At the heart of both Shincheonji and Providence lies the teaching about a special individual chosen by God to reveal the complete truth in the last days. In Shincheonji doctrine, Lee Man-hee is identified as the “promised pastor” (약속의 목자), the “one who overcomes” (이기는 자) mentioned in Revelation, and the “new John” (새 요한) who has eaten the opened scroll and witnessed the fulfillment of all Revelation’s prophecies.

Providence teaches remarkably similar concepts about Jung Myung-seok. JMS members are taught that Jung is the “righteous man from the East” (동방의 의인) mentioned in Isaiah 46:11, the one who overcomes (이기는 자), the promised pastor (약속의 목자) who has received special revelation directly from Jesus Christ. Like Lee Man-hee, Jung claims to have received visions and direct communication from Jesus, giving him exclusive authority to interpret scripture correctly.

The SCJ materials state: “There will be one who sees and hears the revelation’s fulfillment, overcoming with the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony. This new John sees revelation’s fulfillment.” Providence makes parallel claims about Jung Myung-seok being the one who has seen and heard the fulfillment of prophecy and can therefore guide believers to salvation.

Both movements teach that their respective leaders are the fulfillment of multiple biblical prophecies and types. They claim their leader is:

• The Victor/One who overcomes (이기는 자, Revelation 2-3)
• The one with access to the hidden manna (감추었던 만나, Revelation 2:17)
• The one who will rule with an iron scepter (철장, Revelation 2:27)
• The one who receives the white stone (흰 돌, Revelation 2:17)
• The one who receives the morning star (새벽별, Revelation 2:28)
• One of the two witnesses (두 증인, Revelation 11)
• Part of the 144,000 (십사만 사천, Revelation 7, 14)
• The righteous man from the East (동방의 의인, Isaiah 46:11)

This extensive list of claimed identities effectively makes the leader a messianic figure who is essential for salvation, even if both groups officially deny making their leader equal to Jesus Christ.

Both Shincheonji and Providence place extraordinary emphasis on understanding biblical parables (비유) as containing hidden, coded messages that only their leader can properly decode. The SCJ introductory materials extensively teach: “This parable contains more than just a moral lesson – it also has prophetic meaning. Many of Jesus’ parables contain prophecy.”

The materials explain: “When God communicates prophecy to a prophet, He uses parables. This serves two purposes: to hide His secrets from the enemy and to fulfill prophecy. However, these parables must be opened, and the prophecies must be fulfilled.”

Providence teaches an almost identical doctrine about parables. JMS Bible studies emphasize that Jesus spoke in parables to hide the secrets of the kingdom (천국 비밀) from those who were not chosen to understand. They teach that the parables contain multiple layers of meaning—historical, moral, and prophetic—and that only through Jung Myung-seok’s revelation can these deeper meanings be unlocked.

Both organizations teach that:

• Parables are not primarily moral lessons but prophetic codes (예언적 암호)
• The seed represents the Word of God (씨는 말씀)
• The field represents the world or the church (밭은 세상)
• Wheat and weeds represent true and false believers (알곡과 가라지)
• The harvest represents the end of the age (추수 때는 세상 끝)
• Only their leader can properly interpret these parables
• Understanding parables is essential for salvation

The SCJ materials state: “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels” (Matthew 13:37-39). Providence uses this same parable with virtually identical interpretation, teaching that the wheat represents JMS members while the weeds represent all other Christians who will be burned at the final judgment.

One of the most notable similarities between Shincheonji and Providence is their highly structured, progressive Bible study curriculum. Both organizations use a multi-level educational system that begins with what appears to be orthodox biblical teaching and progressively introduces more distinctive and controversial doctrines—a pattern that critics and former members describe as gradual indoctrination.

Shincheonji’s Three-Level System:

• Introductory Level – Parables (초등과정 – 비유): Focuses on understanding parables, the nature of the Bible, and basic biblical interpretation
• Intermediate Level – Bible Logic (중등과정 – 성경 논리): Teaches about orthodoxy vs. heresy (정통과 이단), the history of God’s kingdom through different eras, and systematic theology from SCJ’s perspective
• Advanced Level – Revelation (고등과정 – 계시록): Detailed study of Revelation with Lee Man-hee’s interpretation of its fulfillment

Providence’s Similar Structure:

• Basic Level (기초반): Introduction to the Bible, parables, and the concept of prophecy and fulfillment
• Intermediate Level (중급반): Study of biblical history, the concept of restoration (복귀), and God’s work through different dispensations
• Advanced Level (고급반): Detailed study of Revelation, end-times prophecy, and Jung Myung-seok’s role in God’s final plan

The SCJ materials explain their pedagogical approach: “We’re here. We’ve made it to Revelation. And as we are about to study Revelation, we’re going to be going over some key things that we need to know and understand about this very important book… all the parables are going to be really important. So, pull out that parables worksheet that we worked on and have that handy.”

Providence uses a similar building-block approach, ensuring that students have accepted the foundational premises about parables and prophecy before introducing the more controversial teachings about Jung Myung-seok’s special role. Both organizations appear to recognize that people are more likely to accept unusual doctrines if they are introduced gradually after trust has been established.

Both organizations also emphasize memorization and testing. The SCJ materials state: “Please strive to finish your test with a passing score of 90%. Many of you came close, and based on the grading of several tests, it’s evident that remembering references is challenging… Write them multiple times and quiz yourself frequently, and you’ll eventually grasp them.”

Providence similarly requires students to memorize scripture references and pass tests to advance to the next level. This approach can create a sense of achievement and investment in the program, which may make it psychologically more difficult to leave once significant time and effort have been invested.

Both movements place enormous emphasis on the relationship between biblical prophecy (예언) and its physical fulfillment (실상). This becomes the theological foundation for claiming that their leader’s testimony is essential for salvation.

The SCJ materials repeatedly quote John 14:29: “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” The teaching explains: “This verse emphasizes the importance of prophecy and fulfillment for faith. Without prophecy and its fulfillment, faith is difficult to attain and comprehend.”

According to SCJ doctrine: “Jesus has just finished telling his disciples about his second coming and what they should expect upon his return. Jesus says, ‘I have to tell you these things now so that when these events take place, they will serve as evidence for those alive at the time when these words are fulfilled, so that they can believe.'”

Providence teaches an identical doctrine about prophecy and fulfillment. JMS Bible studies emphasize that God always works through a pattern of prophecy followed by physical fulfillment. They teach that:

• In the Old Testament era, prophecies were given and fulfilled at Jesus’s first coming
• Jesus gave prophecies about his second coming that are being fulfilled now
• Jung Myung-seok has witnessed these fulfillments and testifies to them
• Believing Jung’s testimony about these fulfillments is necessary for salvation

Both organizations teach that the Bible can be divided into four categories of content:

• History (역사) – the historical events recorded in scripture
• Lessons (교훈) – moral and ethical teachings
• Prophecy (예언) – predictions about future events
• Fulfillment (성취/실상) – the physical realization of those prophecies

The SCJ materials explain: “If you look at the Bible, we can divide the contents into four. For example, there’s the contents of history… And if you look at the Bible also, there’s lessons we can learn from it… But only with the history and the lessons, we cannot say that it’s the divine book. Divine book always contains the prophecy. But if there’s a prophecy, you should be fulfilled.”

Providence teaches this same four-part division of biblical content, using it to argue that without understanding prophecy and fulfillment through Jung Myung-seok’s revelation, one cannot truly understand the Bible or achieve salvation. Both movements intentionally omit the gospel of Jesus Christ’s atoning death and resurrection as a fifth and most important category, instead subordinating the gospel to their framework of prophecy and fulfillment.

A distinctive feature of both Shincheonji and Providence is the teaching about a physical tabernacle or chosen organization that becomes corrupted, necessitating a new work through their leader. In SCJ theology, this is the doctrine of “betrayal, destruction, and salvation” (배도, 멸망, 구원).

The SCJ materials explain: “Those who engage in rebellion are referred to as the seven stars. According to Revelation 1:20, they were in Jesus’ right hand. Jesus appointed them to deliver a new word during a time of darkness. They were called lampstands (등대). These lampstands shined in a time of darkness, faithfully fulfilling their role for a period. However, when a lamp shines, it attracts attention. Satan dislikes God’s light shining. Consequently, Satan invades and brings destroyers.”

According to SCJ teaching: “The destroyers mentioned in Revelation are the seven pastors and ten authority figures of the beast. This beast is described as having seven heads and ten horns. These destroyers invade the tabernacle and destroy its occupants.”

Providence teaches a remarkably similar doctrine about a chosen group that was established by God but then became corrupted through Satan’s invasion. JMS teaches that:

• God established a pure church/tabernacle in the last days
• Satan recognized this as a threat and invaded it
• The original leaders betrayed God and became corrupted
• God then raised up Jung Myung-seok to restore the true work
• Those who remain in the corrupted organization will be judged
• Only those who come to Providence will be saved

This “fall and restoration” narrative serves multiple purposes for both organizations:

• It explains why they had to separate from mainstream Christianity
• It delegitimizes all other Christian churches as part of the corrupted system
• It positions their organization as the only pure remnant
• It creates urgency for members to remain loyal despite any doubts
• It provides a framework for interpreting Revelation as being about their specific organization

The SCJ materials state: “There is one who witnesses these events take place. As he observes the occurrences, he must testify to what he has seen. He witnesses the destruction and the betrayal. He then testifies to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, urging them to leave Babylon and come to Zion.”

Providence uses nearly identical language, teaching that Jung Myung-seok witnessed the betrayal and destruction of God’s chosen organization and now testifies to call people out of Babylon (바벨론, all other churches) and into Zion (시온, Providence/JMS).

Both Shincheonji and Providence teach about the literal gathering of 144,000 people (십사만 사천) who will form twelve tribes (십이 지파), though they interpret this teaching somewhat differently.

The SCJ materials explain: “There is one who witnesses these events take place… He then testifies to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, urging them to leave Babylon and come to Zion. Those who actually depart – and not everyone will – gather on the mountain and became the 12 tribes.”

The teaching emphasizes: “The twelve tribes—the 144,000 who receive God’s seal (인)” are the first fruits (처음 익은 열매), those born of the word of truth. This creates urgency in SCJ evangelism, as members believe they are participating in the literal fulfillment of Revelation 7.

In SCJ theology, the twelve tribes are actual organizational structures within Shincheonji. Each tribe has a tribal leader (지파장), and members are assigned to specific tribes based on when they completed the education program and were “sealed.”

Providence also teaches about the 144,000, though with some variations:

• The 144,000 represents a literal number of chosen believers
• These are the “firstfruits” (처음 익은 열매) who will be harvested first
• They are those who have received the complete word through Jung Myung-seok
• They will reign with Christ in the millennium
• Not everyone in JMS will necessarily be part of the 144,000, but all must strive for it

Both movements use this teaching to:

• Create a sense of elite status among members
• Generate urgency in evangelism and commitment
• Establish hierarchical structures within the organization
• Make members feel they are participating in the literal fulfillment of biblical prophecy
• Provide a framework for excluding those who leave or are expelled
  

Both movements have developed extensive teachings about what constitutes true Christianity versus false Christianity, with their organization representing what they claim to be the only true orthodoxy (정통).

The SCJ intermediate level materials teach: “Orthodoxy (정통) = God, God’s kingdom of 12 Tribes. Cult (이단) = Devil, Devil’s kingdom of Babylon.” The materials explain: “Orthodoxy, in essence, signifies the true group or the truth itself. On the other hand, heresy refers to the false group or lies.”

The teaching emphasizes that “the world’s standard” for determining truth is inadequate. The materials list various worldly standards: “themselves (thoughts, heart, gut), mainstream (popular), size (community), money/power/influence, and traditions (culture).” All of these are rejected in favor of “the Word of God” as interpreted exclusively through Lee Man-hee’s revelation.

According to former members and researchers, Providence employs similar rhetoric and methodology:

• All of traditional Christianity is labeled as “Babylon” (바벨론) or the “fallen church” (타락한 교회)
• Denominational Christianity is portrayed as corrupted and unable to save
• Theological seminaries are characterized as teaching false doctrines
• Only Providence is presented as having the true interpretation of scripture
• Leaving Providence is equated with leaving salvation
• Any criticism of JMS is dismissed as coming from those who don’t understand the “revealed word” (계시된 말씀)

Both organizations teach that there are only two kingdoms:

• God’s kingdom (하나님의 나라, their organization)
• Satan’s kingdom (사단의 나라, everyone else, including all other Christian churches)

This binary worldview can make it psychologically difficult for members to consider alternative perspectives or to leave the organization, as doing so would be perceived as joining Satan’s kingdom.

Both movements teach a specific understanding of biblical history divided into eras or dispensations (시대), with their leader representing the final and most important era.

The SCJ materials explain: “This is the transition from infancy to maturity. When Paul said ‘now,’ in our context, he meant the past. It was the time of prophecy… Paul then said ‘then,’ referring to the future time of fulfillment when we can be fully known. That is the time of actual reality – real people, real events, real places. That’s the era we’re in now.”

According to SCJ teaching, there have been three major eras:

• Old Testament era (구약 시대) – the time of prophecy about Jesus’s first coming
• First Coming era (초림 시대) – the time of Jesus and the apostles
• Second Coming era (재림 시대) – the time of fulfillment through Lee Man-hee

The materials state: “At the first coming, two messengers were promised: the messenger who prepares the way and the messenger of the covenant. John the Baptist, who prepared the way, had a testimony… However, John’s testimony was not as great as Jesus’ testimony.”

Providence teaches a virtually identical dispensational framework:

• Old Testament era (구약 시대) – preparation and prophecy
• New Testament era (신약 시대) – Jesus’s first coming and establishment of the church
• Completed Testament era (성약 시대) – Jung Myung-seok’s revelation completing God’s work

This teaching pattern is found throughout Korean new religious movements. As noted in the podcast transcripts, Baek Nam-joo (백남주), another Korean cult leader, “divided biblical history into three ages and taught that each age has a new savior.” This same three-age division appears in:

• Old Testament time, New Testament time, and times of Holy Spirit
• Old Covenant time (구약), New Covenant time (신약), and new, new, new covenant (성약)

“What is common is they divide the ages into three and now is the third age and God sent the cultish leader as a savior”

Both movements teach that:

• Each era has its own specific “word and testimony” (말씀과 증거)
• Previous eras were incomplete or preparatory
• The current era (their leader’s era) is the completion and fulfillment
• Understanding the progression of eras is essential for salvation
• Their leader’s testimony is greater than or equal to the apostles’ testimony

This framework allows both organizations to claim that their teachings supersede or complete the New Testament, effectively adding new revelation that becomes necessary for salvation.

Both movements emphasize spiritual birth through “the word” (말씀), but in both cases, “the word” specifically means their leader’s teaching.

The SCJ materials extensively discuss: “The seed is the word of God (씨는 말씀)” and believers must be “born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

The teaching explains: “Jesus sowed the word. And those born of his word become his children. This makes sense.” However, in SCJ theology, this spiritual birth specifically occurs through receiving Lee Man-hee’s teaching of the opened word.

The materials state: “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” The emphasis on being “firstfruits” (처음 익은 열매) creates a sense of elite status among SCJ members.

Providence teaches an identical doctrine about spiritual birth:

• Being born again requires receiving the “revealed word” (계시된 말씀) through Jung Myung-seok
• The seed that produces spiritual birth is specifically JMS teaching
• Those born through Providence’s word are the firstfruits
• Spiritual birth in traditional churches is incomplete or false
• Only through JMS can one be truly born again

Both movements teach that there are two types of people:

• Wheat (알곡, those born of God’s seed through their organization)
• Weeds (가라지, those born of Satan’s seed, including other Christians)

The SCJ materials explain: “Wheat tends to grow tall and develop heavy seed heads that begin to bow, very humble plants. However, weeds are quite different, aren’t they? Weeds do not contain good seeds.”

Providence uses this same wheat and weed metaphor to distinguish between JMS members (wheat) and all others (weeds), teaching that at the harvest (추수, final judgment), the weeds will be burned while only the wheat (JMS members) will be gathered into God’s barn.

A particularly important teaching shared by both movements concerns the opened book or scroll (열린 책) mentioned in Revelation 10.

The SCJ materials explain that the scroll sealed throughout history has now been opened, and Lee Man-hee is the one who ate this scroll and can now reveal its contents. The materials state: “In this class, we hope to understand the difference between personal prophecies, which we may have received before encountering the open word, and Biblical prophecies. We must consider which prophecies should take precedence.”

This teaching effectively subordinates all previous biblical interpretation and personal spiritual experiences to Lee Man-hee’s “opened word” (열린 말씀). The materials state: “I received many personal prophecies in Babylon about my future, but when I studied Revelation’s fulfillment, I set those aside. I couldn’t confirm their origin, unlike the Biblical prophecies from the written word.”

Providence teaches a parallel doctrine about Jung Myung-seok receiving the opened scroll:

• Throughout history, the book of Revelation was sealed and could not be understood
• Jung Myung-seok received revelation directly from Jesus opening the scroll
• He is the only one who can properly interpret Revelation
• His interpretation supersedes all previous Christian interpretation
• Accepting his interpretation is necessary for salvation

Both movements use the imagery of sealed and opened books to claim that their leader possesses knowledge that no one else in 2,000 years of Christian history has possessed. This creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity—if you want to understand the Bible and be saved, you must accept their leader’s revelation.

Both movements teach extensively about “testing the spirits” (영을 분별하다) and discerning true from false teaching, but in both cases, this teaching is used to validate their own organization while condemning all others.

The SCJ materials state: “Dear friends, what course of action should we take? It is crucial not to believe every spirit blindly, but instead, we must test the spirits to determine whether they truly originate from God.”

The teaching explains: “Testing the spirits means examining the words that a spirit is speaking. We cannot see spirits with our physical eyes, but we can hear them. So, when we listen to someone, we should be listening for the spirit within them based on what they say.”

However, the materials then provide a framework where SCJ teaching automatically passes this test while all other teaching fails. The instruction states: “It’s important to be discerning when listening to teachings, even if they sound good on the surface. For example, the idea of ‘once saved, always saved’ may seem appealing, but it doesn’t align with the full counsel of Scripture.”

Providence uses identical methodology:

• Members are taught to test all teaching against Jung’s revelation
• Any teaching that contradicts JMS doctrine is automatically from a false spirit
• Traditional Christian doctrines are portrayed as deceptive
• Members are warned against listening to criticism of JMS
• The organization becomes the sole arbiter of truth

Both movements create a closed epistemological system where:

• Their doctrine becomes the standard by which all other doctrine is judged
• Any criticism can be dismissed as coming from those who don’t understand
• Members are discouraged from seeking outside perspectives
• Leaving the organization is equated with rejecting God
• Independent critical thinking is portrayed as dangerous

A crucial teaching shared by both movements is the call to “come out of Babylon” (바벨론에서 나오라) and gather at “Zion” (시온), with Babylon representing all traditional Christianity and Zion representing their organization.

The SCJ materials state: “He then testifies to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, urging them to leave Babylon and come to Zion. Those who actually depart – and not everyone will – gather on the mountain and became the 12 tribes. Again, not everyone will make this journey.”

The materials warn: “Many will be unable to let go of their thoughts and will remain in the field. This will happen to numerous people. Don’t let it be you. Come out.”

The SCJ materials emphasize urgency: “There is no time to wait. We cannot rest on our laurels or take it easy. It’s time to act.”

Providence employs nearly identical language and urgency:

• All traditional churches are “Babylon” (바벨론) and will be judged
• Members must completely separate from their former churches
• Remaining in traditional Christianity means facing destruction
• There is limited time to escape Babylon before judgment
• Only those who come to Providence/Zion will be saved

Both movements teach that:

• Babylon represents all of Christianity except their organization
• God is calling people out of Babylon into their group
• Those who refuse to leave Babylon will be destroyed
• Family members and friends in traditional churches are in danger
• Members have a responsibility to evangelize others to join

This teaching creates psychological pressure on members to fully commit to the organization, to cut ties with their former churches, and to aggressively recruit others. It also makes it difficult for members to leave, as they believe leaving means returning to Babylon and facing judgment.

Both movements teach about the wedding banquet of the Lamb (어린 양의 혼인 잔치) mentioned in Revelation 19, using it to create requirements and urgency for members.

The SCJ materials reference “the promise of the wedding of the Lamb” and teach that only those who are sealed as part of the twelve tribes can participate in this wedding.

The materials state: “We need to prepare the lamp (등), the oil (기름), the wedding clothes (예복), and be sealed (인 맞다). As we start the Revelation part of the Course, we are really beginning to collect the oil. Let us prepare the oil.”

Providence teaches similar concepts about preparation for the wedding:

• The wedding represents the union of Christ with his bride (the church/Providence)
• Members must prepare wedding garments (righteous deeds/loyalty to JMS)
• Oil for lamps represents the revealed word from Jung Myung-seok
• Only those properly prepared will be admitted to the wedding
• Completing the Bible study program is part of the preparation

Both movements use the parable of the ten virgins (열 처녀의 비유, Matthew 25:1-13) to teach that:

• Some who claim to be believers will be excluded
• Having oil (their organization’s teaching) is essential
• There is a deadline after which it will be too late
• Members must remain vigilant and committed
• The wedding is imminent and could happen at any time

This teaching creates ongoing urgency and motivates members to complete educational requirements, maintain loyalty, and recruit others before it’s “too late.”

Both movements teach that persecution (핍박) is a sign of being the true church, using this to reframe criticism and opposition as validation.

The SCJ materials state: “Why should we rejoice when we receive persecution? It is because of the things that will happen in the days to come. We must endure and persevere.”

The materials emphasize: “Among these things is the fulfilment of Revelation. All the prophecies that God has prophesied will be fulfilled in the days to come. We must endure and persevere.”

Providence similarly teaches about persecution:

• Opposition from family, friends, and churches proves JMS is the true church
• Jesus and the apostles were persecuted, so JMS members should expect persecution
• Criticism of Jung Myung-seok is actually persecution of God’s messenger
• Enduring persecution brings special blessings and rewards
• Those who leave due to persecution will lose their salvation

Both movements use persecution teaching to:

• Prepare members to expect opposition
• Reframe legitimate criticism as religious persecution
• Strengthen group cohesion through shared suffering
• Create an “us versus them” mentality
• Make members feel they are participating in biblical events

This is particularly important for Providence, as Jung Myung-seok has been convicted of sexual assault multiple times and served prison sentences. JMS teaches members that these convictions are false persecution by Satan working through the legal system, rather than legitimate criminal justice. This allows the organization to maintain member loyalty despite serious criminal behavior by its leader.

Perhaps one of the most significant similarities between Shincheonji and Providence is their teaching about exclusive salvation—that salvation is only available through their organization and their leader’s revelation.

The SCJ materials state: “To be gathered into God’s kingdom, we must be born of the right seed – God’s Word” as interpreted and taught by Lee Man-hee.

The teaching explains: “If we want to be gathered as God’s children at the end times, we must be born of His seed and gathered in His barn. God’s children are those who are born of His seed and destined to be gathered when He returns.”

The materials state explicitly: “Our Hope: To believe and keep the fulfillment (Rv 1:3, Jn 14:29).” According to SCJ teaching, this means believing Lee Man-hee’s testimony about the fulfillment of Revelation.

According to former members and documentation, Providence teaches a similar doctrine of exclusive salvation:

• Salvation is only available through Jung Myung-seok’s revelation
• Jesus’s work on the cross is incomplete without Jung’s testimony
• Those who reject Jung’s teaching reject God
• Leaving Providence means losing salvation
• No one can be saved without understanding the “completed testament” (성약)

Both organizations appear to teach that:

• Jesus Christ’s sacrifice alone is insufficient for salvation
• Believers must also accept their leader’s special revelation
• Membership in their organization is necessary for salvation
• Completing their educational program is required
• Remaining loyal to the organization and leader is essential

Many Christian theologians and scholars would consider this a fundamental departure from historic Christian teaching that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by works or by accepting any human leader’s interpretation of scripture.

Both Shincheonji and Providence have been reported to employ recruitment methods that critics and former members characterize as deceptive, often not immediately disclosing their organizational identity when initially approaching potential members.

According to former members and investigative reports, both organizations:

• Approach people on college campuses, in public spaces, or through social media
• May not initially disclose their organizational affiliation
• Use front groups with innocuous names (Bible study groups, cultural organizations, etc.)
• Offer free Bible studies or cultural exchange opportunities
• Build friendship and trust before revealing distinctive doctrines
• Use intensive attention and affection (sometimes called “love bombing” or 폭격적 사랑) to make recruits feel special and welcomed
• Gradually introduce more controversial teachings
• May encourage distance from outside influences

Providence’s Reported Recruitment Approaches

Providence has been documented by former members and media reports as using various recruitment approaches on college campuses, often approaching students through:

• Sports clubs and activities (especially soccer/축구)
• Cultural exchange programs
• Art and music groups
• English conversation classes (in non-English speaking countries)
• Bible study invitations that don’t initially reveal the JMS connection

Shincheonji’s Reported Recruitment Approaches

Shincheonji has similarly been reported to use front organizations and methods that include:

• Zion Mission Center (시온선교센터) and other front names
• Approaching people in public with surveys about religion
• Inviting people to “non-denominational” Bible studies
• Not revealing the SCJ connection until students have invested significant time
• Former members report being instructed to withhold their affiliation if asked directly

According to testimonies from former members, both organizations train members in specific evangelism techniques and may set recruitment goals, which some former members say created pressure to bring in new members despite ethical concerns about transparency.

Both movements have developed sophisticated, multi-level educational systems designed to gradually indoctrinate members while making them feel they are receiving superior biblical education.

Common elements in both systems:

• Progressive revelation (점진적 계시) – distinctive doctrines introduced gradually
• Memorization requirements (암기 요구) – extensive scripture memorization and testing
• Time investment (시간 투자) – programs lasting several months to over a year
• Peer pressure (동료 압력) – group study settings where questioning is discouraged
• Isolation from outside input (외부 차단) – members told not to discuss studies with non-members
• Sunk cost fallacy (매몰 비용 오류) – significant time investment makes leaving psychologically difficult
• Elite status (엘리트 의식) – completing the program confers special status
• Continued education (지속적 교육) – even after completing basic program, ongoing studies required

The SCJ materials show this progression: “We’re here. We’ve made it to Revelation. And as we are about to study Revelation, we’re going to be going over some key things that we need to know and understand about this very important book… all the parables are going to be really important.”

The materials emphasize memorization: “Please strive to finish your test with a passing score of 90%. Many of you came close, and based on the grading of several tests, it’s evident that remembering references is challenging… Write them multiple times and quiz yourself frequently, and you’ll eventually grasp them.”

Providence uses an identical approach, with students progressing through levels, taking tests, memorizing scriptures, and gradually accepting more distinctive JMS doctrines. By the time students learn about Jung Myung-seok’s criminal convictions or controversial teachings, they have already invested months in the program and formed strong social bonds with other members, making it psychologically difficult to leave.

Both movements spiritualize the biblical teaching about the new heaven and new earth (새 하늘과 새 땅) to refer to their own organizations rather than the future eschatological reality.

In SCJ theology, the “new heaven” refers to the new spiritual leadership (Lee Man-hee and the twelve tribe leaders), while the “new earth” refers to the 144,000 sealed members. The materials discuss “The new heaven and new earth and the holy city” as present realities being established through Shincheonji.

Providence teaches similarly that:

• The new heaven represents Jung Myung-seok and JMS leadership
• The new earth represents JMS members
• The holy city New Jerusalem (새 예루살렘) is the Providence organization
• These are present realities, not future events
• Members are currently living in the new heaven and new earth

Both movements effectively claim to be the physical manifestation of God’s kingdom on earth, which:

• Elevates their organization to divine status
• Makes leaving equivalent to leaving heaven
• Allows them to claim biblical prophecies are fulfilled in them
• Creates a sense of privilege and elite status for members
• Reinterprets eschatology to center on their organization

This teaching departs radically from historic Christian eschatology, which understands the new heaven and new earth as the future consummation of all things when Christ returns, not as any present human organization.

Both movements engage in elaborate interpretations of biblical numbers and symbols to support their distinctive doctrines.

Common numerological and symbolic interpretations:

• The number 12 (십이) – represents their organizational structure (twelve tribes)
• The number 144,000 (십사만 사천) – literal number of chosen believers in their organization
• The number 7 (칠) – represents completeness or specific leaders/churches
• Mountains (산) – represent kingdoms or organizations
• Seeds (씨) – represent teachings or believers
• Harvest (추수) – represents the current time of gathering into their organization
• Wheat and weeds (알곡과 가라지) – represent their members versus all others
• Babylon (바벨론) – represents all Christianity except their group
• Zion (시온) – represents their organization

The SCJ materials extensively use this symbolic interpretation: “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels” (Matthew 13:37-39).

Providence employs virtually identical symbolic interpretation, teaching that every biblical symbol has a specific referent that can only be properly understood through Jung Myung-seok’s revelation. This creates a complex system of interpretation that:

• Appears sophisticated and scholarly to new members
• Requires extensive study to understand
• Makes members feel they have special knowledge
• Creates dependency on the leader’s interpretation
• Allows the organization to claim any biblical passage supports their doctrine

Both movements teach extensively about judgment (심판) and the separation of true from false believers, using this to create fear and urgency.

The SCJ materials explain: “At harvest, they have opposite fates – the good wheat is gathered and saved, while the weeds are burned. Clearly, we don’t want to be like the weeds that get burned. The wheat represents the desirable outcome in this parable.”

The materials warn: “The key is to nurture the good wheat so it can grow strong and bear fruit… allowing good and evil to coexist until judgment rather than attempting to prematurely root out evil.”

Providence uses similar judgment language:

• The final judgment is imminent
• Only JMS members will be saved
• All others, including Christians in traditional churches, will be judged
• The separation of wheat and weeds is happening now
• Those who leave JMS will be among those judged

Both movements teach that:

• Judgment is based on accepting their leader’s testimony
• Good works or sincere faith in Christ are insufficient
• The judgment will be harsh for those outside their organization
• Members should fear leaving because it means facing judgment
• Recruiting others is rescuing them from judgment

This teaching creates ongoing fear and urgency that keeps members committed and actively recruiting, while making it psychologically difficult to leave.

While both organizations have faced concerns regarding the treatment of women and accountability structures, Providence/JMS has been the subject of particularly serious legal proceedings. Jung Myung-seok (정명석) has been convicted multiple times in courts of law of sexually assaulting female members, serving prison sentences in South Korea and China. Despite these legal convictions, JMS continues to operate, and the organization maintains that Jung is innocent and being persecuted.

According to court documents, testimonies from victims, and former member reports, Providence has taught that:

• Jung Myung-seok has special authority over members’ bodies
• Female members should submit to Jung’s “spiritual guidance”
• Sexual acts with Jung are “blessings” or spiritual experiences
• Reporting abuse is betraying God’s messenger
• Jung’s convictions are false persecution by Satan

While Shincheonji has not had the same level of documented sexual abuse allegations against its founder, researchers and former members have noted that both organizations share certain structural characteristics:

• Ultimate authority is placed in a male leader
• Questioning of leadership is discouraged
• Organizational structures may create environments where abuse could occur
• Absolute obedience to the organization is emphasized
• Victims may face barriers to reporting or leaving

Some experts on high-control religious groups have observed that authoritarian structures combined with exclusive salvation claims can create conditions where abuse may be more difficult to prevent, report, or address, as members may fear that reporting problems or leaving means losing their salvation.

Both Shincheonji and Providence have devastating impacts on families and relationships, as members are taught to prioritize the organization above all else.

Common impacts include:

• Members cutting off contact with family members who oppose their involvement
• Marriages breaking up when one spouse joins and the other doesn’t
• Parents losing relationships with adult children who join
• Members lying to family about their involvement
• Financial exploitation as members donate heavily to the organization
• Members neglecting education, careers, and personal goals for the organization
• Children being raised in the organization with limited outside contact

The SCJ materials emphasize: “There is no time to wait. We cannot rest on our laurels or take it easy. It’s time to act.” This creates pressure to prioritize the organization above family, work, education, and other responsibilities.

Providence similarly teaches that:

• The organization is the true family
• Biological family members who oppose JMS are influenced by Satan
• Members may need to separate from family to remain faithful
• Recruiting family members is the greatest act of love
• Loyalty to Jung Myung-seok supersedes family loyalty

Both organizations cause immense suffering for families who watch their loved ones become increasingly isolated, controlled, and changed by the organization’s influence.

Understanding the similarities between Shincheonji and Providence requires recognizing their shared roots in earlier Korean new religious movements. As documented in the podcast transcripts, both Lee Man-hee and Jung Myung-seok were influenced by previous cult leaders who established the theological patterns they would later adopt.

Key influential figures and movements include:

1. Hwang Guk-ju (황국주, 1930s-40s): One of the most extreme early Korean cult leaders who claimed to have experienced a “neck exchange” (목 교환) where Jesus’s head was attached to his body. He taught that:
   • His body became “Jesus-fied” (예수화)
   • His blood and spirit were united with Jesus
   • He had no original sin
   • Salvation could be transmitted through physical contact with his body
2. This led to sexual rituals with both male and female followers
3. Yoo Myung-hwa (유명화): A female cult leader who claimed God spoke directly through her, always beginning prophecies with “God speaks to you, my dear child” (하나님이 너에게 말씀하신다, 나의 사랑하는 자녀야). This established the pattern of cult leaders claiming direct divine communication.
4. Baek Nam-joo (백남주): Taught the three-age division of biblical history that both SCJ and JMS would later adopt, with each age having its own savior.
5. Park Tae-sun (박태선, Olive Tree Movement/감람나무): Lee Man-hee spent 10 years (1957-1967) in this movement, learning:
   • The concept of the “promised pastor” or “Victor” (이기는 자)
   • Parabolic interpretation of scripture
   • The teaching about physical immortality
   • The “dew spirit” (이슬 성신) concept
   • Rejection of traditional Christian teaching
   • Park claimed Jesus was the son of Satan
6. Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열, Tabernacle Temple/장막성전): After leaving the Olive Tree Movement, Lee Man-hee joined this group where he learned:
   • Extensive teachings on parables and Revelation
   • The concept of a physical tabernacle that becomes corrupted
   • The pattern of betrayal, destruction, and salvation
7. Sun Myung Moon (문선명, Unification Church/통일교): Jung Myung-seok was a member before founding Providence. Moon’s influence included:
   • Sexual rituals for “blood cleansing” (혈통 전환)
   • The concept of a “True Parents” or messianic couple
   • Three-age dispensationalism
   • Rejection of the cross as God’s will
   • Teaching that Jesus failed in his mission

As noted in the podcast: “So from the Olive Tree Movement and Unification Church, Lee Man-hee spent his life in Olive Tree Movement for 10 years. And the people who spent his life in Unification Church, there’s a guy named Kim Byung-nam (김병남) and Kim Gun-hee (김건희). They later on came to Lee Man-hee’s temple, Lee Man-hee’s group, Shincheonji, and wrote a book called Shintan (신탄), Divine Birth.”

This demonstrates that both SCJ and JMS are not offering new revelation but rather recycling and recombining teachings from earlier Korean cults. As one podcast participant stated: “These new Korean Colts… aren’t that special, right? They’re just giving different information, but the same old story retold in different ways… it’s like it’s a buffet of doctrines that they’re just picking and choosing from.”

The extensive similarities between Shincheonji (신천지) and Providence (JMS/예수교복음선교회) may reveal a concerning pattern within certain Korean new religious movements that claim Christian identity while, according to many theologians and scholars, significantly departing from historic Christian faith. Both movements appear to share these characteristics:

1. Claim exclusive revelation through a single leader who they teach possesses understanding unavailable in 2,000 years of Christianity
2. Develop sophisticated Bible study programs that critics describe as gradually introducing distinctive teachings while appearing to offer superior biblical education
3. Teach that salvation requires accepting their leader’s testimony in addition to (or instead of) faith in Christ alone
4. Have been reported to use recruitment methods that may not initially disclose their identity and distinctive doctrines
5. Create interpretive systems where their doctrine becomes the standard for judging all other teaching
6. Employ “fall and restoration” narratives that position their organization as the only pure remnant after other Christianity became corrupted
7. Teach exclusive salvation available only through their organization
8. According to former members, may use fear of judgment to maintain member loyalty
9. Have been documented as causing significant harm to families and relationships
10. Place ultimate authority in a human leader rather than in Christ and scripture

The fact that Providence’s founder has been convicted multiple times in courts of law for sexual assault, yet the organization continues to operate and maintain his innocence, illustrates potential dangers that some experts associate with highly authoritarian structures. When members are taught that their salvation depends on loyalty to a human leader, they may become vulnerable to exploitation, and organizations may continue even when serious problems are exposed.

Theological Concerns

Many Christian theologians and scholars would consider both Shincheonji and Providence to represent significant departures from traditional Christian teaching. While they use biblical language and claim to offer superior biblical understanding, critics observe that they:

• Add requirements to salvation beyond faith in Christ
• Make a human leader essential for salvation
• Subordinate Christ to their organizational structure
• Replace the gospel with a system of prophecy and fulfillment
• Create dependency on human interpretation rather than the Holy Spirit

The historical connections between these movements and earlier Korean religious groups suggest they may be adapting rather than originating their theological frameworks. Lee Man-hee’s 10 years in the Olive Tree Movement, Jung Myung-seok’s time in the Unification Church, and both movements’ adoption of teachings from figures like Hwang Guk-ju and Baek Nam-joo show a traceable lineage of theological development.

Lessons and Warning Signs

The comparison between these movements may serve as a cautionary example regarding:

• Claims to exclusive revelation (독점적 계시 주장)
• Sophisticated Bible study programs that may not initially disclose distinctive doctrines (기만적인 성경 공부 프로그램)
• Organizations that may not immediately reveal their identity when recruiting (정체를 숨기는 전도 방식)
• Teaching that makes any human leader essential for salvation (인간 지도자를 구원에 필수적으로 만드는 교리)
• Systems that may discourage outside input or critical thinking (비판적 사고를 억제하는 폐쇄적 시스템)

Recovery and Healing

For those who have been affected by either Shincheonji or Providence, recovery may involve:

• Reconnecting with the understanding that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, not through any human leader or organization
• Rediscovering that the Bible can be understood through the Holy Spirit and historic Christian interpretation, not only through one person’s revelation
• Rebuilding relationships with family and friends
• Processing the trauma of spiritual manipulation
• Finding a healthy church community that practices biblical teaching and accountability
• Learning to think critically and trust one’s own judgment again

The Gospel Message

The gospel of Jesus Christ is freely available to all who believe (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13, Ephesians 2:8-9). Traditional Christian teaching holds that no human leader, organization, Bible study program, or special revelation is necessary beyond faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross. Groups that teach otherwise, regardless of how sophisticated their Bible study appears, would be considered by most Christian theologians to be teaching a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).

As podcast participants have noted, these Korean movements are “not that well known yet,” but they are growing rapidly—”it took the LDS about 100 years to reach the first million. There’s cults like the WMSCOG that are already at four million. SCJ is boasting 100,000 graduations every year.” This growth pattern suggests the importance of awareness and education about these movements.

Final Reflection

The book of Hebrews reminds us: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Jesus—described in Scripture as the founder and perfecter of our faith. Not a founder who needs someone else to perfect it. Not one who started something that another must finish. But, according to biblical teaching, the founder AND perfecter. The beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. The complete and sufficient Savior.

This is the Jesus of historic Christian faith. This is the Jesus whom Christians believe saves. And this is the Jesus whom many believe sets captives free from every false teaching. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.