The Way Of The Spiritual Leader - 395 Chapter 5 - Ministering and Giving Guidance to the Members Section 4 - Restoration Through Indemnity and the Formula Course 3. The Formula Course of Unification Church Members
3) The Second Stage is the Restoration of Man
In the formula course, the restoration of humanity can be divided into two periods. The first three and half year period is the time for the restoration of humanity and finding three spiritual children.
As everybody knows, originally man reaches perfection after passing through the growth period. However, since fallen man fell at the Completion Stage of the Growth Stage, they must be restored to that stage.
All people are to reach the completion of the Growth Stage once more. So, when we talk about the three and half year course, it refers to the time before receiving the Blessing.
We call this "the path of restoration." In the early days of the church only those members who have completed all the conditions of the formula course can receive the Blessing.
The second period of witnessing is another three and a half years after the Blessing, and through this the perfection is achieved. We call this period after the Blessing, "the path of the Principle."
I will elaborate on the important differences concerning this in detail. Before receiving the Blessing, we have to walk the seven years of the formula course.
Ordinarily, everybody needs at least three years of life of faith and three spiritual children. However, in recent years True Father has also given the Blessing to those who have worked in the church for only two or three years.
According to the principles, 14 years are required to be able to receive the Blessing by paying indemnity for these conditions, but it has been reduced down to 7 years.
Father wants to give Blessing earlier and permit us to complete the course after the Blessing.
The most important thing that we have to understand is that we have been greatly blessed and benefited. In this historical moment, we are not worthy of receiving such great benefits.
Accordingly, we have to take to heart the understanding that for the sake of the formula course, we in reality need a seven-year period.
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