The Fire Judgment Should Be Seen as a Metaphor… The End Times Are a Time of Transition
Original article in Korean here
The Christian Gospel Mission (https://www.cgm.or.kr) has attracted attention for its unique interpretation the Bible, Christianity’s scripture. Rather than a literal approach, they offer a rational and scientifically consistent interpretation that contrasts with the traditional views of established churches. Especially in the 1980s, many young people and intellectuals were drawn to the Bible-based teachings of CGM’s founder, Rev. Jeong Myeong-Seok, and they played a key role in the growth of CGM into what it is today.
Additionally, there is a constant stream of people knocking on the doors of CGM. Why is it that the members of CGM can maintain their faith firmly in place despite outside influences, and why do so many still take an interest in CGM and seek to join? We believe the key to the secret lies in the words of Pastor Jeong Myeong-Seok.
In this installment of our series on the mission’s key doctrines, we will discuss the topic “The Fire Judgment Should Be Seen as a Parable… The End Times Are a Time of Transition” with the help of an official. The Bible (English: Bible) is composed of the Old Testament and the New Testament <Editor’s Note>.
Biblical Prophecies of Fire Judgment and the End Times
People are terrified and frightened by the Bible’s prophecies of a fiery judgment at the end of time. Let’s take a look at a typical passage about the end times and fire judgment.
<2 Peter 3:10-13>
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare…. (emphasis added)… That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Christianity teaches that the heavens will melt away, all of humanity on earth will perish, and only those who believe in Jesus will survive. This is a grave misunderstanding if one attempts to take the Bible literally.
Some may recall the excitement surrounding the year 2000, both in Korea and globally, with millennium prophecies, the Y2K bug, and more. According to the teachings of Rev. Jeong Myeong-Seok, the members of the Mission Church had known for 20 years before the year 2000 that these biblical references did not describe a judgment in which all mankind would be judged and destroyed, the earth would cease to exist, and everything on earth and in heaven would melt away. In reality, the earth did not disappear at the end of 1999 or in 2000 as Christianity had claimed.
“The earth is eternal. It continues to exist.”
Those who listened to and followed CGM teachings have no fear of the end of the world and continue to believe in God.
The Old Testament Predicts Judgment at the Time of Jesus
So, how should we understand the Bible’s statements about the end times and judgment? Earlier, we discussed how the Bible is not to be taken literally, but rather, viewed and understood symbolically.
<Ecclesiastes 3:15>
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
The Bible contains Old Testament prophecies foretelling the time of Jesus’ return, as well as various judgments and end-time events that will unfold when Jesus returns. By examining how the judgments and prophecies about the end times from Jesus’ return have already come to pass, we can understand how they will be fulfilled in the present age.
God says in the book of Ecclesiastes, “What happened before will happen again.”
First, let’s look at Old Testament prophecies about the end times and judgment by fire.
<Malachi 4:1>
“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.”
<Isaiah 9:19>
By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched, and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another.
<Isaiah 66:15-16>
“See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord.”
Before Jesus came to earth, it was said through the prophet Malachi that a day of fierce and unquenchable fire would come, and the proud and all who do evil would be consumed like a dust with a consuming fire. Through the prophet Isaiah, it was said that God would descend in a flame of fire and judge with fire and sword.
Seeing these statements, people who believed in the Bible believed in the destruction and end of the world and taught that only those who believed in God and in Jesus would be raptured to heaven. Someone once said, “There are more than ten thousand atomic bombs on the earth, and it only takes a few of them to disintegrate the earth. Eventually there will be a war, and it will happen,” causing people to tremble in fear and terror. There is nothing more terrifying than the fear of death.
Did Jesus judge with fire?
It is said that Jesus came to throw real fire to the ground. So, did he actually judge with fire? Jesus never judged with fire, throwing it all over the place like an arsonist. So, what did he mean? The Bible compares the words of life to fire, as it says, “Are not my words like fire?” <Jeremiah 23:29>. The Bible also clearly states that “the tongue is a tongue of fire <James 3:6>”. In other words, we are judged by our words, not by fire, as it says, “He who rejects me and does not receive my words will be judged by my words, <John 12:48>”.
<Luke 12:49>
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
Jesus came to throw fire on the earth, and he was expressing his frustration, wishing their hearts would be ignited. Just as we say in our lives, “This is so frustrating, why can’t you understand me?” Jesus felt the same way. When he said that God judges by fire and sword, he didn’t mean fire and sword literally, but rather the Word like fire, the Word like a sword.
Why is the Word compared to fire?
Why did Jesus compare the Word to fire? First, fire is known for its ability to burn away things. Just as fire burns away impurities, the Word also says, “Stop doing it. Repent,” and when we repent and stop, the Word burns away the unclean things. Secondly, fire is characterized by its ability to create new things. We melt iron ore with fire and shape it into various objects; similarly, we are born again as a new person after hearing the fiery Word, which creates a new heart and new decisions in us. Thirdly, just as fire is a light that illuminates darkness, the Word is a light that illuminates people’s religious ignorance. Just as fire has many uses and is essential for life, the Word is essential for our faith.
There are many metaphors for the Word in the Bible. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says, “The words of the teacher are like well-driven nails. When you hear good words from a great person, it sinks deep into your heart, is accepted, and you don’t forget it —you keep thinking about it. This is a metaphor for believing, following, and saying “Amen” to the words of truth. The Word sticks to one’s heart like a nail.
The Bible likens the Word to many things: an axe, a sword, an iron cage, a sickle, and a rod of righteousness. Fire is a metaphor for the Word.
The end times signify a transition, not a literal end.
The phrases “latter days” and “end times” appear multiple times in the Bible. In <Genesis 6:13>, <Ezekiel 7:6>, and <1 Peter 1:20>, we see that Jesus’ time was the time of the end prophesied in the Bible. In <Hebrews 1:2, 9:26> and <1 John 2:18>, we can see that the end of the world is not the literal end of the world that perishes and disappears. In the Bible, the “end of the world” does not refer to the literal destruction of the world, but rather to the conclusion of God’s sovereignty during the Old Testament era in salvation history. The Old Testament era, which continued from Adam, was an era of believing in God as a servant, but when Jesus came and proclaimed the Word, a New Testament era of believing in God as a son began. Naturally, the Old Testament era has ended, that is, the end of the age, and a new transition has taken place.
The end of the old age is the beginning of the new age, just like the end of spring and the beginning of summer, and the end of summer and the beginning of fall, for example. It’s a transition to something new. The old always ends, and the new begins. Just as the seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—cycle continuously, the concept of the end times also follows a cyclical pattern in history. Therefore, the end of the world does not mean that everything on earth will disappear. The Bible says that the earth is forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4).
Rather, the end times are a transition toward an ideal state. Just like moving from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school, it is a progression to a more refined and ideal stage. It is not something to fear, but rather a hopeful and positive transformation.
Jesus said, “It is finished,” before He died on the cross (John 19:30). However, if one interprets the Bible literally, the world did not end, which would suggest that Jesus did not fulfill Old Testament prophecy. So, how did Jesus fulfill the prophecy concerning the end of the world? This can be understood by examining 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 2 Peter 3:13.
This does not mean that physical houses were made new, nor that the sun, moon, and stars were recreated, nor that the church itself was physically renewed. Rather, the essence of this new era is the new Word that God proclaims through the Savior of the world. It signifies that the Old Testament era—governed by the Mosaic Law—came to an end with the Messiah, Jesus, and transitioned into a new era: the New Testament era.
In this way, Jesus fulfilled both the conclusion of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament by proclaiming the new Word of the New Testament era.
What kind of age is this?
<Luke 12:56>
“You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?”
We must discern the times of our lives, the times of nations, and the times of history. But above all, we must first recognize the times of God’s work. To receive blessing rather than destruction, we must prepare for the time of transition. When we hear the Word proclaimed in this age and step into the new era, we are transformed and step into the new era. We undergo transformation, just as a slug transforms into a cicada.
The judgment by fire refers to judgment by the Word, which in turn signifies salvation through the Word. Just as in Jesus’ time 2,000 years ago, Jesus—who has returned as a spirit in this age—is setting people’s hearts ablaze with the fiery words of truth through His chosen messenger in the flesh. Moreover, God is ushering in a new era that transcends both the Old and New Testaments, prepared for those who believe in and love Him.
Written by Kang Min-soo (Reporter)
Data provided by Na Myung-man (Christian Gospel Mission Education Center)
