Twenty seven hundred years ago, a famous prophet prophesied the coming of the Son of GOD JESUS CHRIST to the Children of Israel. Those were the words of Isaiah, the Evangelical Prophet.
One hundred years after the Birth of Jesus, a famous Apostle prophesied the Period in Christian History known as the "Millennium."
'And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
'And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the D-v-l, and S-a-t-n, and bound him a thousand years." Revelation 20:1-2
This is the Period known as the Thousand Year Reign of CHRIST, during which that horned creature of the netherworld with a forked tail is chained to the bottomless pit. This is the Period during which Holiness and Virtue will prevail on the earth plane.
It is obvious that neither the First or the Second Millennium were such Periods. What are the prospects for the Third Millennium, starting in the Year 2000, to be a Holy and Virtuous Era?
In the last Century of the Millennium just past, three Events of Power boded well for the Third Millennium. This climactic trilogy, in the time frame of only a year, suddenly gave the planet an injection of Energy such as it had never experienced. Together, they gave humanity a new, unexpected, arresting direction.
One was the splitting of the Atom in 1945, when the Atom Bomb fell, re- leasing the "Power of the Universe" the Energy of the Cosmos. Another was the Power that the invention of the Computer in the same year offered, in the way of giving Energy and speed to astronomical calculations as well as providing a repository for essential information.
The third was the loosing of the Power of Holiness and Virtue by the Spiritual Marriage of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE in 1946, which Proclaimed, Established, Glorified and gave Energy to, not only Holiness and Virtue, but also Honesty, Competence and Truth.
FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE
Every year, followers and friends of FATHER DIVINE memorialize the 1946 Spiritual Marriage of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE on April twenty ninth and thirtieth. In this first year of the Millennium, they gathered at the Unity Mission Bible Institute, 1530 North Sixteenth Street in Philadelphia, to greet and applaud the Royal Pair as they arrived to serve the first of three Holy Communion Banquets two on April twenty ninth and one on April thirtieth.
On April twenty ninth in the distant Year of 1946, at eleven o'clock, FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE were joined in Holy Matrimony. At precisely eleven o'clock on April twenty ninth of this year, to herald the end of the Fifty Fourth and the beginning of the Fifty Fifth Year of Their Marriage, resounding Church Bells rolled throughout the magnificent Bible Institute for several minutes. All the Celebrants at the Holy Communion Banquet Table stood in silent, worshipful adoration, meditating on the significant solemnity of the Occasion.
Scripture from Ephesians and Revelation was read, as though to interpret the
Message of the Church Bells. Pealing of the Bells also
reinforced the inscription
on the expressive Place Favor which stood at each diner's plate. In this Place
Favor was an informal picture of FATHER and MOTHER at the fireplace in the
Gold Room of the Bible Institute. The inscription in it was the Proclamation
by FATHER DIVINE that the twenty ninth Day of April shall be an Interracial
Holiday to commemorate the Marriage of CHRIST to His Creation the Marriage
of GOD to His Spotless Church, His Spotless, Virgin Bride.
The purpose of the Marriage is to universalize Democracy, Americanism, Christianity and Judaism as synonymous, and to bring about the Brotherhood of Man and the Propagation of Virtue, Honesty and Truth! The Banquet Service
The Banquet Hall of the Unity Mission Bible Institute epitomizes the Peace Mission Movement, with its high ceiling, the brilliant light fixtures and the golden organ pipes banked against the wall in the background. The Head Table and the two long wings extending the full length of the Hall was meticulously appointed. Churchly, filigreed candelabrums with royal purple and lavender candles, as well as arrangements of white bridal wreath, pink roses and lavender lilacs, graced the table. White curtains and colorful brocade drapes on the high windows completed the setting.
To augment this princely scene, bowls and platters and pitchers of delectable, ambrosial food and drink were Blessed by FATHER and MOTHER at the Head Table and passed around to everyone at the Table, for each guest to serve from as he or she pleased. This was a most fitting setting for the first Marriage Anniversary Celebration of the Third Millennium!
After the Scripture reading at the beginning of the Service, of the prophecies of the Marriage from Ephesians and Revelation, the Rosebud Choir, seated on the rostrum behind the Head Table, in their red, white and blue habits, sang several selections to the Glory of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE, and what Their Marriage means to people around the globe. While the Banquet was being served, the Rosebuds remained on the rostrum to lead the celebrants in more songs of rejoicing over the advent of GOD'S Condescension to marry His Creation.
MOTHER DIVINE gave a Millennial Message at the Divine Tracy Hotel on the first Sunday of the Millennium. This Message was reproduced in the large place favor for the two o'clock Banquet on April thirtieth. In it, SHE stated that FATHER took a Stand for the CHRIST Life, thereby making His Body a Target for the scurrilous barbs that were shot at HIM. SHE thanked FATHER for the Price HE paid to toil with humanity as simple and insignificant as we are. Then SHE exclaimed:
'It is our Goal, our Aim, our Purpose, and our sincere desire to live in this CHRIST Consciousness, because GOD is going to bring His People in One.'
A well respected scientist declared in 1945 that when the Atom Bomb fell, we stepped out from the OLD Age into the NEW Age, "and we had to change our minds and adjust our thinking to conform with something altogether NEW!" No doubt he was overshadowed by thoughts of what the New Millennium would bring.
FATHER DIVINE was engaged in His Evangelical Ministry at the turn of the Century, during which He spoke of changing the nature of man, so that man would be like an Angel. So His Message preceded the scientist's proclamation by half a century. In 1940, five years before the scientist announced that we had to change our minds and adjust our thinking, the Master Scientist, FATHER DIVINE, issued the following clear statement, in which HE elucidates what HE means by "change" delving much deeper into the process than the scientist.
'By the change of nature, the nature of humanity, the change of their minds and their disposition, the change of their character and their characteristics, they become to be New Creatures. Therefore, it is a great change, for this is as much a change from the Dispensation in which you have been living, as the Dispensation A.D. was from the Dispensation B.C. There was a change, and even the governmental affairs changed because GOD was among men. . . .
'From that time, automatically the time changed, the calendar changed; even the system or the custom of the time to worship GOD changed. A New Era began. . . .
'Because it is a New Dispensation, it automatically changes men, it automatically changes systems, it automatically changes customs and rules and regulations. Because of the change in the Dispensation, it causes a New Dispensation and a New Spiritual Awakening to take place in the Consciousness of Humanity, and Civilization, from that angle of expression, will make its advances by the Spirit, as it is unfolding in a deeper unfoldment of the Dispensation, from that of A.D. . . .
'There is a different environment altogether. Mankind thinks differently, they feel different because of the New Dispensation that has actually been created by the Creator of all Dispensations!" New Day, September 21, 1974, pp. 11-12, given 126th Street, NYC, August 18-19., 1940
In Her Millennial Message, MOTHER DIVINE ushered in the New Millennium by exclaiming that "we can enter the Year 2000 with great rejoicing," because FATHER DIVINE came and prepared us for this privilege. The New Millennium will be "the Reign of CHRIST on earth! And GOD is here with His people!"
'And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
'And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and GOD himself shall be with them, and be their GOD.
'And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
'And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Revelation 21:1,3-5
FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE and Crusaders
Much of the world is looking for the Second Coming of CHRIST, or for the appearance of the Messiah during this, the Third Millennium. But GOD has cut the time short, so that there might be some flesh saved. The world will come to realize that the Second Coming of the living CHRIST is a Reality. HE is here among the children of men, teaching them how to love each other, and showing them how to live, by the precious Example of His Own Life.
For most people the Millennium is a hoped for, Ideal, Peaceful, Utopian Period an Era of Joy, Serenity, Prosperity and Justice. In this Period, Holiness will prevail in the earth, during which CHRIST will raise the chosen ones from the curse of the mortal, Adamic state of consciousness into the CHRIST Consciousness. They will participate with HIM in His Triumphant Thousand Year Reign over the Planet. The wicked will be annihilated, and Heaven and Earth will be renewed.
GOD came in the Fathership Degree in the Body of FATHER DIVINE, to fulfill humanity's Divine Destiny the impassioned hopes and dreams in the heart of every Child of GOD. In the deep lavender Place Favor for the six o'clock Table on April twenty ninth, which contained an unusual picture of FATHER and MOTHER, FATHER stated as far back as 1948, that "the Marriage of the Bride to the Lamb on the twenty ninth day of April, nineteen hundred and forty six, was the beginning of a New Era such as a man had not comprehended."
HE came to free the people from themselves from their old habits, from the way they think, from society's customs and traditions, and from the "Bondage of corruption, into the Glorious Liberty of the children of GOD!"
April twenty ninth and thirtieth every year are special days for the followers and friends of FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE and the Peace Mission Movement who live in many parts of the globe. It is the time of the "Wedding In The Springtime," which gives them a sense of "belonging" a sense of closeness to FATHER and MOTHER, and to each other. As many as can, come to the Holy Marriage Anniversary Celebration in Philadelphia, the Country Seat of the World to satisfy their yearning for Spiritual Illumination for their Souls.
All those who attended the eleven o'clock Holy Communion Banquet on April twenty ninth, were followers and close friends of the Movement. At the six o'clock Banquet, and at the two o'clock, April thirtieth Banquet, many distinguished people came to honor FATHER and MOTHER DIVINE. For some, it was their first experience being at such a Spiritual gathering. Many of these people gave expression to their thoughts some at length. Some of the remarks of these guests will be found in the articles on pages 4 and 9.
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