Armstrong may have also spoken to a couple of gatherings that included some leaders from “the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” (North Korea), but again that would be a highly limited witness. Yet since he wrote, “It is now true that this Gospel has been proclaimed within every nation on earth by the Worldwide Church of God (Letter 1/86)” it appears that he believed he did reach North Korea.
Perhaps I should add that because of prophecies involving “the kings from the east” cooperating at the end (cf. Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44), I have long felt that somehow North and South Korea would likely be unified (or at least work more closely together) prior to the return of Jesus Christ. The literal translation of Revelation 16:12 is “the kings of the sunrise” and thus this would seem to have to include Korea–which amongst the most eastern of the nations.
But it could take a battle or more for that to happen. One that may not turn out well for the North Korean leadership.
Yet, caution is advised for any who think that since the USA can defeat North Korea militarily that North Korea would not try to set off a nuclear device (either through a launch or throw some other means) that could hurt South Korea or the USA. Jesus spoke of a time of troubles prior to the Great Tribulation (Matthew 13:7-8) and North Korea may well fit in with those.
Jesus said to “watch” (Mark 13:37).
Korea Has Had a Limited Witness in the 21st Century
People from Korea visit the COGwriter website regularly, and have also visited the official website of the Continuing Church of God www.ccog.org, along with www.ccog.asia. We also have one article that has been machine-translated into the Korean language to provide some of the gospel kingdom and warning message to Koreans who may do internet searches in their native language: https://www.ccog.asia/prophecy-korea-witnesses/. South Koreans are relatively heavy internet users and using the internet may be the best way, at this instant, to reach Koreans. Other Church of God (COG) groups have also reached Korea. Despite that, it is unclear if any real COG members are actually living in North or South Korea ; however, in the past, I met some people with Korean heritage in one or more COG groups.
So while there has been some witness to Korea, it has been a limited one –especially in North Korea.
Now the Bible makes it clear that the Gospel will be preached into all the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14), thus additional witness will come to Korea. But even then, it may be a relatively limited witness.
It is my hope and prayer that God will move the hearts of one or more who can translate significant portions of the materials of the Continuing Church of God into the Korean language, and also into Chinese and Japanese. If so, more of a witness can happen soon.
Koreans Will Need to Make Decisions Based Upon Limited Information
The Bible teaches:
28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth (Romans 9:28).
This “short work” will likely include some witness into Korea (cf. Matthew 24:14).
Hopefully, many Koreans will pay attention to it sooner than later.
God will also raise up two witnesses around the start of the Great Tribulation that some in Korea will listen to (cf. Revelation 7:9-10).
Yet most in the world will not. And sadly, that will include most of the Koreans.
There is a Chinese prophecy dating from the Tang Dynasty (June 18, 618 – June 4, 907) that mentions Korea. It also seems to support the concept of pan-Asian cooperation (although it only mentions three nations) after someone (who is apparently not really trustworthy) rises up in the West:
Beautiful people come from the West. Korea, China and Japan are gradually at peace (Pui-Hua R. Ancient Chinese Prophecies Till the End of the World. AuthorHouse, Bloomington (IN), 2008, p. 85).
All negative forces are subservient…China now has a saint. Even if he is not that great a hero (ibid, p. 89).
The Bible warns of two European leaders (one primarily political and the other primarily religious) who will rise up in the end-time and deceive many. Whatever ‘peace’ occurs during this time will not last and will end in disaster (cf. Revelation 19:17-21).
It would seem that the “beautiful people” in that Chinese prophecy may be referring to the Beast and his false prophet (the final Antichrist) which apparently will impress peoples in places including the orient. The one referred to as “a saint” will likely be “the false prophet.” As a trading nation, Korea will prosper under this system (cf. Revelation 18:11-19).
When people in Korea and elsewhere see the Beast power they will marvel:
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is (Revelation 17:8).
They will marvel because of the great wealth, because they did not think Europe would gain such prominence, and because its leadership will have performed various signs and wonders.
Catholic prophecies suggest that the Koreans will accept the faith that will be called “Catholic”:
Cardinal La Roque (c. 18th century): A regeneration of Faith will appear in Asia (R. Gerald. The Prophets and Our Times. Nihil Obstat: L. Arvin. Imprimatur: Philip G. Scher, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, November 15, 1941. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 193)
Elizabeth Canori-Mora (died 1825):…Such is the glorious triumph reserved for the Catholic Church; she shall be praised, honored and esteemed by all men. All men shall become Catholics, and shall acknowledge the Pope as Vicar of Jesus Christ.” (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.24)
However, it should be noted that other Catholics have suggested that a faith called Catholic will be that of an “antipope,” the False Prophet, the final Antichrist:
Oba Prophecy: It will come when the Church authorities issue directives to support a new cult, when priests are forbidden to celebrate in any other, when the highest positions in the Church are given to perjurers and hypocrites, when only the renegades are admitted to occupy those positions (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 115).
Yves Dupont {Catholic writer interpreting A. Emmerick}: They wanted to make a new Church, a Church of human manufacture, but God had other designs…The Holy Father shall have to leave Rome, and he shall die a cruel death. An anti-pope shall be set up in Rome (Dupont, p. 116).
Ted and Maureen Flynn (readers and reporters Catholic prophecies): Catholic prophecy warns us of severe problems facing the papacy in these end times…chaos will be within our midst. An Antipope will seize papal authority…It will be those who hold fast to the truths of the faith who will be labeled as the perpetrators of this horrible schism, according to some visionaries (Flynn, Ted and Maureen. The Thunder of Justice. MaxKol Communications, Inc. Sterling (VA), 1993, p. 255).
Priest Herman Kramer (20th century): Antichrist will have a forerunner or prophet, who will prepare the way for him…This false prophet possibly at the behest of Antichrist usurps the papal supremacy…His assumed spiritual authority and supremacy over the Church would make him resemble the Bishop of Rome…He would be Pontifex Maximus, a title of pagan emperors, having spiritual and temporal authority. Assuming authority without having it makes him the False Prophet…Though he poses as a lamb, his doctrines betray him…His principles and dogmas to be accepted…it will comprise emperor-worship…with the persecution of true believers (Kramer H.B. L. The Book of Destiny, pp. 318,319).
…Antichrist, if he ever were of or in the Church, shall be an Apostate and a renegade out of the Church, and he shall usurp upon it by tyranny, and by challenging worship, religion, and government thereof, so that himself shall be adored in all the Churches of the world which he list to leave standing for his honor. And this is to sit in the temple or *against the Temple of God, as some interpret. If any Pope did ever this, or shall do, then let the Adversaries call him Antichrist (Annotations on The Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. The Original and True RHEIMS NEW TESTAMENT of Anno Domini 1582 , p. 423).
Thus, the religion of the “beautiful people” “from the West” will be the religion of the final Antichrist. Koreans need to not fall for it, even if it is accompanied by various signs and wonders, which it ultimately will be per 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11.
Despite outward appearances, the Bible teaches that real Christians are to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Since the witness to Korea has been quite limited, the Koreans will have to make decisions based upon somewhat culturally limited information. However, since many Koreans are zealous people, some of them will likely delve into these subjects more in this age—they need to rely on the teachings of the Bible and not be swayed by outward appearances and pressures. Most Koreans, sadly, will need to wait until the “age to come.”
Hopefully, this article will be helpful for many now.
Repentance for the Nations or You?
Since the Asian nations, like Korea, are prophesied to be involved with Babylon and various wars, what about you, whether you are Korean or not?
Does this mean that you are doomed?
No. God does not require “group salvation.” The Apostle Paul wrote:
…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling… (Philippians 2:12)
Thus, your personal relationship with God is not determined by what your fellow countrymen do.
Can, will, God help you during the coming tribulation?
Notice the prophecy for this latter time tribulation in the Hebrew scriptures:
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice 31 (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31)
Thus, help from God during these hard times will be available to the truly sincere who really strive for it.
The Koreans Will Be Among the First to Recognize the Falsehood of the Beast
Lest any have the misimpression that the Koreans are not a discerning people, it needs to be understood that the Koreans will be among the first to recognize the falsehood of this European power. But before that, there will likely be increased military cooperation among many of the Asian nations.
The Koreans will finally see that the European Beast power, also called “the King of the North” in the Bible, is not something to be worshiped or trusted.
Why do we of the Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God believe that? Because there are certain verses in both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation that appear to be discussing East Asian nations and the European Beast power.
Notice from the Book of Daniel:
“40 At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Daniel11:40-45).
Notice that the end time King of the North (the European Empire) will overwhelm the King of the South (a Moslem empire), but that those from the east and the north shall trouble the King of the North. This appears to be referring to China and Russia, and apparently other Asian nations (including Korea–which is one of the most “eastern” of all nations). And notice that they will be used to help cause the King of the North to come to his end.
And it is likely that by the end, both Koreas would be involved. Korea apparently part of the “kings from the east” (or more literally “kings of the sunrise” of Revelation 16:12). It would seem like Korea is likely to support the coming confederation of the east that will have a 200,000,000 man army:
15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. (Revelation 9:15-16)
This will not turn out well for the participants, including any Koreans (cf. Revelation 19:17-21).
However, war is not the ultimate destiny for most Koreans. Deification is.
And even though the Bible shows that the King of the North will lose, certain Catholics are now misled as some of their prophets falsely seem to tell them that the Asians, apparently including Koreans) will be defeated:
Countess Francesca de Brillante (20th Century). “I see yellow warriors and red warriors marching against Europe. Europe will be completely covered with a yellow fog that will kill the cattle in the fields. Those nations that rebelled against the law of Christ will perish by fire. Europe will then be too large for them who survive (Dupont, p. 78).
Nostradamus (16th century): Meanwhile the great Asiatic Empire will spread across the sea and continents to destroy the Christian world (Culleton, p. 168).
David Poreus (17th century). “The Great Monarch will be of French descent, large forehead, large dark eyes, light brown wavy hair and an eagle nose. He will crush the enemies of the Pope and will conquer the East.” (Dupont, p.31)
However, as the Bible will be correct (and certain Catholic prophets often shown to be wrong), it will not turn out as the Europeans hope.
Koreans Will Be Affect by the Great Tribulation
Jesus warned about a future time of a great tribulation:
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:21-22).
Since this great tribulation affects the whole world, it will affect the Koreans as well.
In Revelation 16, we also see that God will issue punishment to nearly all of humanity after Babylon (the European Empire) falls:
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great (Revelation 16:17-21).
God sent the punishments to get all men, including Koreans, to repent, but most refused at first:
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory (Revelation 16:9).
Then What Happens at the End of this Age?
After all these battles and punishments, the tribulation will end. And Christ will return:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-30).
16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).
This will usher in a kingdom that will be established for 1,000 years:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6).
And people of many nations, including those of Asia, will be part of this kingdom. Notice:
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Revelation 7:9).
After the thousand years are over, there will be problems, and then all will be resurrected:
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works (Revelation 20:7-13).
It is important to note that all remaining are judged at the second resurrection, but not all are condemned.
When is Salvation Available?
The mainstream “Christian” view correctly teaches that there is salvation in no other than Jesus:
(Acts 4:10-12), as “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (vs.12).
But what happens to the multitudes in Asia (including North Korea) who have not even heard the name of Christ? What about those who do not respond to Deuteronomy 4:29-31 or the two witnesses, etc.? And what happens to those born before Christ’s earthly ministry? Recall that the Bible teaches that after Adam sinned, humankind was blocked from the tree of life as God had it guarded so that humans would not be able to access it on their own (Genesis 3:22-24).
Even the basic Protestant view is that unless one professes belief in Jesus prior to the first death, then salvation will be unavailable. It is perhaps because of the difference between this view and that of the genuine Church of God, that Protestants tend to label the real Church of God as a cult. The fact that our doctrines actually come from the Bible does not seem to stop them from such labeling.
The Continuing Church of God teaches that God is only calling a relatively few during this age with the Day of Pentecost (also called the Day of Firstfruits, Numbers 28:26) partially explaining this. “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).
Jesus and the Church of God teach, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). And that will be few at this time, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14), “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).
Protestants and Catholics tend to feel, correctly, that God uses ministers to preach (Romans 10:14). Yet, the message is not always clear. In Isaiah 6:9-11 God teaches,
“Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate”.
In other words, the bulk of the people are not to understand until after a time of great desolation.
Furthermore, the Bible reveals that God has prohibited idolaters to have proper understanding:
And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand (Isaiah 44:17-18).
They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save (Isaiah 45:20).
Thus, is God going to condemn those who worship idols for what He has not let them understand?
Protestant and Catholic theology tends to say yes.
Those in the Continuing Church of God say no.
Unless the idolater has committed the unpardonable sin (which is unlikely) they will be judged as other uncalled people are.
Hence, the billions throughout history in Asia and Africa (and elsewhere) are not condemned to suffer forever for following practices they really do not understand.
Those who were uncalled in this age (including most people and nearly all of the Koreans, including those that have long been dead) will be offered an opportunity for salvation.
And nearly all of them will accept it. We in the Continuing Church of God teach that God will ultimately give every individual an opportunity for salvation–and that nearly every individual will accept that opportunity. All humans, including all Koreans will be called, and the vast majority of Koreans will ultimately be in God’s family.
Ultimately that nearly all Koreans will be in the permanent kingdom of God. Notice some of the descriptions from the Book of Revelation:
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:2-4).
This will be the time of real, lasting, genuine peace.
Because of their zeal, I suspect that many Koreans will put Westerners to shame. All should recall that Jesus taught:
29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last (Luke 13:28-30).
And this is likely to include many Koreans as becoming first. We in the real Church of God understand that God will offer salvation to everyone in this age or the age to come (Matthew 12:32; Mark 10:30).
Although some Protestants and Catholics seem to act otherwise, notice that Jesus did NOT teach that mostly those from Western nations in Europe and North America would be saved–those from the West have no preeminence. Many Koreans are likely to be preeminent over Westerners.
Conclusion
In the 21st century, the wealth of Korean appears prophesied to increase. The Asians, including the Koreans, will most likely be among the first to benefit from the coming European Empire, as well as be among those who see that it is not what it pretends to be.
God apparently plans to allow Korea and others in Asia as part of a coalition of kings from the East (which apparently include the eastern and northern Russians) to put an end to the King of the North’s military ambitions.
Just because the whole world (and not just the Koreans) will be deceived by the rising European Beast power, you do not have to be. Hopefully this article has given you some reasons to look at the world and your life and will motivate to come to God now on His terms. To learn more about what happened to Christianity, a good place to start may be The History of Early Christianity page. May God call you today and grant you the understanding so that you will “pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).
Sadly, because most in Korea do not strive know the true God now, God will punish them as well as the other inhabitants on the Earth. And apparently many will also rebel at the close of the millennium, but will not succeed.
However, since God is a God of love, He intends to resurrect the all Koreans and offer them salvation. A salvation that nearly all will accept as nearly all the Koreans who ever lived will be in the kingdom of God. A kingdom without fear or death or sorrow. A glorious and peaceful kingdom. Deification will be available for the Koreans and the whole world. And that is the prophesied future for nearly all of Koreans, and the world.
Link to article in Mandarin:
https://www.ccog.asia/korea-in-prophecy-any-witness-cnkr/