THE RETURN OF HEUNG JIN NIM
By; Joel Bjorling
Heung Jin Nim died from injuries sustained in a car accident
on January 2, 1984. He returned to physical embodiment in the summer of
1987.
Hueng Jin Nim was the second son of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the
controversial Unification Church. While the Church has raised intense public
ire due to allegations of brainwashing and mind-control, as well as its
unorthodox interpretations of Christian doctrines, some of its major teachings
concern the spirit world, including the belief that spirit beings assist
in the spiritual development of people on earth.
Such teachings will be of interest to persons interested in survival,
and the story of Heung Jin Nim presents a unique case of one who has "returned
from beyond" to bring a message of hope to humanity.
Rev. Moon's mission began with a spiritual encounter with Jesus who comissioned
him to complete the work that he had left unifinished. The "Outline of the
Principle," a summary of The "Divine Principle," a basic text of Rev. Moon's
theology, states that he "returned through the invisible (spirit) world
which is the world of cause, seeking to solve all the fundamental questions
about life and the universe."
In the spirit world, Moon 'freely communicated with Jesus and the saints
in Paradise.'
Church leader Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak stated that Rev. Moon's "teaching has
not only opened the door to us to believe in the spirit world, but we also
have a clear and logical understanding of it. If we sincerely and correctly
apply our knowledge, we can receive great spiritual assistance in our personal
growth and healing and in the accomplishment of our various responsibilities."
Moon's belief that those in the spirit realm return to assist people on
earth is called "returning resurrection." It is a process by which those
w ho did not attain perfection on earth "return" to assist people in their
spiritual development. "Returning resurreection" is an opportunity for
mutual growth. The "Outline of the Principle" states that "a person who
dies without completing his mission must return and cooperate with a person
on earth who has the same kind of mission and the same spiritual dispositioin."
The spirit person helps the person on earth to receive revelations and
deep experiences of truth. He can help him experience phenomena as healing
and prophecy.
The concept of "returning resurrection" can be mistaken for reincarnation.
The Unification Church does not teach reincarnation, but states "the physical
self of the person on earth BECOMES the physical self of the returning spirit
as well." The "returning resurrection" os a matter of cooperation, not
reincarnation.
Spirit manifestations have often occurred at Unification Church workshops
and conferences, at a conference on the Ivory Coast, May 10-19, 1987, some
participants felt an invisible hand waking them if they became sleepy during
a lecture. Another participant saw her grandmother appear from the spirit
world. Another heard a voice exclaiming, 'You're not repenting strongly
enough!' One person dreamed that Rev. Moon took him to see his deceased
ancestors. They went to a large tomb and inside there were myriads of people.
They struggled to touch him, but they were prevented by Rev. Moon because
"they were not worthy to touch their descendent."
During workshops, a number of people became entranced, spoke on tongues,
or saw visions of Rev. Moon.
Heung Jin Nim began conveying messages through mediums shortly after his
death. He spoke of the need for holiness and repentance. Rev. Moon stated
that Heung Jin Nim "has created a bidge for those in the spirit world to
come down and stay on earth." Further, because of his relationship with
Rev. Moon, who is the progenitor of God's work for this age, "Heung Jin
Nim can now command the forces of the higher realms to come down and stay
on the earth and begin to do battle against the evil spirits."
In the summer of 1987, the Unification Church announced that Heung Jin
Nim had become embodied in the body of an African member from Zimbabwe.
Rev. Kwak wrote that this African had been born into a Christian family
and had been taught by Jesus Christ directly for over ten years.