124 Families [Couples] Marriage Blessing Ceremony - July 21, 1963

The 124 Couples Marriage Blessing Ceremony was held on July 24, 1963, at the Seoul Citizens’ Hall. The 124 Couples represent the world and symbolize Jesus’ 120 disciples. The number 120, which is 10 t· es the number 12 of Jesus’ 12 disciples, is the number that represents the horizontal world.

That’s why True Father blessed 120 couples who stands for 120 disciples. Technically there could have been 120 couples, but he blessed a total of 124. The extra 4 couples represent the 4 directions. The 124 Couples, who represent Jesus’ 120 disciples, also represent the world. This is how establishing the 124 Couples set the condition for God to be able to work in an unprecedented way on the world level.

Following this, True Father established holy grounds when he sent out the 124 Blessed Couples. When True Father blessed the 124 Couples, he included four husbands who were ex-convicts. The work of heaven is not the work of condemning people but rather of saving everyone. God seeks to redeem all people, not only religious believers but conscientious people who are non-believers as well as those who have sinned and those who are in prison.

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The 124 Couples Marriage Blessing Ceremony was the last ceremony to consist only of Koreans and the first to be held publicly. This Blessing Ceremony was the frrst marriage blessing which Holy Water was used.

After the ceremony, the newlywed couples drove in a motorcade of 150 cars through downtown Seoul,

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en I blessed !lie 124,Couples, I included four husbands ,vho were ·· ·~-- , ‘!I’ , - ·. - - : -. • - - · ,,_. _…, - ’ ’ ’ ex-convicts. It was absolutely necessary for me to include such people in the group. The work of heaven is not the ,vork of ing people but rather of saving everyone. God seeks to redeem all people, not only religious believers but conscientious people who are non-believers as well as those who have sinned and those ,vho are in prison. Therefore, I established representatives of the nation on the world level, created a door for the £ ily, and opened it. Thereby all people in the world can enter, including those ,vho have sinned and are languishing in jail. As the foundation to achieve this purpose, I established the Blessing of the 124 Couples. (100-172 , 1978.10.14)

T1ue Pare11ts speecl1 [CBG4.2.2:6]

~~~ t12.l~A~~, .!i!.:i:!. Report of Cheong II Guk Providential History

~ 2tQ.1 AtJt1 ~5f:I Sunhak Institute Of History