Church run by son of Moonies founder invites worshippers to bring assault weapons to service

Rifles are modern-day 'rods of iron', say leaders of Hyung Jin Moon's ministry

AR-15s and their variants are among America's most popular guns (George Frey/Getty Images)

A church run by the son of “Moonies” founder Sun Myung Moon plans to bless congregants who bring AR-15 assault rifles to a ceremony next week.

The same weapon was allegedly used by Nikolas Cruz to gun down 17 people at a Florida high school last week.

However, Sanctuary Church in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, is asking couples – specifically, heterosexual couples – to bring what it calls the modern-day “rods of iron” or a similar weapon to the event.

The group, led by Hyung Jin Moon - the youngest of his father's 16 children - believes the guns symbolise a passage in the Bible book of Revelation which “talks about the returning Christ ruling with the rod of iron”, the church's director Tim Elder told news channel WNEP.

The church is expecting hundreds of people to arrive at its church in Newfoundland on 28 February. A note on its website asked those who cannot bring a gun to obtain a $700 (£500) gift certificate to show they plan to buy one.

“These actions to participate with crowns and a rod of iron/gift certificate are signs of attendance, sovereignty and vigilance to protect God’s coming nation of Cheon Il Guk”, the church said. Cheon Il Guk is its name for the kingdom of God on Earth.

“They are also a foundation of faith and substance to unite with the Second King [Moon] who is advancing God’s providence at this time.”

Mr Moon was chosen as his father's successor as International President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, but was later asked to step down.

He went on to found his own church based on similar principles.

Plans for the AR-15 ceremony were drawn up before the high school massacre in Parkland, Florida, but the plan to proceed has been criticised nonetheless.

“All of the weapons in the ceremony will be checked to make sure they are unloaded, with a zip tie so that no bullets can be inserted," the church’s president, Richard Panzer, told the Scranton Times-Tribune.

“We are inviting local and state police to be on the premises, so that everything goes safely.”