In Shincheonji (SCJ) doctrine, general pastors are those who testify about the work fulfilled by the Promised Pastor by proclaiming the gospel, yet they are ultimately viewed as limited in understanding and spiritually blind. Jesus’ disciples are cited as examples of general pastors, and most Christian leaders over the past 2,000 years are placed in this category.

SCJ teaches that general pastors are in a position similar to the Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus’ first coming, bound by traditions and literal interpretations of figurative language in Scripture, which are seen as teaching lies. They are blamed for the widespread ignorance of Revelation’s true meaning and are said to often claim orthodoxy while opposing and persecuting the Promised Pastor and the congregation of the “new heaven,” dismissing them as a cult. SCJ claims that if these pastors refuse to hand over their congregations to the Promised Pastor, they will face divine judgment. Figuratively, general pastors are referred to as “dogs” who betray or lack spiritual understanding, and as “wild vines” whose teachings are likened to the “wine of adulteries” from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Ultimately, they are associated with Satan’s organization, specifically the Nicolaitans, and are labeled as false pastors and destroyers in SCJ theology.

According to Shincheonji doctrine, promised pastors are individuals whose coming is foretold in the Bible and who play a central role in initiating a new generation of God’s people by fulfilling biblical prophecies and testifying to their physical fulfillment. Jesus is considered a representative promised pastor, and in the last days, this role is said to be fulfilled by the pastor who comes in the position of Apostle John as depicted in the book of Revelation. This pastor is believed to witness the events of Revelation, receive explanations from an angel, overcome Satan’s forces, rule the nations, and teach the contents of the opened scroll. All believers are instructed to seek out and unite with the promised pastor in order to attain salvation. SCJ teaches that God, Jesus, and the spiritual kingdom descend upon and work through this individual, making them the channel through whom God performs His work. Although often persecuted and falsely labeled as a cult leader by “pastors of the devil,” the promised pastor is viewed as the “one who overcomes” in Revelation, receiving spiritual blessings such as the fruit from the tree of life, hidden manna, a white stone, and authority to judge and rule the nations. Ultimately, this pastor is described as being united with God and Jesus, speaking and acting on their behalf to bring about the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.

This chapter describes an angel giving John an opened scroll to eat and prophesy again. The promised pastor (the new John) is identified as the one who receives and eats this opened book, thereby gaining the revealed word of God to teach to peoples, nations, languages, and kings.

Revelation 10 depicts a mighty angel descending from heaven with a small scroll (or booklet) that is already open in his hand. This angel stands with one foot on the sea and one on the land, symbolizing authority over the whole world. John, the apostle, is then told to take the scroll and eat it, after which he is told he must “prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings” (Revelation 10:11).

SCJ teaches that much of Revelation is symbolic, and they apply this to chapter 10:

Shincheonji claims that the male child is Lee Manhee, instead of Jesus Christ as traditionally understand. To push back against the traditional idea, Shincheonji would point out to why would Jesus give to the “One who overcomes” the iron scepter, just to refer to himself as having the same iron scepter in Revelation 12:5? Since the book of Revelation is also entirely in the future, it must mean that the male child is not Jesus, as Jesus already received all power and the iron scepter, as seen in Matthew 28 and Psalms 2:9.

This passage, referring to the “faithful and wise servant” whom the master puts in charge to give food at the proper time, is interpreted as a prophecy pointing to the promised pastor who provides God’s word to believers. This servant is not a general call to leaders or believers, but a specific prophetic reference to Lee Man-Hee. He is believed to be appointed at the time of the Second Coming to distribute spiritual food (God’s revealed word) to believers, while the phrase, “Food at the proper time”, is the revealed word of fulfillment, i.e., the understanding of Revelation given only through the one who received the open scroll (Revelation 10).

Shincheonji claims that Lee Manhee is the fulfillment of the Advocate in flesh. God, Jesus, and the angels are working first through Lee Manhee in order to proclaim the “open” and true understanding of the word.

They would point to verses like John 16:25, where it states:

Shincheonji (SCJ) uses Daniel 12 as one of their key Old Testament foundations to justify the idea of a “Promised Pastor” who appears at the time of Revelation’s fulfillment. Here’s how they typically interpret Daniel 12 and how they use it to point to their leader, Lee Man-Hee, as this Promised Pastor

Daniel 12:4 – Sealed Words Until the Time of the End

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end…”

SCJ interpretation: This means the Bible (especially prophetic books like Revelation) is sealed and cannot be understood until the “time of the end.”Therefore, for 2,000 years, no one could fully understand Revelation until someone at the appointed time unsealed the word through fulfilled reality.

Application to Lee Man-Hee:
SCJ teaches that Lee is the one who appears at the “time of the end” to unseal the Bible—particularly Revelation—by testifying to what he has “seen and heard” (cf. Revelation 22:8). They believe this aligns with Daniel’s prophecy because only now, through Lee, can the sealed book be properly understood.

Shincheonji Perspective

Shincheonji makes the claim that their leader, Lee Man hee, is the “One who overcomes” in the book of Revelation. In order to receive eternal life, one must come to the place where the “one who overcomes” is at, because that is the place of where God, Jesus, and the heavens are residing.

To get to this conclusion, Shincheonji points to the previous “overcomers”:

Shincheonji correctly points out how Jacob was the “Overcomer” of the Old Testament who eventually set up the 12 physical tribes of Israel (Genesis 32:28). Jacob then sets up the 12 Physical tribes of Israel.

They also correctly point out how Jesus is the overcomer (John 16:33),who through his 12 Disciples sets up Spiritual Israel and Christianity.

Shincheonji then makes the conclusion that Lee Manhee is the next “Overcomer” mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3,even citing how Shincheonji created the “12 tribes” of “New Spiritual Israel” as evidence that their leader is indeed from God, only following the Bible. 

Who are the Overcomers?

While it is true that Jacob is an “overcomer”, and likewise with Jesus, we can see that in both referenced verses, the verses specify a single person in both instances.

Genesis 32:28 – Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a] because you [Jacob] have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

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

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the phrase “one who overcomes” (or similar variations) is grammatically singular, but it refers to any individual believer who overcomes, not a specific single person. Meaning, it is a plural set of people, not a single person.

Singular Terms Used in a Plural Sense

We can see a singular word be used to target a plural set of people within the writings of the Apostle John by answering the question, “who are those that overcome?”

Let’s look at what the Bible has to say:

1 John 2:13-14 – I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Even though the Apostle John may be talking to his church congregants, he is still using the singular “you”. Does this mean that only a single person in his church has overcome the evil one? Or that the recipients of his letter have overcome the evil one?

This shows how even though the “you” in the above verse is singular, it can also be used in a “plural” sense considering the target audience.

John then further drives the point home on “who overcomes the world” within the same letter.

1 John 5:3-5 – In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Apostle also does a follow up, emphasizing that those who overcome are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This letter was written 2000 years ago, and clearly the recipients of Revelation understood what it meant to be the “one who overcomes”.

We can see other examples of the New Testament using singular words and phrases, which targets more than one person.

Matthew 7:24 – “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Does this mean that there is only one wise man?

John 3:36 – “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life”.

Does this mean that there’s only one person who believes in the Son, and only one person that does not believe in the son?

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Does this mean that there’s only one new creation?

Scriptural Context and Overcoming as a Process

Both a Shincheonji member and a Christian would agree that the epistle of 1 John 5:4 was written by the Apostle John, who was also influenced by God, and God breathed.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When the Apostle John wrote about those who overcome, being influenced by the Spirit of God, God was clearly setting him up to talk about the Book of Revelation, including the overcomers referenced in Revelation 2 – 3.

Also, not all believers automatically become overcomers. Overcoming requires a daily choice to depend on Christ’s power and live by faith.

We can see this with Paul, who said in Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

It involves denying oneself, taking up one’s cross, and following Jesus. We can see this in Luke 9:23 – Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

Overcomers successfully resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil through the power of the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:4-5, Romans 8:37). They do not turn away from Christ when facing trials.

Addressing Shincheonji’s Interpretation

The promises of rewards to overcomers in Revelation 2 – 3 are addressed to the churches, indicating they are believers who have taken the first step of faith but are called to remain faithful.

We can see that the phrase, “the one who overcomes” is plural, almost immediately, even when considering Shincheonji’s interpretation, within Revelation itself.

At the end of each church for Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we see Jesus make the following claim:

“To the one who has an ear, let him hear…”

Does this mean that there was only one person who was listening? If so, then why did the New John send the letters to the 7 messengers? Also, why did the New John also warn the congregants of the Tabernacle Temple, and also promise anyone who came out and overcame the Nicholaitons the same promised blessings that the New John would receive?Even Shincheonji admits that the phrase of the “One who overcomes” is plural, considering how Shincheonji also teaches that those who are inside of Shincheonji also become “mini-pillars” in God’s temple for Revelation 3:12 for example, and also receive the white stone and hidden manna and are used to carry out the judgment against Babylon.

Shincheonji Perspective

A Shincheonji member would normally push back against the idea that the “One who overcomes” is in reference to the Christian church; after all, they also believe that Christianity was plunged into spiritual darkness.

They would make the argument that since the book of Revelation is a book of prophecy, then it must mean that the “One who overcomes” is a future person or group of people.

To address this, let’s go ahead and examine the historical context.

Historical Context

Let’s go ahead and look at the historical context of what was going on during the time that the Apostle John received the vision of Revelation.

In Revelation 1:9, we can see that the Apostle is imprisoned on the island of Patmos. In Hebrews 11:38 some Christians were hiding in caves. This shows that the early Christian church was under great distress, and were martyred for their faith.

The book of Revelation was given to the Apostle John 95 AD, and the Christian church was under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) and Nero (AD 54-68).

During the reign of Nero, we can see that the emperor blamed the Christians for a great fire that destroyed much of Rome. This resulted in the Christians being “torn apart by beasts”, “being nailed to crosses”, or were burned to death.

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), according to the Christian historian Eusebias, the Christians were still under the threat of persecution, although not as extreme as it was under the reign of Nero.

With the historical context in mind, would it not make sense that Jesus would send His church some encouragement?

Salvation and the Early Church

We can also show that clearly the Christians of the first century also received salvation, and had direct access to the Father through their faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-2

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.”

Ephesians 2:18 – for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

This is why before the throne of God, we can see the spirits of the Martyrs calling out to God for vengeance for their blood in Revelation 6:9-11.

Or why Jesus said to Thomas that John 20:29, where Jesus says blessed are those who cannot see me and yet still believe on his account.

James 1:12 – Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

We can see both the Martyrs and the Disciples receiving eternal life for their belief in who Jesus is, which is also one of the 12 promised blessings (the crown of eternal life, and not receiving the second death).

In a future document, I will go over each of the 12 promised blessings, and show how they were addressed to the early Christians, and not a random sect 2000 years in the future.

Shincheonji Perspective

In Genesis 49:8-11

8 “Judah,your brothers will praise you;

your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;

your father’s sons will bow down to you.

9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah;

you return from the prey, my son.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down,

like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he to whom it belongs shall come

and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,

his colt to the choicest branch;

he will wash his garments in wine,

his robes in the blood of grapes.

Shincheonji would claim that the “Lion’s cub” is Jesus Christ, and that the “ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes”, is a prediction about the iron scepter being passed onto another person.

Who, what, where, when, and why?

First, let us go ahead and take into account the content, by applying the who, what,  where, when, and why to Genesis 49.

Who is speaking?

Jacob (also called Israel), the patriarch, and the future promised blessings to his 12 sons and what Israel would have to overcome and confront.

What is the purpose of the chapter?

Jacob delivers prophetic blessings and predictions for each of his sons and their future tribes. These “blessings” include both positive and negative forecasts.

Where is this taking place?

Egypt, in the region of Goshen, where Jacob’s family had settled after relocating from Canaan.

When is this taking place?

Close to the end of Jacob’s life, where he blesses his 12 sons.

Why is this taking place?

For two reasons:

1. To deliver prophetic messages about the future of each son’s descendants. These messages would serve as guidance and reminders of God’s plan for the Israelites during their future slavery in Egypt and their eventual possession of Canaan.
2. To give his final instructions regarding his burial. Jacob urgently commanded his sons to bury him in Canaan, specifically in the cave of Machpelah where his ancestors were buried, rather than in Egypt.

The importance of this context is that it shows that the promises are going to be fulfilled through the physical Israelites, and then to Jesus, the “spiritual Israel”.

Who Fulfills the Iron Scepter?

With the context in mind, who is the Lion’s cub? It’s the Tribe of Judah, as we can see that Jesus is always described as a fully grown lion, not a cub.

More specifically:
In Genesis 49:9, the “lion’s cub” refers specifically to Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. This verse is part of Jacob’s prophetic blessings for his sons on his deathbed. The relevant portion of the verse states:

“You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?”

We can see that while Judah may have been referred to as a Lion’s Cub, Jesus was referred to as the Lion of Judah.

Revelation 5:5 – And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Even if we disregard the above argument, it is clear that Jacob was setting up the royal lineage through his son Judah, including prophesying about King David, who would then in turn foreshadow the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Then in 49:10 –  The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

So we see the lineage from the Physical Israelites and the descendants of Judah, including King David, until the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who the ruler’s staff was given to.

Jesus then shares this authority with his disciples, and through Jesus we have the kingdom that lasts for all eternity.

This prophecy was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, and not through Lee Manhee.

The Male Child and the Book of Revelation – Only Futuristic?

Questions – How many times does Jesus need to be exalted?

Many who interpret the Book of Revelation as entirely future-based overlook the powerful scene in Revelation 5, which describes Jesus—depicted as the slain Lamb—being found worthy to take the scroll from God’s right hand. This scroll represents God’s redemptive plan and authority, and no one in heaven or on earth is found worthy to open it except Jesus. The reason given for His worthiness is explicitly tied to His past act of sacrifice: “because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language…” (Revelation 5:9). This act of being found worthy and receiving the scroll doesn’t point to a future event, but to a moment after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Revelation, then, includes a heavenly affirmation of what has already taken place in salvation history.

This reading aligns with other New Testament texts. Hebrews 1:3 states, “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” emphasizing that Jesus was exalted after His redemptive work was completed. Matthew 28:18 also affirms that Jesus has already been given “all authority in heaven and on earth.” Taken together, these passages challenge the idea that Revelation must be entirely future. Instead, they show that some parts of Revelation reflect spiritual realities that were already inaugurated in the first century. The exaltation of Christ is not a repeated event waiting for future fulfillment—it is a completed truth rooted in His past victory on the cross.

Overcomers Already Existed in the 1st Century

Shincheonji teaches that the “one who overcomes” in Revelation is a singular, future individual—initially Lee Manhee—through whom salvation and understanding of Scripture are made possible. However, the Apostle John, who also wrote Revelation, defines “overcomers” in 1 John 5:4–5 as all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This means that overcoming is not a future designation limited to a special person, but a present reality for all genuine believers. The early church, made up of faithful Christians who endured persecution and remained steadfast in their faith, had already overcome the world through Christ.

This understanding directly challenges the idea that Revelation’s promises are reserved only for a future generation. The overcoming faith described by John was active in the lives of first-century Christians, who were already living in light of Jesus’ victory. The consistent message of the New Testament is that believers, through their union with Christ, share in His triumph. Therefore, the call to “overcome” in Revelation cannot be monopolized by a single figure or limited to a future fulfillment—it is a continuous call to all believers across time who remain faithful to Jesus.

How many times was Jesus Exalted?

If Revelation is interpreted as entirely future, it raises a serious theological inconsistency: how many times must Jesus be exalted or receive authority? Revelation 5 already depicts Jesus receiving the scroll—symbolizing divine authority and the right to execute God’s redemptive plan—because He was slain. This moment reflects the culmination of His earthly mission, not a future event awaiting fulfillment. Furthermore, Jesus Himself declares in Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” immediately following His resurrection. If Christ already received full authority then, it becomes redundant—and even contradictory—to suggest He must receive it again in a later fulfillment of Revelation.

This redundancy undermines the finality and sufficiency of Christ’s redemptive work. The New Testament consistently affirms that Jesus’ exaltation happened once, after His sacrificial death and resurrection. Hebrews 1:3–4 reinforces this, stating that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God after making purification for sins. To claim that the Book of Revelation’s fulfillment requires Jesus to be exalted a second time—either symbolically or literally—distorts the biblical timeline and shifts the focus away from His finished work. Revelation includes both present spiritual realities and future promises, but Christ’s authority is not pending; it’s already been fully given.

Authority Already Shared with Believers

Another flaw in viewing Revelation as entirely future is the assumption that authority is only given at the end time and exclusively to a particular individual. Revelation 2:26–27 states, “To the one who overcomes… I will give authority over the nations… he will rule them with an iron scepter.” While Shincheonji claims this refers to a singular figure like Lee Manhee, the text clearly refers to multiple overcomers—faithful believers—sharing in Christ’s authority. Jesus is quoting Psalm 2, a Messianic prophecy about His own kingship, and He is extending His authority to others, not transferring it from Himself to a future human.

This sharing of authority is already visible throughout the New Testament. In Luke 10:19, Jesus tells His disciples, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.” Paul affirms this in 2 Corinthians 5:20, calling believers “ambassadors for Christ,” and in Romans 8:17, stating that Christians are “co-heirs with Christ.” The apostles, like Peter in Matthew 16:18–19, were entrusted with real authority during their lifetimes. These examples show that Christ’s authority has already been extended to His followers—not held back for a future transfer. Therefore, Revelation reflects an ongoing spiritual reality: faithful believers share in Christ’s reign now and in the age to come.

Psalm 2 is an enthronement psalm in which the LORD installs His Son as King over the nations, declaring, “You shall break/rule them with a rod of iron” (Ps 2:9). In the Greek Septuagint, the verb poimainō means “to shepherd,” and John deliberately uses this same term in Revelation. In Rev 12:5, the male child—caught up to God’s throne—is destined “to rule/shepherd all nations with a rod of iron,” a clear picture of Jesus’ ascension and royal authority, not of a later human figure. Rev 19:15 repeats the promise, showing the rider called the Word of God—again unmistakably Jesus—ruling with the rod of iron. Taken together, these passages directly and uniquely apply Psalm 2’s promise to Christ, the Davidic Son who receives the nations and exercises just, unbreakable rule.

In Rev 2:26–27, Jesus extends this imagery to believers, promising, “To the one who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, I will give authority over the nations… as I myself have received from my Father.” The authority flows from the Father to the Son and then to His people, making it a shared participation in Christ’s rule, not a transfer of ownership. This is co-regency, not succession—similar to Rev 3:21, where overcomers sit with Christ on His throne. The promise is corporate, offered to all who overcome, and fits the broader New Testament pattern: Jesus already has all authority (Matt 28:18–20), the saints will judge the world (1 Cor 6:2), and the kingdom is given to the saints under the Most High (Dan 7:14, 27).

This destroys SCJ’s “transfer” model. Nowhere do Psalm 2 or Revelation depict the iron scepter being permanently moved away from Christ to another owner. Revelation’s grammar shows derived authority (“I will give… as I received”), not a complete handoff. And when the decisive end-time moment comes in Rev 19:15, the one wielding the iron scepter is Jesus Himself—not an earthly substitute. The iron scepter remains Christ’s royal prerogative, and while He graciously shares that authority with His people, He never creates a separate, exclusive office for another human to rule in His place.

The Male Child Is Jesus, Not a Future Pastor

Shincheonji teaches that the “male child” in Revelation 12:5 refers to Lee Manhee, claiming he is the one who will “rule all nations with an iron scepter.” However, this interpretation ignores the biblical and historical context. Revelation 12:5 echoes Psalm 2:9, a well-known Messianic prophecy about Jesus, and is consistently applied to Christ throughout Scripture. For example, Revelation 19:15 clearly identifies Jesus as the one who rules the nations with an iron scepter. Additionally, the verse states that the male child is “snatched up to God and to his throne,” which matches the description of Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1:9 and His exaltation in Hebrews 1:3, where He sits at the right hand of God after making purification for sins.

Interpreting the male child as anyone other than Jesus undermines the unity and coherence of the New Testament message. Philippians 2:9–11 affirms that God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name. There is no scriptural support for reassigning this role to a future pastor or prophet. By claiming that Lee Manhee fulfills the role of the male child, Shincheonji places a human figure in a position reserved solely for Christ. This not only distorts the identity of the true Messiah but also elevates a man to a level of authority and reverence that Scripture attributes exclusively to Jesus.

Early Christians Already Understood and Applied Revelation

Another key argument against viewing Revelation as entirely future is that early Christians were already expected to understand and apply its teachings. The Apostle John, who wrote Revelation, also affirmed in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. This includes Revelation. If the book were sealed and irrelevant until a future figure arrived to interpret it, as Shincheonji claims, it would contradict Paul’s teaching that all Scripture is immediately useful and relevant to the church. Revelation was not given as a puzzle for a distant generation—it was addressed to real first-century churches facing persecution, warning them, encouraging them, and calling them to overcome.

This point is further reinforced by how the early church treated the content of Revelation. They were instructed to read it aloud, heed its words, and remain faithful (Revelation 1:3). This presumes the book’s message was intelligible and applicable even then. The idea that Revelation remained meaningless or unfulfilled for 2,000 years until a single modern man could unlock it not only dismisses its historical context but also undermines the sufficiency of Scripture. From the very beginning, the message of Revelation was meant to strengthen and equip believers—not wait for an exclusive interpretation by a self-proclaimed promised pastor.

hen Jesus promised the Advocate in John 14–16, He was speaking directly to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. The context of His words is deeply personal—meant to comfort His followers in anticipation of His departure. Jesus tells them that the Father will send “another Helper” who will be with them forever (John 14:16), and He instructs them not to leave Jerusalem until they receive this promised gift (Acts 1:4–5). That promise was fulfilled just days later at Pentecost in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, empowering them to preach, teach, and carry out the mission Jesus gave them. There is no indication that the Advocate was meant to appear 2,000 years later through a single individual.

To claim that the Advocate refers to a future pastor like Lee Manhee ignores both the immediate audience and the historical fulfillment recorded in Scripture. If the Holy Spirit had not come at Pentecost, the disciples would have disobeyed Jesus’ explicit command to wait until He did. Yet Acts confirms that they did receive what was promised, and the early church was born through the Spirit’s power. The entire book of Acts testifies to the Spirit’s active presence within and through the apostles—not through an angel, and not through a delayed future messenger. Thus, the Advocate was promised to the original disciples and given to them shortly after Jesus’ ascension, not reserved for a modern-day prophet.

A key distinction between the biblical Advocate and Shincheonji’s interpretation lies in the nature of the Advocate’s presence. In John 14:17, Jesus tells His disciples that the Spirit of truth “dwells with you and will be in you.” This indicates an internal and personal presence of the Holy Spirit within each believer. Later, in John 14:26 and 16:13, Jesus explains that the Spirit will teach, remind, and guide His followers into all truth. These functions require ongoing interaction with multiple individuals across time and geography. The implication is clear: the Advocate must be omnipresent to dwell in and guide all believers at once—something neither an angel nor a single human being, like Lee Manhee, can do.

Unlike the Holy Spirit, both angels and humans are spatially limited. An angel may be powerful, but cannot indwell believers across the globe. Likewise, a man claiming to be the Advocate “in the flesh” cannot simultaneously guide, teach, and remind the global body of Christ. The Holy Spirit’s ability to work within every believer, in every place, at all times, is an essential attribute of the true Advocate. By redefining the Advocate as an angel working through Lee Manhee, Shincheonji introduces a theological contradiction: they assign divine, omnipresent functions to finite beings. This distorts the biblical picture of the Holy Spirit and ultimately diminishes the role of God Himself in the life of the believer.

Shincheonji will often cite Hebrews 1:14—“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”—to argue that the Comforter of John 14–16 could be understood as many spirits or as one who uses many spirits to help. But this interpretation breaks down when compared to Jesus’ actual promise. In John 14:16, Jesus speaks of “another Helper” (Paraklêtos) in the singular, not a group of spirits. This Advocate is consistently identified as the Holy Spirit in the surrounding context (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7), not as a collection of angelic beings.

Furthermore, the Advocate has the divine attribute of omnipresence—“to be with you forever” (John 14:16) and to dwell “with you and… in you” (John 14:17). No angel or group of angels shares this quality. Angels are created beings with limited presence and power, whereas the promised Advocate is God’s Spirit Himself, able to indwell all believers everywhere at all times. This makes equating the Advocate with “many ministering spirits” a complete mismatch with both the language and the theology of the text.

Shincheonji may try to sidestep the issue of the Advocate’s omnipresence by claiming that it is merely the words of the Comforter that remain with us, rather than the presence of the Spirit Himself—reducing the promise to the delivery of doctrine. But John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” The Greek verb for “guide” (hodēgēsei) is ongoing and relational, describing an active, continuing work rather than a one-time information drop.

The Spirit’s role is not that of a courier who delivers teaching and then departs, but of a personal guide who walks alongside believers, illuminating truth in real time, applying Christ’s words to our lives, and transforming us from within. This relational dynamic is reinforced by Jesus’ promise that the Spirit will “dwell with you and… be in you” (John 14:17), something no impersonal transmission of words—or any angel—can replicate.

The New Testament presents a consistent timeline for when the promised Advocate—the Holy Spirit—arrived. In John 16:7, Jesus tells His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” This promise is fulfilled in Acts 2, shortly after Jesus’ ascension. Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, explicitly states that Jesus, having been exalted to the right hand of God, “has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing” (Acts 2:33). The connection between Jesus’ departure and the immediate sending of the Spirit is not ambiguous—Scripture presents it as a direct cause-and-effect event.

This timeline contradicts the idea that the Advocate only comes 2,000 years later through an angel delivering a scroll to Lee Manhee. The early church didn’t wait for another prophet or pastor to interpret Revelation before receiving the Holy Spirit; they received Him directly, as promised, and were empowered to spread the gospel immediately. The continuity between Jesus’ words in John and the events of Acts demonstrates that the arrival of the Advocate is not a delayed or symbolic fulfillment—it is a historical reality experienced by the first-century believers. To insert a modern fulfillment not only disrupts the biblical sequence but also denies the sufficiency of the Spirit already given to the Church.

One of the most theologically troubling aspects of Shincheonji’s doctrine is that it effectively replaces the role of the Holy Spirit with a man, Lee Manhee. SCJ teaches that the “Spirit of the Advocate” works through the angel in Revelation 10, and that this angel in turn works through Lee, making him the “Advocate in flesh.” But this framework contradicts what Jesus clearly taught in John 14–16. The Advocate Jesus promised was not merely a messenger delivering information but the divine presence of God Himself—the Holy Spirit—dwelling within all believers. Reducing this to a single man who claims exclusive authority to interpret Revelation strips the Spirit of His relational, omnipresent, and ongoing ministry to the global Church.

This doctrine elevates a human to a position that Scripture reserves only for God. It implies that believers cannot understand God’s Word or receive salvation apart from Lee Manhee, positioning him as the exclusive mediator between God and man—a role Scripture says belongs to Jesus Christ alone (1 Timothy 2:5). Furthermore, this view denies the sufficiency of the Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout church history and introduces a new hierarchy where divine truth flows not from the Spirit to all believers, but from one man to everyone else. In doing so, SCJ diminishes the person and work of the Holy Spirit and redefines Christianity around a human figure, not around Christ.

When interpreting John 16:13 and John 16:25, we must keep the context in mind rather than cherry-picking verses and claiming a divine revelation. Jesus was speaking to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, offering promises to comfort them and assure them that not all hope would be lost when He was crucified and ascended to His Father. The “figurative language” He mentions refers to the parables, metaphors, and veiled teachings He used during His ministry (e.g., John 10:6; 16:25).

The “time is coming” points to the period after His resurrection and the arrival of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7, 13). This shift from figurative to plain speaking began when Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures after His resurrection (Luke 24:45) and continued through the Spirit’s inspiration of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21). In this way, the promise of clearer understanding was fulfilled in the disciples’ lifetimes, not reserved for a future “promised pastor” or hidden interpreter centuries later.

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Shincheonji will often cite Hebrews 1:14—“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”—to argue that the Comforter of John 14–16 could be understood as many spirits or as one who uses many spirits to help. But this interpretation breaks down when compared to Jesus’ actual promise. In John 14:16, Jesus speaks of “another Helper” (Paraklêtos) in the singular, not a group of spirits. This Advocate is consistently identified as the Holy Spirit in the surrounding context (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7), not as a collection of angelic beings.

Furthermore, the Advocate has the divine attribute of omnipresence—“to be with you forever” (John 14:16) and to dwell “with you and… in you” (John 14:17). No angel or group of angels shares this quality. Angels are created beings with limited presence and power, whereas the promised Advocate is God’s Spirit Himself, able to indwell all believers everywhere at all times. This makes equating the Advocate with “many ministering spirits” a complete mismatch with both the language and the theology of the text.

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Lack of Biblical Support

Shincheonji also claims that the parallels between the first and second coming are going to be apparent, as seen in Lee Manhee’s books:

“Just as the Old Testament promises Jesus Christ (Jn. 5:39), the New Testament prophecies about this promised pastor¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 82).

• On a side note, Jn. 5:39 is only about Jesus Christ, and there’s no indication of a future promised pastor.

 “The Old Testament testified about one person in Jesus, God’s promised pastor.  It is no exaggeration to say that the New Testament testifies about the one pastor Jesus promised¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 337).”

“It could be said that the New Testament proclaims one pastor promised by Jesus¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 429).”

The doctrinal issue is that throughout the Old Testament, we can find explicit references to a future coming Messiah that are easy to understand and are relatively straight forward.

Examples include the following:

Genesis 49:10

Deuteronomy 18:15

Jeremiah 23:5-6

Micah 5:2

Daniel 7:9-10

This is also why we even see the Samaritan woman who understands and is also waiting for the Messiah, as seen in John 4:25, 42

The Tulmid tradition says that the prophets spoke of nothing more important than the days of the Messiah.

“All the prophets only prophesied with regard to the change in world order in the end of days with regard to the days of the Messiah” Berakhot 34b

In the generations after Hezekiah, there are prophecies about both redemption and the coming of the Messiah. Sanhedrin 99a

Unfortunately, the idea of another person to speak behalf of God and Jesus isn’t as explicit, but instead rely on a hidden truth that needed to be revealed so that Satan wouldn’t interfere with God’s plan.

The Issues with Hidden Promises

Shincheonji Perspective:

Shincheonji would heavily rely on the concept of the “hidden truth” that was obscured away with parables, and that only when the Promised Pastor of the New Testament comes, we can have the true understanding of the Bible.

Christian Perspective:

The issue with the above statement is that it’s circular. What Shincheonji is ultimately saying is that because their leader, Lee Manhee, has a commentary on the Bible, it must mean that he is the Promised Pastor of the New Testament.

A specific promise according to the Bible is one that the voice in the written record makes known to others independently, like in the writings of the Hebrew prophets announcing the Messiah’s coming.  If the written word does not make this clear, the real source of authority is the leader’s revelation (from heavenly entities), which other end-time leaders have used to reveal prophecies for their coming.

Imagine a U.S. judge declaring that ¨something is clear according to the U.S. Constitution¨.  This would mean that other judges could open the Constitution and find it there.  It would be suspicious if it were only clear to this particular judge and no other judge could confirm its clarity.  It would make everything based on this judge’s interpretation/perspective of the Constitution, but not the Constitution’s self-revelation.

One Shincheonji instructor replied that perhaps God planned to hide this promise (i.e. seal it) from Christians.  But, this creates more problems than it answers.  First, it would make Manhee Lee’s promise different from the promise of a Messiah in the Old Testament, which goes against Mr. Lee’s statement above. 

Second, if God truly asks believers to follow a final pastor, it would be strange to hide this promise in his written testimony and then expect everyone to believe a promise that is not clearly revealed in the Bible.

Even though the written word gives many clear prophecies about the end, Christians have never seen a clear promise to follow a world pastor who embodies Jesus’ spiritual return.  Jesus’ first sign of the end is a warning to stay away from leaders who come in his name and embody his expected return (Luke. 21:8, Matthew. 24:4,5).

The Unreliable Testimony of Lee Manhee

While a Shincheonji member may now claim that Lee Manhee isn’t infallible for his witness of the events of Revelation, this only further undermines Lee Manhee’s claim of a divine appointment from Jesus.

Quoting Lee Manhee directly:

The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation (2014), Prologue: –“Roughly 2,000 years ago, Apostle John saw the revelation of Jesus in a vision on the island of Patmos, which is now part of Greece. At that time, John wrote the book of Revelation as a prophecy to be fulfilled in the future. Today, I have witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation, which were promised by our Lord, and I have written this book according to the explanation given to me by the spirit.”

The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation (2014), p. 9:

“Since, however, this is the time of the fulfillment and the prophecies have been fulfilled in the blink of an eye, I am ready to testify in detail according to the reality and truth I have witnessed and the explanation I have received from the spirit.”

The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation (2014), page 26 – “Since John, according to the will of Jesus, directly sees and hears the explanation of everything recorded in Revelation, John’s testimony is the only testimony regarding Revelation that is true.”

Despite Lee Manhee claiming that he can explain the events of Revelation in great detail, he seems to have made quite a number of mistakes.

In the past, he made the mistake by incorrectly identifying who the reality of the Beast of the Earth was.

In the present, he made the mistake of not knowing what the reality of the Great Tribulation was, even calling God’s work the “devil’s deed”, which is attributing the judgment carried out by God and the angels to the devil, and is technically “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit” as seen in Mark 3:29. 

Of course, I expect that SCJ will say that it was a “misunderstanding” and attempt to gaslight the direct quote, but I digress. 

Then there are also doctrinal issues with Shincheonji, where the flow of Revelation 7 was updated and changed, and even try to say that COVID-19 was the “catalyst” of more tribulations.

There’s also the fact that for close to 40 years, Shincheonji taught that the fulfillment of Revelation 12 included Yoo Jae Yool fleeing to the US to pursue a theology degree from Westminster, and even provided a forged document showing the Westminster degree, only to later claim that Lee Manhee only heard this from other men and rumors, and not from God.

We also have to take into consideration that Shincheonji also redefines what a lie is through their wisdom of hiding, which also puts into question whether or not more “wisdom” is being used for their fulfillment.

Then lastly, here are more resources that go into greater detail about the “fulfillment” of Shincheonji:

Fulfillment Issues with Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation

Translation of Won Se-ho’s Interview (The founder of SEC, in charge of training materials)

Beast with 7 Heads and 10 Horns Analyzed Fulfillment Analyzed

Little Bird’s Essay on the Fulfillment Issues of Shincheonji

• The one who saw and heard
• The one who ate the open scroll
• Angel who was sent on behalf of Jesus
• The Sealed 144,000 of the 12 tribes
• The Great Tribulation
• The Great Multitude with White
• The number of wars in Revelation
• Peace in Mindanao
• Image of the Beast
• Who is the beast of the earth?
• The 3.5 days of the 2 witnesses
• 7000 killed
• A reed like rod
• Lee Manhee involvement with the Olive Tree
• Tabernacle Temple
• Baek’s Recreation Church

While a Shincheonji member may also claim that these are just “misunderstandings”, and that we should not worry too much about the details, a Christian would contend that the details do matter.

When Jesus was asked about the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, and doing away with the law, he responded in the following manner:

Matthew 5:17-19:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

This shows that even the “smallest stroke” will be fulfilled.

The New John Shifts the focus away from Jesus

While a Shincheonji member would acknowledge that the book of Revelation is about Jesus, objectively speaking, when looking at the exaltation and purpose of Lee Manhee becoming the final witness to the events of Revelation, it isn’t much of a stretch to show that this is more about Lee Manhee instead of Jesus Christ.

For example, our salvation is based upon the testimony of the “New John”:

The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, page 10 – “This means that no one can come to Jesus, gain eternal life, or enter heaven except through the one who overcomes (Rv10).”

The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, page 11 – “Today, Revelation is being fulfilled, and salvation can only be obtained through the promised one who overcomes.”

The Creation of Heaven & Earth, page 188 – “All believers must find the one who overcomes – the pastor promised in Rv 2-3 – in order to attain heaven and eternal life.”

The Creation of Heaven & Earth, p. 276 – The pastor of salvation, whom Jesus has promised in the New Testament, is the person who fights and overcomes the enemy prophesied in Revelation. God’s kingdom descends upon him.

Then we can also look at how Lee Manhee continues to exalt himself with the following titles:

He is the servant of Revelation 1:1

He is the “One Who Overcomes” of Revelation chapters 2 to 3.

He wrote the letters to the 7 churches

He is the pillar in God’s temple Rv 3:12

He is the one who went to heaven in Rv 4

He was the one before the throne who wept in Rv 5

He is the one that is sealing the 144,000 in Rev. 7.

He is the golden censer of Rev. 8:3-5.

The one who eats the little book in Rev. 10.

He was one of the Two Witnesses of Rev. 11

He is the Seventh Trumpet in Rev. 11:15ff.

He is the male child born in Rev. 12:5f

He is the white horse that Jesus rides on in Rev 19:11

He is the bride of Christ of Rev. 19 and Rev. 21

He is the Messenger who speaks of in Rev. 22:16.

Faithful and Wise Servant (Mt 24:45)

The Advocate (John 14-16)

He is the “tree of life” in the Bible and will sit on God’s throne

Is there a “New John”?

A Shincheonji person may lastly point to Revelation 1:1-3, and Revelation 22:16, claiming that these verses explicitly show that there is indeed a “New John” who will seal the servants of God.

The issue with this interpretation is how the promised blessings of Revelation 2 – 3 were being applied to the believers of the 1st century, and even today. This demonstrates that there is no need for a future Messianic figure, or Promised Pastor of the New Testament.

The purpose of the Book of Revelation, when looking at it from a historical perspective, is to give the Christian Church hope. These same Christians were being tormented for their faith during the time of the Roman empire, and yet the Christian faith managed to triumph and overcome the Roman empire, eventually even absorbing the empire that tried to stamp them out.

Using context, some reasoning and logic, and letting the Bible speak for itself, there doesn’t appear to be a future, Promised Pastor of the New Testament.

What about the New Song?

Shincheonji

The “new song” primarily represents the testimony and proclamation of the fulfilled prophecies of the New Testament, particularly the Book of Revelation, occurring in the present time according to Shincheonji doctrine.

Christian Response:

Let’s just let the Bible speak for itself:

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.”

In Revelation 5:9-10, the ones singing the new song are the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures around the throne of God. These verses are part of a scene in which a scroll sealed with seven seals is presented, and the only one found worthy to open the scroll is the Lamb (Jesus Christ), who has been slain and redeemed people to God by His blood.

This moment of worship happens before any of the seals are opened—meaning that the worthiness to take and open the scroll precedes the unfolding of Revelation’s prophetic judgments.

This completely contradicts Shincheonji’s teaching that a man in the future (Lee Man-Hee) receives and opens the scroll after some chain of spiritual authority. The Bible is crystal clear: only the Lamb, because of His redemptive work on the cross, is qualified to open the scroll.

What is the new song? The song they sing praises the Lamb for His sacrificial death and the redemption it brought, making them a kingdom and priests to serve God.

What about Revelation 1:1-3?

Shincheonji:

What about Revelation 1:1-3 –

The revelation from 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 aloud 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.

What did God, Jesus, and the Angel give John? 

Christian Response

God and Jesus often use angels to carry out their will—this includes delivering messages. Throughout Scripture, God communicates:

• Directly (e.g., to Moses),

• Through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13),

• And through angels (Hebrews 1:14; Daniel 9:21–23; Luke 1:26–38).

In Revelation 1:1–3, we see this divine chain of revelation:

“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…”

This message was originally delivered to the Apostle John, and then to the Christian body, offering encouragement and hope to the persecuted church, starting in the first century. It was written symbolically, but not to conceal the truth forever—instead, it invites faithful study and trust in God’s sovereignty throughout history.

Revelation isn’t limited to one person’s interpretation. It offers truth, comfort, and perspective to all generations of believers—especially those suffering for their faith.

Shincheonji View

Shincheonji interprets Daniel 12:4 as indicating that the prophecies of Daniel were sealed until the “time of the end,” which they believe is now. They assert that their leader, Lee Man Hee, is divinely chosen to unseal these prophecies and reveal their true meanings. The phrase “knowledge shall increase” is seen as the spread of this newfound spiritual understanding through their teachings. Lastly, the reference to “many shall run to and fro” is interpreted as the global expansion of their missionary efforts, fulfilling the prophecy of an active pursuit of enlightenment.

Christian Response

For the context of the book of Daniel, the verse does plainly say that Daniel did not understand what he was writing down, and that there will be a time when “knowledge increases”. However; after going through all of the other verses and pointing out the doctrinal issues of how SCJ uses the other verses to justify their sealed book, it is still problematic for SCJ to then claim that they are the ones who fulfill this prophecy.

Can we trust Shincheonji’s interpretation?

Considering how the other verses were using in vain, and instead each verse was “added and subtracted to”, breaking Revelation 22:18-19, one has to call into question whether or not Lee Manhee truly did witness the events of Revelation and their fulfillment, and whether or not his commentary on the book of Revelation is divinely appointed.