The Bible is a book that testifies about the Savior (Jn 5:39). In the book of Micah, which was written hundreds of years before Jesus came, it was prophesied that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2); Jesus fulfilled the prophecy exactly as it was written (Mt 2:1–6). In the same way, the Bible also reveals where Christ will come from a second time, through various prophecies in the Old and New Testaments. According to the Bible, He is prophesied to come from the east.
The Last Work of Salvation Begins in the East
God’s Sealing Work
The Bible prophesies that Jesus has to come again in the last days to carry out the work of salvation (Heb 9:28; Lk 21:27–28). In the book of Revelation, it is written that the last work of salvation will begin in the east.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Rev 7:1–3
In this passage, four angels are standing at the four corners of the earth each, holding back winds. Once the winds are released, a global disaster will occur. Through this, we can understand that this represents the last disaster that will come upon the whole world. Right before the disaster comes, the work of putting the seal of God on the saints will take place. This is the last work of salvation that God will carry out to save His people. This work is prophesied to begin from the east. This means that Second Coming Christ, who will carry out the last work of salvation, will appear in the east.
Signs in the Sun, Moon, and Stars
Let us confirm that God’s sealing work prophesied in Revelation 7 must take place when Jesus comes a second time. According to Revelation 6, there will be special signs before the sealing work begins.
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. Rev 6:12–13
It is written that the sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars fell to the earth. After these signs appear, God’s sealing work will take place (Rev 7:1–3). The same signs in the sun, moon, and stars are also found in a prophecy about Second Coming Christ written in the Gospels.
“Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Mt 24:29–31
It is written that when the sun is darkened, the moon does not give its light, and the stars fall from the sky, the Son of Man (i.e., Jesus), will come on the clouds and gather His elect. When you compare this prophecy with Revelation 6, it is clear that God’s sealing work will be accomplished by Second Coming Christ. According to the Bible, He is to come from the east and carry out the work of salvation before the last disaster comes.
Second Coming Christ Comes as a Man From the East
The same prophecy is recorded in the book of Isaiah.
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey [eagle, NET]; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. . . . I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.” Isa 46:10–13
God prophesied that He would summon a bird of prey (eagle) from the east and a man from a far-off land to bring salvation. An actual bird of prey cannot fulfill God’s work of salvation; the bird of prey here represents the man who will fulfill God’s purpose. This means that God will summon a man represented as a bird of prey from a far-off land in the east to bring salvation to His people. This prophecy was partially fulfilled by Cyrus, king of Persia. In the sixth century BC, Cyrus was called by God and freed the Israelites from their 70-year-long captivity in Babylon (Isa 45:1–3, 13; Ezr 1:1–3).
This prophecy, however, will be completely fulfilled when God Himself comes again. In the Bible, God, who is with His people and saves them, is described as the “eagle,” which is a bird of prey (Ex 19:4; Dt 32:11–12). As He freed the Israelites who were captives in Babylon through Cyrus, God will come as a “man from the east” and save the spiritual Israelites who are captives in spiritual Babylon (Rev 18:1–5).
“Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow. . . . The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; . . . I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.” Isa 41:2–4, 17–18
[S]ay to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. Isa 35:4–7
In Isaiah 41, it is written that rivers will flow on barren heights, springs within the valleys, and the desert will turn into pools of water when a man comes from the east. These things are to take place when God, who is the source of living water, comes to this earth (cf. Isa 35:4–6; Mt 11:2–5). Therefore, the prophecy about “a man from the east” in Isaiah 41 refers to Christ who will come from the east to give humankind the water of life.
The Far-off Land in the East Is the Republic of Korea
When Jesus came the first time, He came from Israel. At His second coming, however, it is prophesied that He will come from a far-off land in the east. Then, which country is the far-off land in the east where Jesus is to come from? In order to understand this, we first need to know where the prophets were when they saw the revelations. Apostle John saw the revelation on the island of Patmos, and the prophet Isaiah saw the revelation in Israel. If you look for a country far east from the island of Patmos and Israel on a world map, you will find the Republic of Korea.
Some people ask, “Why does it have to be Korea? Why not China or Japan?” This is because God’s sealing work began in Korea. As mentioned earlier, God’s sealing work should begin from the east as prophesied in Revelation 7 in the Bible. The seal of God, which saves us from disaster, is the Passover of the new covenant (Jn 6:27, 53–56; Mt 26:17–28). The truth of the New Covenant Passover disappeared after it was abolished at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Then, where did this truth reappear in this age? It reappeared in the Republic of Korea; therefore, the country in the east prophesied in the Bible is Korea.
Christ is to come again from Korea and save the saints from the last plague by putting God’s seal on them, reviving their thirsty souls with the water of life. It is Christ Ahnsahnghong who came according to this prophecy. Christ Ahnsahnghong was born in Korea and began the gospel work after being baptized in 1948, when He was thirty years old. This was in accordance with the prophecies of the fig tree and the throne of King David. He also restored the truth of the new covenant, including the Passover, and gathered His people into Zion, the place of salvation (Mt 24:30–31). Hence, the prophecy about Christ who will come from the east was fulfilled.