2. Deliverance from Danger and Death

World Scripture

O you who believe! Remember the grace of God on you, when there came down on you hosts; but We sent against them a hurricane and forces you could not see: but God sees clearly all that you do. Behold! They came on you from above you and from below you, and behold, the eyes became dim and the hearts gaped up to the throats, and you imagined various vain thoughts about God! In that situation were the believers tried; they were shaken as by a tremendous shaking… And God turned back the unbelievers, for all their fury; no advantage did they gain; and enough is God for the believers in their fight. And God is full of Strength, Able to enforce His will.²⁹
Qur’an 33.9-11, 25

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea; and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea. The floods cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send forth your fury, it consumes them like stubble. At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.” You blew them away with your wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, majestic in holiness, terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders?³⁰
Exodus 15.1-11

They threw them [Paul and Silas] into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16.23-30

Arms pinioned, was I thrown down in a heap. The elephant violently was goaded in the head. The elephant ran away trumpeting, Declaring, “To this prostrate figure am I a sacrifice; Lord, in you alone lies my strength.” The Kazi urged the mahout to goad on the elephant, Threatening, “Mahout! I shall cut you to pieces! Goad and drive the elephant!” But the elephant, meditating on God, would not move: In his heart was lodged the Lord. The people queried, “What offense has this holy man committed, That in bonds he is thrown to be trampled by an elephant?” The elephant bowed again and again to the heap before it. The benighted Kazi did not realize this; Three times he ordered this trial But his hard heart still was not softened. Says Kabir, The Lord is my guardian. In absorption in Him lies His servant’s life.
Adi Granth, Gaund, Kabir, p. 870 (Sikhism)

World-honored Lord and Perfect One, I pray thee now declare Wherefore this holy Bodhisat Is known as Kuan Shih Yin [Hearer of the Cries of the World]?³¹ To this the Perfect One replied By uttering this song: The echoes of her holy deeds Resound throughout the world. So vast and deep the vows she made When, after countless eons Of serving hosts of Perfect Ones, She voiced her pure desire [To liberate afflicted beings]. Now hearken to what came of it— To hear her name or see her form, Or fervently recite her name Delivers beings from every woe. Were you with murderous intent Thrust within a fiery furnace, One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power Would turn those flames to water! Were you adrift upon the sea With dragon-fish and fiends around you, One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power Would spare you from the hungry waves… Were you amidst a band of thieves, Their cruel knives now raised to slay, One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power And pity must restrain their blows. Suppose the king now wroth with you, The headsman’s sword upraised to strike, One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power Would dash the sword to pieces. Were you close pent by prison walls, Your wrists and ankles bound by chains, One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power Would instantly procure release… True Kuan Yin! Pure Kuan Yin! Immeasurably wise Kuan Yin! Merciful and filled with pity, Ever longed-for and revered! O Radiance spotless and effulgent! O night-dispelling Sun of Wisdom! O Vanquisher of storm and flame! Your glory fills the world!
Lotus Sutra 25 (Buddhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

God appears as a rescue boat at the dire moment of death.
(6:152, April 19, 1959)

We humans are completely foolish. But we have a friend in God, who is infinitely wise. His heavenly host—countless spirits—accompany us and provide reinforcements. When we think about this, we can be grateful.

I really understand the feeling of David as he stood before Goliath, on the verge of the showdown. He was bold and strong. He knew God’s protection would bring him victory in the battle. Things turned out well because he faced his enemy with this thought in his heart: “When you strike, you will be the one who breaks, not me.”
(203:192, June 24, 1990)

President Reagan was shot, yet he did not die. During the attempt on his life three people were shot, one critically, and it was thought that he might die. But he also survived. Do you know why? Pope [John Paul II] was also shot, yet he too survived. Reverend Moon has similar divine protection. Sufficient [spiritual] foundation has been laid.
(116:155, December 27, 1981)

Who guides the course of war? People start wars, but God guides their outcome, bringing recompense [for aggression]. However, it is not God’s will to build a peaceful world through arms.
(103:184, February 25, 1979)

When we pursue a public purpose, if Satan attacks us, God will come to our aid. If we are united with God at that point, Satan will have to retreat… and those who oppose us will disappear. This is what Satan fears more than anything. As more and more individuals, families and even nations welcome the Messiah and do the will of God, Satan grows weaker; and when the world welcomes him, Satan will disappear. Therefore, to prevent his own destruction, Satan places us in life-threatening situations and makes us shed blood on the battlefield. We should survive it.
(329:287, August 11, 2000)

When Satan imprisons a citizen of Heaven within his barbed wire fence, at the proper time God will destroy that fence and reclaim him. Since he is a citizen of heaven, Satan has no right to contest his release. On the contrary, God will demand that he pay compensation for imprisoning an innocent person.

God can rescue His people at any time, but He waits until the time is ripe; then He will liberate everyone and demolish Satan’s prison. Even in the worst case, should you die, you can be confident of your destiny as you carry with you the thought, “I was born a citizen of Heaven, I lived as a citizen of Heaven, and I died for God’s Kingdom.” You will surely go to God’s Kingdom in the spirit world, where all the heavenly spirits will welcome you with cheers.
(98:162, July 16, 1978)

If you are doing God’s will, even prison is an opportunity to receive blessings. The day you enter prison can be a day of hope. The day you are handcuffed can be a day of hope. When I went to prison, I had joyful heart; I was even whistling. I found everything was prepared to welcome me. People there were waiting to receive my teachings. When I felt hungry, someone brought me food. The Bible records Elijah’s miracle of being fed by ravens. In my case, communists brought me food; God moved them by mobilizing the spirit world.
(103:207, February 25, 1979)

On August 1, 1950, more than 100 B-29 bombers bombed Heungnam Prison Camp [where I was incarcerated], damaging it severely. Because God had alerted me that this was about to happen, I protected the other prisoners. God told me that He would protect anyone who stayed within 12 meters of me, so I instructed my followers to stay close by. While the bombs were exploding, I was in silent meditation. I did not think about the bombing; rather I was contemplating the ideal world that would come in the future. It would be a cosmic loss to God if someone like me, who was fulfilling a mission for restoration, were taken to the spirit world. For this reason, God wanted to protect me at all costs; indeed, He was obliged to do so.
(35:189, October 13, 1970)

Heungnam was the first place where U.N. troops landed in North Korea. It was because the Son of God was there, and God was urgent to rescue him. The communists were gathering groups of prisoners and taking them out of the camp, promising them food but in fact intending to execute them. The prisoners did not know it and even fought with each other to go, tempted by the promise of a good meal. But I knew of the deception and thought, “You are going on your final path, but I shall not die. Even if all of you die, I shall not. No matter what tragedy and misfortune I face, even if I am led to the execution ground, I shall survive somehow!”

On October 12, 1950, about 70 prisoners who were serving sentences of at least 7 years were taken to a mountain some 7 miles³² away from the prison camp and executed. Since I had been sentenced to 5 years, I knew that two days later it would be my turn to be taken. Given that circumstance, God must have hurried to rescue me.

On the evening of the 13th, I looked outside and saw that the situation had already changed. Rumors spread that UN troops had landed in Heungnam, and the communist guards were busy packing their belongings. The next day, October 14th, they were gone and we remaining prisoners were free. We then set off on the road to the South.
(22:129-30, February 2, 1969)