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This lesson emphasizes the paramount importance of keeping God’s covenants and the grave consequences for those who break them. It covers the five essential components of every covenant between God and His chosen people. The Old Covenant given through Moses was broken by the Israelites’ disobedience, prompting God to establish the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, which allows all believers to become spiritual children of Abraham. At the Second Coming, those who deeply understood and engraved this New Covenant’s revelation will be blessed and gathered, while those who did not will be cast out, mirroring the fates depicted in Revelation 6 and 7. We must shed our old mindsets to fully embrace this new understanding, keeping the covenant to dwell eternally with God.

Report – Discernment Study Guide SCJ Bible Study

Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.

While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.

The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.

Review with the Evangelist

Memorization

Revelation 1:1-3

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Yeast of Heaven

Fingernails grow, but you can’t see it growing. Likewise, the Living Word grows and grows in one’s heart and this is the work of creation. Creations that have been made through the Word; are God’s creations.

Our Hope: To be those who keep our covenant and receive the promised blessings.

Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It

Dt 28 (Jer 31, Heb 8, Rev 7)

I pray that everyone is having a good time, and we know that whenever we come before the Word, we have an opportunity to truly be cleansed by the Word, as the Word is like water. What passage states that water represents the Word?

Deuteronomy 32:2 says, “Let my teachings fall like rain.” And Jesus said in John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the words that I have spoken to you.” So every time we come before the Word, we’re being cleansed by that Word, not cleansed by a speaker. It’s not me doing it, but it is the Word of God.

And I’m blessed to be in a position where I can share that Word because guess who else also needs to be cleansed by the words coming out of his mouth? This guy, right? So the Word is for both of us.

Let us all be cleansed by the Word.

We’re really going to focus on the results for those who keep the covenant and those who do not keep it. We’ll understand through the Bible why God considers covenants so important and how we can apply that understanding to the covenant that we are being asked to keep in our time.

Our main reference chapters for today are Deuteronomy 28, which is the blessing and curses chapter for the covenant – the big one. And then there’s also Jeremiah 31, which we know is our origin, and Hebrews 8 and Revelation 7. The main important verse for today is Deuteronomy 28.

So, the intermediate results for those who keep the covenant and those who do not keep it.

Our hope is to be those who keep our covenant and receive the promised blessings. Does God keep His Word? Always. God has never broken His words, and if He promises blessings and someone meets the conditions to receive those blessings, they will receive those blessings. But blessings have their opposite too.

And God is also one who keeps His promises even about the things that aren’t so pleasant too. We really, really have to take this seriously and understand this deeply to protect ourselves too. It’s very important.

Previous Lesson Review

Review

In the previous lesson, we discussed the sealed and opened word, and the one who perceives it and testifies about it.

ONE – We examined how the sealed book represents actual reality. We talked about how the sealed book essentially represents the state before actual reality. We also discussed the importance of actual reality. Actual reality ends arguments and ambiguity. Things become known and are no longer vague or uncertain. When actual reality appears, it is known. Before that time, it is not possible to know what the things are.

TWO – However, when revelation comes, when actual reality appears, then fulfillment can be known, and understanding can be attained.

So, actual reality, also known as fulfillment, appears.

An easy yet profound example is the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, “a virgin will give birth to a child.” Then, 700 years passed before revelation came, and the actual reality of Mary and Jesus appeared. At that point, there was no more argument about who this virgin and child would be. It became known, no longer up for debate.

This is what God wants to take place in our time – for the actual reality of the prophecies to appear, and the intentional vagueness and ambiguity by God to protect this plan is revealed.

The way this takes place is that first, there must be an opening of the word that was once sealed. Initially, the word is sealed because God has a plan, and he wants to protect his plan.

THREE – Is 29:9-13 —> Ez 2-3 —> Mt 15:24

Then the word must be opened. And what happens when the word is opened? We are here to understand it. How? What’s the process? It’s testified.

Ah, but how was it testified? What’s the process for it to be testified? There’s a process it must go through, right? Let’s discuss it in each era. First, we see the Old Testament era.

The word is sealed in Isaiah 29:9-13. This is the Old Testament prophecy. It means it’s not possible for the heads and the eyes, the seers and leaders of a people, to read the content of the vision because it is sealed.

However, God’s intention is not for it to remain sealed forever. God’s intention is for people to know. So, the process God makes it known is first, it is opened, and then it is fed to someone.

In Ezekiel 2 and 3, Ezekiel is the one who sees the scroll being opened. He takes it and eats it. It’s sweet as honey in his mouth. But we know how prophecies work. Tell me, please, is the prophet talking about himself or someone else? Someone else. Who lived out the words Ezekiel saw? Jesus lived out the words Ezekiel saw.

So, when Ezekiel grabbed the scroll, it was Jesus in reality. When Ezekiel ate the scroll, it was Jesus in reality. When he was told, “now go and speak to the rebellious house of Israel,” it was Jesus who did it in reality. Yes, Ezekiel had to speak to the people of his time what God had shown him. But Ezekiel was speaking in a prophetic sense, about what would happen in the future.

The people did not like what he had to say, nor did they like what Jeremiah or Isaiah had to say. The prophets really struggled in their time. But their words were spoken for a future time, a time that would take place in the future.

So, in Isaiah 29, the word is sealed. In Ezekiel 2 and 3, the word is opened and fed to the one who needs to testify. And then, of course, the person testifies. Matthew 15:24, Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” They were Jesus’s first target because they were God’s chosen people. God wanted to redeem them. That was his heart. And so, what did he do? He sent his son.

But redemption is incumbent on a person’s reaction. And many people looked at Jesus and said no, which is really sad. So they were not able to receive their promised redemption. But the ones who said yes to Jesus were the ones who received it instead. And they became a new Israel, surpassing the old one.

FOUR – Rev 5:1,7 —> Rv 6, 8:1, 10:1-2. 10:8-11

The same thing needs to happen in our time too. In Revelation chapter 5, we see a sealed book in God’s right hand, held by the one seated on the throne. No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth can open or even look inside this book.

However, there is one who was worthy, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb who had been slain, Jesus. In Revelation 6:8-1, Jesus opens the seven seals of that little scroll.

Now, the book is open. What does Jesus do? He gives it to the mighty angel, the one clothed in a cloud, with feet like pillars standing on the land and the sea, and who has a rainbow around him.

This mighty angel then approaches John and says, “John, eat this.” So, John has to eat what he saw. After that, he is told to testify to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, just like Ezekiel 2 and 3.

Now, there are a few things to discuss about why it works this way, which will help us understand this better.

Daniel 12:8-10

8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

Daniel saw many visions and incredible things throughout the book of Daniel. In verse 8, he asked God, “I heard, but I did not understand. What is the outcome of all these things?” Was he told, “Okay, sit down, let me tell you word for word what it means”? No. He was told, “Go on your way.”

Surely, that was frustrating. God said, “Go on your way, for these words are closed up and sealed until when? The time of the end, when they can be opened, explained, or fulfilled.” The Lord will come back to a special person like Jesus and fulfill what was prophesied in the prophecies before.

This is the flow that needs to happen. It’s the flow that happens for all the prophecies. That’s God’s logic. There is a prophecy over here, and then it is sealed. Then, the time of the end comes when it is opened, it is consumed (figuratively), and it is fulfilled and testified. Okay.

Now, let’s start talking about the covenants in more detail.

1. Main Content

What does the word “testament” mean? It means covenant.

How do we know this? It’s mentioned in Luke 22:20, depending on which version of the Bible you read. If you read the King James Version, it says “testament,” and if you read a more modern version like NIV, it says “covenant.” So they actually mean the same thing.

The Bible is split into two main parts: the Old Covenant, also known as the Old Testament, and the New Covenant, also known as the New Testament.

The old or original covenant was given to the physical Israelites, and the New Covenant was given to believers of Jesus.

Every covenant has five main parts:

1. The subjects, which are God and His chosen people.

2. The content, which often falls into two categories: law and prophecy.

2.1 Law refers to the aspects that need to be kept every day, such as treating others how you want to be treated, not coveting your neighbor’s wife, not stealing, and so on – things that are given to the people not to do.

2.2 Prophecy refers to the aspects that involve following specific instructions when certain events are fulfilled. For example, “When this takes place, do this. When that takes place, do that. And do not break my covenant. Especially keep it when these things are fulfilled.” This is the prophecy part, like in Deuteronomy 18, where it says, “I will send from among you a prophet, and you should listen to the words that I give him, or I’ll hold you to account.”

3. The time the covenant is made, such as the time of Moses and the Exodus for the Old Covenant, and the time of the first coming of Jesus for the New Covenant.

4. The time for which the covenant needs to be kept, either every day or at the proper time when specific things are fulfilled.

5. The consequences, which are either blessings for keeping the covenant or curses for not keeping it.

So, every covenant follows these five main categories: subjects, content (law and prophecy), time of establishment, time of adherence, and consequences (blessings or curses).

2. Core of Deuterinomy 28

We’re going to dive into a book, or rather a chapter, Deuteronomy 28. We’re really going to dissect that chapter, which is 68 verses long. Although we won’t read all 68 verses, we’ll understand the main points of the chapter and why it’s so important to comprehend how God considers and treats his covenants in the Bible. He considers them extremely important.

Deuteronomy 28:1-3

If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

What is being said here that’s so important?

Let’s look at this chapter in more detail. How did the chapter start? What did it talk about?

The first word was “If.” How important is “if”?

“If” sets up a conditional statement, which means that there are two possibilities for this covenant.

Keep or not keep. So what about a person who keeps?

“Follow my commands I give you today. The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All of these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”

“You will be blessed in the city.” And continuing until verse 6, “The fruit of your womb will be blessed, the crops of your field and land, and the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks, your basket and your needing straw will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.”

God really desires to bless his people, but first, they must obey that covenant. And there’s something wonderful about those who keep the covenant because God promises that something else will happen for them.

Deuteronomy 28:7

The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

This verse suggests that if you obey, you will have victory. Your enemies will be defeated, and they will flee in seven ways.

It is crucial to keep this in mind, especially for the time of the second coming.

Those who obey will have victory, and their enemies will flee from them in seven ways. Wonderful.

Now, upon skimming through this chapter, we observe that verses related to blessings continue until verse 14. However, the chapter consists of 68 verses in total.

This implies that from verse 15 to verse 68, the text outlines curses. This is a significant portion dedicated to curses for breaking the covenant.

The message is clear: God does not play games when it comes to His covenant. From verses 15 to 68, the chapter focuses on curses for violating the covenant.

Deuteronomy 28:15-16

15 However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.

So God is very serious about keeping his covenant. He represents that if someone disobeys, they will be cursed. And God keeps his promises, right?

What about verse 25? What’s the result for those who disobey in battle?

“You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven.”

So they will be defeated, and they themselves will flee in seven ways. This is very important.

Keep the covenant, and your enemies will be defeated, and they will flee in seven ways. Break the covenant, and you will be the one who flees in seven ways. This is very important.

I will mention this many times. We’ll see this again. So, if you keep the covenant, your enemies will flee in seven ways. And if you don’t keep the covenant, you will be the one that flees in seven ways. Let’s understand now a little bit more about how important it is to God to keep the covenants.

3. Covenant between God and the Chosen People

Let’s revisit when the first covenant was established, what happened when they broke it, and why it’s important for us to keep the new covenant that God is establishing. There’s a passage we often discuss that talks about the establishment of the first covenant.

What is that passage? It discusses the establishment of the first covenant.

Exodus 19:5-6. Ah, how did you know? Obviously, I’m kidding. We go over this passage frequently.

So hopefully, that passage came to everyone’s mind. If it didn’t, let’s review it further. We need to review more if it did not immediately come to mind.

ONE – The First Covenant (Old Testament)

Ex 19:5-6: God —> Moises —> Israelities

The first covenant, the covenant of the Old Testament, was given from God through Moses to the Israelites, as stated in Exodus 19:5-6. Moses was the mediator of that covenant, acting as the lawyer, guarantor, or notary. His job was to facilitate the giving of a covenant between God and His chosen people, the Israelites.

Covenants are between God and the chosen people. Only the chosen people receive covenants from God. The most important part of the covenant is found in the very next chapter, Exodus 20:3. Let’s all say it together: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Note the use of a small “g” for “gods.” This is rule number one, the first one, emphasizing the importance of God in the first covenant.

The people accepted that covenant, even having the blood of the lamb sprinkled on them as confirmation. God kept it very serious, as seen in Exodus 24. Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said. The next morning, he built an altar and set up 12 stone pillars representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Young Israelite men offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord.

Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said, we will obey.” Moses then took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all of these words.”

The people accepted God’s covenant because they felt it was important, and blood was used to confirm it, sprinkled on them.

Unfortunately, only a couple of chapters later in Exodus 32, the golden calf incident occurred. In 1 Kings 11, idol worship was done by the Israelites, with Solomon bringing false gods into Israel, breaking the covenant in the biggest way. This was when God decided that Israel would be judged for these actions.

Let’s read God’s heart about this.

Hosea 6:7

Like Adam, they have broken the covenant—

they were unfaithful to me there.

The chapter title “Israel Unrepentant” in chapter 6 is referring to the Israelites. In the previous verse 6, it states, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” This indicates that God’s desire was for His people to truly know Him and keep His covenant.

However, the Israelites did not know God and continued to offer traditional burnt offerings and sacrifices, thinking that this would make them righteous in God’s eyes. But God said, “No, keeping my covenant is what would have made you righteous.” Like Adam, they broke the covenant and were unfaithful to God.

So, God decided it was time to start something new. As discussed in previous lessons, God promised the creation of a new thing.

Quick Review

We discussed how covenant and testament mean the same thing. Testament is an old English word for covenant, which was used when the King James Version was translated. A covenant has five main sections: the subject (who it is between), content, the time it was made, the time it is kept, and consequences.

We see a breakdown of this in Deuteronomy 28. The first 14 verses are about blessings, but the remaining verses, from 15 to 6, are about curses for disobedience. God keeps His word. If something is recorded, it has to happen as recorded, because that’s God’s way. God keeps all of His promises, even the unpleasant ones.

The covenant between God and His chosen people, the first covenant, which we now call the Old Covenant or the Old Testament, was given in Exodus 19:5-6. This covenant is a sub-covenant to the original one that God made with Abraham. It’s important to understand this before we talk about the New Covenant.

TWO – The Second Covenant (New Testament)

We can explore this further in Galatians 3. Although we don’t have time to read Galatians 3 today, please make a note to read it for yourself, Galatians 3 and 4, to understand the relationship we’re going to briefly describe here. God came to Abraham, right?

In Genesis chapter 15, God said to Abraham, whose name was Abram at the time, “You will have a great many descendants.” So we have God, who came to Abraham and told him that he would have numerous descendants in the future.

The covenant God made with Abraham is everlasting, which means it’s still in effect today. This is because God is not the God of the dead but the God of the living, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as Jesus reiterated in Matthew 22. The covenant God then made with the first Israelites was a sub-covenant to this one.

Moses received the first covenant, and it was given to the Israelites, who were part of the descendants promised by God. They were physically part of the descendants.

However, when they broke the covenant, God said, “I’m going to do something new.” God promised a new thing, which we’ll talk about in just a moment. This time, new people would be allowed to be considered as part of Abraham’s children, Abraham’s descendants.

Now, it is believers of Jesus who, though they may not belong to the physical bloodline of Abraham, belong to his spiritual bloodline. This is what we’re going to discuss now.

The new thing started with Jesus, who established a new covenant with believers in him, and they became part of Abraham’s descendants, but spiritually.

Does this make sense, everyone? The covenant with the Israelites came to an end, but the covenant made to Abraham is everlasting. That’s the relationship I want us to understand clearly.

Okay, let’s talk about that now.

Jeremiah 31:22, 27, 31

22 How long will you wander,

O unfaithful daughter?

The Lord will create a new thing on earth—

a woman will surround a man.”

27 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals.

31 “The time is coming,” declares the Lord,

“when I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah.

Verse 22

The new thing that God promised in verse 22, as we discussed previously, is a figurative representation of a woman surrounding or returning to a man when she is pregnant. This represents her fully surrounding her baby. It is a prophecy about Jesus.

Verse 27 – Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus began the new thing with his ministry. His entire mission and coming can be summarized by these two main things:

ONE – The first, mentioned in verse 27, is the sowing of two seeds. Jesus sowed the good seed, which is God’s word, the seed of man. However, the enemy also came and sowed weeds, or lies, in the same field. This is the seed of animals or beasts.

TWO – The second thing promised was the seed of animals or beasts, sowed by the enemy.

We understand the symbolism of man and beasts from the parables.

If you haven’t received the parables worksheet we sent around, please request it from your evangelist. It covers almost all the parables we’ve discussed and is a helpful resource. Fill in the meanings and reference verses from your notes. This will ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the parables, and any missing ones can be discussed with your evangelist during your next one-on-one.

So, the two seeds represent truth and lies, understanding and lack of understanding, as promised in verse 27.

Verse 31 – Luke 22:14-20

In verse 31, God promises to establish a new covenant. Jesus fulfilled this during the Passover, after his birth, which marked the beginning of his first coming. It was at the time of Passover that he fully established the new covenant.

Luke 22:14-20

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Let’s understand what was happening here, towards the end of Jesus’ ministry. For three and a half years, Jesus had been sowing the good seed.

Sowing the good seed includes everything he was doing – healing people, feeding people, preaching, gathering his 12 disciples, testifying the good news. All of this was part of Jesus sowing the good seed to create his field, essentially laying the foundation for those who would believe and follow him.

But now, nearing the end of his physical life, he knew he had to complete the prophecy of Jeremiah 31 by establishing a new covenant. So he gathered his disciples and asked them to prepare the Passover, knowing it would be his last meal with them, though they didn’t realize it yet.

During the meal, Jesus took the bread and wine, telling them, “This bread represents my body, broken for you. This cup represents my blood.” They should have remembered when Jesus said in John 6, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood to have eternal life.” But they didn’t fully understand that he was going to die soon, like the very next day.

Now it was time to establish the covenant through the bread and wine. Jesus said something critically important in verses 16 and 18 that we often miss: “I will not eat of this again, and I will not drink of this again, until the kingdom of God comes.” He was telling them to do communion in remembrance of this promise – that he would come again and eat and drink with them when God’s kingdom arrives.

We forgot this promise and treated the ritual as if it held power, when the true power lies in the promise itself. What book details this promise most fully? The book of Revelation, which Jesus wanted to share with his disciples but they weren’t ready. “There’s much more I’d like to tell you, but you simply aren’t ready for what I have to say,” he told them honestly.

When were they finally ready? Unfortunately, only John remained by the time Jesus could reveal these words after his ascension, as the others had been martyred. But John, the last living representative, received the book of Revelation containing what Jesus wanted to say in detail at the Passover but couldn’t.

For us existing when Revelation’s prophecies unfold, we must fully understand these words, for what does Jesus ultimately want? To “eat and drink” – to have his words, his spiritual flesh and blood, truly understood and fulfilled when he returns, just as Moses’s temple items foreshadowed Jesus himself. The communion ritual was a symbolic remembrance until the promised reality arrives when all can spiritually consume Jesus’s teachings in their fullness.

Jesus wants us to understand all that was spoken, which is possible only when it is fulfilled through his second coming. Then we can truly “eat and drink” with him again as he intended.

4. Consequences of Covenant

Let’s discuss the implications for both groups at the time of the second coming. It’s crucial to truly comprehend who upholds it and who violates it during the second coming.

There is a passage from the book of Matthew that we will read, as it strongly emphasizes the significance of this matter.

ONE – Who keeps and does not keep.

Matthew 8:11-12

11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

For context, Matthew 8 is when Jesus encountered the Roman centurion, whose faith level was greater than that of the Israelites.

Jesus said, “Oh, you don’t have to come to see my son. All you have to do is speak, and it will be done.” And Jesus said, “What? I have not seen anyone in Israel with this level of faith.”

And then Jesus gave this prophecy. Remember, there are two groups: those with real deep faith and those without it. So Jesus talks about these two groups of people.

Verse 11 – East and West —> Take their Seats

This is a prophecy that he says here. In verse 11, he says, “There will be those who come from where? East and the west.” This should actually tickle your ears. Your Bible spidey senses should be going off, hopefully.

If not, if we turn to Matthew 24:30-31, it says, “At the time the sign of the son of man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with great power and glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other, gathering them from the east to the west.”

If you look at verse 27, it also says, “For as the lightning comes from the east and is visible in the west, so will be the coming of the son of man,” meaning that people will be gathered, not just from one place, but from all places because God’s goal is for everyone to be part of his kingdom. So from the east and the west, they will come and take their seats.

But there’s a second group of people. This is verse 11.

Verse 12 – Subject of the kingdom —> Thrown Out

Verse 12 talks about those who are supposed to stay but do not get a chance to stay.

Why? What happens to them? They are called the subjects of the kingdom.

What happens to the subjects of the kingdom? They’re thrown out, as mentioned at the end of verse 12. Oh, back at Matthew 8, everybody.

They are thrown out. Remember, their title is subjects of the kingdom, which means they were once in the kingdom or considered part of the kingdom, but now they’re thrown out. You can understand this with the context of the time these words were spoken.

Jesus was talking to a Roman centurion who was not a Jewish person. He was a Gentile, but his faith was greater than the people who were supposed to have the greatest level of faith. And the Israelites, like it says, “The kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and be given to those who will bear its fruit.”

But this is a prophecy, which means it has a reality at the time of the second coming.

We’ll see one more prophecy about who are the ones that are supposed to keep the covenant and what it means for them to keep it, and then those who do not at the time of the second coming.

Hebrews 8:10-12

10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel

after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,

or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

12 For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

The new covenant, God’s law, God intends to place it in two places. What are those two places?

On your mind and on your hearts.

Why on the mind?

To fully understand. And the heart? To fully believe and have a humble heart.

God intends to put it in our minds and hearts so that we can understand and believe, and understanding and belief lead to faith.

Certainly. Belief and faith are similar. It leads to action.

The proper actions.

Actions like keeping.

And if you have an eagle eye, hopefully everyone is developing an eagle eye, there should be a footnote at the end of verse 12, isn’t there? What does that footnote lead to?

Ah, is that an accident? Hebrews 8:10-12 is a direct quote from Jeremiah 31:31-34, word for word.

But Jeremiah is in the Old Testament, and it’s being talked about in the book of Hebrews in the future tense, which means it’s really a covenant for the time of the second coming.

This is when God truly intends for this to be fully kept, just as Jesus said in Luke 22. So, what does it mean to keep the new covenant?

Keeping the new covenant means engraving the word, especially revelation, in the heart, aka being sealed. Engraving revelation, not just the words of the verses, although that’s important, but understanding who, what, when, where, why, and how of fulfillment. Having a sufficient amount of oil, like the wise and foolish virgins.

The new covenant is revelation, and if one does not understand revelation, it’s really not possible to fully keep the new covenant. So first, understand and master revelation, then keep it. So, how does this play out at the time of the second coming?

We’ll look at two more passages, and then we will close, and we’ll look at these at a high level because we’ll dive into these in much more detail in the future. Is everybody up to date? Everybody caught up?

Okay, so two quick chapters, and talk about 2 different people at the time of the second coming.

Revelation 6 and Revelation 7. Now, there’s something I want us to understand about Revelation 6 that will really help us put things together.

In Revelation 6:

We see Jesus beginning to open the seven seals. He opens 6 of them in this chapter, and each time he opens a seal, events take place. A living creature says, “Come,” and a rider on a particular colored horse appears, and judgment occurs.

This happens four times, and then on the fifth occasion, we witness the souls of the martyrs, or those who were beheaded, crying out to God, “How much longer must we watch our brothers be slain before you bring us justice?” God responds, “Wait a little while longer.” He gives them white robes, which represent righteous acts.

Then, the 6th seal is opened, and we see people running into the rocks and mountains, and the sun, moon, and stars go dark and fall. This should remind us of what was prophesied to happen in Matthew 24 by Jesus. The sun, moon, and stars go dark and fall, and we know that the sun, moon, and stars figuratively represent chosen people of a particular era, specifically the chosen people of spiritual Israel, the very ones referred to as the “New Covenant.”

That’s what Revelation 6 is discussing. So, they go dark and fall, and these people are represented by those introduced in Revelation 1 to 3. They were called the seven stars and also the seven golden lampstands.

These are seven individuals appointed by Jesus, and they have a role to play at the time of the second coming. However, in Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus is writing them letters, asking them to repent, and he’s telling them about the things they are doing well and the things they are not doing well. “I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, and that you hate the teachings of the Nicolaitans, but I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love. Repent and do the things you did at first.” This is quoting Revelation chapter 2.

Unfortunately, there are no words in Revelation that indicate they repented. Because we know that in the beginning of Revelation chapter 6, they begin to be judged, and by the end of Revelation 6, they are finished.

And they are fully joining with the rocks and the caves, which are not good places, spiritually speaking. Actually, there are no good caves, spiritually, because a cave is a place with no light that’s underground. So spiritually, a cave is not good.

So that pretty much ends spiritual Israel, because they were the representatives. They were the lamps that shined a little light in darkness, and they failed. When they failed, in Revelation 8 and 9, the trumpets begin to sound, and they are devastated.

Then in Revelation 13, a beast with seven heads and ten horns invades, and they are done, wrecked, destroyed. But in the midst of that, we have Revelation 7, which is the complete opposite of Revelation 6.

In Revelation 7

It seems like Revelation takes a break, an interlude of sorts. It’s different from chapters 6 and 8, which come before and after it. We’ll discuss the reason for this soon.

In Revelation 7, we are introduced to the four living creatures, angels holding back the winds momentarily to allow something else to take place. What needs to happen in Revelation 7?

There must be a harvest and a sealing of people, and from these, 144,000 will be completely sealed, comprising 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes. After this, a great multitude in white will also gather.

When one kingdom ends, a new kingdom emerges. This is why Revelation 6 and 7 are placed together, to make this comparison clear. In Revelation 7, there is the harvesting and sealing of a new people, and we can refer to them in various ways based on the parables we’ve learned.

They are the new heaven and new earth, the new kingdom and new people, the new spiritual Israel, the new set of 12 tribes open to anyone through belief, not just by birth. The great multitude in white will also gather at this location after being harvested and sealed.

These people will keep the covenant that the previous people could not keep.

Remember, I mentioned repeatedly that breaking the covenant would lead to fleeing in seven ways. How many stars and lampstands are there? It’s no accident in the Bible.

When they are defeated by the beast, they flee in seven ways. Defeated, really sad. But these people also have to fight, and the beast has seven heads. How many ways does the beast flee when defeated? Seven.

There are no accidents in the Bible. This is just a teaser, an introduction. We’re out of time, but we’ll dive into this again in much more detail, especially when we get to Revelation. It’s going to be awesome. You all look excited.

We’ll really delve into these details, and things will start to come together. But you must review. If you forget what we’ve discussed, it will be challenging to follow along as we have a lot of content to cover quickly. So, please review. It’s very important.

Memorization

Hebrews 8:10-12

10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel

after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,

or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

12 For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

Review with the Evangelist and Watch a Video

Review

[Evangelist]

Today, we gain a deeper understanding of the importance of keeping the covenant. Hopefully, we all wondered, “What is this covenant? I really want to know so I can start keeping it.” Our hope from today’s lesson was to be those who keep the covenant and receive the promised blessing. We cannot expect to receive the blessing of a covenant that we are not keeping. That would not be fair, right?

Even in this world, when we make a contract, like a job contract, if the other party breaks it, they cannot expect us to uphold our end, such as continuing to work for them or pay them, while they violate the agreement. It simply does not work that way, even by our own understanding of how the world operates. So let us not have an attitude towards God where we think we can act or do whatever we want, regardless of what God tells us through the word. Let us also correct the attitude of our hearts.

Today, we learned how important covenants are to God. The way God’s people differ from those of the world is that God’s people always have a covenant. In that covenant, God tells them about the law of heaven they must keep, moral teachings, and also prophecies or future things that God will do, which the people must know and follow when they are fulfilled. God’s covenant contains moral teachings and prophecies.

The whole Bible is about covenants, the two main ones being the Old Testament or the Old Covenant, and the New Testament, the New Covenant. The entire Bible is divided into these two covenants, highlighting their importance for God’s chosen people.

Those who keep the covenant receive everything, while those who do not keep the covenant lose everything. Deuteronomy chapter 28 tells us the blessings and curses of keeping and not keeping the covenant.

If you read Deuteronomy 28, there are more curses than blessings. Not keeping the covenant means leaving God and not belonging to Him, which is definitely not what we want, especially for those of us here.

In the Old Testament, people were unable to keep the covenant with God. So God had to create something new, as stated in Jeremiah 31, where God prophesies, “I’m going to make something new.” This is where Jesus was prophesied. It’s the creation of a new thing and a new covenant.

God says, “These people will be recreated by my spiritual son through the word that I’m going to show them. He will come and sow the seed. But at the time of the second coming, he will harvest the seed.”

Simply believing that Jesus is the son of God is not enough. We must also believe in the promise of him harvesting at the time of the second coming. As believers living at the time of the second coming, our hope should be, “Jesus, please harvest me. That means I am born of your seed. Please harvest me. Please teach me how to be sealed, how to dwell on Mount Zion, which you’re establishing in the time of Revelation.”

Jesus is establishing and recreating people on Mount Zion so he can dwell with them forever. These are the people he is harvesting from the seed he has sown. This should be us. If we are true believers of Jesus, we should all be there.

How can we know this? When the time of fulfillment comes, when Revelation is being fulfilled, God will establish Mount Zion for us to be on. He will establish a process for us to be sealed. He will teach us how to ensure we never run out of oil and keep our clothes white, so we can keep the covenant at the time of the second coming when Revelation is fulfilled. If we are learning this today, it means things are being fulfilled. Glory to God, who is teaching us and preparing us to dwell with Him.

I hope I explained today the importance of us really knowing Revelation. I know we might grow tired, especially since we are halfway through the class. But let us not forget our first love. Let us truly see why we are fighting – so we know the covenant, keep it, and dwell with God forever.

We have an activity for you about nature, and if you’d like, we can show you a three-minute video.

Video

[Narrator]

This is a story of an eagle. An eagle has the longest lifespan of its species. It can live up to 70 years.

But to reach this age, however, the eagle must make some tough decisions. In its 40th year, its long, flexible talons can no longer grab prey, which serve as food. Its long, sharp beak begins to bend.

Its old, aged, and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, stick to their chest and make it difficult to fly. Then the eagle is left with only two options. Die or go through the painful process of change.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountaintop and sit on its nest. There, it knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out. Then the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow before it plucks out the talons.

When the new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its thick, heavy feathers. And after this, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for another 30 years. Why is the change needed to survive and live?

[End]

[Evangelist]

Ephesians 4:22-23

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

We watched a video today about an eagle. For the eagle to survive, it has to shed its old talons, beak, and feathers that have grown old and sticky. Its beak curves, making it unable to tear into the food it needs to eat. Its talons no longer work as flexibly as before.

I thought it was a really beautiful video to share with us. We can learn from God’s creation, which He created with perfect wisdom. We are also made according to God’s perfect wisdom, but we sometimes get lost in this world because we are up against Satan, a fallen angel.

We have learned so many new things that we did not know before in these four months of class. When we find something new that we have learned, we need to put it into practice and change. We need to shed our old ways of thinking, living, or habits, and adopt new ways that match the covenant God wants from us. Hebrews 8:10-12 says we have to put the word of God on our hearts.

Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it because the time is near.” Let’s make more effort to review and fight for home blessing time to turn in. Let’s make more effort as well.

Could someone please close us off with the Lord’s Prayer, which is our promise too? Did you know that the Lord’s Prayer is a prophecy? Every time we pray it, we pray for God’s kingdom to come down and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Back to SCJ Bible Study - Intermediate Level | Bible Logic

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Analyzing Shincheonji Lesson 72: “Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It”

A Critical Examination Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

Introduction: The Covenant Trap

Lesson 72 represents a critical turning point in Shincheonji’s curriculum. Having established their interpretive framework and claimed exclusive access to biblical truth, the instructor now applies covenant theology to create a system of rewards and punishments that will control students’ behavior.

The instructor is essentially saying: “God takes covenants seriously. There are blessings for keeping them and curses for breaking them. You are now part of a covenant with God through SCJ. If you leave or disobey, you will be cursed.” By the end of this lesson, students will have learned that:

Covenants have severe consequences (blessings or curses)
They are now part of a “new covenant” through SCJ
Leaving SCJ or questioning teachings = breaking covenant = curses
Staying in SCJ and obeying = keeping covenant = blessings

As Chapter 8 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” warns, this is “The Shifting Standards of Salvation”—gradually moving from grace-based salvation to performance-based salvation, creating fear and control.

The instructor’s stated goal is to help students “be those who keep our covenant and receive the promised blessings.” But what’s actually happening is the construction of a theological control system that:

Makes students fear leaving (curses await)
Makes students obey without question (to receive blessings)
Makes SCJ membership equivalent to covenant faithfulness
Makes questioning SCJ equivalent to rebelling against God

This is sophisticated spiritual manipulation through fear. Let’s examine it carefully.

For additional refutation resources, check CloserLookInitiative.com’s SCJ Examination section, which provides detailed analysis of SCJ’s covenant theology.

Part 1: The Setup – “Sealed and Opened Word” Review

The Review Section

What the Lesson Says:

The instructor reviews the previous lesson on the “sealed book”:

“The sealed book represents actual reality… the state before actual reality”
“Actual reality ends arguments and ambiguity”
“When revelation comes, when actual reality appears, then fulfillment can be known”
Isaiah 29:9-13 → Ezekiel 2-3 → Matthew 15:24 (Old Testament pattern)
Revelation 5:1,7 → Revelation 6, 8:1, 10:1-2, 10:8-11 (New Testament pattern)
“There is a prophecy… then it is sealed. Then, the time of the end comes when it is opened, it is consumed (figuratively), and it is fulfilled and testified”

Analysis:

This review serves two purposes:

Reinforces the previous lesson’s framework (the “sealed book” doctrine)
Sets up the covenant teaching by establishing that students are now part of the “fulfillment”

The instructor is building a logical chain:

The sealed book has been opened (through SCJ)
You are learning the opened word (through SCJ’s classes)
You are now part of the fulfillment (through SCJ’s covenant)
Therefore, you must keep this covenant or face consequences

Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Importance of Independent Research”) warns about this: Each lesson builds on the previous one, creating a framework that becomes harder to question as you progress.

The “Eating the Scroll” Interpretation

What the Lesson Says:

The instructor explains:

Ezekiel 2-3: Ezekiel eats the scroll, but “it was Jesus in reality”
“When Ezekiel grabbed the scroll, it was Jesus in reality. When Ezekiel ate the scroll, it was Jesus in reality”
Revelation 10:8-11: John eats the scroll, but this represents someone at the second coming
“John has to eat what he saw. After that, he is told to testify to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings”

Analysis:

This sets up the claim that:

At the first coming, Jesus “ate the scroll” (understood prophecy)
At the second coming, someone else (Lee Man-hee) “ate the scroll”
This person then testifies (teaches) to others
Students are now learning from this testimony

Chapter 7 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Hidden Savior: New John”) thoroughly refutes this interpretation.

The Biblical Reality:

Ezekiel 2:8-3:3 describes Ezekiel’s prophetic commission:

Ezekiel 2:8-3:3: “But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you… So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.'”

This is about Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry to Israel in his time (6th century BC):

Ezekiel was called to prophesy to the exiles in Babylon
“Eating the scroll” symbolized internalizing God’s message
He was to speak God’s words to his contemporaries

This is not about Jesus 600 years later. It’s about Ezekiel’s actual ministry.

Revelation 10:8-11 describes John’s prophetic commission:

Revelation 10:8-11: “Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: ‘Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.’ So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, ‘Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’ I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.'”

This is about John’s commission to write Revelation:

John was to write down what he saw (Revelation 1:11, 19)
“Eating the scroll” symbolized receiving and internalizing the revelation
He was to prophesy (write) about many peoples and nations

This is not about Lee Man-hee 2,000 years later. It’s about John’s actual ministry.

The Pattern is Not “Prophecy → Jesus → Lee Man-hee”:

The pattern is:

Old Testament prophets received God’s word and spoke to their contemporaries
Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and established the New Covenant
New Testament apostles (including John) received revelation and wrote Scripture
The church proclaims this completed revelation to all nations

There’s no biblical basis for another “scroll eater” after John.

For detailed refutation of the “eating the scroll” doctrine, check CloserLookInitiative.com’s SCJ Examination section.

Part 2: The Covenant Teaching

The Five Parts of a Covenant

What the Lesson Says:

The instructor outlines five parts of every covenant:

The subjects: God and His chosen people
The content: Law (daily obedience) and Prophecy (specific instructions when fulfilled)
The time the covenant is made: (e.g., Moses/Exodus, Jesus/First Coming)
The time for which the covenant needs to be kept: Every day or “at the proper time when specific things are fulfilled”
The consequences: Blessings for keeping, curses for breaking

What’s Biblical:

This framework is partially accurate. Biblical covenants do have:

Parties (God and His people)
Terms (what God promises, what people are to do)
Timing (when established, duration)
Consequences (blessings and/or curses)

What’s Problematic:

1. The “Prophecy” Category is Manipulative:

The instructor defines prophecy as:

“Following specific instructions when certain events are fulfilled. For example, ‘When this takes place, do this. When that takes place, do that. And do not break my covenant. Especially keep it when these things are fulfilled.'”

Analysis:

This sets up the claim that:

Revelation’s prophecies are being fulfilled now (through SCJ)
Students must follow “specific instructions” (SCJ’s teachings)
Not following = breaking covenant = curses

But biblically:

The New Covenant’s terms are faith in Christ (John 3:16)
The New Covenant’s “law” is written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:33)
The New Covenant’s requirement is believing the gospel (Romans 10:9)

Not organizational membership or obedience to human leaders.

2. The Timing Category is a Setup:

The instructor mentions:

“The time the covenant is made” (Moses, Jesus)
“The time for which the covenant needs to be kept” (daily or “when specific things are fulfilled”)

Analysis:

This implies:

A new covenant is being made now (through SCJ)
Students must keep it “when specific things are fulfilled” (i.e., now, during Revelation’s fulfillment)

But biblically:

The New Covenant was made at Jesus’ first coming (Luke 22:20)
It is eternal (Hebrews 13:20)
There’s no need for another covenant

Chapter 24-25 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Scarlet Thread Parts 1 & 2”) demonstrates that all biblical covenants find their fulfillment in Christ—there’s no need for another covenant through SCJ.

The Deuteronomy 28 Teaching

What the Lesson Says:

The instructor focuses on Deuteronomy 28:

Deuteronomy 28:1-3, 7: “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country… The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.”

Deuteronomy 28:15-16, 25: “However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country… You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven.”

The instructor emphasizes:

“If” sets up a conditional statement
Blessings for obedience (verses 1-14)
Curses for disobedience (verses 15-68)
“God is very serious about keeping his covenant”
“Keep the covenant, and your enemies will flee in seven ways. Break the covenant, and you will be the one who flees in seven ways”

What’s Biblical:

Deuteronomy 28 is real and was part of the Mosaic Covenant. God did promise:

Blessings for obedience to the Mosaic Law
Curses for disobedience to the Mosaic Law

This was a conditional covenant with national Israel under the Mosaic Law.

What’s Problematic:

1. This Was the OLD Covenant, Not the NEW Covenant:

Deuteronomy 28 was part of the Mosaic Covenant, which:

Was given to national Israel at Mount Sinai
Was conditional (blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience)
Was temporary (until Christ came)

Hebrews 8:6-7, 13: “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another… By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”

The Mosaic Covenant (including Deuteronomy 28) is obsolete. It was fulfilled and superseded by the New Covenant in Christ.

2. The New Covenant is DIFFERENT from the Old Covenant:

The Old Covenant (Mosaic):

Conditional: Blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience
External: Written on stone tablets
National: Given to Israel as a nation
Temporary: Until Christ came

The New Covenant (in Christ):

Unconditional: Based on Christ’s faithfulness, not ours
Internal: Written on hearts by the Holy Spirit
Universal: For all who believe (Jew and Gentile)
Eternal: Forever

Jeremiah 31:31-34: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Key differences:

“It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors” (different nature)
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (internal, not external)
“I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (grace, not conditional obedience)

Hebrews 10:16-18: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds… And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.”

The New Covenant is based on Christ’s sacrifice, not our performance.

3. Believers Are Not Under the Mosaic Law:

Romans 6:14: “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Galatians 3:23-25: “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

Galatians 5:18: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

We are not under the Mosaic Covenant (including Deuteronomy 28). We are under the New Covenant in Christ.

Chapter 8 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” documents how SCJ shifts from grace to law, creating fear-based obedience.

The “Enemies Will Flee in Seven Ways” Emphasis

What the Lesson Says:

The instructor repeatedly emphasizes:

“Keep the covenant, and your enemies will flee in seven ways”
“Break the covenant, and you will be the one who flees in seven ways”
“This is very important. I will mention this many times. We’ll see this again”

Analysis:

This is setting up a future claim. The instructor will later argue:

Revelation describes enemies fleeing “in seven ways” (or some similar imagery)
This proves Deuteronomy 28 is being fulfilled through SCJ
Those who keep SCJ’s covenant will have victory
Those who leave SCJ will be defeated

The Biblical Reality:

1. Deuteronomy 28:7, 25 Was About National Israel:

Deuteronomy 28:7: “The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.”

Context: This was a promise to national Israel under the Mosaic Covenant:

If they obeyed God’s law, their military enemies (Canaanites, Philistines, etc.) would be defeated
If they disobeyed, they would be defeated by their enemies

This was fulfilled historically:

When Israel obeyed, they had military victories (Joshua, Judges, David)
When Israel disobeyed, they were defeated (Assyrian invasion, Babylonian exile)

This is not a pattern for the church or SCJ.

2. The Church’s “Enemies” Are Spiritual, Not Physical:

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.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-4: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

The church’s enemies are:

Sin (Romans 6:12-14)
Satan (1 Peter 5:8)
False teaching (2 Peter 2:1)
Spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12)

Not physical nations or organizations.

3. Victory is Already Ours in Christ:

1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

1 John 5:4: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

Victory is through Christ, not through keeping SCJ’s covenant.

For more on SCJ’s misuse of Old Testament promises, check CloserLookInitiative.com’s SCJ Examination section.

Part 3: The Covenant Manipulation

The Exodus 19:5-6 Application

What the Lesson Says:

Exodus 19:5-6: “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

The instructor explains:

This was the first covenant (Old Testament)
Given from God through Moses to the Israelites
“Covenants are between God and the chosen people. Only the chosen people receive covenants from God”
The most important part: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3)

What’s Biblical:

Exodus 19:5-6 was indeed part of the Mosaic Covenant with Israel.

What’s Manipulative:

1. The “Only the Chosen People Receive Covenants” Claim:

The instructor states:

“Covenants are between God and the chosen people. Only the chosen people receive covenants from God.”

Analysis:

This sets up the claim that:

SCJ members are “the chosen people”
Therefore, SCJ members have a covenant with God
Non-members don’t have this covenant

But biblically:

All believers are God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9)
All believers are part of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:10)
All believers are a “kingdom of priests” (Revelation 1:6)

1 Peter 2:9-10: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

This is addressed to all believers, not just one organization.

2. The “No Other Gods” Manipulation:

The instructor emphasizes:

“The most important part of the covenant is found in the very next chapter, Exodus 20:3. Let’s all say it together: ‘You shall have no other gods before me.'”

Analysis:

This will be used to argue:

If you leave SCJ, you’re putting “other gods” before God
If you listen to other pastors, you’re putting “other gods” before God
If you question SCJ’s teachings, you’re putting “other gods” before God

But biblically:

“Other gods” refers to idols (false deities like Baal, Asherah)
Not to other Christian churches or biblical scholarship

The irony: By making SCJ’s teachings and Lee Man-hee’s authority ultimate, SCJ is creating an idol.

Chapter 21 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Heart of God”) addresses this: God desires relationship with Him through Christ, not organizational membership.

The Blood Covenant Emphasis

What the Lesson Says:

The instructor describes Exodus 24:3-8:

Moses wrote down God’s words
Built an altar with 12 stone pillars
Young men offered sacrifices
Moses took blood and sprinkled it on the altar
Read the Book of the Covenant to the people
People said, “We will do everything the Lord has said, we will obey”
Moses sprinkled blood on the people
Said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you”

The instructor emphasizes:

“The people accepted God’s covenant because they felt it was important”
“Blood was used to confirm it”
This shows how serious covenants are

What’s Biblical:

Exodus 24:3-8 does describe the ratification of the Mosaic Covenant with blood.

What’s Missing:

1. This Blood Covenant Pointed to Christ:

Hebrews 9:18-22: “This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.’ In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

But this was a shadow pointing to Christ:

Hebrews 9:11-14: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

The Old Covenant blood sacrifices were temporary, pointing to Christ’s final sacrifice.

2. The New Covenant is Ratified by Christ’s Blood:

Luke 22:20: “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'”

Hebrews 10:19-20: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…”

The New Covenant is ratified by Christ’s blood, not by organizational membership or human rituals.

3. We Enter the New Covenant by Faith, Not Performance:

Romans 3:25: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.”

Ephesians 2:13: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

We are brought into the New Covenant by faith in Christ’s blood, not by keeping SCJ’s rules.

Chapter 24 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Scarlet Thread Part 1”) traces how all biblical covenants point to and are fulfilled in Christ.

Part 4: Psychological Manipulation Techniques

Technique #1: Fear-Based Motivation

Examples:

Deuteronomy 28 has 14 verses of blessings, 54 verses of curses
“God is very serious about keeping his covenant”
“God keeps his promises even about the things that aren’t so pleasant”
“Break the covenant, and you will be the one who flees in seven ways”
“We really, really have to take this seriously… to protect ourselves”

Analysis:

This creates intense fear of:

Breaking covenant (curses will come)
Leaving SCJ (you’ll be defeated)
Questioning teachings (you’re rebelling against God)

Chapter 8 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” documents this pattern: SCJ uses fear to control behavior.

Biblical Response:

1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:15: “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.'”

God doesn’t motivate through fear of curses. He motivates through love and grace.

Technique #2: Conflating Old and New Covenants

The Pattern:

Teach about the Old Covenant (Mosaic, conditional, with curses)
Emphasize how serious God is about covenants
Imply the same dynamics apply to the “new covenant” (SCJ)
Create fear of breaking this “covenant” (leaving SCJ)

Analysis:

This confuses students about the nature of the New Covenant:

They think it’s conditional like the Old Covenant
They fear curses if they disobey
They believe organizational membership = covenant faithfulness

But the New Covenant is fundamentally different (grace-based, eternal, internal).

Chapter 24-25 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” clarifies the differences between Old and New Covenants.

Technique #3: Creating a Closed System

The Logic:

“Only the chosen people receive covenants”
“You are learning the opened word” (implying you’re chosen)
“You must keep this covenant” (stay in SCJ, obey teachings)
“Breaking covenant brings curses” (leaving brings judgment)

Analysis:

This creates a closed system where:

Joining SCJ = entering covenant
Staying in SCJ = keeping covenant
Leaving SCJ = breaking covenant = curses

There’s no legitimate way out.

Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” warns about closed systems that prevent critical evaluation.

Technique #4: Repetition for Internalization

Examples:

“This is very important. I will mention this many times”
“Keep the covenant, and your enemies will flee in seven ways. Break the covenant, and you will be the one who flees in seven ways. This is very important”
“Let’s all say it together: ‘You shall have no other gods before me'”

Analysis:

Repetition is a classic indoctrination technique:

Makes ideas seem more true
Bypasses critical thinking
Creates emotional associations
Makes ideas harder to question

Chapter 4 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” explains how repetition shapes interpretive frameworks.

Technique #5: Selective Use of Scripture

What’s Emphasized:

Deuteronomy 28 (conditional covenant, curses)
Exodus 19:5-6 (“chosen people”)
Exodus 20:3 (“no other gods”)
Exodus 24 (blood covenant)

What’s Omitted:

The New Covenant is different from the Old (Hebrews 8:6-13)
Believers are not under the Mosaic Law (Romans 6:14, Galatians 3:23-25)
The New Covenant is eternal (Hebrews 13:20)
Salvation is by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
There is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1)

Analysis:

By selectively emphasizing certain passages while omitting others, SCJ creates a distorted picture that supports their control system.

Chapter 6 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” warns about selective narratives.

For more on SCJ’s manipulation tactics, check CloserLookInitiative.com’s SCJ Examination section.

Part 5: What the Lesson Gets Right (And How to Respond)

Legitimate Biblical Truths:

The lesson does reference some genuine biblical truths:

God does make covenants ✓
The Mosaic Covenant had blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 28) ✓
God takes covenants seriously ✓
The Old Covenant was ratified with blood (Exodus 24) ✓
Obedience matters to God ✓

The Proper Response:

Use these same biblical truths to evaluate SCJ:

1. God makes covenants—and the New Covenant is in Christ:

Hebrews 8:6: “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.”

We enter the New Covenant through faith in Christ, not through SCJ membership.

2. The Mosaic Covenant had blessings and curses—but we’re not under it:

Romans 6:14: “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Galatians 3:13: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. We’re under grace, not law.

3. God takes covenants seriously—and He keeps the New Covenant:

Hebrews 13:20-21: “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

God keeps the New Covenant through Christ. It’s based on His faithfulness, not ours.

4. The Old Covenant was ratified with blood—the New Covenant is ratified with Christ’s blood:

Hebrews 9:14: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

Christ’s blood is sufficient. We don’t need organizational rituals.

5. Obedience matters—but it flows from love, not fear:

John 14:15: “If you love me, keep my commands.”

1 John 5:3: “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”

Obedience flows from love and gratitude, not fear of curses.

Part 6: Red Flags in This Lesson

🚩 Red Flag #1: Fear-Based Motivation

What to Watch For:

Emphasis on curses (54 verses) over blessings (14 verses)
“God is very serious” (implying harsh judgment)
“You will flee in seven ways” (threat of defeat)
“We have to take this seriously to protect ourselves” (fear)

Why It Matters:

2 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

God doesn’t motivate through fear.

🚩 Red Flag #2: Conflating Old and New Covenants

What to Watch For:

Teaching about Deuteronomy 28 (Old Covenant) as if it applies to believers today
Ignoring the differences between Old and New Covenants
Applying conditional covenant dynamics to the grace-based New Covenant

Why It Matters:

Hebrews 8:13: “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete.”

The Old Covenant (including Deuteronomy 28) is obsolete.

🚩 Red Flag #3: Creating a Closed System

What to Watch For:

“Only the chosen people receive covenants” (implying SCJ members are chosen)
Joining SCJ = entering covenant
Leaving SCJ = breaking covenant = curses
No legitimate way to leave without consequences

Why It Matters:

Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Christ sets us free, not into a new bondage.

🚩 Red Flag #4: Organizational Membership = Covenant Faithfulness

What to Watch For:

Equating staying in SCJ with keeping God’s covenant
Equating leaving SCJ with breaking God’s covenant
Making organizational obedience equivalent to biblical faithfulness

Why It Matters:

Romans 10:9: “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.”

Covenant faithfulness is faith in Christ, not organizational membership.

🚩 Red Flag #5: Selective Scripture Use

What to Watch For:

Emphasizing Old Covenant passages (Deuteronomy 28)
Omitting New Covenant passages (Hebrews 8, Romans 6, Galatians 3)
Ignoring passages about grace, freedom, and assurance

Why It Matters:

2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching.”

All Scripture, not just the parts that support organizational control.

For more red flags, check CloserLookInitiative.com’s SCJ Examination section.

Part 7: Questions for Reflection

If you’re studying with Shincheonji or considering their teaching, ask yourself:

About Covenants:

Does the Bible teach that the Mosaic Covenant (Deuteronomy 28) applies to believers today?
What does Hebrews 8:6-13 say about the relationship between Old and New Covenants?
Is the New Covenant conditional (like the Old) or based on Christ’s faithfulness?

About Fear:

Am I motivated by love and grace, or by fear of curses?
Does Romans 8:1 say there is condemnation for believers, or no condemnation?
If “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18), why am I being motivated by fear?

About Organizational Claims:

Does the Bible teach that covenant faithfulness = organizational membership?
Can I be in the New Covenant through faith in Christ alone, or do I need SCJ?
If I leave SCJ, am I breaking covenant with God, or just leaving an organization?

About Testing:

Am I encouraged to test these covenant claims with outside sources?
Can I discuss concerns about fear-based teaching openly?
Am I being given time to reflect, or pressured by fear of curses?

Part 8: A Biblical Alternative

The New Covenant in Christ:

1. The New Covenant is Different from the Old:

Hebrews 8:6-7: “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.”

2. The New Covenant is Based on Grace:

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.”

3. The New Covenant is Internal:

Jeremiah 31:33: “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

4. The New Covenant is Eternal:

Hebrews 13:20: “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep…”

5. The New Covenant Brings Freedom, Not Fear:

Romans 8:15: “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.”

6. The New Covenant Brings Assurance:

Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

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.”

Part 9: For Those Who Are Concerned

If You’re Studying with SCJ:

Take Time:

Don’t let fear pressure you (“curses await if you break covenant”)
Don’t let guilt pressure you (“you’ve accepted the covenant”)
God is gracious (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Seek Multiple Perspectives:

Talk to trusted Christians outside SCJ
Ask pastors about Old vs. New Covenant
Read about covenant theology from multiple sources
Research independently

Test the Claims:

Does Deuteronomy 28 apply to believers today?
What does Hebrews 8 say about the Old Covenant?
Is the New Covenant conditional or based on grace?
Can I be in covenant with God through Christ alone?

Ask Questions:

Why am I being motivated by fear of curses?
If Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), why am I still under it?
Does leaving SCJ = breaking covenant with God?
Can I discuss these concerns openly without fear?

Resources:

Chapter 27 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“Your Investigation Begins”)
Chapter 28 (“Hope and Help”)
CloserLookInitiative.com (especially the SCJ Examination section)

If Someone You Love is Involved:

Stay Connected:

Don’t cut off relationship
Express love and concern
Ask questions about the covenant teaching

Educate Yourself:

Study Hebrews 8 (New Covenant vs. Old)
Understand grace vs. law
Learn about biblical covenant theology

Pray:

For wisdom in conversations
For the Holy Spirit to reveal truth
For protection from fear-based manipulation

Seek Support:

Connect with other families
Consider consulting with a pastor
Don’t handle this alone

Resources:

Chapter 28 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”
CloserLookInitiative.com (SCJ Examination section)
Local cult awareness resources

Conclusion: The Real Covenant

Lesson 72 teaches that keeping SCJ’s covenant brings blessings, while breaking it brings curses. But the Bible presents a different covenant:

The New Covenant in Christ:

Hebrews 8:10-12: “This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Key truths:

“I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts” (internal, not external rules)
“They will all know me” (direct relationship, not through an organization)
“I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (grace, not conditional obedience)

You Are Already in the New Covenant if You Believe in Christ:

Romans 10:9: “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.”

Ephesians 2:13: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

You don’t need:

SCJ membership to be in covenant with God
Fear of curses to motivate obedience
Organizational rules to keep the covenant
Human mediators besides Christ

You need Jesus:

John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”

Hebrews 7:25: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

True freedom is found in Christ alone.

For additional resources and detailed refutation of SCJ’s covenant theology, visit CloserLookInitiative.com’s SCJ Examination section.

May God grant you wisdom, discernment, and courage as you seek truth.

This analysis is provided in the spirit of Jude 22-23: “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

For more resources, see “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” (Chapters 1-30), CloserLookInitiative.com, and the SCJ Examination section.

Study Guide

Outline

Understanding Covenants and Their Significance in the Bible

Introduction

Briefly discusses the importance of the Word of God and the consequences of keeping or not keeping covenants.

Review: Sealed and Opened Word

Section One: Introduces the concept of the sealed book representing reality before its fulfillment and the importance of actual reality in ending ambiguity.
Section Two: Explains how revelation unveils actual reality, enabling understanding and fulfillment of prophecy, using Isaiah 7:14 and the birth of Jesus as an example.
Section Three: Examines Isaiah 29:9-13, Ezekiel 2-3, and Matthew 15:24 to illustrate the process of the word being opened and testified to in the Old Testament, focusing on the prophetic nature of Ezekiel’s role and Jesus’ mission to the lost sheep of Israel.
Section Four: Shifts to the New Testament, analyzing Revelation 5, 6, and Daniel 12:8-10 to demonstrate the process of the word being opened, consumed, and testified to in the end times, highlighting the importance of understanding revelation.

1. Main Content: Defining Covenants

Defines the term “testament” as synonymous with “covenant” and introduces the two main covenants in the Bible: the Old and New Covenants.
Outlines the five main parts of every covenant: subjects, content (law and prophecy), time of establishment, time of adherence, and consequences.

2. Core of Deuteronomy 28: Blessings and Curses

Analyzes Deuteronomy 28, emphasizing the conditional nature of the covenant based on obedience and the consequences of keeping or breaking it.
Highlights the blessings associated with obedience (verses 1-14) and the extensive curses associated with disobedience (verses 15-68).
Emphasizes the importance of remembering the consequences, especially in light of the second coming.

3. Covenant Between God and the Chosen People

Section One – The First Covenant (Old Testament):Examines Exodus 19:5-6, establishing the first covenant between God and the Israelites through Moses.
Highlights Exodus 20:3, the first commandment emphasizing God’s importance, and Exodus 24, detailing the acceptance and confirmation of the covenant with blood.
Discusses the breaking of the covenant through the golden calf incident (Exodus 32) and Solomon’s idol worship (1 Kings 11), leading to God’s judgment.
Section Two – The Second Covenant (New Testament):Introduces the everlasting covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 15) and its connection to the covenant with the Israelites.
Explains how believers in Jesus become part of Abraham’s spiritual lineage through the new covenant, fulfilling God’s promise of a new thing (Jeremiah 31).

4. Consequences of the Covenant at the Second Coming

Section One – Who Keeps and Who Doesn’t:Uses Matthew 8:11-12 to highlight the two groups: those who keep the covenant and partake in the kingdom of heaven, and those who break it and are thrown out.
Connects this prophecy to Matthew 24:30-31, emphasizing the gathering of the elect from all nations at the second coming.
Discusses the transfer of the kingdom from the unfaithful Israelites to those who bear fruit, highlighting the significance of faith.
Section Two – The New Covenant in the Heart:Analyzes Hebrews 8:10-12, emphasizing God’s intention to place His laws in the minds and hearts of believers, leading to understanding, belief, and action (keeping the covenant).
Connects this passage to Jeremiah 31:31-34, highlighting its future fulfillment at the second coming.
Defines keeping the new covenant as engraving revelation in the heart, requiring understanding and mastery of its details.

Conclusion: Understanding Revelation 6 and 7

Briefly introduces Revelation 6 and 7, highlighting the contrasting fates of those who break the covenant (represented by the fallen stars and lampstands in Revelation 6) and those who keep it (represented by the 144,000 sealed and the great multitude in Revelation 7).
Emphasizes the importance of studying Revelation to understand the covenant and prepare for the second coming.

Home Blessing and Summary

Reinforces the importance of keeping the covenant to receive God’s blessings.
Summarizes the key points about covenants, their components, the consequences of keeping or breaking them, and the transition from the Old to the New Covenant.
Calls for personal reflection and action, urging believers to put the Word of God into practice and shed old ways to align with God’s covenant.
Connects the lesson to the eagle analogy from the video, urging listeners to embrace change and renewal.

Review and Closing

Summarizes the importance of understanding and keeping the covenant, particularly in light of the second coming.
Emphasizes the significance of studying Revelation and preparing for the harvest.
Encourages continued learning and effort to receive God’s blessings.
Concludes with a reflection on the Lord’s Prayer as a prophecy for the coming of God’s kingdom.

A Study Guide

Covenant and Revelation: A Study Guide

Short-Answer Questions

Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

What are the five main parts of every covenant in the Bible?
How does Deuteronomy 28 illustrate the importance of keeping the covenant?
Explain the significance of blood in the establishment of both the Old and New Covenants.
Why did God decide to bring the Old Covenant to an end and establish a new one?
What are the two main things Jesus did to fulfill the prophecy of the new covenant in Jeremiah 31?
Explain the meaning of Jesus’s statement, “I will not eat of this again, and I will not drink of this again, until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:16,18).
According to Matthew 8:11-12, what will be the fate of those who do not keep the covenant at the time of the second coming?
Where does God intend to place His law under the new covenant, and what is the significance of these locations?
How do Revelation 6 and 7 contrast with each other, and what does this comparison reveal about the fate of those who do and do not keep the covenant?
What is the symbolic meaning of the eagle shedding its old features in the video analogy? How does this relate to our understanding of the covenant?

Answer Key

The five main parts of a covenant are: (1) the subjects (God and His chosen people), (2) the content (law and prophecy), (3) the time it was made, (4) the time it needs to be kept, and (5) the consequences (blessings or curses).
Deuteronomy 28 outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience to the covenant, emphasizing the importance of keeping it. The majority of the chapter focuses on curses, highlighting the severity of breaking the covenant.
Blood symbolizes the seriousness and binding nature of the covenant. In Exodus 24, Moses sprinkled blood on the Israelites to confirm the Old Covenant. Similarly, Jesus’s blood, represented by wine at the Last Supper and shed on the cross, confirms the New Covenant.
The Israelites repeatedly broke the Old Covenant through idol worship and disobedience. God, desiring a faithful relationship with His people, established a new covenant through Jesus, offering forgiveness and a renewed opportunity to follow His will.
Jesus fulfilled prophecy by (1) sowing the good seed, representing true believers who would accept his teachings and (2) establishing the new covenant through his sacrifice and the Last Supper, offering a new path to salvation.
This statement emphasizes the future fulfillment of the new covenant in the kingdom of God. It highlights the importance of communion as a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and a promise of his return, when believers will fully partake in the spiritual feast of his teachings.
Those who were considered “subjects of the kingdom” but did not keep the covenant will be cast out into darkness, symbolizing separation from God and his blessings. This highlights that simply being part of a chosen group does not guarantee salvation; one must actively keep the covenant through faith and obedience.
God intends to place His law “in their minds and write them on their hearts”. Placing it on the mind allows for understanding, while placing it on the heart fosters belief and obedience. This signifies a deeper internalization of God’s will, moving beyond mere external adherence to a heartfelt commitment.
Revelation 6 depicts the judgment and downfall of those who failed to keep the covenant, symbolized by the fallen stars and lampstands, while Revelation 7 shows the sealing and protection of the 144,000 and the great multitude who uphold the covenant. This contrast emphasizes the divergent destinies of those who choose obedience versus disobedience.
The eagle shedding its old features represents the need to let go of outdated beliefs and practices to embrace the new life offered through the covenant. This relates to our understanding of the covenant as a call to transformation, requiring a continual renewal of mind and spirit to align with God’s will.

Additional Questions

1. How many (primary) covenants are recorded in the Bible? And, what are they?
– Two covenants
The Old Covenant (OT) and the New Covenant (NT)

2. What is the result of keeping or breaking the covenant according to Deuteronomy 28?
– Keeping the covenant: Blessings (Dt 28:1-14)
– Not Keeping the covenant: curses (Dt 28:15-68)

3. What is the result of keeping or breaking the covenant according to Revelation?
– Keeping: harvested, sealed (144,000 = Great Multitude in White, Rev 7)
– Breaking: Judged (sun, moon, and stars darken and fall, Rev 6)

Glossary of Key Terms

Covenant: A binding agreement between God and His chosen people. It outlines the terms of their relationship, including laws, prophecies, and consequences for obedience or disobedience.
Testament: An older term for “covenant,” often used in reference to the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
Old Covenant: The covenant God made with the Israelites through Moses, as recorded in the Old Testament. It focused on physical lineage and adherence to specific laws and rituals.
New Covenant: The covenant established by Jesus through his sacrifice and the Last Supper, as described in the New Testament. It emphasizes spiritual rebirth, faith in Christ, and the indwelling of God’s law in the heart.
Prophecy: A divinely inspired message that foretells future events. It plays a crucial role in God’s plan and the fulfillment of His covenants.
Actual Reality: The manifestation or fulfillment of prophecy, revealing the true meaning and significance of God’s word. It removes ambiguity and confirms the reliability of His promises.
Sealed Word: A prophecy or revelation that is hidden or concealed until the appointed time for its understanding and fulfillment.
Testify: To proclaim or bear witness to the truth of God’s word and the fulfillment of prophecy.
Subjects of the Kingdom: Individuals who were once considered part of God’s kingdom but are ultimately rejected due to their failure to keep the covenant.
Harvest: The gathering of God’s chosen people at the time of the second coming, separating them from those who did not keep the covenant.
Sealing: The spiritual marking or protection bestowed upon those who keep the covenant, ensuring their place in God’s eternal kingdom.
Mount Zion: A symbolic representation of God’s dwelling place and the eternal home of His faithful people.

Breakdown

Timeline of Events

Here’s a breakdown of the key points presented:

1. Old Covenant (Old Testament Era)

God establishes a covenant with Abraham: This covenant promises Abraham countless descendants and is considered everlasting.
God establishes a covenant with the Israelites through Moses (Exodus 19:5-6): This is a sub-covenant to the Abrahamic covenant, outlining laws and prophecies. The key commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This covenant is sealed with the blood of a lamb.
The Israelites break the covenant through idol worship (Exodus 32, 1 Kings 11): God decides to judge Israel for their unfaithfulness and promises a new covenant.

2. New Covenant (New Testament Era)

Jesus’ birth and ministry: Jesus is prophesied as the “new thing” God will create (Jeremiah 31:22). He begins sowing the good seed (truth) through his teachings and actions.
Jesus establishes the new covenant at the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20): He declares that the bread and wine represent his body and blood, sacrificed for humanity’s sins. He promises to return and “eat and drink” with his followers when God’s kingdom comes.
Jesus’ death and ascension: The disciples are not yet ready to receive the full revelation of the end times.
John receives the book of Revelation: This book contains the detailed prophecies about the end times that Jesus couldn’t share earlier.

3. End Times (Second Coming)

The seven seals are opened (Revelation 6): Judgments are unleashed upon the earth. The “stars” and “lampstands” (representatives of spiritual Israel) fail and are destroyed.
Harvesting and sealing of the 144,000 and the great multitude (Revelation 7): A new people, the true believers who kept the covenant, are gathered and sealed.
The beast is defeated: The faithful overcome the beast with seven heads, representing the ultimate victory of those who kept the covenant.
Establishment of Mount Zion: God dwells with the faithful forever.

Important Concepts:

Keeping the Covenant: The source emphasizes the importance of understanding and obeying God’s word, particularly the prophecies revealed in Revelation. Keeping the covenant means having a deep understanding of the end times and acting accordingly.
Blessings and Curses: The source warns of the dire consequences of breaking the covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Those who keep the covenant will receive blessings, while those who do not will face curses.
Revelation: The book of Revelation is presented as the key to understanding the end times and fulfilling God’s plan.

Cast of Characters

God: The central figure, the one who establishes and maintains covenants with his chosen people.
Abraham: The patriarch with whom God makes an everlasting covenant, promising him numerous descendants.
Moses: The mediator of the Old Covenant between God and the Israelites.
The Israelites: The physical descendants of Abraham who receive the Old Covenant but ultimately break it through idol worship.
Jesus: The Son of God, who fulfills prophecy by establishing the new covenant and sowing the good seed of truth. He is also the Lamb of God who sacrifices himself for humanity’s sins.
The Disciples: Jesus’ followers who receive the new covenant but are initially unable to grasp the full revelation of the end times.
John: The apostle who receives the book of Revelation, containing detailed prophecies about the end times.
The 144,000: A select group from the 12 tribes of Israel who are sealed and protected during the end times.
The Great Multitude: A vast number of believers from all nations who are also saved and join the 144,000.
The Beast: A powerful and evil entity that arises during the end times to persecute the faithful.
The Seven Stars/Lampstands: Represent the leaders of spiritual Israel who initially shine brightly but ultimately fail to keep the covenant and are destroyed.
Evangelist: The speaker in the source, who is teaching a class on biblical prophecy and encouraging his listeners to keep the covenant.

Overview

Overview: Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It

Main Themes:

The Importance of Covenants: This lesson heavily emphasizes the critical role covenants play in God’s relationship with his chosen people. It defines a covenant’s structure, highlighting the consequences of both obedience and disobedience.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: A recurring theme is the fulfillment of prophecy, particularly those concerning the second coming of Jesus. The document connects Old Testament prophecies with New Testament events and ultimately with events expected to unfold during the second coming.
The New Covenant and Revelation: The lesson focuses on the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant established by Jesus. It stresses the importance of understanding Revelation as a guide to navigating the events of the second coming and keeping the New Covenant.

Most Important Ideas/Facts:

Covenant Structure: Every covenant consists of five parts: subjects (God and his chosen people), content (law and prophecy), time of establishment, time of adherence, and consequences (blessings or curses).
Deuteronomy 28 as a Blueprint: This chapter illustrates the stark contrast between the blessings for covenant keepers and the curses for those who break it. The emphasis on curses underlines the seriousness of adhering to God’s covenant.
The Everlasting Covenant with Abraham: While the covenant with the Israelites ended due to their disobedience, God’s covenant with Abraham is everlasting. This covenant extends to spiritual descendants through faith in Jesus, forming the basis for the New Covenant.
Jesus’s Ministry as Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus fulfilled prophecies by establishing the New Covenant and sowing the good seed (true believers) during his ministry. His second coming is expected to mark the harvest of this seed, separating the righteous from the unrighteous.
Two Groups at the Second Coming: The lesson identifies two groups during the second coming: those who kept the covenant and will be welcomed into the kingdom of God, and those who broke the covenant and will be cast out.
Revelation as the Key: Understanding the book of Revelation is presented as crucial for navigating the second coming and keeping the New Covenant. The lesson links the downfall of spiritual Israel in Revelation 6 to their failure to keep the covenant, contrasting it with the new people sealed in Revelation 7 who will inherit the kingdom.

Key Quotes:

Deuteronomy 28:1-2: “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”
Hosea 6:7: “Like Adam, they have broken the covenant— they were unfaithful to me there.”
Jeremiah 31:31: ““The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
Luke 22:20: “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Matthew 8:11-12: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.””
Hebrews 8:10-12: “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.””

Call to Action:

The lesson concludes with a call to action:

Diligently study Revelation: This is presented as the key to understanding the events of the second coming and keeping the New Covenant.
Embrace Change: Just as the eagle sheds its old feathers for renewal, believers must shed old habits and ways of thinking to align themselves with God’s covenant.
Strive to be part of the harvest: The ultimate goal is to be among those sealed and harvested by Jesus at his second coming, securing a place in his eternal kingdom.

Q&A

Q&A: Covenants, Blessings, and the Second Coming

1. What is a covenant and why is it important?

A covenant is a binding agreement between God and his chosen people. It outlines the terms of their relationship, including the laws to be followed and the prophecies to be fulfilled. Covenants are central to God’s plan for humanity, shaping our understanding of his will and our place in his kingdom. Keeping the covenant leads to blessings, while breaking it brings curses.

2. What are the key differences between the Old and New Covenants?

The Old Covenant was established with the Israelites through Moses, focusing on physical lineage and adherence to the law. The New Covenant, initiated by Jesus, is available to all who believe in him, regardless of physical heritage. This covenant emphasizes spiritual transformation, placing God’s laws in our minds and hearts.

3. What does it mean to “keep the covenant” in the context of the New Covenant?

Keeping the new covenant goes beyond simply acknowledging Jesus. It requires actively studying and understanding God’s word, particularly the prophecies outlined in Revelation. It involves internalizing these teachings, allowing them to guide our actions and prepare us for the second coming.

4. What role does Revelation play in understanding the covenant?

Revelation unveils the events of the end times, including the fulfillment of prophecies and the establishment of God’s kingdom. It provides crucial insight into the consequences of keeping or breaking the covenant, illustrating the blessings for the faithful and the judgments upon those who reject God’s word.

5. What is the significance of the harvest and the sealing in Revelation 7?

The harvest represents the gathering of those who have kept the covenant, while the sealing signifies their spiritual protection and readiness for the kingdom. This passage emphasizes the importance of spiritual preparedness, contrasting those who are sealed and protected with those who face judgment in Revelation 6.

6. What is the fate of those who break the covenant at the time of the second coming?

Those who fail to keep the covenant, symbolized by the fading stars and lampstands in Revelation 6, face judgment and destruction. They are depicted as fleeing from the beast, representing their ultimate defeat and separation from God’s kingdom.

7. How can we ensure we are among those who keep the covenant?

We must prioritize studying and understanding God’s word, particularly the prophecies in Revelation. We should seek to engrave these teachings in our hearts, allowing them to transform our lives and prepare us for the second coming. Active participation in the community of believers and a dedication to living according to God’s will are essential.

8. What is the ultimate goal of keeping the covenant?

The ultimate goal of keeping the covenant is to inherit eternal life and dwell with God in his kingdom. Those who remain faithful will be part of the new heaven and new earth, enjoying everlasting peace and fellowship with the Creator.

[Lesson 72] Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It

Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It

Review

1. Main Content

2. Core of Deuterinomy 28

3. Covenant between God and the Chosen People

ONE – The First Covenant (Old Testament)

Quick Review

TWO – The Second Covenant (New Testament)

Verse 22

Verse 27 – Matthew 13:24-30

Verse 31 – Luke 22:14-20

4. Consequences of Covenant

ONE – Who keeps and does not keep.

Verse 11 – East and West —> Take their Seats

Verse 12 – Subject of the kingdom —> Thrown Out

In Revelation 6:

In Revelation 7

Memorization

Review

Video

Let’s Us Discern

Analyzing Shincheonji Lesson 72: “Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It”

A Critical Examination Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

Introduction: The Covenant Trap

Part 1: The Setup – “Sealed and Opened Word” Review

The Review Section

The “Eating the Scroll” Interpretation

Part 2: The Covenant Teaching

The Five Parts of a Covenant

The Deuteronomy 28 Teaching

The “Enemies Will Flee in Seven Ways” Emphasis

Part 3: The Covenant Manipulation

The Exodus 19:5-6 Application

The Blood Covenant Emphasis

Part 4: Psychological Manipulation Techniques

Technique #1: Fear-Based Motivation

Technique #2: Conflating Old and New Covenants

Technique #3: Creating a Closed System

Technique #4: Repetition for Internalization

Technique #5: Selective Use of Scripture

Part 5: What the Lesson Gets Right (And How to Respond)

Legitimate Biblical Truths:

The Proper Response:

Part 6: Red Flags in This Lesson

🚩 Red Flag #1: Fear-Based Motivation

🚩 Red Flag #2: Conflating Old and New Covenants

🚩 Red Flag #3: Creating a Closed System

🚩 Red Flag #4: Organizational Membership = Covenant Faithfulness

🚩 Red Flag #5: Selective Scripture Use

Part 7: Questions for Reflection

About Covenants:

About Fear:

About Organizational Claims:

About Testing:

Part 8: A Biblical Alternative

The New Covenant in Christ:

Part 9: For Those Who Are Concerned

If You’re Studying with SCJ:

If Someone You Love is Involved:

Conclusion: The Real Covenant

Outline

Understanding Covenants and Their Significance in the Bible

A Study Guide

Covenant and Revelation: A Study Guide

Short-Answer Questions

Answer Key

Additional Questions

Glossary of Key Terms

Breakdown

Timeline of Events

Cast of Characters

Overview

Overview: Results of Those Who Keep the Covenant and Those Who Do Not Keep It

Q&A

Q&A: Covenants, Blessings, and the Second Coming

1. What is a covenant and why is it important?

2. What are the key differences between the Old and New Covenants?

3. What does it mean to “keep the covenant” in the context of the New Covenant?

4. What role does Revelation play in understanding the covenant?