Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story

A Refutation of SCJ Lesson 64: “Special Lesson: The Process of Being Born Again and The Faith of Endurance”

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Introduction: The Garden Path

Imagine you’re walking through a beautiful garden on a spring morning. The path is well-maintained, the flowers are blooming, and everything feels peaceful and right. You’re not alone—a guide walks beside you, pointing out various plants and explaining their significance. He seems knowledgeable, quoting from gardening books, identifying species by their Latin names, and sharing fascinating details about cultivation and growth.

“This garden represents new life,” he explains, gesturing to the vibrant blooms around you. “Everything here has been born again—transformed from seed to flower. That’s what we’re learning about today: the process of being born again.”

You nod, intrigued. The concept of being “born again” is familiar from your Christian background, and you’re eager to understand it more deeply. The guide continues, “Most people think being born again is a simple, one-time event. But there’s actually a process—specific steps and stages that must happen in the right order. Let me show you.”

He leads you to a section of the garden where seeds are being planted. “This is stage one,” he explains. “The seed must first be planted in good soil. That’s like hearing the word of God.” You follow him to another area where seedlings are emerging. “Stage two: the seed must sprout and break through the soil. That’s like understanding the word.” Further along, young plants are growing stronger. “Stage three: the plant must develop roots and grow. That’s like enduring and overcoming challenges.”

Everything he’s saying sounds reasonable. Seeds do go through stages of growth. The Bible does use agricultural metaphors. And certainly, spiritual growth involves process and development. But as you walk deeper into the garden, you begin to notice something odd.

The guide keeps referring to a specific gardening manual that he carries—one you’ve never seen before. “The traditional gardening books don’t explain the true process,” he says. “They have the basic information, but they don’t understand the deeper meaning. This manual”—he holds up his book—”reveals what the others miss.”

You also notice that he’s redefining familiar gardening terms. When he says “good soil,” he doesn’t mean what you’d expect. When he talks about “fruit,” he’s not referring to the literal produce of the plants. And when he mentions “the gardener,” he’s not talking about the person who tends the garden, but about something else entirely—though he hasn’t fully explained what yet.

As the tour continues, the guide becomes more insistent. “Understanding this process is crucial,” he emphasizes. “If you don’t follow these exact steps in this precise order, true growth won’t happen. Most gardeners think they’re cultivating life, but they’re actually working with dead plants because they don’t understand the real process.”

By now, you’re feeling uneasy. You glance back toward the entrance, but you’ve walked so far into the garden that the path back isn’t clear anymore. The guide notices your hesitation. “I know this might feel uncomfortable,” he says reassuringly. “That’s normal. When you’ve been taught incorrectly for so long, the truth feels strange at first. But if you stick with me, if you endure through this discomfort, you’ll see that this is the only way to truly understand new life.”

You realize something troubling: you’re no longer in a garden tour. You’re in an indoctrination session. The guide has used legitimate concepts—seeds, growth, cultivation—to build a framework that sounds biblical but leads somewhere else entirely. He’s taken the beautiful, simple truth of being born again and transformed it into a complex system that requires his special manual, his unique interpretation, and ultimately, his organization.

This is what happens in SCJ Lesson 64: “Special Lesson: The Process of Being Born Again and The Faith of Endurance.”

The lesson appears to be a straightforward Bible study about one of Christianity’s most central concepts: being born again. The instructor, Nate, begins by reading Revelation 21—one of Scripture’s most beautiful passages about God’s ultimate plan to dwell with His people forever. He acknowledges students’ struggles and offers encouragement. He discusses prophecy and fulfillment, uses familiar biblical passages, and talks about spiritual growth and endurance.

Everything seems biblical, pastoral, and spiritually enriching. But beneath the surface, something else is happening.

By Lesson 64, students have completed the Introductory Level exam (Lesson 63) and are transitioning into deeper teaching. They’ve invested 6-9 months and 150-200+ hours of study. They’ve internalized SCJ’s interpretive framework: the Bible was “sealed,” symbols require special interpretation, there are “three types” of everything, and understanding requires special “keys.” They’ve been conditioned to see “effort” as the measure of spiritual commitment and to view their hope as “finding Mount Zion at the Second Coming.”

Now, in this “special lesson,” SCJ is doing something particularly insidious: they’re taking the biblical concept of being “born again”—which Jesus Himself taught—and redefining it to fit their organizational theology. They’re transforming a simple, gracious truth into a complex “process” that requires understanding SCJ’s symbolic system, recognizing their fulfillment claims, and ultimately joining their organization.

What makes this lesson especially dangerous is that it uses one of Christianity’s most precious truths. Every genuine Christian has been born again through faith in Christ (John 3:3-7, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 John 5:1). This is the heart of the gospel—God’s gracious work of regeneration that brings spiritual life to those who were dead in sin. By taking this foundational truth and redefining it, SCJ strikes at the very core of Christian identity and assurance.

The lesson also introduces the concept of “the faith of endurance”—framing endurance not as persevering in faith in Christ despite trials, but as enduring through the discomfort of accepting SCJ’s teaching. Students who feel uneasy about what they’re learning are told this discomfort is normal and even necessary—it’s part of the “process” they must endure to truly understand.

As Chapter 8 of Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story explains: “SCJ’s method is to take biblical terms and concepts that Christians already know and love, then gradually redefine them to mean something entirely different. By the time students realize the definitions have changed, they’ve already accepted the framework. They’re using biblical vocabulary but speaking a different language.”

By the end of Lesson 64, students will have accepted several dangerous premises:

1. That being “born again” is a complex process requiring understanding of specific prophecies and their fulfillment
2. That most Christians don’t truly understand what being born again means
3. That understanding requires recognizing how Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled in recent events
4. That “endurance” means pushing through doubts and discomfort about SCJ’s teaching
5. That spiritual warfare (Satan fighting against them) explains any difficulties they’re experiencing
6. That they’re part of something special—understanding truths that most Christians miss

None of these premises are biblical. But students won’t realize that yet. They’re walking the garden path, following the guide, trusting that the destination will be as beautiful as the journey has been presented. They don’t yet know that the “process of being born again” they’re learning about will ultimately require recognizing Lee Man-hee as “the one who overcomes,” accepting SCJ’s organization as the fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies, and joining their group to be “sealed” as one of the 144,000.

The true biblical teaching about being born again is simple, gracious, and Christ-centered: it’s God’s work of regeneration through the Holy Spirit, received by faith in Jesus Christ, resulting in new life and transformation. It’s not a complex process requiring months of study to understand. It’s not dependent on recognizing which organization fulfills prophecy. It’s not something you achieve through effort and endurance. It’s a gift of grace, received through faith, worked by God’s Spirit.

Let’s examine how this lesson constructs its framework, what it gets wrong, and what the Bible actually teaches about being born again and endurance in faith.

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Part 1: The Setup—Encouragement and Spiritual Warfare

What SCJ Teaches

Lesson 64 begins with what appears to be pastoral care and encouragement:

The Acknowledgment of Struggle:

• “This past week has not been an easy one for a lot of us here”
• Nate acknowledges that students are going through pain and difficulty
• He validates their struggles: “It has not been easy”

The Explanation for Difficulty:

• “When people begin to study the Word, Satan begins to fight them hard”
• The implication: your struggles are spiritual warfare because you’re learning truth
• Satan is opposing your study because it threatens his kingdom

The Praise for Perseverance:

• “All of you who, despite the things happening, still come anyway and still show up and still give your best. I find that extremely inspiring.”
• “Your efforts do not go unnoticed”
• Students are commended for continuing despite difficulties

The Vision of Hope: Nate reads Revelation 21:1-6, describing the new heaven and new earth where God will dwell with His people and wipe away every tear. He emphasizes:

• “God’s ultimate will? To return. This is God’s ultimate will, to come down.”
• “Everything that he has done for the last 6,000 years is for this”
• “God’s desire has been to come back… to return forever”

The Call to Work:

• “If we desire New Heaven and New Earth to take place, there’s some work we gotta do. There’s a lot of work to do.”
• “Right now, we are learning about that work that must take place so that when God feels that the time has come, He can return quickly, even a day sooner.”

The Indoctrination Tactic

This opening section employs several sophisticated manipulation techniques that build on the conditioning students have received throughout the Introductory Level:

First, it validates struggles while reframing their cause. Students may be experiencing genuine difficulties: family concerns about their involvement in this study, tension with their church, internal doubts about what they’re learning, exhaustion from the time commitment, or confusion about increasingly complex teachings. These are legitimate concerns that should prompt careful evaluation.

But SCJ reframes these difficulties as “spiritual warfare”—evidence that students are on the right path. The logic is: “You’re struggling because Satan is fighting against you, which proves you’re learning truth that threatens him.” This interpretation makes it nearly impossible for students to recognize legitimate warning signs. Any doubt, concern, or difficulty is reinterpreted as demonic opposition rather than as a potential indicator that something is wrong.

Second, it creates an us-versus-them spiritual dynamic. By attributing difficulties to “Satan fighting hard,” SCJ positions their teaching as a battleground between good and evil. Students aren’t just learning Bible content—they’re engaged in cosmic warfare. This elevates the stakes dramatically and makes questioning or leaving feel like surrendering to Satan.

Third, it reinforces commitment through praise. Students who “still come anyway and still show up and still give your best” despite difficulties are praised as inspiring. Their “efforts do not go unnoticed.” This creates powerful positive reinforcement for continuing despite doubts or concerns. Students don’t want to disappoint the instructor or the group by being the one who gives up.

Fourth, it uses beautiful biblical truth (Revelation 21) to create emotional investment. The vision of God dwelling with His people forever, wiping away every tear, ending death and pain—this is genuinely beautiful and represents the ultimate Christian hope. By beginning with this vision, Nate creates emotional resonance and spiritual longing. Students think, “Yes, this is what I want. This is what I’m working toward.”

Fifth, it subtly shifts responsibility. Notice the statement: “If we desire New Heaven and New Earth to take place, there’s some work we gotta do.” This implies that the fulfillment of God’s promises depends on human work—specifically, the work students are doing in this study. The new creation becomes contingent on their effort and understanding rather than on God’s sovereign plan and Christ’s finished work.

Sixth, it creates urgency. Students are told they’re learning “the work that must take place so that when God feels that the time has come, He can return quickly, even a day sooner.” This suggests that their study and understanding can actually accelerate Christ’s return. This creates pressure to continue, to understand, to work harder—because cosmic stakes are involved.

Seventh, it prepares students for the “process” teaching. By emphasizing that “there’s a lot of work to do” and “a lot that happens before Revelation 21 can fully come,” Nate is setting up the lesson’s main content: that being born again is a complex process with specific steps that must be understood and followed.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually says about spiritual warfare, suffering, and God’s return:

Spiritual Warfare and Opposition

The Bible does teach that Christians face spiritual opposition:

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Christians do face spiritual warfare. However, the Bible also teaches that we should test teachings and be discerning:

1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Acts 17:11 “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans were commended for testing Paul’s teaching against Scripture. If difficulties arise when you’re learning something new, the biblical response is not to assume “Satan is fighting me because this is truth.” The biblical response is to examine the teaching carefully against Scripture to discern whether it’s actually true.

The Source of Opposition:

Moreover, Jesus warned that false teachers would arise and that following them would lead to difficulty:

Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.”

Sometimes opposition and difficulty come not because you’re learning truth, but because you’re being led into error. Family members expressing concern, church leaders raising red flags, internal doubts about teaching—these may be the Holy Spirit’s conviction or God’s protection, not Satan’s attack.

Discernment, Not Assumption:

The key is discernment. Don’t automatically assume that difficulty means you’re on the right path. Instead:

1. Examine the teaching against Scripture (Acts 17:11)
2. Test the spirits (1 John 4:1)
3. Consider the fruit (Matthew 7:16-20)
4. Seek wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14)
5. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5)

SCJ’s framework makes this discernment nearly impossible by preemptively labeling any questioning or concern as spiritual warfare.

Suffering and Trials

The Bible does teach that Christians will face trials:

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

However, the trials Christians are called to endure are:

1. Persecution for righteousness and faith in Christ:

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2 Timothy 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

2. General trials that test and refine faith:

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

The trials Scripture describes are:

• Persecution for faith in Christ
• Suffering for righteousness
• Various difficulties that test and refine genuine faith

The trials are NOT:

• Discomfort with unbiblical teaching
• Confusion about complex symbolic interpretations
• Concern from family and church leaders about cultic involvement
• Exhaustion from excessive time commitments to a religious organization

If you’re experiencing difficulty because you’re involved in a group that teaches error, the biblical response is not to “endure” through it as if it’s persecution. The biblical response is to leave the error and return to truth.

Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”

Paul doesn’t tell the Galatians to “endure” through their confusion about the false gospel being taught. He tells them to recognize it as error and reject it.

God’s Return and Human Work

The Timing of God’s Return:

Regarding when Christ will return, Scripture is clear:

Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Acts 1:7 “He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.'”

The timing of Christ’s return is in God’s sovereign control, not dependent on human work or understanding.

2 Peter 3:8-9 (which Nate quotes) “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

This passage teaches that:

1. God’s timing is not like human timing
2. What seems like delay to us is actually God’s patience
3. God is waiting for people to come to repentance

But notice what it does NOT say:

• That Christ’s return depends on people understanding specific prophecies
• That human work can accelerate the Second Coming
• That studying with a particular organization brings the new creation closer

The Work God Calls Us To:

What is the “work” Christians are called to do?

John 6:28-29 “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'”

The primary “work” God requires is faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Christians are called to make disciples—teaching people to follow Jesus and obey His commands.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

We’re called to be ambassadors of reconciliation, sharing the gospel so people can be reconciled to God through Christ.

The work Christians are called to is:

• Believing in Christ
• Growing in Christ-likeness
• Making disciples
• Sharing the gospel
• Loving God and neighbor

The work is NOT:

• Understanding complex symbolic interpretations
• Recognizing which organization fulfills prophecy
• Studying for months to grasp a special system
• Joining a specific religious organization

God’s Sovereignty in the New Creation:

The new heaven and new earth come by God’s sovereign action, not human work:

Revelation 21:5 “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'”

God makes everything new. This is His work, His initiative, His accomplishment. We don’t bring about the new creation through our study or understanding. We receive it as a gift when Christ returns.

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Part 2: The “Process” of Being Born Again—SCJ’s Redefinition

What SCJ Teaches

After the opening encouragement, Nate transitions to the main content:

The Introduction of “Process”:

• “Special lesson: The process of being born again and the faith of endurance. The word ‘process’ is quite key.”
• “Keep this word in mind. The process of being born again refers to the steps, order, and direction involved.”
• “We’ll also delve into the deeper meaning of being born again, hopefully on a more profound level than we have learned in the past.”

The Main Reference—Jeremiah 1:9-10:

Nate reads Jeremiah 1:9-10: “Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.'”

The Interpretation:

Nate explains:

• Jeremiah lived 600 years before Christ’s first coming
• God put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth (figurative, like Isaiah’s coal)
• Jeremiah was told to do four things:
  1. Uproot
  2. Tear down/destroy
  3. Rebuild
  4. Replant
• “This process of destroying the old and creating or building something new has been God’s process since Genesis 1, and this cycle has been repeating all this time.”

The Key Question:

• “However, was Jeremiah the one who uprooted, destroyed, built, and planted?”
• “No. It says the words were put in his mouth, and God was speaking to him. This is a parable, a figurative representation.”

The OPAG Framework:

• “How do we know it’s a parable? Because of OPAG, and people can be used as parables in this book of prophecy.”
• O = Objects
• P = People
• A = Animals
• G = Graphical location
• H = Historical Events
• “People themselves can be used figuratively in prophecy.”

The Vision Argument:

• Prophets saw things in visions
• “If you go to sleep tonight and eat the most delicious steak in your dream, and then you wake up with your stomach growling, did you actually eat the steak?”
• “No. Now you want the steak, so you have to go and make it in reality. But if you’re seeing it in a vision or a dream, you’re not actually carrying out those events in reality.”

The Implication:

• The prophets didn’t literally do what they described
• They saw visions and testified to what they saw
• The actual fulfillment happens later, in reality, through someone else

The Indoctrination Tactic

This section is where SCJ begins to build the framework that will eventually lead students to accept their organization as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Several sophisticated tactics are at work:

First, it introduces the concept of “process” for being born again. By emphasizing that being born again involves “steps, order, and direction,” SCJ is preparing students to accept a complex system rather than the simple biblical truth. The word “process” suggests something that takes time, requires understanding of stages, and must be done correctly. This sets up the idea that most Christians don’t truly understand being born again because they don’t know the “process.”

Second, it promises “deeper meaning.” Students are told they’ll learn about being born again “on a more profound level than we have learned in the past.” This creates the impression that what they’ve previously understood about being born again (whether from church, personal Bible reading, or earlier in the study) was superficial or incomplete. SCJ has the “deeper” understanding.

Third, it establishes the pattern of “destroy and rebuild.” By connecting Jeremiah 1:9-10 to “God’s process since Genesis 1” that “has been repeating all this time,” SCJ is introducing their theological framework of cyclical history where God repeatedly destroys old organizations and establishes new ones. This will eventually be used to argue that God has destroyed “traditional Christianity” and established SCJ as the new work.

Fourth, it reinforces the allegorical interpretation method. The question “Was Jeremiah the one who uprooted, destroyed, built, and planted?” followed by “No… This is a parable, a figurative representation” trains students to not take prophetic passages at face value. Instead, they must look for the “real” meaning—which requires SCJ’s interpretive system.

Fifth, it uses the OPAG framework to justify allegorical interpretation. By this point in their study, students have been thoroughly trained in OPAG (Objects, People, Animals, Graphical locations, Historical events can all be symbolic). Now SCJ applies this to argue that “people themselves can be used figuratively in prophecy.” This is crucial for SCJ’s later claim that when Revelation talks about “the one who overcomes,” it’s not referring to all believers but to a specific person (Lee Man-hee).

Sixth, it uses the “vision vs. reality” argument. The steak dream illustration is designed to establish that when prophets describe doing something in a vision, they’re not actually doing it—someone else will fulfill it in reality later. This sets up SCJ’s claim that Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled by New Testament figures, and New Testament prophecies (like Revelation) are fulfilled by modern figures (like Lee Man-hee).

Seventh, it creates anticipation for the “real” fulfillment. By establishing that prophets saw visions of things that would be fulfilled later by someone else, SCJ is preparing students to ask: “So who actually fulfills what Jeremiah saw? Who does the uprooting, destroying, rebuilding, and replanting in reality?” The answer, students will eventually learn, is Lee Man-hee and SCJ.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about being born again and how to interpret prophetic passages like Jeremiah 1:9-10:

Being Born Again—The Biblical Teaching

Jesus’ Teaching in John 3:

The most comprehensive teaching on being born again comes from Jesus Himself:

John 3:3-8 “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.'”

What Jesus teaches about being born again:

1. It’s necessary for salvation: “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (v. 3). This isn’t optional or just for some Christians—it’s essential for everyone.
2. It’s a spiritual birth: “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (v. 6). Being born again is not a physical process but a spiritual one.
3. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit: “Unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (v. 5) and “So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (v. 8). The Holy Spirit is the agent of the new birth.
4. It’s mysterious and sovereign: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (v. 8). We can’t fully comprehend or control how the Spirit works in regeneration.

The Means of the New Birth:

John 3:14-16 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus immediately connects being born again to faith in Him. The new birth comes through believing in Jesus—specifically, believing in His death (being “lifted up”) for our salvation.

1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

We are born again through:

• God’s mercy (not our effort or understanding)
• The resurrection of Jesus Christ (the historical event of Christ’s victory over death)

1 Peter 1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

We are born again through the word of God—the gospel message about Christ.

James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

God gives us birth through the word of truth (the gospel).

The Result of Being Born Again:

1 John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.”

Everyone who believes in Jesus is born of God. It’s that simple. Belief in Christ = born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Those who are in Christ are new creations. This is the result of being born again.

Titus 3:5 “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

The “rebirth” (being born again) is:

• Not because of righteous things we had done (not our work or effort)
• Because of His mercy (God’s grace)
• Through the Holy Spirit (God’s work, not ours)

What Being Born Again Is NOT:

Based on Scripture’s clear teaching, being born again is NOT:

1. A complex process with multiple steps – It’s a spiritual birth that happens when someone believes in Christ
2. Something requiring understanding of prophecy fulfillment – It comes through hearing and believing the gospel
3. Dependent on recognizing which organization God is working through – It’s about faith in Christ, not organizational membership
4. Something that takes months of study to understand – Jesus explained it to Nicodemus in one conversation
5. A “deeper meaning” that most Christians miss – It’s clearly taught throughout the New Testament
6. Connected to a pattern of “destroying and rebuilding” organizations – It’s about individual spiritual regeneration

The biblical teaching on being born again is simple and beautiful:

• Who does it: God, through the Holy Spirit
• How it happens: Through hearing and believing the gospel (the word of truth about Christ)
• When it happens: When someone believes in Jesus Christ
• The result: New spiritual life, becoming a new creation in Christ
• The evidence: Faith in Christ and love for God and others

There’s no “process” with multiple stages that must be understood. There’s no need to recognize prophetic fulfillment in modern organizations. There’s no requirement to study for months to grasp it. It’s God’s gracious work of regeneration, received through faith in Christ.

Interpreting Jeremiah 1:9-10

Now let’s examine how to properly interpret Jeremiah 1:9-10 and whether SCJ’s approach is valid:

The Context of Jeremiah 1:

Jeremiah 1:1-5 “The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.'”

This is Jeremiah’s call narrative. God is calling Jeremiah to be a prophet. The context is:

• Historical (specific kings and time periods mentioned)
• Personal (God is speaking to Jeremiah specifically)
• Prophetic (Jeremiah is being appointed as a prophet)

Jeremiah 1:9-10 in Context:

“Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.'”

What this passage actually means:

1. God is commissioning Jeremiah as His prophet: God is giving Jeremiah authority to speak God’s words to nations and kingdoms.
2. The “words in your mouth” are God’s prophetic messages: Jeremiah will speak God’s words of judgment and hope to Israel and surrounding nations.
3. The four-fold task is Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry: Through his preaching, Jeremiah will:
   • Uproot and tear down: Announce God’s judgment on sin and idolatry
   • Destroy and overthrow: Declare that kingdoms will fall because of their rebellion
   • Build and plant: Promise restoration and hope after judgment
4. This is fulfilled through Jeremiah’s actual ministry: Jeremiah did carry out this ministry. He:
   • Preached judgment to Judah (uprooting, tearing down)
   • Announced the Babylonian exile (destroying, overthrowing)
   • Promised future restoration (building, planting)
   • Wrote letters to the exiles with hope (Jeremiah 29)
   • Prophesied about the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Was this figurative or literal?

Both! The “touching of the mouth” was likely a visionary experience (figurative), but Jeremiah’s ministry was very real and literal. He actually preached these messages. He actually experienced persecution for his preaching. He actually wrote prophecies that were fulfilled.

Does this passage need to be “fulfilled” by someone else later?

No. This passage is about Jeremiah’s call and ministry. It was fulfilled through Jeremiah’s actual prophetic work in the 6th century BC. While Jeremiah’s prophecies about the new covenant find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ (Hebrews 8:8-12), the passage about God putting words in Jeremiah’s mouth is about Jeremiah’s specific calling, not a prophecy about a future figure.

The Problem with SCJ’s Interpretation:

SCJ’s approach to this passage demonstrates several interpretive errors:

1. Ignoring the historical context: The passage is about Jeremiah’s specific call in a specific historical situation. SCJ treats it as a timeless pattern that repeats.
2. Allegorizing unnecessarily: While the “touching of the mouth” is figurative, the ministry itself was real. SCJ allegorizes the entire passage to make it about something other than what it plainly describes.
3. Applying it to modern figures without biblical warrant: There’s no indication in Scripture that this passage is a prophecy about Lee Man-hee or anyone else in the modern era. SCJ imposes this meaning on the text.
4. Using it to establish a false pattern: SCJ uses this passage to establish their “destroy and rebuild” pattern, which they then apply to claim God destroys old organizations and establishes new ones (culminating in SCJ). This pattern is not taught in Scripture.
5. Making it about “being born again”: The passage has nothing to do with being born again. It’s about prophetic calling and ministry. SCJ’s connection between Jeremiah 1:9-10 and being born again is artificial and imposed.

The Proper Hermeneutical Approach:

When interpreting prophetic passages, we should:

1. Consider the historical context: Who wrote it? To whom? In what situation?
2. Understand the plain meaning: What is the passage actually saying in its context?
3. Look for New Testament interpretation: Does the New Testament quote or apply this passage? If so, how?
4. Avoid allegorizing without warrant: Don’t make everything symbolic unless there’s good reason to do so.
5. Let Scripture interpret Scripture: Use clearer passages to help understand less clear ones.
6. Be cautious about modern applications: Don’t claim that Old Testament passages are prophecies about modern figures or organizations without clear biblical support.

When we apply these principles to Jeremiah 1:9-10, we see it’s about Jeremiah’s prophetic calling and ministry, fulfilled through his actual work in the 6th century BC. It’s not a prophecy about a “process of being born again” or about modern religious organizations.

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What SCJ Teaches (Continued)

After establishing that Jeremiah 1:9-10 is “figurative” and that “people can be used as parables,” Nate continues building SCJ’s interpretive framework:

The Vision Argument:

• Prophets like Asaph, Isaiah, and Ezekiel spoke in first person in their prophecies
• They said things like “I will open my mouth in parables” (Asaph), “Speak to the bones, son of man” (Ezekiel), “Eat this and then testify” (Ezekiel)
• But they were seeing these things in visions, not doing them literally

The Steak Dream Illustration:

• “If you go to sleep tonight and eat the most delicious steak in your dream, and then you wake up with your stomach growling, did you actually eat the steak?”
• “No. Now you want the steak, so you have to go and make it in reality.”
• “But if you’re seeing it in a vision or a dream, you’re not actually carrying out those events in reality.”

The Application:

• “God is telling these prophets to testify to what they had seen and write down the words that have been given to them, ensuring that people receive those words.”
• The prophets testified to what they saw in visions
• The actual fulfillment happens later, in reality, through someone else

The Implication (though not fully stated yet):

• What the prophets saw in visions must be fulfilled by someone in reality
• Understanding who fulfills these visions is crucial
• This sets up SCJ’s later claim that Lee Man-hee fulfills what the prophets saw

The Indoctrination Tactic

This section is particularly sophisticated because it uses partially true statements to build toward a false conclusion. Let’s break down what’s happening:

First, it’s true that prophets had visionary experiences. Isaiah did see visions (Isaiah 6). Ezekiel did have visionary experiences where he was told to do symbolic actions (Ezekiel 4-5, 37). John did see visions recorded in Revelation. This is biblical and accurate.

Second, it’s true that some prophetic actions were symbolic rather than literal. When Ezekiel was told to lie on his side for 390 days (Ezekiel 4:4-5), this was a symbolic action representing Israel’s years of sin. When Hosea married an unfaithful woman (Hosea 1-3), this was a living parable of God’s relationship with Israel.

Third, it’s true that prophetic visions often pointed to future fulfillment. Isaiah’s vision of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53) was fulfilled in Christ. Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37) pointed to Israel’s restoration and ultimately to resurrection life.

So what’s the problem? SCJ takes these true statements and uses them to establish a framework that allows them to:

1. Dismiss the plain meaning of prophetic texts: By emphasizing that prophets saw visions, SCJ trains students to not take prophetic passages at face value. Instead, students must look for the “real” meaning—which requires SCJ’s interpretation.
2. Separate prophecy from its historical fulfillment: Many prophecies were fulfilled in the prophet’s own time or in subsequent biblical history. But SCJ’s framework encourages students to look for modern fulfillment instead.
3. Create a need for special interpretation: If prophetic visions need someone to fulfill them “in reality,” and if we can’t trust the plain meaning of the text, then we need someone to tell us who fulfills what. Enter SCJ’s interpretive system.
4. Prepare for the Lee Man-hee claim: By establishing that prophets saw visions that must be fulfilled by someone else later, SCJ is preparing students to accept that Lee Man-hee fulfills what the prophets (and Jesus, and the apostles) saw in visions.
5. Make understanding fulfillment seem essential: The implication is that you can’t truly understand Scripture unless you know who fulfills these visions. This makes SCJ’s teaching seem necessary for biblical understanding.

The steak dream illustration is particularly manipulative because it uses a relatable, everyday example to establish a principle that SCJ will then misapply. Yes, if you dream about eating a steak, you haven’t actually eaten it. But this doesn’t mean that everything prophets experienced in visions must be fulfilled by someone else later. Many prophetic visions were fulfilled in biblical history. And even when prophecies point to future fulfillment, we must let Scripture itself tell us how and when they’re fulfilled, not impose modern fulfillments that Scripture doesn’t indicate.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about prophetic visions, symbolic actions, and fulfillment:

The Nature of Prophetic Visions

Visions Were Real Revelations from God:

Numbers 12:6-8 “He said, ‘Listen to my words: When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?'”

God did reveal Himself to prophets through visions and dreams. This is biblical. However, notice that even here, God distinguishes between different types of revelation—some more direct (Moses) and some through visions and riddles (other prophets).

The Purpose of Visions:

Visions served several purposes:

1. To reveal God’s message to the prophet:

Ezekiel 1:1 “In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.”

2. To be communicated to God’s people:

Habakkuk 2:2 “Then the LORD replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.'”

3. To predict future events:

Daniel 2:28 “but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these…”

Symbolic Actions and Their Meaning

Some Prophetic Actions Were Symbolic:

Ezekiel 4:1-3 “Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.”

Ezekiel was told to perform symbolic actions that represented what would happen to Jerusalem. These were “signs” to the people—visual representations of God’s message.

But Many Prophetic Actions Were Literal:

Jeremiah 32:6-15 “Jeremiah said, ‘The word of the LORD came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, “Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.”‘ Then, just as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’ I knew that this was the word of the LORD; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.”

Jeremiah literally bought a field. This was a real transaction with real money. It was also symbolic (representing that Israel would return from exile and people would again buy property), but the action itself was literal, not just a vision.

The Key Distinction:

Scripture itself tells us when something is:

• A vision (not literally happening)
• A symbolic action (literally performed but representing something else)
• A literal event (actually happening as described)

We don’t need to impose our own framework to determine this. The text makes it clear.

Prophecy and Fulfillment

Many Prophecies Were Fulfilled in Biblical History:

Isaiah 44:28-45:1 “who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundation be laid.”‘ This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut…”

Isaiah prophesied about Cyrus by name, about 150 years before Cyrus was born. This prophecy was fulfilled when Cyrus conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4). We know this because Scripture itself records the fulfillment.

Jeremiah 25:11-12 “This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and will make it desolate forever.”

Jeremiah prophesied that the Babylonian exile would last seventy years. This was fulfilled, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 and Daniel 9:2.

The New Testament Shows Us How Prophecies Are Fulfilled:

Matthew 1:22-23 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”

Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14 and explicitly tells us it was fulfilled in Jesus’ birth. We don’t have to guess or impose our own interpretation—Scripture tells us.

Matthew 2:17-18 “Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.'”

Matthew quotes Jeremiah 31:15 and tells us it was fulfilled in Herod’s massacre of the infants. Again, Scripture interprets Scripture.

The Pattern We Should Follow:

When understanding prophetic fulfillment, we should:

1. Let Scripture interpret Scripture: When the New Testament quotes Old Testament prophecy and says “this was fulfilled,” we should accept that interpretation.
2. Look for fulfillment in biblical history first: Many prophecies were fulfilled in the events recorded in Scripture itself.
3. Recognize that some prophecies have multiple layers of fulfillment: A prophecy might have an immediate fulfillment in the prophet’s time and an ultimate fulfillment in Christ or the end times.
4. Be cautious about claiming modern fulfillments: We should not claim that prophecies are fulfilled in modern figures or organizations unless there is clear biblical warrant for doing so.
5. Focus on Christ: The New Testament consistently shows that Old Testament prophecies find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Luke 24:25-27 “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Jesus explained that the Scriptures (Old Testament) were about Him. The focus of biblical prophecy is Christ, not modern religious organizations or leaders.

The Problem with SCJ’s “Vision vs. Reality” Framework

SCJ’s framework creates several problems:

1. It divorces prophecy from its historical context and fulfillment:

By emphasizing that prophets saw visions that must be fulfilled by someone else later, SCJ encourages students to ignore how prophecies were actually fulfilled in biblical history. This allows SCJ to claim that prophecies are being fulfilled in their organization, even when those prophecies were already fulfilled long ago.

2. It creates a false need for modern fulfillment:

Not every prophetic vision requires a modern fulfillment. Many were fulfilled in biblical times. By suggesting that all prophetic visions need someone to fulfill them “in reality” today, SCJ creates a false need that they then claim to meet.

3. It removes Scripture’s self-interpreting authority:

The Bible often interprets its own prophecies. The New Testament tells us how Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled. But SCJ’s framework suggests we need their special interpretation to understand fulfillment, rather than letting Scripture interpret itself.

4. It prepares students to accept Lee Man-hee as a prophetic fulfillment:

The entire framework is designed to make students ask, “So who fulfills these visions in reality today?” The answer SCJ will eventually provide is Lee Man-hee. He is presented as the one who fulfills what the prophets saw, what Jesus promised, what Revelation describes.

5. It makes organizational membership seem biblically necessary:

If understanding prophetic fulfillment is essential for salvation, and if SCJ alone correctly identifies the fulfillment, then joining SCJ becomes necessary. This adds a requirement to the gospel that Scripture never teaches.

As Chapter 15 of Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story explains: “SCJ’s interpretive method is designed to create dependency. By making Scripture seem incomprehensible without their system, they make their organization seem necessary. By claiming that prophecies are being fulfilled in their group, they make membership seem like participation in God’s work. But this entire framework is built on interpretive methods that Scripture itself doesn’t support.”

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Part 4: The “Process” Explained—Uprooting, Destroying, Rebuilding, Replanting

What SCJ Teaches (Continued)

Having established their interpretive framework, SCJ now applies it to explain the “process of being born again.” While the full details aren’t provided in the excerpt, based on SCJ’s standard teaching pattern (documented in the Advanced Level materials and in resources like Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation – A Christian Response), here’s what students are being prepared to accept:

The Four-Stage Process:

1. Uprooting/Tearing Down (Betrayal):
   • In each era, God’s chosen people or organization eventually betrays God
   • They become corrupt, follow false teaching, or fall into sin
   • This represents the “old” that must be removed
2. Destroying/Overthrowing (Destruction):
   • God brings judgment on the betrayers
   • The old organization or system is destroyed
   • This makes way for something new
3. Building (Salvation/New Beginning):
   • God raises up a new leader (“the one who overcomes”)
   • This leader establishes a new organization
   • This represents the “new” that God is creating
4. Planting (Growth and Multiplication):
   • The new organization grows and multiplies
   • People join and become part of God’s new work
   • This is the “new creation” or “new heaven and new earth”

The Application to “Being Born Again”:

According to SCJ’s theology (which will be fully revealed in the Advanced Level):

• The “old” that must die: Traditional Christianity, which has been “destroyed” because it betrayed God by not understanding Revelation correctly
• The “new” that is born: Shincheonji Church of Jesus, established by Lee Man-hee, “the one who overcomes”
• “Being born again” means: Leaving traditional Christianity (the old) and joining SCJ (the new)
• The “process”: Understanding that traditional Christianity has been judged and destroyed, recognizing Lee Man-hee as God’s chosen one, and joining SCJ to be part of the new creation

The Connection to Revelation 21:

The lesson began with Revelation 21:1-6 about the new heaven and new earth. SCJ will eventually teach that:

• The “first heaven and first earth” that pass away = traditional Christianity
• The “new heaven and new earth” = Shincheonji Church of Jesus
• God dwelling with His people = God’s work through Lee Man-hee and SCJ
• “I am making everything new” = God establishing SCJ as the new work

The Indoctrination Tactic

This teaching is the culmination of months of conditioning. Let’s examine how SCJ has prepared students to accept this:

The Foundation Laid in Earlier Lessons:

By Lesson 64, students have already learned:

From the Introductory Level (Parables):

• The Bible was “sealed” and incomprehensible without special keys (Lessons 1-5)
• Symbols must be interpreted “spiritually” not “physically” (throughout)
• There are “three types” of everything: Physical, Spiritual, New Spiritual (Lessons 41-60)
• The pattern repeats: Physical Israel → Spiritual Israel → New Spiritual Israel
• “The one who overcomes” appears in each era to establish the new work (Lesson 61)
• Mount Zion today is a specific organization that must be identified (Lesson 63)

The Psychological Conditioning:

• Emphasis on “effort” and perfect test scores (Lesson 63)
• Praise for those who “endure” despite difficulties (Lesson 64)
• Framing doubts as “spiritual warfare” rather than legitimate concerns (Lesson 64)
• Creating emotional investment through relationships and time commitment
• Isolating students from outside perspectives

The Theological Framework:

• God works in patterns that repeat throughout history
• Each era has a chosen leader who establishes God’s new work
• The old must be destroyed before the new can be established
• Understanding prophetic fulfillment is essential for salvation
• Most Christians don’t understand these things correctly

Now, in Lesson 64, SCJ is connecting all these pieces:

1. “Being born again” is reframed as organizational transition: Instead of individual spiritual regeneration through faith in Christ, “being born again” becomes leaving one organization (traditional Christianity) and joining another (SCJ).
2. The “process” requires understanding SCJ’s theology: You can’t be truly “born again” unless you understand the pattern of betrayal-destruction-salvation, recognize that traditional Christianity has been destroyed, and join the new work (SCJ).
3. Jeremiah 1:9-10 becomes a template: The four-fold task (uproot, tear down, build, plant) becomes a pattern that repeats in every era and is currently being fulfilled through SCJ.
4. Revelation 21 is reinterpreted: The new heaven and new earth aren’t the future eternal state—they’re SCJ organization right now. “Being born again” means joining this “new heaven and new earth.”
5. Urgency is created: If you want to be part of the new heaven and new earth, if you want to be truly born again, you need to understand and accept this teaching now.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about the new birth, the new creation, and God’s pattern of working:

Being Born Again Is Individual, Not Organizational

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Being born again happens when an individual believes in Jesus Christ. It’s not about joining an organization or transitioning from one group to another.

1 John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.”

“Everyone who believes” is born of God. This is individual and universal—anyone who believes in Jesus is born again, regardless of organizational membership.

Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Salvation (which includes being born again) comes through personal faith in Christ and confession of Him as Lord. There’s no mention of joining a specific organization or understanding complex prophetic patterns.

The New Creation Is Future and Cosmic, Not Present and Organizational

Revelation 21:1-5 in Context:

Let’s read the full context of the passage Nate quoted:

Revelation 21:1-8 “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.'”

What this passage actually describes:

1. A literal new heaven and new earth: “The first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (v. 1). This is cosmic renewal, not organizational change.
2. The Holy City coming down from heaven: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (v. 2). This is a future event, not a present organization.
3. Complete elimination of suffering: “No more death or mourning or crying or pain” (v. 4). This hasn’t happened yet. Death, mourning, crying, and pain still exist in the world, including among SCJ members.
4. God physically dwelling with humanity: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them” (v. 3). This is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s presence, beyond even what we experience now through the Holy Spirit.
5. Universal scope: “Those who are victorious will inherit all this” (v. 7). This isn’t limited to 144,000 members of one organization.

The Timing:

Revelation 21:1 says “Then I saw…” This comes after:

• The seven seals, trumpets, and bowls (Revelation 6-16)
• The fall of Babylon (Revelation 17-18)
• Christ’s return in glory (Revelation 19:11-16)
• The thousand-year reign (Revelation 20:1-6)
• The final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

The new heaven and new earth come at the end of all these events, not in the middle of human history through the establishment of a religious organization.

2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

The new heaven and new earth come after:

• The heavens disappear with a roar
• The elements are destroyed by fire
• Everything in the earth is laid bare

This is clearly describing a future, cosmic event, not the establishment of a religious organization in South Korea in 1984.

Already and Not Yet—The Biblical Tension

The New Testament does teach that believers experience aspects of the new creation now while awaiting its complete fulfillment:

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Believers are “new creations” in Christ now. This is the “already” aspect—we experience new life, transformation, and the Holy Spirit’s presence now.

But:

Romans 8:22-25 “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

We also “groan” and “wait eagerly” for the complete redemption. This is the “not yet” aspect—we still experience suffering, death, and the effects of living in a fallen world.

The Biblical Balance:

• Already: We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), born again (1 Peter 1:3), indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
• Not Yet: We await the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51-52), the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23), the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1), the complete elimination of sin and suffering (Revelation 21:4)

SCJ collapses this tension by claiming that the “not yet” has already arrived in their organization. They claim to be the new heaven and new earth, the fulfillment of Revelation 21, the place where God’s ultimate plan is realized. But this contradicts the clear biblical teaching that the complete fulfillment is still future.

God’s Pattern of Working

Does God work in a pattern of “destroy and rebuild” as SCJ claims?

God Does Bring Judgment and Restoration:

Throughout biblical history, we do see a pattern:

• God’s people sin and rebel
• God brings judgment (often through exile or defeat)
• God offers restoration and hope

Examples:

• The flood (judgment) followed by the covenant with Noah (restoration)
• The Babylonian exile (judgment) followed by the return (restoration)
• The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD (judgment) followed by the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles (expansion)

However, SCJ’s interpretation of this pattern is problematic:

1. SCJ claims God repeatedly destroys and replaces His people/organizations:

According to SCJ:

• Physical Israel → Spiritual Israel (the church) → New Spiritual Israel (SCJ)
• First heaven → Second heaven → Third heaven
• Old covenant → New covenant → “Newer” covenant (implied)

But Scripture doesn’t teach this pattern. Instead:

Romans 11:1-2 “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.”

God has not rejected Israel. His covenant with them stands.

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Jesus promised that the gates of Hades would not overcome His church. The church hasn’t been “destroyed” and replaced by SCJ.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Christ doesn’t change. His gospel doesn’t change. There’s no “new” work that replaces what Christ accomplished.

2. SCJ claims each era has a new “overcomer” who establishes God’s work:

According to SCJ:

• Moses (first coming)
• Jesus (first coming)
• Lee Man-hee (second coming)

But Scripture teaches that Jesus is the ultimate and final overcomer:

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has overcome. His victory is complete and final.

Revelation 5:5 “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'”

Christ is the one who has triumphed (overcome). He alone is worthy to open the scroll.

Hebrews 10:12-14 “But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for the sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

Christ’s work is complete. He sat down (indicating finished work). There’s no need for another “overcomer” to establish a new work.

3. SCJ claims traditional Christianity has been “destroyed” and replaced:

But Jesus promised:

Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Christ is with His church always, to the end of the age. He hasn’t abandoned the church to establish a new organization.

Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Christ is sanctifying His church to present her to Himself. He’s working to purify the church, not to destroy and replace it.

The True Pattern:

The biblical pattern is not:

• Destroy old organization → Establish new organization → Repeat

The biblical pattern is:

• Sin and rebellion → Judgment and discipline → Repentance and restoration → Continued relationship with God

God works to restore and purify His people, not to repeatedly destroy and replace them with new organizations.

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Part 5: The Faith of Endurance—Redefining Perseverance

What SCJ Teaches

The lesson’s title includes “The Faith of Endurance,” and while the full teaching on this isn’t provided in the excerpt, we can see the beginning of this theme:

The Opening Statement:

• “Yeast of Heaven: Eternal life depends on our habits. Those who can conquer their habits with the Word are those that can have eternal life. If you want eternal life, change your habits. Anyone can dream about having eternal life, but what turns that dream into eternal life are diligent habits.”

The Encouragement Section:

• Students are praised for continuing “despite the things happening”
• “All of you who, despite the things happening, still come anyway and still show up and still give your best. I find that extremely inspiring.”
• The implication: endurance means continuing in the study despite difficulties

The Spiritual Warfare Frame:

• “When people begin to study the Word, Satan begins to fight them hard.”
• Difficulties are framed as spiritual opposition, so enduring means pushing through

The Hope Section:

• “If we desire New Heaven and New Earth to take place, there’s some work we gotta do.”
• Endurance is connected to the work needed to bring about God’s plan

Based on SCJ’s standard teaching pattern (documented in the Advanced Level materials), “the faith of endurance” in SCJ theology means:

1. Enduring through doubts about SCJ’s teaching: When you feel uncomfortable or confused by what you’re learning, endure through it rather than stepping back to evaluate.
2. Enduring through opposition from family/church: When loved ones express concern about your involvement, endure through their opposition rather than considering their concerns.
3. Enduring through the demanding schedule: SCJ requires significant time commitment (classes multiple times per week, events, eventually evangelism). Endurance means maintaining this commitment despite exhaustion.
4. Enduring through the “process” of understanding: As teachings become increasingly complex and divergent from orthodox Christianity, endurance means continuing to accept them.
5. Enduring until you’re “sealed”: The ultimate goal is to become an official SCJ member, sealed as one of the 144,000. Endurance means persisting until you reach this goal.

The Indoctrination Tactic

SCJ’s teaching on “endurance” is particularly manipulative because it takes a genuine biblical virtue and redefines it to mean accepting their teaching without question. Let’s examine the tactics:

First, it reframes discomfort as a positive sign. In healthy learning environments, persistent discomfort or confusion is a signal that something might be wrong—either the teaching is unclear, or it contradicts what you know to be true. But SCJ reframes this discomfort as evidence that you’re on the right path. The logic is: “If you’re uncomfortable, it’s because Satan is fighting you or because truth feels strange when you’ve been taught incorrectly for so long. Your discomfort actually proves this is right.”

This makes it nearly impossible for students to recognize legitimate warning signs. Any red flag is reinterpreted as a green light.

Second, it creates shame around questioning or stepping back. Students who endure are praised as “inspiring.” Their “efforts do not go unnoticed.” By contrast, students who question or take a break are implicitly shamed as lacking endurance, giving in to Satan, or not trying hard enough.

Third, it isolates students from outside perspective. When family members or church leaders express concern, SCJ frames this as “opposition” to endure through rather than as potentially helpful warning. This cuts students off from people who might help them recognize the deception.

Fourth, it makes endurance a condition of salvation. The opening statement connects eternal life to “conquering habits” and “diligent habits.” Later teachings will make clear that enduring through the study, accepting SCJ’s teaching, and joining their organization are necessary for salvation. This adds works to the gospel of grace.

Fifth, it prepares students for increasing demands. By emphasizing endurance early, SCJ prepares students to accept the much more demanding requirements of later stages: Advanced Level study, official membership, evangelism quotas, cutting ties with family who oppose, etc. Students think, “I’ve endured this far; I can’t quit now.”

Sixth, it uses the sunk cost fallacy. By Lesson 64, students have invested 6-9 months and 150-200+ hours. The emphasis on endurance leverages this investment: “You’ve come so far, endured so much—don’t give up now!” This makes it psychologically harder to walk away, even if students recognize problems.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about endurance, perseverance, and how to respond to false teaching:

Biblical Endurance and Perseverance

The Bible does call believers to endurance and perseverance:

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Revelation 2:10 “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

Endurance and perseverance are genuine biblical virtues. However, let’s examine what believers are called to endure:

1. Persecution for Faith in Christ:

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2 Timothy 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

2. Trials That Test and Refine Faith:

1 Peter 1:6-7 “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

3. The Challenges of Christian Living:

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

What Endurance Is:

Biblical endurance is:

• Remaining faithful to Christ despite persecution
• Trusting God through trials and suffering
• Continuing to do good even when it’s difficult
• Persevering in faith when circumstances are hard
• Staying committed to Christ and His gospel

What Endurance Is NOT:

Biblical endurance is NOT:

• Accepting false teaching despite discomfort
• Ignoring warning signs about cultic involvement
• Dismissing concerns from family and church leaders
• Pushing through confusion about unbiblical doctrine
• Maintaining commitment to a religious organization despite red flags

The Object of Endurance

Endurance is always connected to Christ and the gospel:

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

We endure by:

• Fixing our eyes on Jesus (not on an organization or human leader)
• Following His example (He endured the cross for our salvation)
• Remembering His victory (He sat down at God’s right hand)

Colossians 1:21-23 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

We are to continue in:

• Our faith (faith in Christ)
• Established and firm (grounded in truth)
• The hope held out in the gospel (not in organizational membership)

2 Timothy 2:11-13 “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Endurance is connected to Christ:

• If we endure (remain faithful to Christ), we will reign with Him
• If we disown Him (deny Christ), He will disown us
• Even when we’re faithless, He remains faithful

The object of our endurance is Christ Himself and the gospel, not an organization’s teaching system.

When NOT to Endure

Importantly, Scripture teaches that there are times when we should NOT endure—when we should recognize error and separate from it:

Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”

Paul doesn’t tell the Galatians to “endure” through their confusion about the false gospel. He tells them to recognize it as error and reject it immediately.

2 John 1:9-11 “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.”

John instructs believers not to welcome or support those who don’t bring the teaching of Christ. We’re not called to “endure” false teaching—we’re called to reject it.

Romans 16:17-18 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

Paul urges believers to:

• Watch out for those who teach contrary to apostolic teaching
• Keep away from them (not endure with them)
• Recognize that they deceive through smooth talk and flattery

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Paul warns that people will turn away from sound doctrine to myths. The response is not to endure with the false teachers, but to remain in sound doctrine.

The Discernment Needed:

So how do we know when to endure and when to separate?

Endure when:

• You’re facing persecution for faith in Christ
• You’re experiencing trials that test your faith
• You’re struggling with sin and need to persevere in holiness
• You’re weary in doing good but need to continue
• You’re facing opposition for standing on biblical truth

Separate when:

• Teaching contradicts the gospel of grace
• Christ is not central to the message
• The Bible is being interpreted in ways that contradict its plain meaning
• You’re being isolated from other believers and Christian community
• Organizational loyalty is replacing faith in Christ
• You’re experiencing manipulation and control
• Warning signs of cultic involvement are present

The key question is: What am I enduring for? If you’re enduring for Christ and the gospel, that’s biblical perseverance. If you’re enduring to accept teaching that contradicts the gospel, that’s not biblical endurance—that’s being deceived.

Eternal Life and Habits

Let’s address the opening statement: “Eternal life depends on our habits. Those who can conquer their habits with the Word are those that can have eternal life.”

This is a works-based gospel, which contradicts Scripture:

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Eternal life doesn’t depend on our habits or our ability to conquer them. It depends on God’s grace, received through faith in Christ.

Titus 3:5 “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

We’re not saved because of righteous things we’ve done (including conquering habits). We’re saved because of God’s mercy.

Romans 4:4-5 “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”

Salvation is credited to those who trust God, not to those who work (including working to conquer habits).

The Role of Habits in the Christian Life:

Now, does Scripture teach that Christians should develop godly habits and grow in holiness? Absolutely:

Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

We do “work out” our salvation (live out its implications), but notice:

• It’s God who works in us
• This is the result of salvation, not the cause of it

Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

We are called to pursue holiness, but this is the fruit of salvation, not the root of it.

The Distinction:

• Root of salvation: God’s grace, received through faith in Christ alone
• Fruit of salvation: Growth in holiness, developing godly habits, transformation

We don’t develop godly habits to earn eternal life. We develop godly habits because we have eternal life and the Holy Spirit is transforming us.

1 John 3:9 “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

Those who are born of God (born again) don’t continue in sin. But notice the order:

1. Born of God (regeneration by God’s work)
2. God’s seed remains in them (ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit)
3. They cannot go on sinning (result: transformation of life)

The transformation is the result of being born again, not the cause of it.

SCJ’s statement reverses this order, making eternal life dependent on conquering habits rather than on God’s grace. This is a different gospel.

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Understanding Where Students Are at Lesson 64

By the time students reach Lesson 64, they’re at a critical juncture in SCJ’s indoctrination process. Let’s examine their psychological and spiritual state:

The Investment

Time Commitment:

• 6-9 months of study (approximately 64 lessons at 2-3 per week)
• 150-200+ hours of classroom time
• Additional hours for homework, review, and test preparation
• Time spent building relationships with instructors and fellow students

Emotional Investment:

• Deep friendships formed with study group members
• Trust developed with instructors who seem caring and knowledgeable
• Emotional highs from feeling they’re learning “deep truths”
• Sense of being part of something special and important

Intellectual Investment:

• Learned an entire interpretive framework (OPAG, three types, sealed Bible, etc.)
• Memorized symbolic meanings and patterns
• Passed comprehensive exams demonstrating mastery of the material
• Pride in understanding things “most Christians don’t understand”

Identity Shift:

• Beginning to see themselves as part of an elite group with special knowledge
• Distancing from “traditional Christianity” which “doesn’t understand”
• Viewing their hope differently (finding Mount Zion, being part of 144,000)
• Redefining biblical terms according to SCJ’s system

The Conditioning

By Lesson 64, students have been thoroughly conditioned through:

Repetition:

• The same interpretive principles repeated in every lesson
• Constant reinforcement of key concepts (sealed Bible, spiritual vs. physical, three types)
• Regular review and testing to ensure internalization

Isolation:

• Subtle discouragement from discussing study with pastors or knowledgeable Christians
• Framing of outside concerns as “persecution” or “spiritual warfare”
• Increasing time commitment that limits interaction with church and Christian friends
• Creation of a new primary community within the study group

Gradual Progression:

• Each lesson builds on previous lessons, making the framework seem natural
• Increasingly divergent interpretations introduced slowly so they don’t shock
• Students accept each new teaching because it fits the framework they’ve already accepted

Emotional Manipulation:

• Praise for those who show “effort” and “endurance”
• Shame for those who question or struggle
• Fear of missing out on God’s work
• Hope dangled (new heaven and new earth, eternal life, being part of 144,000)

Cognitive Dissonance Management:

• When teachings contradict what students previously believed, discomfort is reframed as growth
• Doubts are labeled as “physical thinking,” “weak mindset,” or satanic attack
• Students are taught to suppress critical thinking in favor of accepting the framework

What Students Still Don’t Know

Crucially, at Lesson 64, most students still don’t know:

1. They’re studying with Shincheonji Church of Jesus: The organization’s identity is still hidden
2. Lee Man-hee’s identity and claims: They don’t know about the founder or his claim to be “the one who overcomes”
3. The ultimate destination of the teaching: They don’t yet know that “being born again” will mean joining SCJ
4. The full extent of commitment expected: They don’t know about the demanding requirements of membership
5. The deceptive recruitment tactics: They don’t know they’ll be expected to recruit others using the same hidden identity approach
6. The cost of leaving: They don’t know how difficult it will be to leave once they’re more deeply involved

This information is strategically withheld until students are so invested that they’re unlikely to walk away when it’s revealed.

The Strategic Timing of Lesson 64

Lesson 64 is strategically placed as a “special lesson” right after the Introductory Level exam. This timing serves several purposes:

1. Capitalizing on Investment: Students have just completed a major milestone (the exam) and feel a sense of accomplishment. They’ve invested months of effort and don’t want it to be wasted. This is the perfect time to deepen their commitment.

2. Transitioning to Deeper Teaching: The “special lesson” format signals that students are moving into more advanced material. This creates excitement and anticipation—they’re being let into deeper secrets.

3. Addressing Doubts Preemptively: As teachings become more divergent from orthodox Christianity, students naturally experience more doubts. By framing these doubts as “spiritual warfare” and praising those who “endure,” SCJ preemptively neutralizes legitimate concerns.

4. Preparing for the Revelation: By introducing the “process of being born again” and connecting it to organizational transition (destroy old, build new), SCJ is preparing students for the eventual revelation that they must leave traditional Christianity and join SCJ.

5. Creating Urgency: The emphasis on God’s return, the new heaven and new earth, and “the work we gotta do” creates urgency. Students feel they’re running out of time and must commit more deeply.

The Manipulation Tactics in Lesson 64

Let’s identify specific manipulation tactics employed in this lesson:

1. Love Bombing and Validation

The Tactic: Nate begins by acknowledging students’ struggles and praising their perseverance:

• “I really want to take a moment to acknowledge the pain that some of you are going through right now.”
• “All of you who, despite the things happening, still come anyway and still show up and still give your best. I find that extremely inspiring.”
• “Your efforts do not go unnoticed.”

Why It Works: This creates powerful emotional bonds and positive reinforcement. Students feel seen, valued, and appreciated. This makes them more receptive to the teaching that follows and more loyal to the instructor and group.

The Problem: While pastoral care and encouragement are legitimate, SCJ uses this care manipulatively. The validation is conditional—it’s given to those who continue despite doubts, not to those who step back to evaluate. The care serves the organization’s goals (keeping students committed) rather than the students’ genuine wellbeing.

2. Reframing Opposition as Spiritual Warfare

The Tactic: “When people begin to study the Word, Satan begins to fight them hard.”

Why It Works: This reframes any difficulty or opposition as confirmation that students are on the right path. Family concerns? Satan. Church warnings? Satan. Internal doubts? Satan. This makes it nearly impossible for students to recognize legitimate warning signs.

The Problem: While spiritual warfare is real, not all opposition is satanic. Sometimes opposition comes from people who love you and see warning signs you’re missing. Sometimes internal discomfort is the Holy Spirit’s conviction that something is wrong. By labeling all opposition as satanic, SCJ prevents students from receiving help.

Biblical Response:

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

We’re called to test everything, not to assume all opposition is satanic.

Acts 17:11 “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans tested Paul’s teaching. If even apostolic teaching should be tested against Scripture, how much more should we test teaching from modern organizations?

3. Using Beautiful Truth to Create Emotional Investment

The Tactic: Reading Revelation 21:1-6 about the new heaven and new earth, emphasizing God’s desire to return and dwell with His people forever.

Why It Works: This is genuinely beautiful biblical truth that resonates with every believer’s deepest longings. By beginning with this, Nate creates emotional resonance and spiritual hunger. Students think, “Yes, this is what I want. This is what I’m longing for.”

The Problem: SCJ then hijacks this legitimate longing and redirects it toward their organization. The new heaven and new earth becomes SCJ. Participating in God’s work becomes joining their group. The beautiful truth is used as bait to draw students into accepting false teaching.

This is a common cult tactic: Use genuine spiritual truth and longing to create emotional investment, then redirect that investment toward the organization.

4. Creating False Responsibility

The Tactic: “If we desire New Heaven and New Earth to take place, there’s some work we gotta do. There’s a lot of work to do.” “Right now, we are learning about that work that must take place so that when God feels that the time has come, He can return quickly, even a day sooner.”

Why It Works: This makes students feel personally responsible for the fulfillment of God’s plan. It creates urgency and pressure—if they don’t do the work, God’s plan might be delayed. This is a heavy burden that motivates continued commitment.

The Problem: This contradicts biblical teaching about God’s sovereignty and Christ’s finished work. God’s plan doesn’t depend on us understanding SCJ’s teaching. Christ’s return isn’t contingent on our organizational membership. This teaching creates false guilt and pressure.

Biblical Response:

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God completes His work. We don’t bear responsibility for bringing about His plan through our effort or understanding.

Ephesians 1:11 “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”

God works out everything according to His purpose and will. His plan doesn’t depend on our organizational membership.

5. Introducing Complexity to Create Dependency

The Tactic: Introducing the concept of a “process” for being born again, with specific steps and order that must be understood. Connecting this to complex prophetic patterns and fulfillment.

Why It Works: By making being born again complex rather than simple, SCJ creates dependency on their teaching. Students think, “I need this organization to understand these deep truths. I can’t figure this out on my own.”

The Problem: The gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. Jesus explained being born again to Nicodemus in one conversation. By making it complex, SCJ obscures the simple truth of salvation by grace through faith.

Biblical Response:

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Paul warns against being led astray from “sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” The gospel is simple and pure, not complex and convoluted.

2 Corinthians 1:12 “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.”

Paul relied on God’s grace and godly sincerity, not on complex systems and worldly wisdom.

6. The Sunk Cost Fallacy

The Tactic: By Lesson 64, students have invested 6-9 months and 150-200+ hours. The emphasis on “endurance” and praise for those who continue leverages this investment.

Why It Works: The sunk cost fallacy is a powerful psychological principle: the more we’ve invested in something, the harder it is to walk away, even when we recognize problems. Students think, “I’ve come this far, invested this much time—I can’t quit now. That would mean all that effort was wasted.”

The Problem: Past investment is not a reason to continue in error. If you’ve been walking in the wrong direction for six months, the solution isn’t to keep walking that direction because you’ve already invested so much. The solution is to turn around and head the right way.

Biblical Response:

Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Paul was willing to count his previous investments (his credentials, achievements, religious standing) as “loss” and even “garbage” compared to knowing Christ. If students discover SCJ’s teaching is false, they should be willing to walk away regardless of how much they’ve invested.

7. Isolation from Alternative Perspectives

The Tactic: Throughout the study, students have been subtly discouraged from discussing what they’re learning with pastors, knowledgeable Christians, or even family members. Concerns from others are framed as “persecution” or “spiritual warfare.”

Why It Works: Isolation prevents students from receiving information or perspectives that might help them recognize the deception. When everyone in your primary community (the study group) affirms the teaching, and everyone outside is framed as opposition, it’s very difficult to maintain objectivity.

The Problem: Healthy Christian teaching welcomes examination and outside perspective. Truth doesn’t fear scrutiny. The fact that SCJ discourages students from seeking outside counsel is a major red flag.

Biblical Response:

Proverbs 11:14 “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”

Wisdom comes through seeking counsel from multiple sources, not isolating yourself with one perspective.

Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

We should seek counsel from many advisers, not just from one organization’s teaching.

The Progression of Indoctrination—A Summary

Let’s trace how students have been progressively indoctrinated from Lesson 1 to Lesson 64:

Lessons 1-10: Establishing the Framework

• The Bible is “sealed” and incomprehensible without special keys
• Parables hide truth from outsiders but reveal it to insiders
• You need special interpretation to understand Scripture
• Most Christians don’t understand the Bible correctly

Lessons 11-20: Teaching the Symbolic System

• Everything in the Bible is symbolic (OPAG)
• Physical vs. spiritual interpretation
• Sun, moon, stars = pastors, evangelists, congregation members
• Heaven and earth = spiritual leaders and people
• Sea = multitudes of people

Lessons 21-40: The Tabernacle System

• Every element of the Tabernacle has symbolic meaning
• Understanding these symbols is key to understanding God’s plan
• The pattern repeats throughout history
• There’s a “physical” and “spiritual” way of understanding everything

Lessons 41-60: The Three Types Framework

• Three types of Israel: Physical, Spiritual, New Spiritual
• Three types of heaven corresponding to three types of Israel
• “The one who overcomes” forms twelve tribes in each era
• The goal is to belong to the “new spiritual Israel”
• Understanding requires special “keys” that SCJ possesses

Lesson 61: The 144,000

• The 144,000 are a literal number of people
• They’re being gathered now
• They’re part of the “new spiritual Israel”
• Understanding who they are is crucial

Lesson 63: Mount Zion

• Mount Zion today is a specific organization
• You must identify and find it
• Effort and perfect test scores demonstrate commitment
• The test measures your dedication

Lesson 64: Being Born Again

• Being born again is a complex process
• It involves understanding prophetic fulfillment
• It’s connected to organizational transition (destroy old, build new)
• Endurance means continuing despite doubts and opposition

What’s Coming Next (Intermediate and Advanced Levels):

Intermediate Level (Bible Logic):

• Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation pattern
• Events in Korea as fulfillment of prophecy
• Traditional Christianity has been “destroyed”
• A new work is being established

Advanced Level (Revelation):

• Full revelation of SCJ’s identity
• Lee Man-hee as “the one who overcomes”
• SCJ as the fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies
• Pressure to join officially and be “sealed”
• Expectation to recruit others using deceptive tactics

By the time students reach the Advanced Level, they’ve been so thoroughly conditioned that most accept these claims without significant resistance. The foundation laid in lessons like Lesson 64 makes the later revelations seem like the natural conclusion of what they’ve been learning all along.

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Part 7: What the Bible Actually Teaches About Being Born Again—A Comprehensive Examination

Having examined SCJ’s teaching and manipulation tactics, let’s now provide a comprehensive biblical understanding of being born again. This is crucial because SCJ has taken one of Christianity’s most central and precious truths and distorted it beyond recognition.

The Biblical Doctrine of Regeneration

“Being born again” (also called “regeneration” or “the new birth”) is the theological term for God’s work of bringing spiritual life to those who were spiritually dead.

The Need for the New Birth

Why do we need to be born again?

Ephesians 2:1-3 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”

Before salvation, we were:

• Dead in transgressions and sins (spiritually dead)
• Following the ways of this world
• Under the influence of Satan (“the ruler of the kingdom of the air”)
• Gratifying the cravings of our flesh
• Deserving of God’s wrath

Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.'”

In our natural state:

• No one is righteous
• No one understands (spiritual truth)
• No one seeks God
• All have turned away
• No one does good

John 3:6 “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”

Physical birth produces physical life, but it doesn’t produce spiritual life. We need a spiritual birth to have spiritual life.

The problem: We are spiritually dead, unable to save ourselves, unable even to seek God on our own. We need God to give us new life.

The Nature of the New Birth

What is being born again?

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (Old Testament prophecy of the new birth) “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

The new birth involves:

• A new heart (transformed desires and affections)
• A new spirit (spiritual life)
• Removal of the heart of stone (hard, unresponsive to God)
• God’s Spirit dwelling in us
• New ability and desire to follow God

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Those who are in Christ are “new creations.” This is radical transformation, not minor improvement.

Titus 3:5-7 “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

The new birth (rebirth) is:

• Not because of righteous things we’ve done
• Because of God’s mercy
• Through the Holy Spirit
• Connected to justification by grace
• Results in becoming heirs with hope of eternal life

The Agent of the New Birth

Who causes the new birth?

John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

We are born of God. The new birth is:

• Not of natural descent (not through physical birth)
• Not of human decision (not by our choice or will)
• Not of a husband’s will (not through human agency)
• Born of God (God’s work, God’s initiative)

James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

God chose to give us birth. It’s His decision, His action.

1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

God has given us new birth. It’s His gift, His work.

John 3:8 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The Spirit gives birth. Like the wind, the Spirit’s work is sovereign—He works where He pleases, and we can’t fully comprehend or control it.

The clear teaching: God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, causes the new birth. It’s God’s work, not ours.

The Means of the New Birth

How does the new birth happen?

1 Peter 1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

We are born again through the word of God—the gospel message.

Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

Faith comes from hearing the message about Christ.

James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

God gives us birth through the word of truth (the gospel).

The process:

1. The gospel is proclaimed (the word of God)
2. The Holy Spirit works through the word
3. The Spirit opens the heart to respond (Acts 16:14)
4. The person believes in Christ
5. God gives new birth

John 3:14-16 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The new birth comes through believing in Jesus—specifically, believing in His death (being “lifted up”) for our salvation.

The means is simple: Hearing the gospel and believing in Jesus Christ.

The Evidence of the New Birth

How do we know if someone has been born again?

1 John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well.”

Evidence #1: Faith in Jesus Christ

• Believing that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah, Savior)
• This is the primary evidence

1 John 3:9 “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

Evidence #2: Changed relationship with sin

• Not continuing in sin as a lifestyle
• Not that believers never sin, but that they don’t persist in unrepentant sin
• God’s seed (the Holy Spirit) remains in them, producing transformation

1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Evidence #3: Love for others

• Genuine love comes from God
• Those born of God demonstrate love

1 John 2:29 “If you know that he is righteous, you will know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”

Evidence #4: Righteous living

• Practicing righteousness (not perfectly, but as a pattern of life)
• Pursuing what is right

John 8:47 “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Evidence #5: Receptivity to God’s word

• Hearing and receiving God’s word
• Desire to know and obey Scripture

Summary of evidence:

• Faith in Jesus Christ
• Changed life (turning from sin)
• Love for God and others
• Pursuit of righteousness
• Receptivity to God’s word

What is NOT evidence of being born again:

• Understanding complex symbolic interpretations
• Membership in a specific organization
• Perfect test scores on biblical exams
• Ability to identify prophetic fulfillment in modern events
• Being one of 144,000 in a particular group

The Results of the New Birth

What happens when someone is born again?

1. Justification (declared righteous before God):

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. Adoption (becoming God’s children):

Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

Romans 8:15-16 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

3. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

4. Eternal life:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

5. New nature and desires:

2 Peter 1:4 “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

6. Assurance of salvation:

1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

7. Union with Christ:

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

8. Membership in the body of Christ (the church):

1 Corinthians 12:13 “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

The Simplicity of the Gospel

Let’s contrast the biblical teaching on being born again with SCJ’s teaching:

The gospel is simple:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The gospel is:

• Christ died for our sins
• He was buried
• He was raised on the third day
• This is according to the Scriptures

Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

To be saved:

• Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead
• Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord

This is the gospel. This is how someone is born again. It’s simple, gracious, and Christ-centered.

SCJ has taken this simple, beautiful truth and transformed it into a complex system that requires months of study, understanding of symbolic interpretations, recognition of prophetic fulfillment, and ultimately organizational membership. This is not the gospel. This is “a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all” (Galatians 1:6-7).

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Part 8: Practical Application—How to Respond to Lesson 64

For Those Currently Taking SCJ’s Study

If you’re currently in SCJ’s study program and have just completed Lesson 64, here are critical questions to consider and steps to take:

Critical Questions to Ask

1. Is this teaching making the gospel more complex or more simple?

Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). The gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. If what you’re learning is making salvation increasingly complex—requiring understanding of symbolic systems, prophetic patterns, and organizational fulfillment—that’s a warning sign.

Ask yourself: Could I explain to a child how to be born again based on what I’m learning? If not, something is wrong.

2. Where is the focus—Christ or an organization?

Throughout your study, pay attention to where the focus is. Is the emphasis on:

• Christ’s person and work, or on understanding symbolic interpretations?
• Faith in Jesus, or on recognizing prophetic fulfillment?
• The gospel, or on organizational identity and membership?

The Bible’s focus is always Christ. Any teaching that makes something else central is moving away from biblical Christianity.

3. Am I experiencing peace or anxiety?

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The gospel produces peace. If you’re experiencing increasing anxiety—about whether you understand correctly, whether you’re doing enough, whether you’ll be part of the 144,000—that’s a sign something is wrong.

4. Am I being encouraged to think critically or to suppress doubts?

Healthy Christian teaching welcomes questions and examination. The Bereans were commended for testing Paul’s teaching against Scripture (Acts 17:11).

If your doubts are being labeled as “spiritual warfare,” “physical thinking,” or “weak mindset,” that’s a red flag. If you’re told that discomfort means you’re growing, rather than being encouraged to examine why you’re uncomfortable, that’s manipulation.

5. Is this teaching adding requirements to the gospel?

Galatians 1:6-9 warns against “a different gospel.” Any teaching that adds requirements beyond faith in Christ alone is a different gospel.

Ask yourself: According to what I’m learning, what is required for salvation?

• If the answer is only “faith in Jesus Christ,” that’s the biblical gospel
• If the answer includes “understanding symbolic interpretations,” “recognizing prophetic fulfillment,” “joining a specific organization,” or “being one of 144,000,” that’s a different gospel

6. Am I being isolated from other Christians?

Healthy Christian teaching connects you to the broader body of Christ. Cultic teaching isolates you from other believers.

Have you been subtly discouraged from:

• Discussing what you’re learning with your pastor?
• Talking to knowledgeable Christian friends about the study?
• Continuing involvement in your church?

If so, that’s a major warning sign.

7. What will happen if I disagree or want to leave?

In healthy Christian environments, you’re free to disagree and leave without consequences. In cultic environments, there’s pressure, manipulation, or threats (even if subtle) to keep you involved.

Ask yourself: Do I feel free to step back and evaluate? Or do I feel pressure to continue?

What to Do

If you’re recognizing warning signs, here are steps to take:

1. Pause your study

You don’t owe SCJ an explanation or justification. Simply take a break. Give yourself space to think clearly without the constant reinforcement of their teaching.

If they pressure you or make you feel guilty for taking a break, that itself is a warning sign. Healthy Christian teaching doesn’t manipulate people into continuing.

2. Read the New Testament for yourself

Read books of the New Testament straight through without SCJ’s interpretive framework. Try:

• The Gospel of John: Focus on who Jesus is and what He offers. Notice how simple and clear His teaching is about believing in Him for eternal life.
• Romans: Focus on salvation by grace through faith, apart from works. Notice how Paul emphasizes that salvation is God’s gift, not our achievement.
• Galatians: Focus on Paul’s warning against adding requirements to the gospel. Notice how seriously he takes the danger of “a different gospel.”
• 1 John: Focus on the assurance believers can have. Notice how John emphasizes that everyone who believes in Jesus is born of God.

Let Scripture speak for itself. Don’t try to fit it into SCJ’s symbolic system. Just read it and ask: What is this passage actually saying?

3. Talk to a trusted Christian

Share what you’ve been learning with:

• Your pastor
• A mature Christian friend or family member
• A Christian counselor or ministry leader

Get an outside perspective from someone who knows the Bible well and isn’t part of SCJ. Be honest about what you’ve been learning and the doubts you’re experiencing.

4. Research SCJ

Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive information about:

• SCJ’s teachings and where they diverge from biblical Christianity
• The experiences of former members
• The manipulation tactics SCJ uses
• Resources for those considering leaving

Read testimonies from people who have left SCJ. Their stories will help you recognize patterns you may be experiencing.

5. Ask direct questions

If you continue contact with your instructor, ask directly:

• “Is this Shincheonji Church of Jesus?”
• “Who is Lee Man-hee and what are his claims?”
• “Where is this teaching ultimately heading?”
• “Will I be expected to join your organization?”
• “What happens if I disagree with the teaching or want to leave?”

Their response (or evasion) will be very revealing. If they’re honest and straightforward, that’s one thing. If they evade, deflect, or tell you “you’ll understand later,” that’s a major red flag.

6. Trust your concerns

If something feels wrong, it probably is. Don’t let anyone shame you for having doubts or questions. The Holy Spirit may be warning you.

Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”

It’s wise to give thought to your steps, to evaluate carefully, to trust your concerns.

7. Remember the simple gospel

No matter how complex SCJ’s teaching has become, remember the simple gospel:

• You are a sinner in need of salvation (Romans 3:23)
• Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
• Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Everyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life (John 3:16)

You don’t need to:

• Understand complex symbolic interpretations
• Recognize prophetic fulfillment in modern organizations
• Join a specific group
• Be one of 144,000
• Achieve perfect test scores
• Endure through months of study

You need only to trust in Jesus Christ, who died for your sins and rose from the dead. That’s the gospel. That’s what saves.

For Friends and Family of Those in SCJ

If someone you care about is involved in SCJ’s study and has reached Lesson 64, here’s how you can help:

Understanding Where They Are

By Lesson 64, your loved one:

• Has invested 6-9 months and 150-200+ hours
• Has internalized SCJ’s interpretive framework
• Has formed strong relationships within the group
• Has been conditioned to view opposition as spiritual warfare
• Still doesn’t know the full extent of SCJ’s claims
• Is being prepared to accept that “being born again” means joining SCJ

They’re deeply invested but haven’t yet been pressured to join officially. This is actually an opportunity—they’re far enough in to recognize the manipulation if it’s pointed out, but not so far in that they’ve made public commitments that are hard to walk back from.

How to Help

1. Express concern with love, not accusation

Approach with genuine care, not judgment. Instead of:

• “You’re in a cult!”
• “How could you be so stupid?”
• “You’re being brainwashed!”

Try:

• “I care about you and I’m concerned about what you’re learning.”
• “I’ve been reading about this group and I have some concerns. Can we talk?”
• “I love you and I want to make sure you’re in a healthy environment.”

2. Ask questions about the teaching

Use the lesson’s content as an entry point:

About being born again:

• “What did they teach about being born again?”
• “That’s interesting—can we look at what Jesus said about it in John 3?”
• “Does their teaching match what Jesus taught?”

About the “process”:

• “They said being born again is a process with specific steps. Where does the Bible teach that?”
• “Jesus explained being born again to Nicodemus in one conversation. Why would it be so complex?”

About endurance:

• “They praised you for enduring despite difficulties. What kind of difficulties are you experiencing?”
• “Do you think those difficulties might be warning signs rather than spiritual warfare?”

3. Focus on the gospel

Remind them of the simple gospel:

Read John 3:16 together: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Ask: “According to Jesus, what’s required for eternal life? Does that match what you’re learning?”

Read Ephesians 2:8-9 together: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ask: “Paul says salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. Does what you’re learning emphasize grace or works?”

4. Share information about SCJ

Provide resources:

• Information from https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
• Testimonies from former members
• Articles explaining SCJ’s teachings and tactics

Don’t overwhelm them with too much at once. Start with one or two key resources.

5. Point out manipulation tactics

Gently help them recognize manipulation:

About the “spiritual warfare” frame: “They told you that difficulties mean Satan is fighting you. But what if the difficulties are actually warning signs? How would you know the difference?”

About isolation: “Have they discouraged you from talking to your pastor or Christian friends about what you’re learning? Why would they do that if the teaching is biblical?”

About complexity: “Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Does what you’re learning feel easy and light, or complex and burdensome?”

6. Maintain the relationship

Even if they continue in SCJ for a time, keep the relationship open. Many people eventually leave, and they need to know they have somewhere to return to.

Don’t issue ultimatums or cut off contact (unless they’re in danger). Stay connected, keep expressing love and concern, and be ready to help when they’re ready to leave.

7. Pray consistently

Pray for:

• God to open their eyes to the truth
• The Holy Spirit to convict them of error
• Protection from further deception
• Wisdom for you in how to help
• Opportunities to speak truth in love
• Their relationships within SCJ to not become so strong they can’t leave
• God to bring other people into their life who can help them see the truth

8. Be patient

Leaving a cult-like group is a process. Your loved one has invested significant time and emotion. They’ve formed relationships. They’ve internalized a whole system of belief. It takes time to recognize the deception and work through it.

Be patient. Keep loving them. Keep speaking truth. Trust that God is working even when you can’t see progress.

For Church Leaders

If you’re a pastor or church leader, here’s how you can protect your congregation and help those affected by SCJ:

Prevention

1. Teach the gospel clearly and repeatedly

The best protection against false teaching is clear teaching of the truth. Regularly teach:

• Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone
• The simplicity of the gospel
• The sufficiency of Christ
• Assurance of salvation based on God’s promise
• The nature of being born again

When your congregation is grounded in the gospel, they’re less vulnerable to groups like SCJ that distort it.

2. Teach about being born again

Since SCJ specifically targets and distorts this doctrine, teach it clearly:

• What it means to be born again (God’s work of regeneration)
• How it happens (through the Spirit, by hearing and believing the gospel)
• The evidence of new birth (faith in Christ, changed life, love for God and others)
• The assurance believers can have (based on God’s promise, not our feelings or achievements)

3. Warn about deceptive tactics

Help your congregation recognize warning signs:

• Groups that hide their identity
• Teaching that makes the Bible seem incomprehensible without special interpretation
• Emphasis on symbolic meanings that contradict plain sense
• Adding requirements to the gospel
• Creating anxiety rather than peace
• Isolating people from church and Christian community
• Claiming to be the only group that truly understands Scripture

4. Teach discernment

Equip your congregation to test teaching:

• Compare everything to Scripture (Acts 17:11)
• Test the spirits (1 John 4:1)
• Examine the fruit (Matthew 7:16-20)
• Be cautious of “new” teaching that contradicts historic Christianity
• Seek wise counsel when evaluating new teaching

5. Create a welcoming environment for questions

Make sure people feel safe asking questions and expressing doubts in your church. If people feel they can’t question or discuss concerns, they’re more vulnerable to groups that claim to have answers.

Intervention

6. Recognize the signs

Be alert for members who:

• Suddenly become very interested in symbolic interpretation
• Talk about “physical vs. spiritual” understanding
• Mention concepts like “three types of Israel” or “the 144,000”
• Show signs of anxiety or pressure
• Distance themselves from church activities
• Become evasive about a “Bible study” they’re attending
• Use unusual biblical interpretations

7. Reach out with care

If you notice these signs, reach out pastorally:

• “I’ve noticed you’ve seemed stressed lately. Is everything okay?”
• “I heard you’re attending a Bible study. Tell me about it.”
• “I care about you and want to make sure you’re being fed good biblical teaching.”

Don’t be accusatory. Express genuine care and concern.

8. Provide biblical teaching

Offer to study Scripture together, focusing on:

• The gospel and salvation by grace
• What Jesus taught about being born again (John 3)
• The sufficiency of Christ (Colossians, Hebrews)
• Warnings against false teaching (Galatians, 2 Peter, 2 John)

9. Connect them with resources

Have materials ready:

• Information about SCJ from https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
• Biblical refutations of SCJ’s teaching
• Testimonies from former members
• Contact information for cult recovery resources

Recovery

10. Support those leaving SCJ

People who leave SCJ often experience:

• Confusion about what they believed and why
• Guilt about time invested or people they recruited
• Anger at being deceived
• Difficulty trusting Christian teaching
• Isolation from the community they were part of
• Fear about their salvation
• Shame about being deceived

Provide:

• Patient, grace-filled counseling: Don’t rush them. Let them process at their own pace.
• Clear teaching on the gospel: Help them rediscover the simplicity and beauty of salvation by grace.
• Assurance of God’s love: Remind them that God loves them, hasn’t abandoned them, and forgives them.
• Community and belonging: Help them reconnect with healthy Christian community.
• Time to heal: Recovery takes time. Be patient and supportive.

11. Address theological confusion

Help them work through:

• What is true biblical interpretation? Teach sound hermeneutics.
• How do we know what the Bible means? Emphasize context, letting Scripture interpret Scripture, and the plain meaning of the text.
• What is the gospel? Return again and again to the simple gospel of grace.
• How can I trust Christian teaching again? Help them develop discernment while not becoming cynical.

12. Learn from the experience

Ask those who’ve left SCJ:

• What made the teaching appealing?
• What needs weren’t being met in church?
• What finally helped them recognize the deception?
• What could the church have done differently?

Use their insights to strengthen your ministry and better protect others.

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Part 9: The Contrast—True Biblical Hope vs. SCJ’s False Hope

SCJ’s Hope

Based on Lesson 64 and SCJ’s overall teaching, their hope is:

The Vision:

• New heaven and new earth (which they claim is their organization)
• God dwelling with His people (through Lee Man-hee and SCJ)
• No more death, mourning, crying, or pain (promised to SCJ members)
• Being part of the 144,000 (sealed members of SCJ)

The Requirements:

• Understanding the “process” of being born again (their complex system)
• Recognizing prophetic fulfillment (in SCJ and Lee Man-hee)
• Enduring through doubts and opposition
• Eventually joining SCJ and being “sealed”
• Maintaining organizational loyalty

The Characteristics:

• Complex (requires months of study to understand)
• Conditional (depends on your understanding and commitment)
• Exclusive (limited to 144,000 SCJ members)
• Anxious (constant pressure to understand correctly and do enough)
• Organization-centered (focused on SCJ rather than Christ)
• Uncertain (you won’t know if you’re truly part until you’re “sealed”)

The Biblical Hope

Let’s contrast this with the true biblical hope:

The Christian Hope is Christ Himself

Colossians 1:27 “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Our hope is “Christ in you”—not an organization, not a human leader, but Christ Himself dwelling in believers through the Holy Spirit.

1 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.”

Christ Jesus is our hope. Not a system, not an organization, not understanding prophecy correctly—Christ Himself.

The Christian Hope is the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:19-22 “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

Our hope extends beyond this life to the resurrection. Because Christ was raised, we will be raised. This is a hope that death cannot destroy.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Our hope is:

• The Lord Himself coming down from heaven (visible, glorious return)
• The resurrection of believers who have died
• Being caught up to meet the Lord
• Being with the Lord forever

This is what should encourage us—not organizational membership, but Christ’s return and resurrection life.

The Christian Hope is the New Creation

Romans 8:18-25 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Our hope includes:

• Glory that will be revealed in us
• The liberation of creation from decay
• The redemption of our bodies
• The full realization of our adoption as God’s children

This is cosmic in scope—not just personal salvation or organizational membership, but the renewal of all creation.

Revelation 21:1-5 (the passage Nate quoted, but properly understood) “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'”

The ultimate hope is:

• A literal new heaven and new earth (renewed creation)
• The New Jerusalem coming down from heaven (not an earthly organization)
• God dwelling with His people (complete, unmediated presence)
• No more death, mourning, crying, or pain (complete elimination of suffering)
• God making everything new (total renewal)

This is future, cosmic, and certain—not present, organizational, and conditional.

The Characteristics of Biblical Hope

1. It’s certain and secure:

Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”

Our hope is an anchor—firm and secure. It’s not uncertain or dependent on our understanding or performance.

2. It’s based on God’s promise:

Titus 1:2 “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”

Our hope is based on God’s promise, and God cannot lie. It’s absolutely trustworthy.

3. It produces joy and peace:

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Biblical hope produces joy and peace, not anxiety and pressure.

4. It’s for all believers:

Colossians 1:5 “the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.”

This hope is for all who believe the gospel, not limited to 144,000 members of one organization.

5. It purifies us:

1 John 3:2-3 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”

The hope of seeing Christ and being like Him motivates us to pursue holiness. It’s not about organizational loyalty but about Christ-likeness.

The Contrast

The difference is stark. SCJ’s hope creates anxiety, dependence on the organization, and focus on human effort. The biblical hope creates confidence, dependence on Christ, and focus on God’s grace.

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Conclusion: Two Births, Two Paths, Two Destinies

The Choice Before Students

By the end of Lesson 64, SCJ students face a choice, though they may not fully realize it yet. They’re being presented with two very different understandings of being born again:

SCJ’s “New Birth”:

• A complex process with multiple stages
• Requires understanding prophetic patterns and fulfillment
• Involves organizational transition (leaving traditional Christianity, joining SCJ)
• Dependent on your effort, understanding, and endurance
• Leads to membership in SCJ as one of 144,000
• Creates anxiety about whether you understand correctly
• Adds requirements to the gospel

The Biblical New Birth:

• God’s work of regeneration through the Holy Spirit
• Happens when you hear the gospel and believe in Christ
• Received by faith alone, not by works or understanding
• Results in new life, transformation, and assurance
• Makes you part of the universal church (all believers)
• Creates peace and confidence based on God’s promise
• Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone

SCJ’s Path:

• Study for months to understand symbols and patterns
• Recognize that traditional Christianity has been “destroyed”
• Accept that SCJ is the “new work” God is establishing
• Endure through doubts and opposition
• Join SCJ and be “sealed” as one of 144,000
• Maintain organizational loyalty
• Recruit others using deceptive tactics

The Biblical Path:

• Hear the gospel (Christ died for sinners and rose from the dead)
• Recognize your need (you’re a sinner in need of salvation)
• Repent of sin (turn from sin to God)
• Trust in Christ alone for salvation (believe in Jesus)
• Receive the Holy Spirit (God’s gift to all believers)
• Grow in Christ-likeness (sanctification)
• Share the gospel openly and honestly

SCJ’s Destination:

• Membership in their organization
• Dependence on their teaching and leadership
• Isolation from mainstream Christianity
• Allegiance to Lee Man-hee
• Anxiety about maintaining good standing
• False assurance based on organizational membership
• Bondage to a religious system

The Biblical Destination:

• Union with Christ
• Indwelt by the Holy Spirit
• Part of the universal church
• Assurance based on Christ’s finished work
• Peace with God
• Freedom in Christ
• Eternal life in the new creation

The difference is stark. One path leads to bondage in a religious system that adds requirements to the gospel. The other leads to freedom in Christ through the simple gospel of grace.

The Urgency of Truth

For those in SCJ’s study program, the urgency is real—but not in the way SCJ presents it. The urgency is not about understanding the “process of being born again” before it’s too late. The urgency is about recognizing deception and returning to the true gospel before investing more of your life in a false system.

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Now is the day of salvation—not by understanding SCJ’s complex system, but by trusting in Christ.

Acts 16:30-31 “He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'”

What must you do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus. Not: understand symbolic interpretations, recognize prophetic fulfillment, join an organization, or be one of 144,000. Simply believe in Jesus.

The Invitation

If you’re reading this as someone involved in SCJ’s study program, please hear this invitation:

You don’t need to understand a complex “process” to be born again. Being born again is God’s work of giving you new spiritual life when you trust in Christ. It’s simple, gracious, and immediate.

You don’t need to join a specific organization. The church is all believers everywhere, united in Christ. You become part of God’s people by trusting in Christ, not by joining SCJ.

You don’t need to endure through false teaching. If what you’re learning contradicts the simple gospel of grace, the biblical response is not to endure—it’s to recognize the error and return to truth.

You don’t need to fear missing out. God’s invitation is open to all who believe. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Not just 144,000. Not just those in one organization. Everyone who calls on Christ.

You don’t need to prove yourself through effort. Salvation is by grace, not by works. God doesn’t measure your worth by your test scores, your understanding, or your endurance. He offers salvation as a free gift, received through faith.

The true gospel is simpler, more beautiful, and more secure than anything SCJ offers. It’s the gospel of grace—unearned, undeserved, freely given to all who believe.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

This is the gospel. This is the hope. This is the truth that sets people free.

You don’t need to climb SCJ’s ladder of understanding. You don’t need to complete their “process.” Through faith in Christ, you can be born again right now—God’s work of regeneration, giving you new life, making you His child.

Romans 10:9-13 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”

This is the gospel. This is how you’re born again. This is what saves.

Come to Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the one who gives new birth. He is your hope, your peace, your salvation.

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For More Information and Resources

• Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive analysis of SCJ’s teachings, tactics, and the experiences of former members
• Read the full series Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story for detailed refutation of SCJ’s theology across all 30 chapters
• Consult these additional resources for biblical and historical context:
  • Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation – A Christian Response
  • How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon
  • Prophecy and Fulfillment
  • SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Parts 1 & 2
  • The Real Reasons Behind the Tabernacle Temple’s Destruction and Sale
  • Wedding Banquet of the Lamb and the First Resurrection
• If you or someone you know needs help leaving SCJ or recovering from involvement with the group, reach out to:
  • Your local church pastor
  • Christian counselors experienced in cult recovery
  • Organizations specializing in helping people leave cults
  • The resources and contacts available at https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination

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Final Word: The Simplicity of the Gospel

The entire issue with SCJ Lesson 64—and with SCJ’s entire system—can be summarized in one question: What does it mean to be born again?

SCJ’s answer is complex: It’s a process involving multiple stages, requiring understanding of prophetic patterns, recognizing organizational fulfillment, and ultimately joining their group.

The Bible’s answer is simple: It’s God’s work of giving new spiritual life to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ own words in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Whoever believes in Him. Not: whoever understands the process. Not: whoever joins the right organization. Not: whoever endures through months of study. Simply: whoever believes in Him.

This is the gospel. This is the good news. This is the truth that sets people free.

At no point does being born again require:

• Understanding complex symbolic interpretations
• Recognizing which organization fulfills prophecy
• Joining a specific group
• Being one of 144,000
• Enduring through false teaching
• Proving yourself through effort

At every point, being born again is:

• God’s work through the Holy Spirit
• Received through faith in Christ
• Based on God’s grace, not human effort
• Resulting in new life and transformation
• Creating assurance and peace
• Available to all who believe

Through faith in Christ, you can be born again right now. Not through a process. Not through an organization. Through simple faith in Jesus—who He is (the Son of God) and what He’s done (died for your sins and rose from the dead).

John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Receive Him. Believe in His name. Be born of God.

This is the invitation. This is the gospel. This is the hope that will never disappoint.

May all who read this be drawn to Christ alone, rest in His finished work alone, and find their hope in Him alone.

Soli Deo Gloria—To God Alone Be Glory