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

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Lesson 111: Special Lesson – Where Are We in Revelation?

Viewing Through First-Century Christian, Historical, and Literary Lenses

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Introduction: The Special Lesson

You’ve reached a milestone. After learning about the 144,000 and the great multitude, after being invited to Mount Zion, after being warned not to “look back” like Lot’s wife—now comes a “Special Lesson.”

The word “special” creates anticipation. This isn’t just another lesson. This is important. This is privileged information.

The evangelist opens with passion:

“So, Satan has been ruling this world for how long? 6,000 years. 6,000 years, evil has persisted. Amen. But glory to God, it’s coming to an end. Isn’t that right?”

6,000 years of Satan’s rule. And it’s ending now. In your lifetime. In this moment.

The urgency is palpable. The evangelist continues:

“So, we have to ask ourselves. We have to ask ourselves this question daily. Who are we according to the Bible? Have I been created according to Revelation? Have you been created according to Revelation, Harvest Class?”

“Have I been created according to Revelation?”

This is no longer just about learning biblical interpretation. This is about your identity, your very existence, your purpose for being born. You are being asked to see yourself as a character in Revelation—created for this specific moment in history.

Then comes the warning, harsh and vivid:

“Let’s not be like the dogs who return to their vomit. Let’s not be like the pigs who, after receiving pearls, go back to wallowing in the mud. Amen. Let’s not be betrayers, but let’s be a part of God’s new kingdom and new people.”

Dogs returning to vomit. Pigs wallowing in mud. Betrayers.

These are not gentle warnings. These are visceral, disgusting images designed to create revulsion at the thought of leaving or questioning.

And then the call to commitment:

“Let’s be those 144,000 priests who are sealed, who can teach the Word to those around us. Who wants to be a priest by a show of hands? Amen. Amen.”

“Who wants to be a priest by a show of hands?”

This is a public commitment. In front of your peers, in front of the instructor, you’re being asked to raise your hand and declare: “I want to be a priest.” Once you raise your hand, you’ve made a public commitment that’s much harder to walk back from.

The instructor then promises something special:

“We’ll be seeing some words from the promised pastor too, as well, which will be really cool to see.”

“Words from the promised pastor”—Lee Man-hee. His authority is being elevated. You’re about to receive direct teaching from the one Shincheonji claims is the fulfillment of prophecy.

The lesson’s title is revealed: “Where Are We in Revelation?”

This lesson will position you in Shincheonji’s timeline. You’ll learn exactly where you are in the fulfillment of Revelation. You’ll be given specific dates—September 1980. You’ll be told that certain events “have already happened” and are “now history.”

This is a pivotal lesson. It’s designed to cement your belief that you are living in the fulfillment of Revelation, that you are part of the 144,000 or great multitude, that you have been “created according to Revelation,” and that leaving would make you like a dog returning to vomit.

But is any of this biblical? Is the 6,000-year timeline accurate? Does “fulfillment of prophecy” prove Shincheonji is true? Did the events of September 1980 really fulfill Revelation 6? Are you really “created according to Revelation”?

And most importantly: What did first-century Christians understand when they read Revelation? Did they think it was about events in Korea in 1980?

In this refutation, we will examine Lesson 111 through the dual lenses outlined in “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”—the Reflectional Lens (examining psychological and spiritual impact) and the Discernment Lens (testing claims against Scripture, history, and logic). We will also apply the First-Century Christian lens, asking what the original recipients would have understood, and the Historical and Political lens, examining the actual events of 1980 through verifiable evidence.

This refutation does not focus on debates between Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. Instead, it seeks to understand Revelation as the first-century church would have—as a letter of encouragement and hope written to real communities facing real persecution.

For a more comprehensive examination of Shincheonji’s claims, visit closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination.

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Part 1: The 6,000-Year Timeline – Creating False Urgency

SCJ’s Teaching: Satan’s 6,000-Year Rule Is Ending

The evangelist opens with a dramatic claim:

“So, Satan has been ruling this world for how long? 6,000 years. 6,000 years, evil has persisted. Amen. But glory to God, it’s coming to an end.”

The “Yeast of Heaven” reading reinforces this:

“At the time of the fulfillment of Revelation, the world of sin of 6,000 years and evil comes to an end like the time of Noah, and a new creation begins (Rev 21:1, Rev 6-7).”

Shincheonji teaches:

• Satan has ruled the world for 6,000 years
• This 6,000-year period is ending now
• We are living at the transition point
• A new creation is beginning

This creates intense urgency: You are living at the most important moment in history—the end of 6,000 years of Satan’s rule.

The Origin of the 6,000-Year Timeline

Where does this 6,000-year timeline come from?

It’s based on a calculation that adds up genealogies in Genesis to determine that approximately 4,000 years passed from creation to Christ, then adds 2,000 years from Christ to now, totaling 6,000 years.

This calculation has been used throughout church history by various groups to predict the end times:

• Early church fathers speculated about a 6,000-year timeline based on the six days of creation (with each day representing 1,000 years)
• Medieval theologians calculated end-time dates using this method
• Reformation-era groups predicted Christ’s return based on 6,000 years
• 19th and 20th-century movements (including Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, and others) used similar calculations

Every single prediction based on this timeline has been wrong.

Biblical Problems with the 6,000-Year Timeline

1. The Genealogies Are Not Intended as Precise Chronologies

The genealogies in Genesis (chapters 5 and 11) were not written to provide a precise chronology from creation to Abraham. They serve theological purposes:

• Showing the line from Adam to Noah to Abraham
• Demonstrating God’s faithfulness across generations
• Connecting key figures in salvation history

Evidence that they’re not precise chronologies:

Matthew 1:1:

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

Matthew’s genealogy intentionally structures the generations into three groups of 14 (Matthew 1:17), omitting several generations to create this structure. This shows that biblical genealogies can be selective and symbolic, not exhaustive chronologies.

Luke 3:36 includes Cainan between Arphaxad and Shelah, but Genesis 11:12 does not mention Cainan. This discrepancy shows that genealogies could have gaps.

The Hebrew word translated “begot” or “fathered” can mean direct father or ancestor. So “A begot B” could mean “A was the ancestor of B,” with generations in between.

2. The Bible Does Not Teach a 6,000-Year Timeline

Nowhere in Scripture does God reveal a 6,000-year timeline for human history. This is a human calculation based on assumptions about genealogies.

The Bible explicitly warns against date-setting:

Matthew 24:36:

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

Acts 1:7:

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

God has not revealed the timeline. Calculating 6,000 years and claiming “it’s ending now” contradicts Jesus’ teaching that we cannot know the times or dates.

3. This Timeline Has Been Used to Make False Predictions

Throughout history, groups have used the 6,000-year calculation to predict the end:

• Early church: Some expected Christ’s return around AD 500 (6,000 years from creation by their calculation)
• Medieval period: Various dates were calculated and predicted
• 19th century: Multiple groups predicted the end based on 6,000 years
• 20th century: Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted 1975 as the end of 6,000 years

Every prediction has been wrong. This should make us skeptical of any group claiming “the 6,000 years are ending now.”

The Danger of False Urgency

Creating false urgency serves manipulative purposes:

1. It Pressures Immediate Commitment

“The 6,000 years are ending! You must commit now! There’s no time to delay!”

This pressure prevents careful consideration and testing of claims.

2. It Creates Fear

“If you don’t join now, you’ll miss the end of 6,000 years of history! You’ll be left out of the new creation!”

This fear motivates decisions based on emotion, not careful discernment.

3. It Makes the Group Seem Uniquely Important

“We are living at the most important moment in history—the transition from 6,000 years of Satan’s rule to God’s new creation. And you get to be part of it!”

This appeals to the desire to be part of something significant.

4. It Justifies Extreme Demands

“Since we’re at the end of 6,000 years, normal rules don’t apply. You must give everything—time, money, relationships—because this is the most important moment in history.”

The urgency justifies extreme demands that wouldn’t be acceptable otherwise.

Biblical Response: God’s Timing Is Not Ours to Calculate

The Bible teaches that we cannot and should not calculate God’s timeline:

Ecclesiastes 3:11:

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

We cannot “fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” God’s timeline is beyond our calculation.

2 Peter 3:8:

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

God’s perspective on time is different from ours. We cannot calculate His timeline using human chronologies.

Mark 13:32-33:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”

Jesus explicitly said no one knows the day or hour—not even Himself during His earthly ministry. We are to “be on guard” and “be alert,” not to calculate timelines.

The proper Christian attitude is:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6:

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and sober-minded.”

Key points:

• We don’t need to know “times and dates”
• The day will come “like a thief in the night” (unexpectedly)
• We should be “alert and sober-minded,” not calculating timelines

Instead of calculating 6,000 years and claiming “it’s ending now,” we should live faithfully, always ready for Christ’s return, whenever it may be.

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Part 2: “Have I Been Created According to Revelation?” – Identity Manipulation

SCJ’s Teaching: You Were Created for This Moment

The evangelist asks a profound, identity-shaping question:

“So, we have to ask ourselves. We have to ask ourselves this question daily. Who are we according to the Bible? Have I been created according to Revelation? Have you been created according to Revelation, Harvest Class?”

This question is designed to reshape your entire self-understanding:

Before Shincheonji: “I am a person created by God, loved by Him, with inherent worth and purpose.”

After this question: “I was specifically created to fulfill a role in Revelation. My very existence is tied to being part of the 144,000 or great multitude at Shincheonji.”

This is profound identity manipulation. Your identity is no longer rooted in being made in God’s image or being a child of God through faith in Christ. Your identity is now tied to your role in Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation.

The Psychological Impact

This question creates several psychological effects:

1. It Makes Your Existence Feel Prophetically Significant

“I wasn’t just born randomly. I was created for this specific moment in Revelation. My life has cosmic significance.”

This appeals to the deep human desire for purpose and significance.

2. It Ties Your Identity to the Organization

If you were “created according to Revelation,” and Revelation is being fulfilled at Shincheonji, then your very purpose for existing is tied to Shincheonji.

Leaving the organization would mean abandoning your reason for existence.

3. It Creates Pressure to Conform

If you were created to be part of the 144,000, you must live up to that purpose. You must prove worthy of the role you were created for.

This creates performance pressure and fear of failing your created purpose.

4. It Makes Questioning Feel Like Denying Your Identity

If you question Shincheonji’s teaching, you’re not just questioning an interpretation—you’re questioning your very reason for existing.

This makes questioning psychologically devastating.

Biblical Response: You Were Created in God’s Image

The Bible teaches a very different foundation for identity:

Genesis 1:27:

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

You were created in God’s image. This is the foundation of your identity—not your role in an organization’s interpretation of Revelation.

Psalm 139:13-16:

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

God created you intentionally and lovingly. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Your purpose is written in God’s book—not in Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation.

Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You are “God’s handiwork.” He has prepared good works for you—not necessarily the specific role Shincheonji assigns you in their interpretation.

Your identity in Christ is:

Galatians 3:26:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

You are a child of God through faith in Christ. This is your identity—not “member of the 144,000 at Shincheonji” or “created according to Revelation.”

John 1:12:

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Your identity is “child of God”—given to all who believe in Christ’s name, not just those who join Shincheonji.

Romans 8:16-17:

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

As God’s children, we are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” This is our identity and inheritance—not dependent on organizational membership.

The Danger of Organization-Dependent Identity

When your identity is tied to an organization, several dangerous things happen:

1. You Lose Your Sense of Self Apart from the Organization

“Who am I if I’m not part of the 144,000 at Shincheonji? I was created for this purpose. Without it, I have no identity.”

This makes leaving psychologically devastating—you feel like you’re losing yourself.

2. The Organization Can Control You

If your identity depends on the organization, the organization can threaten your identity to control your behavior.

“If you question, if you leave, you’re abandoning your created purpose. You’re denying who you are.”

3. You Become Vulnerable to Exploitation

“Since you were created for this purpose, you must give everything—time, money, relationships—to fulfill it.”

The organization can demand anything in the name of your “created purpose.”

4. You Judge Your Worth by Organizational Standards

“Am I living up to my created purpose? Am I worthy of being part of the 144,000?”

Your self-worth becomes dependent on meeting organizational expectations.

The True Question: Who Are You in Christ?

The question is not “Have I been created according to Revelation?”

The question is: “Who am I in Christ?”

And the answer is:

2 Corinthians 5:17:

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

In Christ, you are a new creation. Not because you’re part of Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation, but because you’re in Christ.

Colossians 3:3:

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Your life is “hidden with Christ in God.” Your identity is secure in Him—not in organizational membership.

1 Peter 2:9:

“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.”

You are chosen, royal, holy, special—because of Christ, not because of Shincheonji.

This is your true identity. And it cannot be taken away by leaving an organization.

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Part 3: Dogs, Pigs, and Betrayers – Fear-Based Control

SCJ’s Teaching: Don’t Be Like Dogs or Pigs

The evangelist uses harsh, visceral language:

“Let’s not be like the dogs who return to their vomit. Let’s not be like the pigs who, after receiving pearls, go back to wallowing in the mud. Amen. Let’s not be betrayers, but let’s be a part of God’s new kingdom and new people.”

This language is designed to create revulsion at the thought of leaving:

Dogs returning to vomit – disgusting, degrading image Pigs wallowing in mud – filthy, shameful behavior Betrayers – morally reprehensible traitors

The message is clear: If you leave Shincheonji or question their teaching, you are like a dog eating vomit, a pig in mud, or a betrayer.

The Biblical References

These images come from Scripture, but Shincheonji is misapplying them:

2 Peter 2:20-22:

“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.'”

Context: Peter is talking about false teachers who knew the truth but returned to sinful living. He’s not talking about people who leave a specific organization—he’s talking about people who abandon Christ and return to sin.

Shincheonji’s application: “If you leave Shincheonji, you’re like a dog returning to vomit.”

This is a misapplication. Leaving an organization that teaches unbiblical doctrine is not “returning to vomit”—it’s pursuing truth.

Matthew 7:6:

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Context: Jesus is teaching about discernment—don’t share sacred truths with those who will reject and attack them.

Shincheonji’s application: “If you receive the pearls (Shincheonji’s teaching) and then leave, you’re like a pig.”

This is also a misapplication. Jesus is warning His disciples not to waste time on those who are hostile to the gospel—He’s not calling people “pigs” for leaving an organization.

The Psychological Tactic: Creating Disgust

Why use such harsh, disgusting imagery?

1. It Creates Emotional Revulsion

The images of dogs eating vomit and pigs in mud create visceral disgust. This disgust becomes associated with the idea of leaving Shincheonji.

When you think about leaving, you feel disgusted—not because leaving is actually wrong, but because these images have been planted in your mind.

2. It Attacks Your Self-Worth

“If I leave, I’m not just making a mistake—I’m disgusting. I’m like a dog eating vomit. I’m degraded and shameful.”

This attacks your sense of dignity and worth, making leaving feel like self-degradation.

3. It Creates Social Pressure

No one wants to be seen as a “dog,” “pig,” or “betrayer” by their peers. This social pressure keeps people from leaving or even expressing doubts.

4. It Prevents Rational Evaluation

When leaving is associated with such disgusting images, you can’t rationally evaluate whether leaving is the right choice. The emotional revulsion overrides rational thought.

Biblical Response: Testing Teaching Is Not Betrayal

The Bible commends those who test teaching:

Acts 17:11:

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

The Bereans were “of more noble character” because they examined the Scriptures to test Paul’s teaching. They didn’t just accept it—they tested it.

If testing the teaching of an apostle was noble, how much more should we test the teaching of modern organizations?

1 Thessalonians 5:21:

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.”

“Test everything”—including Shincheonji’s teaching. If you test it and find it unbiblical, holding fast to what is good means leaving what is false.

1 John 4:1:

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

We are commanded to “test the spirits.” Not every teaching is from God. Testing is not betrayal—it’s obedience to Scripture.

Leaving false teaching is not “returning to vomit”—it’s pursuing truth:

Galatians 1:6-9:

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

Paul says leaving “a different gospel” is right, even if it means leaving teachers who claim authority. If Shincheonji is teaching “a different gospel” (salvation by organizational membership rather than grace through faith), leaving is the right choice.

The True Betrayal

The true betrayal is not leaving an organization—it’s abandoning Christ.

Hebrews 3:12:

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

The warning is against turning away from “the living God”—not from an organization.

If an organization is teaching you to trust in organizational membership rather than Christ alone, if it’s creating a system of works-righteousness rather than grace, if it’s elevating a human leader to the place of Christ—then staying in that organization might be the real betrayal of Christ.

John 6:66-69:

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.'”

Peter’s reason for staying with Jesus was not fear of being called a “dog” or “pig.” His reason was: “You have the words of eternal life.”

If Shincheonji does not have the words of eternal life—if they’re teaching a different gospel—then leaving is not betrayal. It’s faithfulness to Christ.

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Part 4: “Who Wants to Be a Priest?” – Public Commitment Tactic

SCJ’s Teaching: Raise Your Hand to Commit

The evangelist calls for public commitment:

“Let’s be those 144,000 priests who are sealed, who can teach the Word to those around us. Who wants to be a priest by a show of hands? Amen. Amen.”

This is a public commitment tactic. In front of your peers and instructors, you’re being asked to raise your hand and declare: “I want to be a priest.”

The Psychology of Public Commitment

Why ask for a show of hands?

1. It Creates Social Pressure

When others around you are raising their hands, you feel pressure to raise yours too. No one wants to be the only person not raising their hand.

2. It Makes Commitment Public

Once you’ve raised your hand in front of others, you’ve made a public commitment that’s much harder to walk back from.

Psychologically, we feel pressure to remain consistent with our public commitments, even if we later have doubts.

3. It Creates a Record

The instructors see who raised their hands and who didn’t. This creates a record of your commitment (or lack thereof) that can be used to pressure you later.

“You raised your hand and said you wanted to be a priest. Why are you questioning now?”

4. It Bypasses Careful Consideration

In the moment, with social pressure and emotional appeal, you raise your hand without carefully considering what you’re committing to.

Later, you may realize you committed to something you didn’t fully understand or agree with, but you feel bound by your public commitment.

What Are You Actually Committing To?

When you raise your hand to “be a priest,” what are you committing to?

In Shincheonji’s system:

• Committing to be part of the 144,000
• Committing to complete the course and be sealed
• Committing to recruit others (“teach the Word to those around us”)
• Committing to Shincheonji’s authority and interpretation
• Committing to see yourself as part of the fulfillment of Revelation

This is not a small commitment. But in the moment, with the question “Who wants to be a priest?”, it sounds like you’re just committing to serve God.

The actual implications are much larger than the question suggests.

Biblical Response: All Believers Are Priests

The Bible teaches that all believers are priests—not just an elite 144,000:

1 Peter 2:5:

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

All believers are “a holy priesthood.” You don’t need to raise your hand to become a priest—you already are a priest if you’re in Christ.

1 Peter 2:9:

“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.”

All believers are “a royal priesthood.” This is your identity in Christ, not something you achieve by joining Shincheonji.

Revelation 1:5-6:

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Christ “has made us to be a kingdom and priests”—all of us who are freed by His blood, not just 144,000 at Shincheonji.

Revelation 5:9-10:

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.'”

Those purchased by Christ’s blood—from every tribe, language, people, and nation—are made “a kingdom and priests.”

You don’t need to raise your hand at Shincheonji to be a priest. You are already a priest if you are in Christ.

The Danger of Manipulative Commitment Tactics

Public commitment tactics are manipulative because:

1. They Bypass Informed Consent

You’re asked to commit before you fully understand what you’re committing to.

2. They Use Social Pressure

The commitment is not freely chosen—it’s pressured by the social context.

3. They Create Psychological Traps

Once you’ve committed publicly, you feel trapped by your commitment, even if you later have doubts.

4. They Can Be Used for Control

Your public commitment can be used to pressure you: “You said you wanted to be a priest. Now you need to…”

Biblical Commitment Is Different

Biblical commitment is:

1. Informed

Acts 17:11: The Bereans examined the Scriptures before believing.

2. Free

Joshua 24:15: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

3. To Christ, Not to an Organization

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.”

4. Based on Understanding, Not Social Pressure

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

If you raised your hand in that moment, you are not bound by that commitment if it was made under pressure, without full understanding, or based on false teaching.

You are free to reconsider. You are free to test the teaching. You are free to choose Christ over organizational commitment.

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SCJ’s Teaching: Fulfilled Prophecy Proves Truth

The instructor establishes a key principle:

“Some basic things that we need to know and understand. 1. What is the evidence for believing something to be true and the true work of God? Fulfillment of the prophecy. That is the evidence to know that something truly is the work of God.”

He then quotes Deuteronomy 18:18-22, emphasizing verse 22:

“If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”

The instructor’s logic:

1. True prophecy is proven by fulfillment
2. False prophecy is proven by non-fulfillment
3. Shincheonji’s prophecies have been fulfilled
4. Therefore, Shincheonji is the true work of God

This sounds logical and biblical. But there are serious problems with how Shincheonji applies this principle.

The Problem: Circular Reasoning

Shincheonji’s argument is circular:

Step 1: “Revelation prophesies specific events” Step 2: “We interpret these events to be about the Tabernacle Temple in Korea” Step 3: “Events happened at the Tabernacle Temple” Step 4: “Therefore, our interpretation is proven true by fulfillment”

But this is circular reasoning:

• The “fulfillment” only proves the interpretation if the interpretation is correct
• The interpretation is claimed to be correct because of the “fulfillment”
• But you can’t use fulfillment to prove an interpretation that you used to identify the fulfillment in the first place

Example:

Shincheonji says: “Revelation 6:12-13 prophesies that the sun, moon, and stars will fall. We interpret this as the leaders of the Tabernacle Temple. Leaders left the Tabernacle Temple in 1980. Therefore, Revelation 6 is fulfilled, proving our interpretation is correct.”

But this only works if:

• The sun, moon, and stars actually represent the Tabernacle Temple leaders (not proven)
• Revelation 6 is about events in 1980 Korea (not proven)
• The events at the Tabernacle Temple match what Revelation describes (questionable)

You can’t use the “fulfillment” to prove the interpretation when the interpretation is what identified the “fulfillment” in the first place.

The Problem: Retrofitting Events to Prophecy

Shincheonji’s method is to:

1. Take historical events (Tabernacle Temple conflicts in 1980)
2. Find symbolic language in Revelation that could potentially describe those events
3. Claim this is “fulfillment”

But this is retrofitting—making events fit prophecy after the fact.

With symbolic language, you can make almost any event “fulfill” almost any prophecy if you’re creative enough:

• “Stars falling” could be leaders leaving, or governments falling, or literal meteors, or spiritual decline
• “Winds blowing” could be spiritual warfare, or political conflicts, or literal storms, or false teaching spreading
• “Beast with seven heads” could be any organization with seven leaders, or seven nations, or seven characteristics

The flexibility of symbolic language means you can retrofit almost any interpretation to almost any event.

Biblical Prophecy Is Different

Biblical prophecy, when it’s meant to be specifically fulfilled, is:

1. Clear Enough to Be Recognized

Micah 5:2:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Specific location: Bethlehem. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1), this was clearly fulfilled.

2. Fulfilled in Ways That Match the Prophecy

Isaiah 7:14:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:22-23:

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

The fulfillment matches the prophecy—a virgin conceived and gave birth.

3. Recognized as Fulfillment by Multiple Witnesses

Luke 2:25-32:

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'”

Simeon recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy—not because someone told him an elaborate interpretation, but because the Holy Spirit revealed it to him.

Multiple people (Simeon, Anna, the wise men, the shepherds) recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy.

With Shincheonji’s claims:

• Only those who accept their interpretation see the “fulfillment”
• The interpretation requires extensive teaching to understand
• The “fulfillment” is not recognized by anyone outside Shincheonji

This is very different from biblical prophecy fulfillment.

The Problem: Unfalsifiable Claims

As we discussed in the previous lesson, Shincheonji uses the principle “prophecy shows the end state” to make their claims unfalsifiable.

If details match: “See, this proves we’re right!” If details don’t match: “Prophecy shows the end state, not every detail of the process.”

This makes their claims impossible to falsify—they can accommodate any outcome.

But Deuteronomy 18:22 requires that prophecy be falsifiable: “If what a prophet proclaims… does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken.”

True prophecy can be tested and proven false if it doesn’t come true. Shincheonji’s claims are structured to avoid this test.

The Problem: Selective Application

Shincheonji applies Deuteronomy 18:22 selectively:

They say: “If prophecy is fulfilled, it proves the prophet is from God.”

But Deuteronomy 18:22 is only half the test. The full test includes Deuteronomy 13:1-3:

Deuteronomy 13:1-3:

“If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Key point: Even if a prophet’s prediction comes true, if that prophet leads you away from the true God, you must not follow them.

So the test is not just “Did the prophecy come true?” but also “Does this prophet lead me to the true God or away from Him?”

If Shincheonji is teaching:

• Salvation by organizational membership rather than by grace through faith in Christ alone
• Elevation of a human leader (Lee Man-hee) to a position that belongs to Christ alone
• A different gospel than what the apostles taught

Then even if some of their predictions seemed to come true, we should not follow them, according to Deuteronomy 13:1-3.

Biblical Response: Test Everything

The Bible commands us to test all teaching:

1 Thessalonians 5:21:

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.”

We must test Shincheonji’s claims:

• Does their interpretation align with what first-century Christians would have understood?
• Can their historical claims be verified through independent sources?
• Does their teaching align with the gospel of grace through faith?
• Do they elevate human authority above Scripture?

1 John 4:1:

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

Not every claim of fulfillment is from God. We must test.

Acts 17:11:

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

Even the apostle Paul’s teaching was tested against Scripture. How much more should we test modern organizations’ claims?

The Real Evidence

The real evidence for truth is not just “fulfillment of prophecy” (which can be claimed by anyone who retrofits events to symbolic language).

The real evidence is:

1. Alignment with Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Does the teaching align with Scripture, or does it contradict it?

2. Witness of the Holy Spirit

John 16:13:

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth. Does this teaching resonate with the Spirit’s witness, or does it create unease and doubt?

3. Fruit of the Teaching

Matthew 7:16-20:

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

What fruit does Shincheonji’s teaching produce?

• Deception (hiding involvement from family)
• Fear (dogs, pigs, betrayers)
• Division (separating from other Christians)
• Works-righteousness (striving to be part of the 144,000)
• Elevation of human authority (Lee Man-hee as “promised pastor”)

Or does it produce the fruit of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

4. Centrality of Christ

1 Corinthians 3:11:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Does the teaching point to Christ as the foundation, or does it make organizational membership the foundation?

These are the real tests—not just claimed “fulfillment” of retrofitted interpretations.

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Part 6: September 1980 – The Historical Reality

SCJ’s Teaching: Specific Dates for Fulfillment

The instructor provides specific dates:

“Approximately the year 1980, the winds began to blow. And by the September 1980, they had been completely blown.”

Timeline provided:

1. September 1980: Sun, moon, and stars had fallen (leaders of Tabernacle Temple left)
2. September 1980: The 7 stars resigned
3. September 1980: The beast with 7 heads and 10 horns entered
4. September 1980: The name changed from “Tabernacle Temple” to “Central Isaac Presbyterian Church”

Shincheonji claims these events fulfill Revelation 6:12-13:

“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.”

The claim is: “This event has already happened. It is now history to us. It has already taken place.”

The Historical Reality: What Actually Happened

According to independent research (including “The Real Reasons Behind the Tabernacle Temple’s Destruction and Sale” and “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and 2”), here’s what actually happened:

Background:

In the 1970s, a pastor named Yoo Jae-yeol started a church called the Tabernacle Temple (장막성전, Jangmak Sungjon) in South Korea. He taught unorthodox doctrines, including:

• He was a special messenger from God
• His church was the fulfillment of biblical prophecy
• Traditional Christianity had become corrupt

A middle-aged man named Lee Man-hee joined this group and became a follower of Yoo Jae-yeol.

The Conflict:

In 1980, conflicts arose within the Tabernacle Temple:

• Leadership disputes
• Doctrinal disagreements
• Power struggles
• Financial issues

Several leaders left or were expelled. The organization fractured. The name of the church changed.

Lee Man-hee’s Role:

Lee Man-hee was involved in these conflicts. According to some accounts:

• He was part of a group that challenged Yoo Jae-yeol’s leadership
• He was involved in the disputes that led to the fracturing
• He later claimed that these events fulfilled Revelation 6 and that he was the “white horse” of Revelation 6:2

After the Tabernacle Temple fractured, Lee Man-hee started his own group, which eventually became Shincheonji.

The Reinterpretation:

Lee Man-hee reinterpreted the events he was involved in as the fulfillment of Revelation:

• The Tabernacle Temple = the “tabernacle of heaven” in Revelation
• Yoo Jae-yeol = the “star” that fell
• The leaders who left = the “sun, moon, and stars” that fell
• The opposing group = the “beast” that entered
• Lee Man-hee = the “white horse” who witnessed these events

This is a classic case of retrofitting—taking events you were involved in and claiming they fulfill prophecy.

The Problems with This Claim

1. It’s Self-Serving

Lee Man-hee was involved in the conflicts at the Tabernacle Temple. He then claims that these conflicts—which he was part of—fulfill Revelation, and that he is the special witness.

This is like saying: “I was involved in a church split. Therefore, I am the fulfillment of prophecy.”

2. It’s Not Verifiable as Fulfillment

How do we know the Tabernacle Temple was the “tabernacle of heaven” in Revelation? Only because Lee Man-hee says so.

How do we know the events of 1980 fulfill Revelation 6? Only because Lee Man-hee interprets them that way.

There’s no independent verification—just Lee Man-hee’s interpretation of events he was involved in.

3. It Requires Accepting the Entire Interpretive Framework

To accept that September 1980 fulfilled Revelation 6, you must first accept:

• The Tabernacle Temple was the “tabernacle of heaven”
• Yoo Jae-yeol was the “star” of Revelation
• The symbolic language of Revelation 6 refers to this specific church in Korea
• Lee Man-hee is the “white horse” and special witness

But these are all unproven assumptions. The “fulfillment” only works if you accept the entire interpretive framework, which is circular reasoning.

4. It Contradicts What First-Century Christians Would Have Understood

When first-century Christians read Revelation 6, would they have understood it as:

• Events in Korea in 1980?
• A church split at an organization called the Tabernacle Temple?
• A man named Lee Man-hee as the white horse?

Of course not. They would have understood it as:

• Judgment on the Roman Empire that was persecuting them
• Cosmic imagery describing God’s judgment on their oppressors
• Hope that God would vindicate His people

Shincheonji’s interpretation requires reading 20th-century Korean events into a 1st-century letter written to churches in Asia Minor. This is anachronistic and ignores the original context.

What First-Century Christians Understood

When first-century Christians read Revelation 6:12-13, they understood it through their own context:

Revelation 6:12-13:

“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.”

This language echoes Old Testament prophecies about judgment:

Isaiah 13:9-10 (judgment on Babylon):

“See, the day of the Lord is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.”

Joel 2:30-31 (the day of the Lord):

“I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

Ezekiel 32:7-8 (judgment on Egypt):

“When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

First-century Christians would have recognized this as:

• Judgment language used throughout the Old Testament
• Cosmic imagery describing the fall of kingdoms and powers
• Hope that God would judge their oppressors (Rome) just as He judged Babylon, Egypt, and other nations

They would NOT have understood it as:

• A church split in Korea in 1980
• Leaders leaving an organization
• A name change from “Tabernacle Temple” to “Central Isaac Presbyterian Church”

This is the fundamental problem with Shincheonji’s interpretation—it ignores what the original recipients would have understood and imposes a modern, Korean-specific interpretation onto a 1st-century letter.

The Danger of Claiming Recent Events as Fulfillment

Throughout history, groups have claimed recent events fulfill Revelation:

• Early church: Some thought Nero or Domitian fulfilled the beast prophecies
• Medieval period: Various popes or political leaders were identified as the antichrist
• Reformation: Reformers identified the papacy with Revelation’s beast
• 19th century: Napoleon, various wars, and political events were claimed as fulfillment
• 20th century: Hitler, World Wars, the founding of Israel, and countless other events were claimed as fulfillment
• 21st century: Various political leaders, wars, and events continue to be claimed as fulfillment

Every generation has groups claiming “Revelation is being fulfilled NOW in these specific events.”

And every generation has been wrong.

Why should we believe Shincheonji’s claim that events in Korea in 1980 fulfill Revelation, when countless similar claims throughout history have been wrong?

The Biblical Perspective on Fulfillment

Jesus warned against those who claim “the time is near”:

Luke 21:8:

“He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and, “The time is near.” Do not follow them.'”

“Many will come… claiming, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.”

This is exactly what Shincheonji does—claiming “the time is near” (6,000 years ending, fulfillment happening now) and asking people to follow them.

Jesus explicitly warned against this.

The proper Christian attitude is:

Matthew 24:42-44:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

We don’t know the day or hour. We should be ready always, not claiming “it’s happening now in these specific events.”

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Part 7: “Words from the Promised Pastor” – Elevating Human Authority

SCJ’s Teaching: Lee Man-hee as “Promised Pastor”

The instructor promises:

“We’ll be seeing some words from the promised pastor too, as well, which will be really cool to see.”

The term “promised pastor” is used throughout Shincheonji to refer to Lee Man-hee.

This title elevates Lee Man-hee to a unique, prophetically significant position:

• He is not just a pastor or teacher
• He is “the promised pastor”—the one prophesied in Scripture
• His words carry special authority
• Seeing his words is “really cool”—creating excitement and anticipation

The Problem: Elevating Human Authority

The Bible warns against elevating human teachers to positions that belong to Christ alone:

1 Corinthians 3:4-7:

“For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

Paul explicitly rejects the elevation of human teachers. “What is Paul? Only servants… So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God.”

If Paul—an actual apostle who wrote Scripture—rejected such elevation, how much more should we reject the elevation of modern teachers?

Matthew 23:8-10:

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.”

Jesus explicitly taught against using titles that elevate human teachers:

• “You have one Teacher” (Jesus)
• “You are all brothers” (equal, not hierarchical)
• “You have one Instructor, the Messiah”

Calling Lee Man-hee “the promised pastor” and treating his words as uniquely authoritative violates this teaching.

Who Is the Promised Pastor?

Shincheonji claims Lee Man-hee is “the promised pastor” based on passages like:

John 10:16:

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Shincheonji interprets “one shepherd” as Lee Man-hee.

But the context makes clear this is about Jesus:

John 10:11:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

John 10:14-15:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus is the good shepherd. He laid down His life for the sheep. This passage is about Jesus, not about a future human leader.

Ezekiel 34:23-24:

“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.”

Shincheonji sometimes uses this passage to claim Lee Man-hee is the “one shepherd.”

But “my servant David” is a messianic prophecy—referring to the Messiah who comes from David’s line, not to a modern Korean man.

This is fulfilled in Jesus:

Luke 1:32-33:

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Jesus is the fulfillment of the “servant David” prophecy.

The “promised pastor” is Jesus, not Lee Man-hee.

The Danger of Following Human Leaders

The Bible warns about following human leaders instead of Christ:

Colossians 2:8:

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

Don’t be taken captive by philosophy that depends on “human tradition… rather than on Christ.”

Colossians 2:18-19:

“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”

Those who elevate their own visions and teachings “have lost connection with the head”—Christ.

When Lee Man-hee is elevated as “the promised pastor” whose words carry special authority, the focus shifts from Christ to a human leader. This is exactly what Paul warned against.

Biblical Response: Christ Alone Is Our Authority

Hebrews 1:1-2:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

God has spoken to us by His Son. This is the final revelation—not through a “promised pastor” in Korea.

John 14:6:

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

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Not Lee Man-hee, not any human leader—Jesus alone.

Acts 4:12:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Salvation is in Jesus’ name alone—not through following a “promised pastor.”

1 Timothy 2:5:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

One mediator: Christ Jesus. Not Lee Man-hee, not any human leader—Christ alone.

When a group elevates a human leader to a position of unique authority, calling him “the promised pastor” and treating his words as specially authoritative, that group has departed from biblical Christianity.

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Part 8: “Where Are We in Revelation?” – Timeline Positioning

SCJ’s Teaching: You Are Here

The lesson’s title and focus is: “Where Are We in Revelation?”

The instructor positions students in Shincheonji’s timeline:

Past (Already Fulfilled):

• Revelation 6: Winds blew, sun/moon/stars fell (September 1980)
• Tabernacle Temple destroyed
• Beast entered
• 7 stars resigned

Present (Happening Now):

• Revelation 7: Sealing of 144,000 (ongoing)
• Gathering of great multitude (ongoing)
• Students are being sealed and gathered

Future (Soon to Come):

• Completion of 144,000
• Revelation of the sealed ones to the world
• New heaven and new earth

The message is clear: “You are HERE in Revelation 7. The past events have been fulfilled. You are now being sealed. The future completion is coming soon.”

The Psychological Impact

This timeline positioning serves several purposes:

1. It Creates a Sense of Urgency

“We’re in Revelation 7 right now! The sealing is happening! You need to commit now before it’s too late!”

2. It Makes Students Feel Significant

“You are living in the most important moment in history. You are part of the fulfillment of Revelation.”

3. It Provides Certainty

“We know exactly where we are in God’s plan. There’s no confusion, no uncertainty. We’re in Revelation 7.”

4. It Justifies Demands

“Since we’re at this critical moment in Revelation, you must give everything—time, money, relationships—to be part of the sealing.”

5. It Makes Leaving Seem Catastrophic

“If you leave now, you’re leaving at the most critical moment. You’ll miss the sealing. You’ll miss your purpose.”

The Problem: Assuming the Interpretation

This entire timeline positioning assumes Shincheonji’s interpretation is correct:

• That Revelation 6 was fulfilled in September 1980
• That Revelation 7 is being fulfilled now at Shincheonji
• That the 144,000 are literal members of Shincheonji
• That the sealing is happening through Shincheonji’s teaching

But all of these are unproven assumptions.

If the interpretation is wrong, then the entire timeline is wrong, and students are not “in Revelation 7″—they’re in a group that’s misinterpreting Scripture.

What First-Century Christians Understood

When first-century Christians read Revelation, they didn’t think:

• “This is about events 1,900 years in the future in Korea”
• “We need to figure out where we are in the timeline”
• “We need to join the right organization to be sealed”

They understood Revelation as:

• A letter to them, addressing their situation
• Encouragement in their persecution under Rome
• Assurance that God would judge their oppressors and vindicate His people
• Hope for Christ’s ultimate victory

The book was relevant to them in their time, not just to people 2,000 years later.

As explained in “How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon,” Revelation used symbolic language that first-century Christians would have recognized as referring to their own context—particularly the Roman Empire and the persecution they faced.

The “beast” imagery would have evoked Rome, the oppressive empire that demanded worship of the emperor.

The “144,000” would have represented the complete people of God—Jewish and Gentile believers united in Christ.

The “sealing” would have assured them that God had marked them as His own and would protect them from His wrath, even as they faced persecution from Rome.

They didn’t need to wait 2,000 years for these promises to be relevant. They were relevant immediately.

The Danger of Timeline Obsession

Throughout church history, groups have been obsessed with figuring out “where we are” in biblical prophecy:

• Early church: Some thought they were in the final days
• Medieval period: Various dates and timelines were calculated
• Reformation: Reformers debated prophetic timelines
• 19th century: Millerites predicted Christ’s return in 1844
• 20th century: Countless groups predicted specific dates and timelines
• 21st century: The obsession continues

Every group that claimed “we know exactly where we are in prophecy” has been wrong.

The biblical approach is different:

Acts 1:6-8:

“Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'”

The disciples asked about timing: “When will you restore the kingdom?”

Jesus’ response: “It is not for you to know the times or dates.”

Instead of focusing on timelines, focus on mission: “You will be my witnesses.”

This is the biblical priority—not figuring out “where we are in Revelation,” but faithfully following Christ and being His witnesses.

Biblical Response: Focus on Christ, Not Timelines

2 Peter 3:10-14:

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

Peter’s focus is not on calculating timelines but on how we should live:

• “What kind of people ought you to be?”
• “Live holy and godly lives”
• “Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him”

This is the biblical priority—not timeline obsession, but holy living in anticipation of Christ’s return.

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Part 9: The Progression of Indoctrination – Where Students Are Now

The Journey So Far

By Lesson 111, students have progressed through a carefully designed indoctrination process:

Beginner Level (Parables):

• Established distrust of traditional Christianity
• Learned the “Betrayal-Destruction-Salvation” pattern
• Created dependence on Shincheonji for biblical understanding
• Formed deep friendships within the group

Intermediate Level (Bible Logic):

• Learned pattern recognition and “Bible logic”
• Reinforced that only Shincheonji has correct interpretation
• Deepened isolation from other Christians
• Practiced interpreting everything through Shincheonji’s framework

Advanced Level – Revelation 1-5:

• Learned the Tabernacle Temple narrative
• Identified Lee Man-hee as the “white horse” and “New John”
• Accepted that Revelation is being fulfilled now
• Began to see themselves as part of the fulfillment

Advanced Level – Revelation 6-7:

• Witnessed “judgment” in Revelation 6
• Learned about the 144,000 “priests”
• Learned about the great multitude
• Received invitation to Mount Zion
• Warned not to “look back” like Lot’s wife
• Categorized as “three kinds of people”
• Encouraged to “strive” for the 144,000

Advanced Level – Lesson 111 (Current):

• Told Satan’s 6,000-year rule is ending
• Asked: “Have I been created according to Revelation?”
• Warned not to be like dogs, pigs, or betrayers
• Called to public commitment: “Who wants to be a priest?”
• Taught that fulfillment of prophecy proves truth
• Given specific dates: September 1980
• Positioned in the timeline: “You are in Revelation 7”
• Prepared to receive “words from the promised pastor”

The Intensification at This Stage

Lesson 111 represents a significant intensification:

1. Identity Is Fully Tied to the Organization

“Have I been created according to Revelation?” Your very existence is now understood as being for Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation.

2. Fear-Based Control Is Explicit

Dogs, pigs, betrayers—the language is harsh and designed to create revulsion at leaving.

3. Public Commitment Is Demanded

“Who wants to be a priest by a show of hands?” You’re being asked to commit publicly, making it harder to back out later.

4. Authority Is Centralized

“Words from the promised pastor”—Lee Man-hee’s authority is being elevated to a unique, prophetic level.

5. Timeline Creates Urgency

“6,000 years ending,” “September 1980 already fulfilled,” “You are in Revelation 7 now”—the urgency is at maximum.

6. The Interpretation Is Presented as Proven Fact

“This event has already happened. It is now history to us.”—The interpretation is no longer presented as one possibility, but as established fact.

The Psychological State of Students

By this point, students are likely experiencing:

1. Deep Investment

• 7-8 months of weekly classes
• Significant time investment (3+ hours per week, plus study time)
• Deep friendships within the group
• Possibly visited Mount Zion
• Possibly recruited friends or family
• Identity wrapped up in being part of the fulfillment

2. Cognitive Dissonance

The tension between:

• “The Bible teaches salvation by grace” vs. “I must be sealed at Shincheonji to be saved”
• “Jesus said no one knows the day or hour” vs. “We know exactly where we are in Revelation”
• “I should be honest with family” vs. “I’m hiding my involvement”
• “I should test all teaching” vs. “Questioning makes me like a dog returning to vomit”

3. Fear

• Fear of being a “dog” or “pig” if they leave
• Fear of missing the sealing
• Fear of abandoning their created purpose
• Fear of losing their identity
• Fear of losing their friendships

4. Pressure

• Pressure to raise their hand and commit publicly
• Pressure to prove they’re “of complete necessity”
• Pressure to complete the course and be sealed
• Pressure to recruit others
• Pressure to give more time and resources

5. Isolation

• Most social life is now within Shincheonji
• Distanced from family and friends outside
• Difficulty relating to people who don’t understand the “special knowledge”
• Feeling like Shincheonji is the only place where they belong

6. Confusion

• Things don’t quite add up, but they push doubts away
• The interpretation seems forced, but they’re told it’s proven
• They have questions, but they’re afraid to ask
• They feel uneasy, but they’re told it’s spiritual warfare

The Sunk Cost Fallacy

At this point, the sunk cost fallacy is powerful:

“I’ve invested so much—time, relationships, identity, mental energy. If I leave now, all of that was wasted. I can’t admit I was wrong. I have to keep going.”

This is a psychological trap. But the truth is:

The best time to leave a wrong path is as soon as you realize it’s wrong—not after investing even more.

Proverbs 14:12:

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

If the path is wrong, continuing on it doesn’t make it right. The sooner you turn back, the better.

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Part 10: Practical Guidance – What Should You Do?

If You’re Currently Taking This Lesson

You’re at a critical decision point. You’ve been asked:

• “Have I been created according to Revelation?”
• “Who wants to be a priest by a show of hands?”

You’ve been warned not to be like dogs, pigs, or betrayers.

You’ve been told you’re living in the fulfillment of Revelation, at the end of 6,000 years, in the most important moment in history.

Before you commit further, you need to:

1. Recognize the Manipulation Tactics

Understand what’s happening psychologically:

• Identity manipulation (“created according to Revelation”)
• Fear-based control (dogs, pigs, betrayers)
• Public commitment (show of hands)
• False urgency (6,000 years ending)
• Authority elevation (“promised pastor”)
• Timeline positioning (you are HERE in Revelation)
• Circular reasoning (fulfillment proves interpretation, interpretation identifies fulfillment)

These are manipulation tactics, not signs of truth.

2. Test the Historical Claims

Research the Tabernacle Temple independently:

• What actually happened in September 1980?
• Can the events be verified through independent sources?
• Do the events match what Revelation describes, or is this retrofitting?

Resources:

• “The Real Reasons Behind the Tabernacle Temple’s Destruction and Sale”
• “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and 2”
• Independent historical research on Korean religious movements

3. Consider the First-Century Context

Ask yourself:

• Would first-century Christians have understood Revelation as being about events in Korea in 1980?
• Or would they have understood it as addressing their own situation under Roman persecution?

Resources:

• “How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon”
• “The Revelation Project” by Dr. Warren Gage and Dr. Chip Bennett
• “John & Revelation Project – Part 1-8”

4. Examine the Gospel Being Taught

Ask yourself:

• Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, or by organizational membership?
• Is Christ the center, or is Lee Man-hee being elevated to a position that belongs to Christ?
• Is the focus on holy living and faithfulness to Christ, or on timeline obsession and organizational commitment?

5. Seek Outside Perspectives

Don’t make this decision in isolation:

• Talk to a pastor or Christian counselor outside of Shincheonji
• Read testimonies from former members
• Discuss your concerns with family or friends who can give objective perspective

Visit closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive resources, testimonies, and support.

6. Don’t Feel Pressured by the “Show of Hands”

If you raised your hand in that moment, you are not bound by that commitment.

A commitment made under social pressure, without full understanding, based on potentially false teaching—is not a binding commitment.

You are free to reconsider. You are free to say, “I need more time to think about this.”

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 has set you free. Don’t let yourself be burdened by a yoke of slavery to an organization.

If You’re Having Doubts

If you’re experiencing doubts, cognitive dissonance, or unease—listen to those feelings.

Doubts are not a sign of weak faith. They’re an opportunity to seek truth.

Proverbs 14:15:

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

Give thought to your steps. Test what you’ve been taught.

1 Thessalonians 5:21:

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.”

Test Shincheonji’s teaching. If it’s true, testing will confirm it. If it’s false, testing will reveal it.

Questions to ask yourself:

About the Historical Claims:

• Can the events of September 1980 be verified as fulfilling Revelation 6?
• Is there independent historical evidence, or only Shincheonji’s interpretation?
• Do the events actually match what Revelation describes?

About the Interpretation:

• Would first-century Christians have understood Revelation this way?
• Is the interpretation consistent, or does it use flexible principles (“prophecy shows the end state”) to avoid falsification?
• Is the interpretation based on Scripture, or on retrofitting events to symbolic language?

About the Gospel:

• Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, or by organizational membership?
• Is Christ the center, or is a human leader being elevated?
• Is the focus on knowing Christ, or on knowing the “correct interpretation”?

About the Fruit:

• Does this teaching produce the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)?
• Or does it produce fear, anxiety, isolation, deception, and works-righteousness?

About Your Experience:

• Do you feel free in Christ, or burdened by demands and expectations?
• Do you feel loved unconditionally, or do you feel you must prove your worth?
• Do you feel peace, or anxiety about your standing?
• Can you ask questions freely, or do you fear being seen as a “dog” or “betrayer”?

If your honest answers to these questions raise concerns, it’s time to step back and reassess.

If You’re Ready to Leave

If you’ve decided that Shincheonji’s teaching is unbiblical and you want to leave:

1. Know That Leaving Is Not Betrayal

Leaving an organization that teaches unbiblical doctrine is not betraying God—it’s choosing truth.

Acts 5:29:

“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!'”

If Shincheonji’s teaching contradicts God’s Word, then leaving is obedience to God.

2. Prepare for the Emotional Difficulty

Leaving will be difficult because:

• You’ve invested significant time and energy
• You’ve formed deep friendships
• Your identity has been tied to the organization
• You may face pressure from members to stay

But difficulty doesn’t mean you’re making the wrong choice. Sometimes the right choice is the difficult one.

3. Reconnect with Support Systems

• Reach out to family and friends outside Shincheonji
• Find a healthy church community
• Consider counseling to process your experience
• Connect with former members who understand what you’re going through

4. Remember Your Identity in Christ

Your identity is not “former member of the 144,000 at Shincheonji.”

Your identity is “child of God through faith in Christ.”

This identity cannot be taken away by leaving an organization.

Romans 8:38-39:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing—including leaving Shincheonji—can separate you from God’s love in Christ.

5. Seek Truth

After leaving, take time to:

• Study Scripture in its proper context
• Learn how first-century Christians understood Revelation
• Understand the gospel of grace through faith
• Build a healthy relationship with Christ and His church

Resources:

• closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
• Testimonies from former members
• Biblical commentaries on Revelation
• Books on understanding apocalyptic literature

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Part 11: The True Message of Revelation

What Revelation Is Really About

Revelation is not primarily about:

• Events in Korea in 1980
• A specific organization’s timeline
• Calculating 6,000 years
• Figuring out “where we are” in prophecy
• Joining the right organization to be sealed

Revelation is about:

1. The Lordship of Christ

Revelation 1:5-6:

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Christ is the center. He loves us, freed us, made us priests. Glory and power belong to Him.

2. Hope for Persecuted Believers

Revelation 2:10:

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

Revelation was written to encourage believers facing persecution. The message: Be faithful, even to death. Christ will give you the victor’s crown.

3. God’s Ultimate Victory

Revelation 21:3-4:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'”

The ultimate message: God will dwell with His people. All tears will be wiped away. Death, mourning, crying, pain—all will end.

4. The Call to Faithful Endurance

Revelation 14:12:

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”

The call is to “patient endurance”—not to timeline obsession, not to organizational commitment, but to keeping God’s commands and remaining faithful to Jesus.

5. The Warning Against False Teaching

Revelation 2:2:

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”

Jesus commends the church in Ephesus for testing those who claim to be apostles and finding them false.

We are called to test teaching—not to accept it uncritically because someone claims “fulfillment of prophecy.”

The True Hope

The hope of Revelation is not:

• Being part of an elite 144,000 at a specific organization
• Being famous (“the most famous people in the world”)
• Knowing the correct interpretation of symbolic language
• Being “created according to Revelation” for organizational purposes

The hope of Revelation is:

Revelation 22:3-5:

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

We will see His face. His name will be on our foreheads. We will reign with Him forever.

This is the hope—not organizational membership, but eternal life with God.

This hope is available to all who believe in Christ:

John 3:16:

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

“Whoever believes in him”—not “whoever joins Shincheonji,” not “whoever is part of the 144,000,” but “whoever believes in him.”

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Conclusion: The Choice Before You

Two Paths

You are being presented with two paths:

Shincheonji’s Path:

• You were created according to Revelation for this specific moment
• Satan’s 6,000-year rule is ending now
• You must join Shincheonji to be sealed
• You must prove you’re “of complete necessity”
• If you leave, you’re like a dog returning to vomit
• Lee Man-hee is the “promised pastor” with special authority
• You are in Revelation 7 right now
• September 1980 fulfilled Revelation 6
• You must commit publicly by raising your hand

Biblical Path:

• You were created in God’s image, loved by Him
• God’s timing is not for us to calculate
• You are sealed by the Holy Spirit when you believe in Christ
• Your value is inherent, not based on proving yourself
• Testing teaching is wise, not betrayal
• Christ alone is our authority and mediator
• We live faithfully, always ready for Christ’s return
• Revelation addressed first-century Christians’ situation
• You commit to Christ freely, not under pressure

Which path sounds more like the gospel of grace?

Which path sounds more like Jesus’ teaching about humility and freedom?

Which path would first-century Christians have recognized as biblical?

The Real Question

The question is not: “Have I been created according to Revelation?”

The question is: “Am I trusting in Christ alone, or am I trusting in organizational membership and human interpretation?”

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.”

Salvation is by grace through faith—not by being part of the 144,000, not by being sealed at Shincheonji, not by proving you’re “of complete necessity.”

You Are Loved

Wherever you are in this journey—hear this:

You are loved by God—not because you’re part of an organization, not because you were “created according to Revelation” for Shincheonji’s purposes, not because you raised your hand to be a priest—but because you are His creation, made in His image, and He sent His Son to die for you.

Romans 5:8:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

While you were still a sinner—before you knew about Revelation, before you heard of Shincheonji, before you proved anything—Christ died for you.

That’s the gospel. That’s the good news.

May you find freedom and rest in Christ alone.

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Final Resources and Encouragement

You Are Not Alone

Thousands have walked this path before you. Many have left Shincheonji and found freedom, healing, and genuine faith in Christ.

Their testimonies and support are available at: closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination

Additional Resources

For understanding Revelation in its first-century context:

• “How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon”
• “The Revelation Project” by Dr. Warren Gage and Dr. Chip Bennett
• “John & Revelation Project – Part 1-8”

For understanding Shincheonji’s claims:

• “Prophecy and Fulfillment”
• “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and 2”
• “The Real Reasons Behind the Tabernacle Temple’s Destruction and Sale”
• “Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation – A Christian Response”

For understanding the gospel:

• Read Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians
• Study what “salvation by grace through faith” means
• Learn about the priesthood of all believers
• Understand your identity in Christ

A Prayer for Truth

“Heavenly Father,

I’ve been taught that I was created according to Revelation, that I’m living at the end of 6,000 years, that I must be sealed at Shincheonji. But I’m not sure this is true.

Your Word says to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21). I want to test what I’ve been taught.

Please give me wisdom to discern truth from error. Help me to see clearly—not through the lens of organizational teaching, but through Your Word.

If Shincheonji’s teaching is true, confirm it through Scripture and Your Spirit. If it’s false, expose it and lead me to truth.

I don’t want to be part of an organization out of fear or pressure. I want to follow You out of love and truth.

Help me to remember that my identity is in Christ—not in organizational membership, not in being part of the 144,000, but in being Your child through faith.

Give me courage to seek truth, even if it’s difficult. Give me strength to make the right decision, even if it costs me relationships. Give me peace that comes from knowing You.

Thank You that nothing can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39)—not leaving an organization, not questioning teaching, not ‘being like a dog.’ Your love for me is secure.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

“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.” (Galatians 5:1)

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For more resources, testimonies, and support, visit: closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination