In June 1967, Elder Moses spearheaded a power struggle within the Tabernacle Temple, fueled by resentment toward Mr. Yu Sr., who had previously been a servant in Moses’s household. He persuaded Mr. Yu Jr. (Samson), then just 17 years old, that he should become the new leader of the growing movement. During this period of betrayal, Moses and six other messengers left King Emmanuel in protest, physically tearing up the covenant and desecrating the church pulpit. On November 30, 1969, Moses, along with Mr. Shin and Mr. Baek, departed from the Tabernacle Temple, reportedly due to “problems with money.” His son, Joshua, also left at this time.

Yoo Jae-yeol  (유재열), often referred to in Shincheonji literature as “Yoo Jr.”, is a critical figure in the early development and theological narrative of Shincheonji Church of Jesus. As the representative of the Seven Stars from Revelation 1:20 and the leader of the Tabernacle Temple (장막성전) in Gwacheon, he was initially seen as a vessel of God’s work—until his fall into what Shincheonji describes as betrayal and spiritual destruction.

Yoo Jr. assumed leadership of the Tabernacle Temple after removing his father, Yoo In-gu (유인구), from authority. According to Shincheonji interpretation, this act was more than an internal power grab—it marked the beginning of spiritual deviation. In a biblical lens, it mirrors Matthew 10:21, where “children will rise against their parents,” and reflects the first fracture in the sacred stewardship of God’s tabernacle. The Tabernacle Temple, once believed to be the physical fulfillment of Revelation prophecies, began to drift away from its original direction under his leadership.

However, according to Shincheonji theology, this act was not reform but betrayal. Mr. Oh brought with him the teachings of the Stewardship Education Center (청지기교육원)—a theological system Shincheonji deems heretical. By surrendering the Tabernacle Temple to Oh’s stewardship, Yoo Jr. opened the sanctuary to the destroyers, paralleling Revelation 13:6 and fulfilling the prophecy of destruction.

Following this transfer of power, Yoo Jr. left Korea for the United States. For years, Shincheonji members were taught that he had gone to study theology at Westminster Theological Seminary and returned with a Ph.D. to elevate the doctrinal status of the Tabernacle Temple. This is the fulfillment of Revelation 12, of the woman fleeing to the desert, carried off on wings like an eagle.

Still, Yoo Jr.’s most defining moment in SCJ doctrine was his return to Korea on September 20, 1981, to oversee an event known in Shincheonji history as “the Mark of the Beast” ceremony. This event, which took place at 2:00 p.m. in the Tabernacle Temple, involved 3,000 attendees. Mr. Tak (탁모) and other destroyer pastors were present. Yoo Jr. delivered a sermon titled “Qualification of a Servant,” invoking Judges 16:28 and comparing himself to Samson, asking God to strengthen him one more time. Then, in a coordinated act, all attendees raised their right hands and swore allegiance to Presbyterian doctrine—including the Westminster Confession of Faith—as they accepted ordination from unauthorized pastors.

As a result, Yoo Jr. is figuratively portrayed by SCJ as:

• The Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rv 12), who gave birth to a male child but then betrayed and turned away from God.

• The Fallen Messenger of the first church (Rv 2:1–7), who abandoned his first love, failed to repent, and had his lampstand removed.

This layered symbolism serves to illustrate how Shincheonji interprets the Betrayal–Destruction–Salvation paradigm:

• Betrayal: Yoo Jr. and the Seven Stars fall into corruption.

• Destruction: Mr. Oh, the beast from the earth, is invited into the sanctuary, and the Beast with 7 Heads and 10 Horns, the Stewardship Education Center

• Salvation: Lee Man-hee overcomes (Rv 2–3), departs, and establishes Shincheonji on March 14, 1984.

Yoo Jr.’s story, therefore, is not just a biographical footnote—it is a doctrinal cornerstone in SCJ’s prophetic narrative. His actions are believed to have directly fulfilled multiple prophecies in Revelation, and his fall was necessary, in Shincheonji’s logic, to usher in the emergence of the one who overcomes.

In Shincheonji (SCJ) theology, Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열) plays a significant yet paradoxical role as both a spiritual leader and a symbol of betrayal. Born sometime in the mid-20th century, he would have been in his late 30s to early 40s during the key events between 1980 and 1984. As the head pastor of the Tabernacle Temple—what SCJ allegorically calls “heaven” in Revelation—Yoo Jae-yeol is symbolically represented as the woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars (Revelation 12:1).

Spiritual Significance of the Woman Giving Birth and Fleeing

According to SCJ’s figurative interpretation, Yoo Jae-yeol gave birth spiritually to the male child—interpreted as Lee Man-hee (이만희), the “New John” and overcomer—through the testimony and tribulation within the Tabernacle Temple. When the spiritual “dragon” (Satan) attempted to devour the male child (Revelation 12:4), the woman (Yoo) fled to the wilderness (desert), a place God prepared for her for 1,260 days—interpreted literally as three and a half years (Revelation 12:6). This escape to the desert is said to correspond to Yoo Jae-yeol’s real-life departure to the United States around October 1980, where he reportedly studied theology.

Spiritually, SCJ views this move as the woman being carried away on the wings of an eagle to safety, a parallel drawn from Revelation 12:14. The “desert” is not a literal wasteland but a place without the word, a spiritually dry environment that SCJ associates with Western theological seminaries like Westminster. While some reports question whether he truly studied at Westminster Theological Seminary, the allegory remains central to SCJ’s teachings.

The Return of Mr. Yoo and the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13)

Upon returning from the United States, Mr. Yoo reappeared during a pivotal moment. SCJ identifies the date September 20, 1981, at 2:00 PM as the historical fulfillment of Revelation 13—the moment when 17 pastors were appointed by Mr. Tak through a single ordination ceremony. On this day, Yoo Jae-yeol, known spiritually as Samson, returned and gave what is called the “special word,” invoking God for strength “one more time”.

In SCJ’s framework, Revelation 13 speaks of the mark of the beast being placed on the right hand and forehead of the people (Revelation 13:16). Figuratively, this means that believers were acknowledging false teachings by raising their right hands (signifying allegiance) and being anointed as pastors by false shepherds (represented by the mark on the forehead). Mr. Yoo’s reappearance at the ordination is interpreted as his full cooperation with the destroyers—thus becoming both an apostate and an agent of destruction in SCJ theology.

Summary of the Figurative Roles

The Hoseang Prayer Group, under the leadership of Kim Jong-gyu, emphasized secret doctrines concerning the last days and the end times, fostering a heightened sense of spiritual urgency among its followers. The group adopted a literalistic yet highly symbolic interpretation of the Book of Revelation—an approach that closely mirrors the visions later claimed by Yoo Jae-yeol. Followers were taught that they were part of a special remnant or elect, chosen to prepare for the final judgment and the dawn of a new age. In these early teachings, we can already see the theological groundwork being laid for the doctrines that would later define both the Tabernacle Temple and Shincheonji.

• Kim Jong-gyu emphasized secret doctrines concerning the last days and the end times.
• The group likely had a literalistic and symbolic interpretation of the Book of Revelation, which is consistent with the visions later claimed by Yoo Jae-yeol.
• Followers were taught that they were part of a special remnant or elect who were preparing for the final judgment and the arrival of a new age.
• Kim Jong-gyu was referred to as “Lord” or “Father,” suggesting a quasi-divine status.
• He held an authoritative, prophetic role, with his words and revelations carrying divine weight.
• This set the precedent for later groups (like Shincheonji) deifying or semi-deifying their leaders under the guise of prophetic fulfillment.

Already, we are seeing the foundation of the teachings of not only the Tabernacle Temple, but also, the teachings of Shincheonji[s].

Yoo Jae-yeol’s spiritual journey began with fervent devotion but was quickly marked by disillusionment. Initially a follower of Kim Jong-gyu, Yoo served at a prayer center and was captivated by Kim’s charismatic leadership. However, his faith was shattered when he allegedly witnessed Kim engaging in inappropriate behavior with female followers—an incident that revealed widespread sexual misconduct within the group. Disgusted by the hypocrisy, Yoo separated from Kim and led a faction of followers away from his former mentor.

This personal cycle of spiritual fervor, betrayal, and perceived restoration laid the groundwork for Yoo’s theological framework: the doctrine of betrayal, destruction, and salvation. Drawing on passages such as Matthew 24:15, which speaks of the “abomination that causes desolation,” Yoo condemned Kim as the betrayer and developed a theology that interpreted each era of God’s work as a cycle. In this framework, God first establishes a group of chosen people (salvation), who then fall into corruption (betrayal), are judged (destruction), and are ultimately replaced by a new group that fulfills God’s will (salvation again). Yoo positioned himself as the one chosen to carry out this renewal.

Yoo claimed that he received divine revelation on March 1, 1966, when he encountered what he believed to be the “open scroll”, as referenced in Ezekiel 2:8–16 and Revelation 10:9–11. During this mystical experience, Yoo reportedly had a vision in which he saw the scene of judgment. While lying down, he acted out the imagery of consuming a scroll—described as pulling a paper-like object from his mouth, which then turned into a Bible. Upon opening its pages, he wept, struck his forehead, and declared his divine commission.

Further symbolic actions followed. Yoo held a model of the earth in both hands, rotated it, and then crushed it with force while grinding his teeth, from which blood was said to flow—representing judgment upon the world. Along with 27 witnesses, Yoo and his followers prayed and fasted, believing they had received a divine command to build a “tabernacle of witness.” This group retreated to the valley of Cheonsu Province, where they prayed continuously for six months. This period of devotion began with their entry into the valley on April 4, 1966, a date now regarded as the official founding of the Tabernacle Temple.

Yoo reported another revelation on March 14, 1966, instructing his group to commemorate Christmas as a significant observance. The construction of the temple itself commenced on June 1, 1966, and was completed by June 24. After months of consecrated prayer, Yoo and his followers descended the mountain on September 24, 1966, and began active evangelism, presenting their new community as the restored and purified group chosen by God.

This sequence of mystical visions, moral narratives, and symbolic actions formed the basis of Yoo’s authority and theology. It also heavily influenced his disciple Lee Man-hee, who would later establish Shincheonji and adopt Yoo’s cycle of betrayal, destruction, and salvation as a core doctrinal pillar, though in modified form. Thus, Yoo’s personal disillusionment and mystical claims became the foundation for a movement that presented itself as the final fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

From it’s inception, the Tabernacle Temple was always a time limited eschatology, meaning, that it predicted originally that the world would succumb to judgement on September, 1969, later to be updated to November 1969.

When the world didn’t end in 1969, the Tabernacle Temple still continued to exist; however, in the coming years the sexual scandals, abuse, embezzlement, and fraud began to surface about the “Young Servant” and the Tabernacle Temple.

In September 1975, Yoo Jae-yeol was detained by Korean authorities on charges of embezzlement, fraud, and the physical abuse of his followers. He had coerced members of the Tabernacle Temple to donate large sums of money and property under false spiritual pretenses, promising divine favor or prophetic fulfillment in return. These funds were misused for church construction and Yoo’s personal benefit, while many followers endured financial hardship. In early 1976, he was sentenced to five years in prison, a term later reduced to two and a half years of imprisonment followed by two and a half years of probation.[s1][s2]

After the news broke out about the corruption and scandals that the leadership of the Tabernacle Temple faced, and also facing potential prison time, Yoo Jae-yeol released the Tabernacle Temple to Mr. Oh, and eventually immigrated to the United States.