Who would have thought people would pay attention to a book with a mundane title like The Genesis Genealogies or the first volume of a series titled History of Redemption? However, within four years, The Genesis Genealogies and the History of Redemption series have become famous. This is not just one book but a series of books classified as “religious studies” selling hundreds of thousands of copies. Translations versions in English, Japanese, German, Chinese, Russian and Indonesian have also sold tens of thousands of copies. The English translations have been imported into Korea and are being sold in large bookstores. Hebrew, Arabic, and Spanish translations are expected to be released soon.
“For the first time in history”
1The History of Redemption series has revealed the things that have been hidden in the Bible for at least 2,000 years and God’s message hidden within them. What has been revealed have nothing to do with new archaeological findings or theories. 2The proof regarding what has been revealed lies in the Bible itself so there is nothing to make us feel uneasy. This would not have been possible if the books were presenting theories. As the days pass, amazement and praise for this series only increase. 3Pastors and theologians who have written book reviews or commentaries for books one through five are 21 in total.
In the March 25, 2011 article of the Christian newspaper Kidok Shin-bo, Dr. Yong Yup Cho said of all the theologians and pastors who have written reviews or commentaries on Pastor Abraham Park’s books, “Each and every one of them are prominent and distinguished scholars. They are highly influential people in the denominations or seminaries to which they belong. However, they placed their reputation and good name on the line and wrote reviews and commentaries on the History of Redemption series despite the possible backlash in order to testify of the soundness and depth of Rev. Park’s faith and his books.
1 Book 1 The Genesis Genealogies
-Adam and his 9th generation descendant, Lamech, lived 56 years contemporaneously.
-Noah and Abraham lived 58 years contemporaneously.
-The duration of the construction of Noah’s ark.
Book 2 The Covenant of the Torch
-A map of the 42 campsites and meanings of site names in original language
-Abraham’s genealogy
Book 3 The Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant
-Analysis of the genealogy of Matthew and Luke
-Generations omitted in the genealogy of Jesus Christ
-The route of David refuge
-Chronology of the period of the judges
Book 4 The Mysterious and Profound Providence of God in the Eternal Covenant
-Duration of the construction of the Temple of Solomon (about 6 years and 6 months)
-A trace back of the kings of Israel from the second period of Jesus’ genealogy
Book 5 The Promise of the Eternal Covenant in the Profound Providence of God
-The period of captivity in Babylon and the return from captivity and their meaning in terms of the work of salvation
-Analysis of the third period of Jesus’ genealogy and transitions in world history
2 “It is a book suffused with scripture…I can assure readers that this book will not disappoint. Read it, study it, pray over it, and then put its wisdom to work in your life and ministry.”
Dr. Frank A. James III, Ph.D., D.Phil.
President and Professor of Historical Theology
Reformed Theological Seminary/ Orlando
“Where are the critics of the author now? If there are problems with the book, then they should point them out and raise issues regarding the author’s ideas but why are they quiet? If there are no problems, then isn’t it about time that we make the proper evaluations?...”
(From the commentary of Dr. Nam-sik Kim, Editor in Chief of the Christian Newspaper, “Kidok Times”)
3 Dr. Kyung-bae Min (Hon. Professor at Yonsei University, Chair-professor at Baekseok) / Dr. Frank A. James (President and Professor of Historical Theology at the Reformed Theological Seminary / Dr. Tae-deuk Lim (Former moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churches in Korea) / Dr. Young-bae Cha (Former President of Chongshin University) / Dr. Andrew J. Tesia (President of the Research Institute of Reformed Theology) / Dr. Jaeyong Joo (Former President of Hanshin University) / Dr. Taek-Hyun Kang (Former President of Han-il University, Dean of Jeonju Kijeon College) / Dr. Jung-jin Kang (Professor of Historical Theology at Calvin University) / Dr. Yeongsu Ye (Former President of Hanshin Graduate School) / Bishop Kwang-young Jang (Former President of Bishops Association of the Methodist Church) / Dr. Ki-ho Sung (Former President of Sungkyul University) / Dr. Han-Ho Do (President of the Baptist Theological Seminary) / Dr. Kyung-pyo Hong (General Director of the Asian Assembly in the American Pentecostal Assemblies of God) / Dr. Seock-Tae Sohn (President of the Reformed Theological Seminary of Korea) / Dr. Yong-Kuk Wone (Hon. Professor at Anyang University and Hon. President of the Korean Archaeology Association) / Dr. Ho-whan Kim (Former Professor at Chongshin University and Theological Seminary) / Dr. Eui-chun Hwang (Moderator of the International United General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churches in US, President of America Evangelism College) / Dr. Seung-an Lim (President of Korea Nazarene Church University) / Chae-Woon Na (Former President of Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary) /Dr. Il-Ho Lee (Former Vice-Presidentm of the General Assembly in Europe, Director of Israel Research Center) / Dr. Haggai Lee (Professor at the Korean Reformed Theological Seminary, Member of the Korean Truthful Bible Translation Committee)
The first National Ministers’ Seminar was held last year in October on the back of this kind of rave reviews. A total of 144 ministers from all over the country gathered and attended 17 lectures for a total of 26 hours on the theme “Biblical Genealogies.” Despite the fact that it was not vacation season, over 2,000 members of the congregation from churches both domestic and overseas attended as well. They took days off and accrued personal expenses to drive many hours to the seminar. Attendees from oversees seeking to study the Word of God spared no expenses to fly to Korea from the United States, Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, etc.
Why do we have to learn about such complicated genealogies?
“To gain conviction.” “I have to know them.”
“I now have conviction that the Bible is inerrant. It’s a great accomplishment.”
These were the comments from a pastor who attended the seminar.
With joy and conviction he said, “The Bible is accurate and inerrant, but theologians were not able to discover this.
The author, Rev. Abraham Park, was able to discover all this and proof it. There will be changes in my ministry from this time forth.”
When Gatut Budiyono, the president of SATI Theological Seminary in Indonesia (one of five largest seminaries
in Indonesia), and his wife, Rev. Esther Subijanto, first encountered the History of Redemption series, they thought “Why do we need to study this? Can’t we just believe in God? However, after they read the books and studied, they realized that there is a reason why we need to study the Bible carefully, even their numbers. They realized that there is nothing meaningless in the Bible. They also realized that the Bible could also be scientifically analyzed in depth. They confessed that the lectures not only increased their Biblical knowledge, but they struck their souls so that each hour was filled with tears. (Champyungan, October, 2010)
After they read the English translation of The Genesis Genealogies, they began to recommend this book to 300 professors and seminary students. They also played an active role in inviting over 400 influential leaders of the Christian community to the History of Redemption Seminar held in Jakarta on November 8, 2010.
They had decided to take a trip to Korea after they heard that the “Biblical Genealogies” seminar would be held there. Now, these seminars are developing into international events. In the year 2010 alone, seminars were held in over 30 cities in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, and the United States. The members of the seminar team testified that the response of those overseas were more full of fervor. “They were moved to tears in amazement and gratitude even to learn that the first man Adam lived 56 years contemporaneously with Lamech. They were full of gratitude to be able to learn things that have been revealed for the first time in history.”
“They were not the kind of people who were unmoved, ungrateful, or ungrateful. They did not have the “so what” attitude when they learned that it did not take 120 years to build Noah’s ark, but 70-80 years.” (Champyungan January, 2011)
From different parts of the world, people are saying, “we will gather the ministers. Please come and hold a seminar here.” Especially in places where a seminar had already been held, there are requests for “one more.” At the request from believers in South America and Africa, there are plans to hold seminars in Nigeria,
Columbia, Brazil, etc.
A Korean member of the congregation who attended a seminar in Orlando commented that rather than evangelism by the United States and its people, through the History of Redemption series, we will soon see evangelism for the United States and its people. (Champyungan April, 2010)
At first, there was some concern about Korean people discussing the Bible in the United States, a country that proudly considers itself a Christian nation founded by Christian ancestors. However, in Orlando and Atlanta and in other American cities, we confirmed the power of the message of the Word of Redemption through the seminars held there. The seminar teams confessed, “We realized that as long as it is a nation that has access to the Bible, there is no reason for any people or any nation to be unable to accept the message of the Word of Redemption. Ultimately, the message of the Redemption series will conquer the whole universe and the Word will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14; Isa 11:9). This is the message of Redemption that resounds in the hearts of both the Greek and the barbarians.
“I didn’t think much of it when I first heard about the great response in Indonesia. We are already very accustomed to the “hallyu wave” in Southeast Asia and I thought that kind of reaction could be expected considering the differences in the economies of Korea and Indonesia. However, I never thought for one minute that I would be able to see for myself the Bible and Christianity being taught in America to Americans. If this message can truly touch Americans, then it can touch anyone. I am determined to preach this message of Redemption to the 300 million Americans.”
Now, we must focus our attention to the History of Redemption series as it heads toward Israel. Pastor Phillip Lee of Huisun Publishing recently visited Israel to gather some research information. On this trip, he met a Jewish pastor who is well respected among the Messianic Jews (Jewish Christians). This pastor, after being gifted The Genesis Genealogies prayed and fasted for two days. He, then, read the book and confessed, “This is a book that will reform Israel. Please allow this book to be translated into Hebrew and Arabic.”
He is planning to attend the book launching service for the sixth book scheduled for May so the timing in impeccable. Because the sixth book systematically organizes the 77 generations of the genealogies of the high priests and connects it to the Bible, the topic could be especially interesting for Jews.
“Focus on this era.”
The sixth book in the series has been published. Because this is a series with a schedule 12 volumes, we have encountered a point of inflection. We need to focus our attention at a different degree. Rather than being amazed at the revelation that Noah’s ark took 70-80 years to build rather than the well-accepted120 years, perhaps we should focus on the fact that a truth that had not been revealed before has been revealed for the first time. This is because this fact can be “easily” revealed by reading Genesis 5 and a few other chapters and verses. A person who does not know the Bible can even ask, “How could you not know this fact for thousands of years?” Truly, this is the mystery of human beings created as the “seeing blind.” We must focus on this “era” when God’s message which had been hidden inside the Bible for thousands of years is being revealed and proclaimed. The History of Redemption series has not just added volumes to its series.
It has clearly and progressively revealed God’s mysterious and profound providence through the history of redemption. This is what is causing the increasingly great waves and tremors all over the world. What kind of stunning and marvelous things will the seventh, eighth, and ultimately, twelfth books reveal?
By reporter Ji-un Lee
