Name and Meaning of “Shincheonji”

Shincheonji, officially known as “Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony,” is a religious group whose name carries profound symbolism. The Korean term “Shincheonji” translates to “new heaven and new earth” in English, drawing inspiration from biblical events described in Revelation 21:1 and 15:5. The group interprets this concept metaphorically, believing it represents the replacement of traditional churches with their own organization, which they consider to be God’s kingdom on Earth.

This interpretation aligns with Shincheonji’s core belief that they are fulfilling biblical prophecies and establishing a new spiritual order. The group sees itself as the divine replacement for existing Christian denominations, embodying a new spiritual reality that supplants what they view as outdated or corrupted forms of Christianity. This understanding reconciles the group’s official name, its Korean meaning, its biblical references, and its theological stance on replacing traditional churches with their own kingdom.

The basic premise of Shincheonji is that God chose, in 1966, to restore the truth which had been lost to a group of seven men in South Korea who formed a church called the Tabernacle Temple, which also fell away through apostasy and betrayal, but then was again restored as Shincheonji Church by Lee Man-hee who overcame. The “new heavens and new earth” are not to be understood literally (and neither are most of the events of Revelation) but this refers to the passing away of the traditional churches to be replaced by God’s kingdom of Shincheonji. The meaning of the Book of Revelation was hidden in parables so that no one in heaven or on earth has been able to understand the truth for 6,000 years until now when Revelation’s fulfillment is taking place. All of the events of Revelation have already had their physical fulfillment in South Korea in the past few decades, except for some of the events of chapters 18 to 20 which will soon be fulfilled.

Summary of Beliefs

Shincheonji’s theology is built on the belief that the true interpretation of the Bible was lost shortly after Jesus’ ascension and the death of his disciples. They claim that when the Book of Revelation was given to John in 95 AD, it was “sealed,” meaning its true meaning was hidden. This belief forms the foundation for their claim that mainstream Christianity has been operating without the correct understanding of scripture for nearly two millennia. According to Shincheonji, this sealed truth remained hidden until Lee Manhee, their founder, was allegedly anointed by Jesus in spirit in 1977 (Revelation 1:17) and given the “open scroll” to eat in 1980 (Revelation 10). This event is seen as the fulfillment of Revelation 1:17 and Revelation 10. Consequently, Shincheonji teaches that Lee Manhee is the only person with the true interpretation of the Bible, especially the Book of Revelation.

This belief system naturally leads to the conclusion that salvation can only be found within Shincheonji, as they claim to be the sole possessors of the correct biblical interpretation. It also explains why they view mainstream Christianity as corrupt and apostate – in their view, these churches have been operating without the true understanding of scripture for centuries. The group’s recruitment strategies, which involve presenting themselves as a non-denominational Christian organization while actually promoting Lee Manhee’s interpretations, are a direct result of this theology. They believe they are spreading the only true understanding of the Bible’s messages, which they consider essential for salvation. This belief justifies, in their view, the use of deceptive practices in recruitment, as they see it as necessary to bring people to what they consider the true path to salvation.