Shincheonji Overview

Tabernacle Temple

by Explaining Faith

In Shincheonji theology, the Tabernacle Temple is understood as a literal fulfillment of biblical prophecy, particularly from Revelation. It symbolizes God’s dwelling place on Earth, a “heaven on Earth”. This concept draws from the Old Testament Tabernacle, like the one Moses built, which was a “copy and shadow of what is in heaven,” intended as a holy place for God to dwell with His people. Within SCJ, “heaven” can figuratively refer to the tabernacle of the chosen people. The Tabernacle Temple, described as having seven golden lampstands, was likened to a physical temple, with the lampstands symbolizing spirits or workers shining spiritual light.

Presence and Importance in Shincheonji Theology:

1. Establishment and Initial Role: The Tabernacle Temple was established in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea, in 1966. It was led by “seven stars” or “seven messengers,” with Yoo Jae-Yul (Yoo) as their representative. These seven messengers were believed to be appointed by Jesus and taught to prepare the way for His Second Coming, working as a lamp to illuminate spiritual darkness. Lee Man-hee, the chairman of Shincheonji, joined the Tabernacle Temple in 1967, seeing it as the location where God commanded him to be for the fulfillment of prophecies. The prophecies of Revelation, particularly chapters 2 and 3, were fulfilled in this Tabernacle Temple. It was the “church of the seven golden lampstands,” where Jesus dwelled.

2. Betrayal and Destruction: Shincheonji theology asserts that the Tabernacle Temple, despite being initially chosen by God, underwent a betrayal. This betrayal occurred through the infiltration of “Nicolaitans” (those who corrupted the doctrine) and “destroyers”. Specifically, Oh Pyeong-Ho, identified as the “chief destroyer” and the beast from the earth, entered the Tabernacle Temple. He introduced false teachings, referred to as “food sacrificed to idols” and “spiritual adultery,” leading congregation members to receive the “mark of the beast” (Satan’s lies/doctrines). The Tabernacle Temple was then “trampled” and destroyed. Specific events, such as the Tabernacle Temple changing its name to Isaac Church in September 1980, are cited as evidence of this destruction, signifying it no longer belonged to God but to Satan. This destruction was a prerequisite for the appearance of the second tabernacle, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

3. Foundation for the New Kingdom (Shincheonji): The destruction of the Tabernacle Temple paved the way for the establishment of Shincheonji, which is called the “new heaven and new earth”. Shincheonji is also known as the “Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony”. This new temple is established by “the one who overcomes” (Lee Man-hee), who fights and defeats the “beast” (destroyers). It is described as God’s promised kingdom, organized according to the heavenly blueprint with God, Jesus, and angels gathered there. All nations are called to come and worship at the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

In essence, the Tabernacle Temple represents a crucial bridge between prophecy and fulfillment in Shincheonji’s narrative. It was the initial, divinely chosen, but ultimately flawed, stage that had to undergo betrayal and destruction, much like a caterpillar must be destroyed to allow the butterfly to emerge, paving the way for the true and eternal “Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony”—Shincheonji itself.

See Terms:

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SCJ Terminology

The Tabernacle Temple in South Korea: History and Significance in Shincheonji Theology

Founding of the Tabernacle Temple (1966)

The Tabernacle Temple (장막성전) was a South Korean apocalyptic Christian movement established on March 14, 1966, by Yoo Jae-yeol, who was 18 years old, and his father, Yoo In-guen. The group’s leaders asserted they were the “Two Witnesses” prophesied in the Book of Revelation 11. Yoo Jae-yeol was frequently referred to as the “young servant” (비유: 어린 종), drawing a parallel to Jesus as the Lamb. He quickly gathered followers with his doomsday predictions, teaching that Jesus’ Second Coming would occur 1,260 days after the group’s founding date (which they claimed was March 1, 1966), and that the world would end when 144,000 believers had gathered. These predictions indicated the world would end in September 1969, later specified as November 1, 1969, and only those within the Tabernacle Temple’s designated refuge would be saved.

Yoo established the Tabernacle Temple’s headquarters in a secluded valley on the slopes of Mt. Cheonggye in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. There, he and seven of his initial followers spent 100 days praying and claiming to receive divine revelations before starting the church. These seven senior members were known as the “Seven Messengers” or “Seven Angels,” and they declared, “We are the seven stars in Jesus’ right hand from Revelation 1,” equating themselves to the seven angels of the seven churches in Asia Minor. The group even placed imagery of seven lampstands at the chapel entrance to symbolize this claim. From its inception, the movement focused on the Book of Revelation and the imminent end of the world, preaching “the last days” and promising eternal life to its members.

Doctrines and Practices of the Tabernacle Temple

Similar to many new religious movements of that era, the Tabernacle Temple combined charismatic Christian elements with unique “revealed” teachings. Yoo Jae-yeol’s doctrine emphasized that the Bible’s prophecies were hidden in parables and secrets that only he could interpret correctly. He taught that every biblical verse had a “secret pair” – a hidden twin verse that unlocked its meaning. This interpretive method, using matching scriptural “pairs” to decode prophecies, significantly influenced the group’s theology and, notably, later influenced Shincheonji’s biblical interpretation methods. The Tabernacle Temple preached that mainstream churches were false and spiritually dead, asserting that salvation could only be found by joining their congregation and adhering to Yoo’s teachings.

Apocalyptic prophecy was central to their practices. Before the predicted doomsday in 1969, members were instructed to gather at the Gwacheon “holy compound,” a secret refuge near a reservoir on Mt. Cheonggye that Yoo claimed God had prepared for survival during the coming Armageddon. The doctrine foretold a fiery judgment (“world on hellfire”) that would sweep the earth, but the faithful who entered the Tabernacle’s hiding place would emerge after the cataclysm to reign as kings in a “New Heaven and New Earth”. Consequently, Yoo’s congregation saw itself as the true Israel, spared from tribulation – a literal fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies in Korea.

Life within the Tabernacle Temple was highly communal and strictly regulated. By the early 1970s, hundreds of families had relocated to the Gwacheon hillside community surrounding the sect’s chapel. Contemporary reports indicate that between 2,000 and 5,000 believers lived in this remote “Zion” village at its peak. They constructed homes in the once-isolated valley, eventually forming a sizable village of approximately 800 households, and dedicated themselves to the movement’s work. Life was austere and regimented: converts often donated all their possessions, worked on communal farms or small factories, and spent hours in fervent prayer chants and revival meetings. Outsiders and Korean media later characterized the group as a high-control cult. A 1975 newspaper investigation accused the sect of financial fraud and exploitation, alleging that followers were forced into labor and that leaders used “threats and appeasement” to extort believers’ property and funds for the founder’s personal use. There were also reports of physical and sexual abuses (“molestation”) and illegal deforestation within the compound. These scandals began to tarnish the group’s image in the mid-1970s, even as its apocalyptic fervor persisted.

The charismatic veneration of Yoo also intensified over time. His followers came to revere him with exalted titles, calling him the “Counselor, the Spirit of Truth” and “the one who holds the Seal of God,” essentially claiming he was an immortal messianic figure who would gather the elect (the 144,000). These claims parallel how Shincheonji later exalts its own founder, Lee Man-hee, indicating a pattern of leader deification that extended from Yoo’s sect to its successors.

Growth, Failed Prophecy, and Internal Strife

The Tabernacle Temple experienced rapid growth in its initial years due to Yoo’s doomsday prophecy. As the predicted date of October/November 1969 approached, hundreds of people from Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, and other cities flocked to Gwacheon, seeking the promised salvation. Yoo predicted that World War III and a fiery judgment would erupt, but the disaster would bypass those inside the Cheonggye mountain refuge.

However, when the appointed end-date arrived and “nothing happened,” the prophecy failed spectacularly. This disappointment led to “many defections” in the aftermath. The group’s credibility was shaken, forcing Yoo to alter his approach – he ceased setting a specific date and instead hinted that the end was imminent but known “only to God”. Notably, Lee Man-hee, who witnessed this embarrassment as a follower, appears to have learned from it: in Shincheonji, Lee avoids specifying exact dates for the End, stating only that the time is “near” but undisclosed by God.

Following the failed 1969 prophecy, internal conflicts and scandals escalated in the 1970s. Yoo’s movement constructed a new grand headquarters church in Makgye-ri, Gwacheon, in 1971, possibly to reassure followers after the unfulfilled doomsday prediction. However, soon after, reports of fraud and abuse began to surface, attracting public and law enforcement attention. Dissent also grew within the community. A notable dissenter was Lee Man-hee, who had joined the Tabernacle Temple in 1967. Lee was a relatively older member (in his mid-30s, working as a low-level laborer and later a deacon) without significant rank. Yet, he became troubled by the corruption he observed. According to historical accounts, around 1970-71, Lee left the sect and even filed a police complaint against Yoo Jae-yeol for fraud. In 1971, Lee accused Yoo of swindling money, an action that enraged the leadership and resulted in Lee’s expulsion (Lee later claimed he was “beaten and threatened” for speaking out). This lawsuit contributed to Yoo’s legal difficulties: in 1975-76, authorities formally charged Yoo Jae-yeol with fraud. He was convicted, initially sentenced to 5 years in prison, which was later reduced on appeal to a suspended sentence of 2½ years with probation. Yoo was only 26 at the time of his conviction in 1976. The trial and negative press further eroded the movement’s standing.

By the late 1970s, the Tabernacle Temple was a shadow of its former self. Many followers had departed after the prophecy failure and subsequent scandals. Factional splintering also occurred, with some leaders breaking off to form their own sects. Several apocalyptic offshoots emerged from Yoo’s movement, including Mr. Kim Poong-il’s Saegwang Central Church and the late Koo In-hee’s Heaven Gospel Witnessing Association, both led by former Tabernacle Temple members. Among all the successors that would eventually arise, Lee Man-hee’s group, Shincheonji, would become by far the largest.

Government Crackdown and the Fall of the Tabernacle Temple (1980)

The final blow to the Tabernacle Temple came with a government crackdown. In 1980, General Chun Doo-hwan seized power in a military coup and became president of South Korea. Chun’s regime initiated a sweeping “social purification” policy (사회정화) to restore order in society. As part of this, the government targeted fringe religious groups in what was termed the “religious purification” campaign. Any sect not registered as an official denomination faced scrutiny or dissolution. Yoo’s movement, widely regarded as a “pseudo-Christian cult,” was an obvious target.

Mainline Christian authorities cooperated with the regime’s anti-cult efforts. An organization called the Stewardship Education Center (SEC), originally intended to train church pastors, joined the purification campaign and helped coordinate the crackdown on cults. Under pressure in September 1980, Yoo Jae-yeol abruptly stepped down as leader of the Tabernacle Temple. In a strategic move to avoid punishment, the sect invited a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Oh Pyeong-ho, to assume leadership. Oh held a legitimate pastoral license in the Presbyterian Church, and his appointment was intended to lend an air of respectability to the group. Indeed, Rev. Oh’s first action was to effectively dissolve the cult into mainstream Christianity: he brought in the Stewardship Education Center to re-educate the congregation and affiliated the entire Tabernacle Temple with the Presbyterian Church. The sect was renamed under Presbyterian oversight, with the church sign changed to “The Presbyterian Church of Korea – Church of Isaac,” symbolically ending the Tabernacle Temple as an independent entity. In essence, the group publicly “converted” to a conventional Presbyterian congregation.

These measures led to the complete disbandment of the Tabernacle Temple by late 1980. The communal buildings in Gwacheon were vacated and later demolished; the site was eventually redeveloped and is now home to Seoul Grand Park. Yoo Jae-yeol went into exile overseas, leaving for the United States in late 1980, reportedly to pursue formal theological studies at Westminster Seminary. He remained abroad for several years and returned to Korea around 1985 with a low profile. Having changed his name, Yoo is said to have left religious life, instead running a restaurant business in Seoul’s Cheongdam-dong in later years. Decades later, Yoo Jae-yeol briefly gained media attention when it emerged he became the father-in-law of Korean pop star Psy, a surprising link between an infamous cult leader and a K-pop celebrity.

Korean authorities considered the purging of the Tabernacle Temple a success of the 1980 anti-cult policy. The Stewardship Education Center continued its activities throughout the 1980s, facilitating the “rehabilitation” of this and other fringe groups. It ultimately closed its doors in 1990 after its mission concluded. From an external perspective, the Tabernacle Temple served as a cautionary tale: a doomsday cult that rapidly grew, engaged in abusive practices, and was forcibly shut down by legal and religious intervention. However, for one former member, Lee Man-hee, these tumultuous events were not the end of the story but the beginning of a new religious narrative.

Shincheonji Emerges: “New Heaven and New Earth” (1984)

In the aftermath of the Tabernacle Temple’s collapse, Lee Man-hee stepped forward to form a new movement. Lee had maintained a contingent of loyal followers who, like him, were disillusioned by Yoo Jae-yeol’s failures. After Yoo’s sect dissolved in 1980, Lee gathered some of these believers and, on March 14, 1984, officially founded Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. “Shincheonji” (신천지) literally means “New Heaven and New Earth,” a name derived from Revelation 21:1. In June 1984, they established their first humble temple in Anyang, and from those beginnings, Shincheonji grew into the large religious organization it is today.

Crucially, Lee Man-hee did not portray Shincheonji as merely a breakaway from Yoo’s group. Instead, he reinterpreted the entire saga of the Tabernacle Temple’s rise and fall as part of God’s divine plan prophesied in the Bible. According to Shincheonji’s teaching, the events in Gwacheon represented the necessary “Betrayal and Destruction” phase before the final “Salvation” phase, a pattern they claim is repeated from biblical history. In Shincheonji theology, the Tabernacle Temple was actually the “first heaven and first earth” that Revelation said would pass away, making way for a new heaven and new earth (Shincheonji itself). The end of Yoo’s church in 1980 is thus called the “destruction of the first tabernacle”. Lee’s group claims to be the “true Temple” that succeeds it; hence, their official name includes “Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony,” signifying that they are the Tabernacle that testifies to the fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies.

From Shincheonji’s perspective, God initially chose the Tabernacle Temple in Gwacheon to fulfill the Book of Revelation, but that first attempt was compromised by human failure. A Shincheonji spokesperson explicitly described it in biblical terms: “Just as John the Baptist came before Jesus, the Tabernacle Temple came before Shincheonji to announce the coming of God’s kingdom. God intended to accomplish the end-times salvation through the Gwacheon Tabernacle, but because the people there betrayed, He changed the plan – now the work of salvation has moved to Shincheonji”. In other words, Shincheonji recasts Yoo Jae-yeol’s group as a modern John the Baptist figure that prepared the way, and Lee Man-hee’s organization as the true embodiment of Christ’s second coming work. This ingenious reinterpretation transformed what could have been an embarrassing cult lineage into a badge of prophetic fulfillment.

It is important to note that outside observers view this very differently. To critics and scholars, Lee Man-hee essentially took his personal history in a failed cult and “retrofit” it into a fulfillment narrative. As one journalist put it, Lee was arguably a victim of an end-time cult scam in the 1960s-70s, “but Shincheonji’s interpretation is absurdly creative – they flipped Chairman Lee’s youthful stint in an heresy into proof that Revelation’s prophecies were coming true through him”. Mainstream Christian leaders in Korea therefore accuse Shincheonji of deceptive revisionism and label it a heresy (이단) in its own right. Nonetheless, Shincheonji’s members sincerely believe this narrative of Betrayal-Destruction-Salvation, and it forms the backbone of their doctrine.

Shincheonji’s Interpretation of the Tabernacle Temple in Revelation Prophecy

Within Shincheonji theology, the story of the Tabernacle Temple is deeply symbolic, providing the real-world “fulfillment” for many prophecies in the Book of Revelation. Shincheonji teaches that all of Revelation’s events have occurred in literal reality in South Korea, primarily during the Tabernacle Temple period (1966-1980) and the subsequent establishment of Shincheonji (1984 onward). Below are some key Revelation symbols and how Shincheonji connects them to the history of the Tabernacle Temple:

  • “Seven Stars” and “Seven Golden Lampstands” (Revelation 1-3): Shincheonji claims the “seven stars” (seven messengers) and “seven lampstands” in Jesus’ right hand (Rev 1:20) were fulfilled by Yoo Jae-yeol’s church. The Tabernacle Temple had seven core leaders (Yoo and the elders who prayed with him on Cheonggye Mt.), and they considered themselves the seven angels of the seven churches. Shincheonji upholds that interpretation: the “Tabernacle of the Seven Golden Lampstands” is their term for Yoo’s ministry. In fact, Lee Man-hee is said to have written letters to these “seven messengers” urging them to repent, paralleling the letters Jesus tells John to send to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3. Historically, Lee did write a letter of admonishment, at least to Yoo, in the late 1970s, though whether he contacted all seven leaders is disputed. Shincheonji teaches that the rebukes in Rev 2-3 (about false teachings, immorality, etc.) were directed at the problems inside the Tabernacle Temple, such as corruption and doctrinal error. For example, the sect’s leaders falling into worldly greed is likened to the “Nicolaitans,” “Balaam,” and “Jezebel” mentioned in Revelation 2—symbols of those who led early churches astray. In Shincheonji’s view, Yoo Jae-yeol and his cohorts initially had a divine mission but betrayed their calling through corruption, fulfilling the “betrayal” part of the prophetic sequence.
  • The “Betrayer,” “Destroyer,” and “Overcomer”: This trio is a core concept in Shincheonji’s explanation of how Revelation unfolds. They cite a biblical pattern where one entity betrays, a second brings destruction as judgment, and a third overcomes to bring salvation. For the modern fulfillment: Yoo Jae-yeol is identified as the “Betrayer” who broke faith (also termed the “seven-headed dragon’s head that betrays” in some materials). Oh Pyeong-ho—the Presbyterian pastor who took over and dismantled the Tabernacle—is labeled the “Son of Destruction” (a term echoing 2 Thessalonians 2:3’s “son of perdition”). Oh is seen as the agent of destruction, akin to a figurative “beast” who invaded the tabernacle. Finally, Lee Man-hee is the one “who overcomes”—the “Victor” promised in Revelation 2-3 who kept faith and was chosen to establish the new church. In Shincheonji literature, Lee (as the Overcomer) is often called the “Promised Pastor” or “One Who Overcomes” because he purportedly conquered Satan’s side in the spiritual battle.
  • War in Heaven & on Earth (Revelation 12-13): Revelation describes a war in heaven between the dragon and God’s forces, and a war on earth where a beast overcomes the saints. Shincheonji applies these to the events around 1980. The “dragon” (Satan) in heaven’s war is seen as working through the secular authorities and hostile clergy who attacked the Tabernacle Temple. The “beast from the Sea” in Revelation 13—a creature given authority for 42 months to blaspheme and make war on God’s tabernacle—is interpreted as the worldly power of the government (the sea symbolizes the unbelieving world). In other words, the Chun Doo-hwan regime’s purge of cults in 1980 is viewed as the beast’s attack on God’s dwelling. The “beast from the Earth” with two horns (Rev 13:11)—which looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon—is identified as Pastor Oh Pyeong-ho or the collaborating insider forces. Shincheonji sees Oh as a pseudo-believer (horns like a lamb = appearing Christian) who spoke Satan’s lies (voice of the dragon) to lead the Tabernacle Temple into apostasy by integrating it with false theology. These two beasts together “conquered” the first tabernacle, just as Revelation says the beast would overcome the holy ones for a time. Shincheonji sources even equate specific figures to Revelation symbols: for example, Mr. Tak Myeong-hwan, a noted anti-cult activist who headed the SEC, is sometimes likened to the “harlot Babylon” riding the beast because he (representing false religion allied with secular power) helped bring down the Tabernacle Temple. Similarly, the merger of the Tabernacle into the Presbyterian Church is viewed as “Babylon the Great” corrupting the former “holy place,” committing spiritual adultery by mixing with worldly church politics. Thus, in Shincheonji’s allegory, the fall of the Tabernacle Temple was the culmination of the great symbolic war between God and the Dragon: Satan’s side (secular authorities + unfaithful Christian leaders) temporarily triumphed, devastating the “first heaven”.
  • The “First Heaven and First Earth” Passing Away: In the Book of Revelation’s climax, “the first heaven and first earth passed away” (Rev 21:1) before the new heaven and new earth appear. Shincheonji teaches that the “first heaven/earth” was the era of the Tabernacle Temple, which has now vanished. The end of that church age in 1980 was a necessary step so that God could create a new spiritual realm—Shincheonji, the New Heaven New Earth, founded in 1984. In other words, the old religious order (both the Tabernacle Temple and even the corrupt traditional churches) is considered the former heaven that passed away, whereas Shincheonji represents the new spiritual creation where God’s work is now centered. This is why Shincheonji believers refer to the Tabernacle Temple as the “First Tabernacle,” whose destruction they preach as a fulfilled prophecy.
  • Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls: Shincheonji asserts that even the sequential visions of Revelation (the seals opened in Rev 6, the trumpet blasts in Rev 8-9, and the bowls of wrath in Rev 16) all have literal counterparts in the Tabernacle Temple story. For instance, they teach that after Lee Man-hee (figuratively “New John”) received the open scroll (understood as the revealed understanding of God’s secret—which Lee claims he got in 1980 when he says he was commissioned by heaven), the seven trumpets of judgment were sounded. In Shincheonji’s narrative, these “trumpets” were events that exposed and condemned the Tabernacle Temple’s corruption. Some describe them as public proclamations or testimonies that Lee and a few supporters made against the leaders (each “trumpet blast” bringing a new revelation of their wrongdoing). Ultimately, the seventh trumpet would correspond to the complete collapse and the declaration of salvation through the new kingdom (as Rev 11:15 says, “The seventh trumpet, and loud voices in heaven said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord…'”). Likewise, the seven bowls of God’s wrath are interpreted as the final plagues or judgments poured out on the “Babylon” that persecuted the Tabernacle Temple. Shincheonji often emphasizes that every detail—from the darkening of the sun and moon (which they say symbolized the leadership losing their authority and enlightenment), to the locust-like creatures of the fifth trumpet (perhaps symbolizing deceptive teachers)—was realized in specific incidents during 1966-1980. They present this complex allegory in their advanced teachings to persuade recruits that so many coincidences could only mean Revelation truly materialized in that church’s demise.

In Shincheonji’s eyes, because Lee Man-hee witnessed all these events firsthand, he is the end-times “John” who ate the opened scroll (Rev 10) and was told to testify to the churches. Thus, Shincheonji members believe that by listening to Lee’s testimony of the Tabernacle Temple’s story, they too become “those who have seen and heard the fulfillment” of Revelation and can overcome Satan. In summary, the Tabernacle Temple is absolutely central to Shincheonji’s theology; it is the “reality of the fulfillment” of most of Revelation’s prophecies, serving as a cautionary tale of betrayal and a stepping stone to the new era of Christ’s work.

Legacy and Perspectives on the Tabernacle Temple

From a historical perspective, the Tabernacle Temple was one of South Korea’s first notorious doomsday cults in the post-war era. Its popularity in the 1960s (thousands of members at its peak) and dramatic implosion by 1980 left a strong impression on Korean society. It prompted South Korea’s churches and government to develop a more aggressive stance toward fringe religious movements (the counter-cult efforts in the late 70s and 80s). The “religious purification” campaign of 1980 that ensnared the Tabernacle Temple was in part a response to groups like Yoo’s that were seen as socially disruptive. Even after its dissolution, the Tabernacle Temple’s legacy lived on through its offshoots. Multiple new sects sprang from its remnants (Shincheonji being the largest), and each carried some of Yoo’s theological DNA—for example, an emphasis on secret knowledge of Scripture, millenarian expectations, and denouncement of mainstream Christianity. In effect, Yoo Jae-yeol’s failed movement became the seedbed for a new generation of Korean apocalyptic sects in the 1980s and beyond.

Today, Shincheonji Church of Jesus sees itself as the triumphant successor to the Tabernacle Temple. It has grown far larger and more international than Yoo’s group ever was, claiming over 200,000 members worldwide by the 2020s, but it remains highly controversial. Mainstream Korean pastors point out that Shincheonji’s high-control practices and exclusive salvation claims are remarkably similar to those of the old Tabernacle Temple. Both groups demanded absolute loyalty, both insisted only their leader had the keys to eternal life, and both sowed division by infiltrating or poaching from established churches. In a sense, Shincheonji is carrying forward the “spirit” of the Tabernacle Temple under a new name, even as it reinterprets that spirit as something that had gone astray.

From the Shincheonji point of view, however, the two are as different as night and day. Shincheonji teaches that God’s plan moved on to a new phase after 1980—the Tabernacle Temple was a “chosen place” that failed, whereas Shincheonji is the final chosen place that will succeed. They believe we are now living in the era of fulfillment, awaiting only the very final consummation (the Second Coming of Christ and the resurrection/judgment). All the preparatory prophecies have been completed through the narrative of the Tabernacle Temple and Shincheonji’s founding. Thus, the Tabernacle Temple’s rise and fall is seen almost as a prophetic morality play—it demonstrated what happens to a “first heaven” when people betray, and it cleared the stage for God to establish the lasting “new heaven” in Shincheonji.

In conclusion, the Tabernacle Temple (1966-1980) occupies a pivotal place in Shincheonji theology and in modern Korean religious history. To outsiders, it was a dangerous apocalyptic cult that collapsed under its own false prophecies and misconduct—an episode that South Korea’s authorities responded to with a firm crackdown. To Shincheonji believers, the Tabernacle Temple was the fulfillment of Revelation’s first act: the “first heaven and first earth” that passed away, the betrayed “tabernacle” that was destroyed by the figurative Beast, and a necessary precursor to the advent of God’s new kingdom on earth in Shincheonji. All sides agree on one thing: the story of this obscure “Temple of the Tabernacle” in Gwacheon ended up profoundly influencing the trajectory of new religious movements in Korea. Its dramatic saga of charisma, deception, fervor, and downfall continues to serve as both a warning and a foundation: a warning to those who see in it the hallmarks of a cult, and the foundation of faith for those who see in it the hand of Providence setting the stage for a new spiritual era.

Sources

  1. Tabernacle Temple Church – Summary of the Tabernacle Temple’s history, founders, and its connection to Shincheonji.
  2. Journal of CESNUR (2020), “Shincheonji: An Introduction” – Massimo Introvigne – Detailed scholarly overview of Shincheonji’s history; includes the role of the Tabernacle Temple, the 1980 crackdown (SEC involvement), and Shincheonji’s doctrine of fulfillment.
  3. JoongAng Ilbo (Mar 10, 2020), Baek Sung-ho, “[과천 장막성전, 18세 교주 유재열, 그리고 이만희 신천지]” – Korean news article outlining the history of Yoo Jae-yeol’s Tabernacle Temple and how Lee Man-hee reinterpreted it for Shincheonji.
  4. Shincheonji Church of Jesus – CDAMM (Center for the Study of Apostolic and Millenarian Movements) – An encyclopedic entry detailing Lee Man-hee’s background, the fall of the Tabernacle Temple (e.g., Pastor Oh’s takeover, name change to Church of Isaac), and Shincheonji’s formation.
  5. Reddit r/Shincheonji – “History of the Tabernacle Temple, the Stewardship Education Center & Shincheonji” – Compilation of verified information by ex-members/researchers, including translated excerpts (e.g., newspaper investigations of fraud and the narrative of seven trumpets and letters).
  6. Korean Christian Heresy Information Center interview (2017) – Interview with a Shincheonji elder (Kim Dae-won) discussing the “betrayal-destruction-salvation” doctrine and identifying Yoo, Oh, and Lee in that framework.
  7. Baek, Sung-Ho (2014). Tracing the Roots of Korean Second Coming Cults (Kidok.com series) – Background on Olive Tree movement and its offshoots, including the Tabernacle Temple.
  8. Donga Ilbo archive (Apr 3, 1975) – “Investigation into emerging sect ‘Tabernacle Temple'” – contemporary news report on allegations of fraud, exploitation, and communal living conditions in Yoo’s church.
  9. Dispatch news (Mar 23, 2020) – “He is Lee Man-hee’s teacher… the reality of Yoo Jae-yeol (Psy’s father-in-law)” – details on Yoo’s later life and connections, illustrating the continued public interest in this cult leader’s fate.
  10. Wikipedia – Shincheonji Church of Jesus – General information on Shincheonji, its doctrine of Lee as “Promised Pastor,” and its controversial status in South Korea.

Additional References for more Exploration

Judgment on the Tabernacle Temple

The Seven Trumpets and Seven Bowls in Shincheonji Theology: Judgment on the Tabernacle Temple

Introduction: Tabernacle Temple as the First Heaven

In Shincheonji theology, the Tabernacle Temple is regarded as the “First Heaven” of Revelation 21:1—a spiritual sanctuary established in the last days of the Christian era before the Second Coming. Founded in 1966 in Gwacheon, South Korea, by Yoo Joon Yeol (유준열), this temple was once believed to be the chosen place where God’s will was revealed. Its congregation, made up of devout followers, was considered to be the new spiritual Israel—until betrayal, corruption, and judgment came upon it.

Lee Man Hee, the founder of Shincheonji, teaches that this very temple became the stage for the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation—specifically the Seven Trumpets, Seven Bowls, and the prophesied 42 months of destruction and tribulation.

In Shincheonji’s theology, the seven trumpets in Revelation chapters 8–11 serve as warning judgments against the betrayers inside the Tabernacle Temple—the spiritual Israel at the time of the Second Coming. These judgments are not random acts of divine wrath, but systematic spiritual responses to specific acts of betrayal by the former chosen people.

SCJ teaches that each trumpet represents both:

  1. A spiritual event: a warning or judgment poured out by angels.
  2. A physical event: something that actually happened to the Tabernacle Temple between ~1978 and ~1981, culminating in its complete fall and the rise of Shincheonji.

First Trumpet – Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood (Rev 8:7)

Figurative meaning: The Word of God—symbolized by hail and fire—comes down and burns a third of the earth (people), exposing false leaders within the Tabernacle Temple.

Reality: Around 1978, internal corruption in the temple leadership became evident. Lee Man Hee recounts that many leaders misused funds and power. As a result, the Word of God began to act as judgment through testimony, rebuke, and division. This corresponds to the trees and grass (people) being burned.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 176

Second Trumpet – Burning Mountain Thrown into the Sea (Rev 8:8–9)

Figurative meaning: A religious mountain (a large religious organization) becomes corrupt and is cast into the sea (world), causing the death of many souls.

Reality: SCJ interprets this mountain as the Stewardship Education Center (SEC), which Lee claims emerged from within the Tabernacle Temple but quickly became a vessel of betrayal. It invited foreign doctrine, distorted teachings, and destroyed the unity of the temple. Many members spiritually “drowned” as they followed the false education system and were cut off from salvation.

Citation: Reality of the Revelation, p. 162–163

Third Trumpet – Star Named Wormwood (Rev 8:10–11)

Figurative meaning: A star (spiritual leader) falls and becomes Wormwood, poisoning the springs of truth and turning them bitter.

Reality: SCJ claims this refers to Yoo Joon Yeol, the founder of the Tabernacle Temple, who once seemed righteous but invited destructive elements into God’s chosen dwelling. Through visions and harsh enforcement of doctrine, he and his followers poisoned the pure Word with misinterpretation. This led to depression, confusion, and loss of faith among the members.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 178

Fourth Trumpet – Sun, Moon, and Stars Struck (Rev 8:12)

Figurative meaning: Loss of spiritual light—sun (pastor), moon (evangelists), stars (saints). This is a declaration that the Tabernacle Temple’s leadership is fully corrupted.

Reality: By 1980, the situation in the temple was spiritually dark. Lee Man Hee records that many pastors lost the ability to discern right from wrong, and the few who resisted were silenced. Yoo Joon Yeol and SEC instructors were now fully in control.

Lee describes how the sun, moon, and stars lost their light figuratively when the seven messengers abandoned their mission, bowing to new authorities and betraying the Word they had once received.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 183

Fifth Trumpet – Locusts from the Abyss (Rev 9:1–11)

Figurative meaning: Locusts (false evangelists) come out from the abyss (SEC) and spiritually torment those who do not have the seal of God for five months.

Reality: Shincheonji claims that SEC’s evangelists began forcefully reeducating the congregation. The “five months” represents an intense period of spiritual torture through brainwashing, doctrinal enforcement, and threats. Anyone who resisted SEC’s reinterpretations was labeled rebellious or possessed. Lee Man Hee states this fulfilled the locusts “stinging like scorpions”.

Citation: Reality of the Revelation, p. 165–166

Sixth Trumpet – Army of 200 Million (Rev 9:13–19)

Figurative meaning: A massive spiritual army launches an attack through false teachings.

Reality: The number “200 million” symbolizes the overwhelming expansion of SEC-trained leaders, each spreading betrayal. Evangelists preached human ideas and visions, ignoring proper biblical logic. Spiritually, this slaughtered the souls of the believers, leading to the fall of the Tabernacle Temple.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 186–188

Seventh Trumpet – Final Warning and Judgment (Rev 11:15–19)

Figurative meaning: The final trumpet proclaims the end of the first heaven (Tabernacle Temple) and the transfer of the kingdom to the new heaven (Shincheonji).

Reality: In 1980–81, Lee Man Hee left the temple permanently. According to SCJ, this marked the moment when the first heaven was judged and removed. From that point, the kingdom began transferring to those who would become part of Shincheonji, the Twelve Tribes.

Citation: Reality of the Revelation, p. 169

The Seven Bowls: The Final Plagues Against the Betrayers

Following the trumpets, the seven bowls (Revelation 15–16) are interpreted by SCJ as plagues of divine wrath poured out not to warn—but to punish the Tabernacle Temple and the SEC for full apostasy.

Bowl 1 – Painful Sores (Rev 16:2)

Figurative meaning: Those who worship the beast (false system of SEC) suffer painful sores—spiritual agony and torment.

Reality: Members who remained loyal to SEC suffered emotional and spiritual collapse. There was deep guilt, broken relationships, and confusion. Some even fell into despair after realizing they had been deceived.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 270

Bowl 2 – Sea Turns to Blood (Rev 16:3)

Figurative meaning: The sea (world of corrupted believers) becomes spiritually dead.

Reality: The sea of followers in SEC and the temple began to fall away. Meetings shrank. Leadership vanished or fell silent. Spiritually, the people lost life.

Bowl 3 – Rivers and Springs Turn to Blood (Rev 16:4)

Figurative meaning: The rivers and springs (Word sources, evangelists) become blood—false teachings that lead to death.

Reality: Pastors and teachers in SEC spread unbiblical visions. The congregation was led away from truth. Some joined other denominations; others fell into silence.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 272

Bowl 4 – Scorching Sun (Rev 16:8–9)

Figurative meaning: The sun (true Word and witness) scorches those in the fallen tabernacle.

Reality: Shincheonji’s testimony began to expose the truth, scorching the lies that SEC taught. The more they heard Lee’s testimony, the more their shame was revealed—but many still refused to repent.

Bowl 5 – Darkness (Rev 16:10)

Figurative meaning: SEC’s spiritual domain falls into darkness—no Word, no truth, no discernment.

Reality: By the early 1980s, the Tabernacle Temple ceased to function. Its leadership was dismantled, and the temple was disbanded. Spiritual darkness covered the group.

Bowl 6 – Drying Up of the Euphrates (Rev 16:12)

Figurative meaning: The false river (supporting pastors) dries up.

Reality: SEC lost its base of pastors and students. Most scattered. The group never recovered, and their spiritual influence vanished.

Bowl 7 – Final Judgment and Babylon’s Fall (Rev 16:17–21)

Figurative meaning: The entire fallen spiritual system collapses—symbolizing complete judgment on the Tabernacle Temple and SEC.

Reality: With no leaders, no members, and no truth, the Tabernacle Temple came to an end. Shincheonji teaches this moment fulfilled the fall of Babylon, and from this point on, the new spiritual kingdom would be built.

The 42 Months: Period of Betrayal, Judgment, and Prophetic Witnessing

Revelation 13:5, 11:2–3, and 12:6 mention 42 months, 1,260 days, and 3.5 years—a symbolic period during which:

  • The Holy City is trampled.
  • The woman (symbolizing the church) flees to the wilderness.
  • The beast rules over God’s people.

SCJ interprets this 42-month period as the time from when SEC rose to power (late 1977–early 1981) to when Lee Man Hee finally departed and began testifying.

During this time:

  • The Word was no longer proclaimed inside the temple.
  • The seven messengers were spiritually killed.
  • SEC persecuted those who resisted.
  • Lee Man Hee served as the Two Witnesses, testifying in sackcloth during the darkness.

Citation: The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 226–229

Conclusion: From Judgment to Creation of the Twelve Tribes

Shincheonji theology sees the Tabernacle Temple’s destruction not as a failure—but as a necessary cleansing. Just as Jerusalem fell in the First Coming to give birth to Christianity, the Tabernacle Temple fell in the Second Coming to make way for the New Heaven and New Earth—the 12 tribes of Shincheonji, founded officially in 1984.

God’s purpose in allowing 42 months of betrayal and destruction was to fulfill prophecy, remove corruption, and raise a new kingdom with those who overcame.

Overview of SCJ Figurative Meanings on the Tabernacle Temple

The Judgment and Destruction of the Tabernacle Temple: SCJ Interpretation and Historical Reality

Introduction: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities

In Shincheonji (SCJ) theology, the Tabernacle Temple—a real religious institution established in South Korea—is viewed as the “First Heaven and First Earth” mentioned in Revelation 21:1, representing the old religious world chosen by God but later judged due to betrayal. This organization is said to have housed the seven golden lampstands and the seven stars (messengers) described in Revelation 1:20. However, this first tabernacle is also the very place where betrayal occurred, leading to God’s judgment through seven trumpets and seven bowls (Rev 8–16), culminating in its spiritual and physical destruction—an event that SCJ claims was fulfilled historically through government crackdowns, scandals, and the rise of the SEC.

1. The Chosen Place: Tabernacle Temple and the Seven Golden Lampstands

According to The Reality of Revelation, the seven golden lampstands mentioned in Revelation 1 are interpreted as seven churches in Asia, which are said to have physically manifested in South Korea through the Tabernacle Temple, located in Gwacheon. Lee Man Hee claims this temple was the chosen dwelling of God where the Word was planted and the spiritual Israelites were gathered.

“The seven stars and seven golden lampstands appeared in the Tabernacle Temple. They were chosen but later betrayed.”
 (Reality of Revelation, p. 11; The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, pp. 34–35)

Historically, the Tabernacle Temple was founded in the early 1970s under Yoo Joon Yeol (유준열), who is interpreted in SCJ theology as a lamp that gave light for a while (John 5:35) but ultimately betrayed his calling by inviting the destroyer—represented by Pastor Oh (오씨), head of the SEC—into the temple. This action is seen as the beginning of the “abomination that causes desolation” (Matt 24:15).

2. The Seven Trumpets: Proclamations of Betrayal and Warning

SCJ teaches that the Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8–11) represent warnings and revelations of betrayal within the Tabernacle Temple, blown by those who saw the truth of its corruption. These trumpets are not literal but spiritual proclamations exposing the fall of the chosen people.

According to SCJ interpretation:

  • 1st to 4th Trumpets (Rev 8): Announce partial destruction. A third of the earth (congregation), sea (Word), rivers (pastors), and heavenly bodies (leadership) are struck—symbolizing internal corruption.
  • 5th Trumpet (Rev 9:1-12): The “fallen star” is given the key to the abyss—interpreted as Yoo Joon Yeol’s fall, opening the way for the destroyer (SEC) to rise like locusts.
  • 6th Trumpet (Rev 9:13-21): Spiritual death spreads—members spiritually die through heretical teachings.
  • 7th Trumpet (Rev 11:15): Signals complete judgment and the arrival of salvation—the end of the old tabernacle and rise of Shincheonji.

“The seven trumpets are the actual testimonies that exposed the betrayal committed inside the Tabernacle Temple… The fifth trumpet testifies to the fallen messenger who opened the way for destruction.”
 (Reality of Revelation, pp. 75–90; The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, pp. 77–82)

Historical Reality: 1978–1981

Between 1978 and 1981, the Tabernacle Temple underwent a period of turmoil:

  • 1978: SEC gains influence through Pastor Oh after being invited by Yoo Joon Yeol.
  • 1979: Doctrinal conflicts intensify; faithful members like Lee Man Hee begin protesting internally.
  • 1980: SEC takes over key leadership positions. The Tabernacle Temple starts requiring loyalty pledges, centralized control, and harsh purification campaigns against dissenters.
  • 1981: Internal division explodes. Whistleblowers begin exposing spiritual and financial corruption. Government agencies receive complaints.

This 42-month period (3.5 years) is interpreted in SCJ as the “42 months” of trampling the holy city in Revelation 11:2.

“The outer court was given to the Gentiles; they will trample the holy city for 42 months.” (Rev 11:2)

3. The 42 Months.

In Shincheonji (SCJ) theology, the 42 months refers to a significant period of betrayal, destruction, and tribulation, during which the prophecies of the Book of Revelation are understood to have been physically fulfilled.

Here’s a breakdown of its meaning and importance:

  • Duration and Equivalents

    ◦ The 42 months is consistently described as being equivalent to three and a half years (“a time, times, and half a time”) or 1,260 days.

    ◦ This period was a shortened duration from an original prophecy of 70 years of hardship for the chosen people, reduced for the sake of the elect to be saved physically.

  • Historical Fulfillment and Associated Events

    ◦ The 42-month period is identified as occurring from September 1980 to March 1984.

    ◦ Betrayal and Trampling of the Tabernacle Temple: This period marks when the “outer court” of God’s temple – identified as the Tabernacle Temple in Korea – was “given to the Gentiles” and trampled upon. This trampling signifies that the chosen people had betrayed God, allowing enemies (Gentiles/destroyers) to infiltrate and corrupt them with false teachings. The beast from the sea, receiving authority from the dragon, exercised this power for 42 months, speaking proud words and blasphemies against God and His dwelling place.

    ◦ The Woman Fleeing: During this same 42-month period, the “woman clothed with the sun, moon, and stars” (representing a congregation member of the Tabernacle Temple) flees into the wilderness to be cared for. This “wilderness” is understood as a place where God’s word is absent. This event is likened to Prophet Elijah’s flight in the Old Testament.

    ◦ The Two Witnesses Prophesying: Concurrently with the trampling, “two witnesses” (New John and his helper) prophesy for 1,260 days (42 months), clothed in sackcloth, urging repentance from actions that lead to spiritual death. Their prophecy begins after the period of destruction has already started.

    ◦ Spiritual Death and Resurrection of Witnesses: While the overall period is 42 months, the death of the two witnesses (meaning they were stopped from testifying the word) is specifically described as occurring for three and a half literal days (January 30 to February 2, 1981), after which they were resurrected.

    ◦ Birth of the Male Child: The “male child” (identified as the one who overcomes, Lee Man-hee) is said to be born within this 42-month period of destruction, an event referred to as a “new thing”.

    ◦ Dragon’s Reign and Defeat: The red dragon (Satan) ruled over the Tabernacle Temple for 42 months. However, the male child and his brothers fight and overcome the dragon after this 42-month period, leading to the dragon’s expulsion and the establishment of God’s kingdom and salvation. The destruction of Babylon, through which the dragon operated, is also completed within 42 months.

  • Importance in Shincheonji Theology

    ◦ The 42 months is a critical turning point in the fulfillment of Revelation, marking the end of God’s chosen people’s apostasy and the beginning of a new era.

    ◦ It signifies a period of intense spiritual warfare where Satan’s kingdom exercised temporary authority, but ultimately paved the way for God’s promised kingdom to be established by the “one who overcomes”. This period serves as the foundation for the new heaven and new earth (Shincheonji).

In essence, the 42 months is viewed as a divinely ordained period of calamity and judgment upon a faithless generation, which, paradoxically, was necessary for the subsequent establishment and revelation of God’s promised new spiritual kingdom, much like a severe winter must pass before the new spring can bring forth abundant life.

 

4. The Seven Bowls: Plagues and Punishments on the Betrayers

The Seven Bowls (Rev 15–16) are seen by SCJ as the final plagues poured out on the betrayers within the Tabernacle Temple, especially on the SEC and its adherents. Each bowl corresponds to spiritual punishments revealed through testimony by the overcomer (Lee Man Hee) and his companions.

  • 1st Bowl: Sores on those who accepted false doctrine—SEC followers.
  • 2nd Bowl: The sea turns to blood—SCJ interprets this as the corruption of evangelism.
  • 3rd Bowl: Rivers and springs (Word and pastors) judged for betraying truth.
  • 4th Bowl: Sun scorches—burning judgment from the Word.
  • 5th Bowl: Darkness on the throne—SEC’s internal collapse.
  • 6th Bowl: Euphrates dries up—SEC’s supporters depart.
  • 7th Bowl: “It is done”—collapse of the Tabernacle Temple and SEC.

“Each bowl was a plague poured on the betrayers—especially the destroyers who invaded the temple… culminating in ‘It is done,’ meaning the end of that tabernacle.”
 (Reality of Revelation, pp. 120–135; The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, pp. 95–104)

Government Crackdown: The Physical Fulfillment of Judgment

In early 1981, the situation reached public crisis. A series of exposés appeared in local Korean newspapers, with accusations of:

  • Psychological manipulation
  • Authoritarian control
  • Unlawful spiritual practices
  • Secret funding schemes

This triggered government surveillance, a mass departure of members, and eventual shutdown of SEC-led activities in the region. The Tabernacle Temple fragmented, with many claiming religious trauma and broken communities.

Shincheonji views this breakdown as the physical fulfillment of Revelation’s judgments.

5. The Overcomer and the New Tabernacle

According to SCJ, the end of the Tabernacle Temple marked the birth of a new tabernacle—Shincheonji Church of Jesus, founded by Lee Man Hee in March 1984.

Lee is identified as the “one who overcomes” in Revelation 2–3 and 12:

  • He was allegedly chosen to testify after enduring the betrayal.
  • He gathered the two witnesses of Rev 11.
  • He established the Twelve Tribes of Shincheonji as the New Heaven and New Earth.

“After the betrayers were judged, the one who overcame appeared and established God’s kingdom again with the Word.”
 (The Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 215; The Reality of Revelation, p. 152)

Conclusion: A Fulfilled Prophecy or Constructed Narrative?

From SCJ’s lens, every trumpet and bowl represented a spiritual milestone, while each historical incident—media exposure, schisms, and shutdown—was a corresponding physical event fulfilling prophecy.

However, critics argue that SCJ retrofits biblical prophecy onto real events to support its founder’s divine legitimacy. The Tabernacle Temple’s collapse was indeed chaotic, but whether it fulfilled Revelation’s apocalyptic symbolism remains a theological and historical debate.

Timeline of the 42-Month Betrayal and Destruction (1978–1981)

Timeline of the 42-Month Betrayal and Destruction (1978–1981): Tabernacle Temple & SEC in Prophecy and History

Background (1966-1977): Rise of the Tabernacle Temple and Early Troubles

This church, founded in

1966, attracted thousands with end-time prophecies before falling into scandal and collapse. The Tabernacle Temple was in existence from

March 14, 1966, until its official dissolution in September 1980.

  • Founding and Doomsday Prophecy (1966-1969): The Tabernacle Temple (장막성전) was established on March 14, 1966, by Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열) along with his father Yoo In-guen. At the time of its founding in
     1966, Yoo Jae-yeol was 17 years old. They presented themselves as the two prophetic witnesses of Revelation 11, even claiming Yoo Jae-yeol was the “young servant” who ate the open scroll (Rev 10). Centered in Gwacheon (near Seoul), the sect taught that the end of the world (the “War of Armageddon”) would occur on
     September 14, 1969, and only those gathered inside their “holy tabernacle” would be saved. Indeed, by
     1969 they had drawn over 2,000 followers to a communal settlement, all awaiting imminent rapture. However, the doomsday prophecy failed. In response, the group built a larger headquarters at Makgye-ri, Gwacheon, in
     1971 to accommodate their growing movement.
  • Structure and Seven “Messengers”: The Tabernacle Temple organized itself with a hierarchical structure of seven leaders (called “angels” or “messengers”) under Yoo’s authority. These corresponded to the “seven stars” or “seven golden lampstands” in Revelation – a motif later emphasized by Shincheonji (SCJ) theology. Each of the seven led a branch “church,” and collectively they were seen as a modern fulfillment of the seven churches in Asia Minor from Revelation 2-3. Initially, they were revered – even called the “Seven Angels” – and bore titles like Angel Samson (for Yoo Jae-yeol), Angel Michael, etc., each associated with a biblical church (Ephesus, Smyrna, etc.). Lee Man-hee, a young convert who joined the group in
     1967, was not one of these top seven, but he served actively in the church’s evangelistic work. When Lee Man-hee joined in
     1967, he was 36 years old (born in 1931). (Lee had earlier followed another apocalyptic sect, the Olive Tree movement, before joining Yoo ).

Early Signs of Corruption

After the failed

1969 prediction, cracks appeared. Scandals emerged about financial fraud, extortion of devotees’ property, and sexual misconduct by Yoo and leaders. Several of the original “seven angels” became disillusioned. Between

1967 and 1969, at least two were expelled or left (e.g., Yoo’s father, and “Angel Moses” Shin Jong-hwan). In

1971, a group of followers – notably including Lee Man-hee and Hong Jae-ho (who would later co-found Shincheonji) – filed a formal complaint to authorities against Yoo for fraud and abuse. This rare instance of internal whistleblowing shows that Lee and others were already alarmed by the betrayal of the church’s ideals. According to that complaint and press reports, the cult had extorted money and assets from believers and even caused alarming death rates due to neglect. These exposures made headlines and drew law enforcement attention.

  • Arrest and Imprisonment of Yoo (1975): The accumulated allegations culminated in September 1975 when prosecutors arrested Yoo Jae-yeol and several lieutenants. Yoo, then
     26 years old, was charged with fraud, identity theft, violence, and other crimes – for example, coercing members to mortgage homes and farms for the sect’s projects, and sexually assaulting female devotees. He was convicted and sentenced (sources differ on the term: some say 2.5 years in prison with 4 years probation, others up to 5 years). Effectively, from
     1975 to late 1977/1978, Yoo was largely absent from leadership due to imprisonment. This created a power vacuum and crisis within the Tabernacle Temple. Many followers dispersed – an estimated “5,000 followers…were scattered” at that time. Lee Man-hee was among those who left the fold during Yoo’s incarceration ; according to one account, Lee briefly associated with a splinter group led by Baek Man-bong (a former “angel” who had broken away to form his own end-time sect). However, as all these intertwined doomsday movements faced disillusionment by the
     late 1970s, Lee’s path brought him back to observe the final chapter of the Tabernacle Temple’s story.
  • SCJ’s Theological Framing: In Shincheonji’s interpretation of these early years, the Tabernacle Temple was the “first heaven” a chosen but ultimately wayward tabernacle that fulfilled the pattern of prophecy. The seven leaders of the church are viewed as the seven stars and seven golden lampstands of Revelation 1-3, whom Jesus initially held in His hand. Lee Man-hee teaches that these seven were supposed to be faithful messengers preparing the way for Christ’s return, but they “broke the covenant” through corruption and betrayal. Thus, their lampstands were destined to be removed (Rev 2:5). The mounting scandals and internal strife of
     1969-1975 are seen as the fulfillment of the rebukes in Rev 2-3 – a period where Jesus, through “New John” (Lee), was already warning the seven churches to repent. Indeed, SCJ claims that letters of admonishment were delivered to the seven leaders, urging them to overcome sin, much like the epistles in Revelation addressed to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, etc.. (Later in
     1980, Lee would literally write letters to Yoo and the others, which SCJ considers the ultimate fulfillment of the “seven letters” – more on this below ).

By 1977, the Tabernacle Temple stood at a crossroads. It had survived the jailing of its founder and continued under interim leadership, but it was a shadow of its former self – tarnished publicly as a “pseudo-Christian cult” and destabilized internally. Yet, according to SCJ theology, this was exactly according to plan: the stage was set for the foretold betrayal and destruction to run its course, after which a new spiritual temple would emerge. The pivotal drama of the “42 months” was about to begin.

1978-1979: Onset of Betrayal – The 42 Months Begin

  • Return of Yoo & Internal Betrayal: Sometime in 1978, Yoo Jae-yeol reappeared on the scene (having been released on probation or pardoned). He returned to a greatly weakened Tabernacle Temple. During his absence, some remaining leaders and members had sought ties with outside Christian organizations for survival. Notably, Oh Pyeong-ho, a Presbyterian-trained minister, had been in contact with the group. Sensing both the internal dissent and growing external scrutiny, Yoo began contemplating a controversial step: aligning his movement with a mainstream denomination to avoid further prosecution. This decision, from SCJ’s perspective, was the ultimate “betrayal” of the covenant – akin to ancient Israel forming alliances with gentile nations. It marked the formal beginning of the prophesied 42-month period of betrayal and trampling.
  • Gentiles in the Temple – Prophetic View: Shincheonji teaches that at this point Revelation’s visions of tribulation commenced. The “holy city” (formerly, God’s dwelling among the chosen) was figuratively “given to the Gentiles” to trample for 42 months (Rev 11:1-2). In other words, the Tabernacle Temple congregation – once considered a holy community – was handed over to unbelievers/outsiders as a result of their leaders’ unfaithfulness. SCJ explicitly identifies the “outer court” of God’s temple in Rev 11:2 with the Tabernacle Temple in Gwacheon, and the “Gentiles” who invade it with the external Presbyterian faction that came in. This betrayal is also linked to Apostle Paul’s prophecy of the “man of lawlessness” (the “destroyer”) entering God’s temple and proclaiming authority (2 Thess 2:3-4) – in SCJ’s view, an ominous reference to a false pastor taking over Yoo’s church.
  • Measuring the Temple – Two Witnesses Arise: According to Lee Man-hee’s testimony, around this time God gave a mission to “New John” (Lee) to begin measuring the temple and preparing a remnant for salvation. This corresponds to Revelation 10-11: after receiving the “open little scroll” in Rev 10 (a new understanding of God’s plan), John is told to “measure the temple of God and the altar and the worshipers” (Rev 11:1) – meaning to assess who remains faithful. Lee recounts that he (as this figurative John) was paired with a fellow pastor (a “reed like a measuring rod”) to undertake this task. These two would become the “two witnesses” clothed in sackcloth (Rev 11:3) – representing individuals mourning and testifying for repentance.
  • 1,260 Days of Prophecy: In mid-1978, Lee Man-hee and his assistant began a relentless campaign to warn the Tabernacle Temple leaders and members of the impending judgment. At this time, Lee Man-hee would have been
     47 years old. SCJ sources describe that “these two witnesses [New John and the assisting pastor] begin to prophesy during the 42 months when the outer courtyard is given to the Gentiles”, calling out the betrayal. They wore “sackcloth” in the figurative sense – meaning their message was one of mourning and urgent repentance. For 1,260 days (three and a half years) – which would span roughly
     1978 through 1981 – the two witnesses testified about “what would happen to the beast of destruction” and urged the erring congregation to turn back. Importantly, they did this after the betrayal had started (“after the period of destruction had already begun”). In practical terms, this involved sending multiple letters and messages to Yoo Jae-yeol and the seven branch church leaders, imploring them not to succumb to outside control. Lee’s letters (which he later published as part of his testimony) outlined the biblical prophecies being fulfilled and pleaded with his former colleagues to repent of their spiritual adultery. This act fulfilled Revelation’s scene of two olive trees/lampstands witnessing in sackcloth, as SCJ sees it.
  • Historical Developments: By 1979, the Tabernacle Temple was increasingly exposed and pressured. South Korea’s political situation shifted dramatically – President Park Chung-hee’s assassination (
    Oct 1979) led to a new military regime under General Chun Doo-hwan, who announced a “social purification policy” targeting crime, corruption, and fringe groups. Religious “cults” were on the list for reform. Sensing the storm, Yoo Jae-yeol moved to formalize the arrangement with Pastor Oh and his Presbyterian circle as a lifeline. Doctrinal disputes intensified inside the church: should they maintain Yoo’s unique end-time teachings (now discredited by failed prophecies and scandals), or embrace orthodox Presbyterian theology to gain legitimacy?. Many rank-and-file members were simply confused or exhausted. It was in this atmosphere in
     late 1979 that the Stewardship Education Center (SEC) team started to become involved (quietly at first) in “re-educating” the Tabernacle Temple believers. The SEC (Christian Stewardship Training Center) was essentially a Presbyterian-run program for instructing church stewards; Pastor Oh Pyung-ho leveraged it as an instrument to reform the Tabernacle Temple from within.
  • SCJ Parallel – the Trumpets Sound: In Revelation, as the period of tribulation begins, seven trumpets are blown in heaven (Rev 8-9), bringing plagues on parts of the earth (a third of the land, sea, rivers, sky). Shincheonji correlates these trumpets to stages in the Tabernacle Temple’s downfall during
     1978-1979. As the “destroyers” (outsiders) infiltrated, they effectively sounded trumpets of false doctrine inside the church, resulting in spiritual calamity. SCJ texts suggest that the dragon’s organization “trained pastors to sound their trumpets (i.e., preach) according to the doctrines and ecclesiastical laws of Satan” during the 42 months. Each “trumpet” blast symbolized another blow to the integrity of the Tabernacle Temple : one by one, its doctrinal truths were compromised and its members’ faith “died” (as figuratively a third of the congregation was darkened or poisoned by false teachings, echoing Rev 8:10-12). By the sixth trumpet, the once vibrant church was on the brink of collapse, its authority “completely broken” as prophesied. Yet, SCJ notes, the faithful “two witnesses” continued to sound an alarm of their own – testifying to the truth and exposing the infiltrators’ deception even as the majority fell under the spell of the “beast”.

In sum,

1978-1979 marked the opening of the final act for the Tabernacle Temple. On the surface, it was a time of negotiation and attempted compromise with mainstream Christianity, but from Shincheonji’s apocalyptic viewpoint, this was the start of the great betrayal. The very leaders who once claimed to be God’s elite “seven stars” were now “fallen stars”. They aligned with what SCJ allegorically calls “Babylon”, allowing a Gentile organization (the SEC/Presbyterian Church) to invade the sanctuary. Meanwhile, a despised minority – Lee Man-hee, who was around

48 years old in 1979, and a few compatriots – persisted in prophesying judgment on the horizon. The stage was set for

1980, the year that would bring the open destruction of the temple and the end of the fateful 42 months.

1980: Betrayal Consummated – External Takeover and Temple Collapse

March 14, 1980 – Leadership Surrenders: Under intense pressure from the new government and with his own reputation in tatters, Yoo Jae-yeol “stepped down” from the leadership of Tabernacle Temple on March 14, 1980. On this date – ironically exactly 14 years after the sect’s founding – Yoo convened his followers and announced he would cease to be their pastor. In his place, he introduced Pastor Oh Pyung-ho, a credentialed minister from the Presbyterian Church of Korea, to assume management of the church. This move was intended to placate authorities by showing that the cult was reforming itself. From a religious standpoint, however, it was seismic: a Protestant clergyman was now head of the apocalyptic sect that once denounced all established churches. Many members were stunned. Shincheonji writings equate this moment with “the dragon giving the beast his power and throne” (Rev 13:2) – i.e. Satan working through secular religion to seize the Tabernacle. Pastor Oh, the “session chairman” as he came to be called (in Presbyterian terminology), is identified as the “false pastor” or “beast” who took his seat in the temple of God, fulfilling 2 Thessalonians 2:4. In SCJ’s narrative, Yoo became the ultimate “betrayer” (the fallen star who handed over the flock), and Oh became the “destroyer” (the outsider who devoured the flock).

Stewardship Education Center (SEC) – The Beast with 7 Heads and 10 Horns: Once in charge, Pastor Oh wasted no time implementing the “Stewardship Education Center” (청지기 교육원) program within Tabernacle Temple. He brought in a team of instructors – reportedly 7 Presbyterian pastors and 10 elders – to retrain the congregation in orthodox doctrine. Shincheonji explicitly correlates these numbers to Revelation’s imagery of the beast with seven heads and ten horns (Rev 13 & 17). The SEC team conducted intensive Bible courses, taught “sound” theology, and led worship according to mainstream Presbyterian liturgy. They also encouraged members to renounce any of Yoo’s more heretical beliefs. From

April through mid-1980, the entire character of the church changed: crosses and hymnals replaced the unique symbols of Yoo’s sect, and a new banner was hung renaming the church as “The Presbyterian Church of Korea – Gwacheon Church (Isaac branch)”. Essentially, the Tabernacle Temple, which had been in existence since

1966, was being absorbed into the Presbyterian denomination. To the secular world, this looked like a positive “cult rehabilitation.” But to a faction of loyalists (including Lee Man-hee), it was a profanation of God’s temple – akin to setting up the “abomination of desolation” in the holy place (Matt 24:15). SCJ sources describe that the “General Assembly” of the Presbyterian Church and the Tabernacle Temple leaders “united and formed Babylon” – a mix of apostate chosen people and an established church organization. Their goal was to “purify the cult” by integration, but God’s decree allowed them only 42 months of authority before judgment.

Doctrinal Purges and Conflict: As the SEC instructors took over teaching, many longstanding Tabernacle members were forced to confront the falseness of Yoo’s past claims. There was deep cognitive dissonance: Yoo had once been hailed as the “faithful and wise servant” with unique revelation (some believed he was the “Counselor, Spirit of Truth” or even the male child of Revelation 12). Now he stood humbly aside while Presbyterian pastors denounced his teachings as heresy. Some members accepted the new course, relieved to join respectable Christianity. Others were heartbroken or furious. Lee Man-hee vehemently opposed the new regime. Throughout

1980, Lee Man-hee, then 49 years old, wrote a series of letters to Yoo and the seven branch leaders, condemning the compromise. He reminded them of their prior covenant and of Revelation’s warnings: “the letters to the seven churches” that demand repentance. Lee’s letters – which SCJ treats as fulfillment of the epistles in Rev 2-3 – accused the leadership of spiritual adultery with the world (likening Pastor Oh to the “Jezebel” who seduced the church of Thyatira, and the SEC to the “Nicolaitans” and false prophets tolerated by the churches in Pergamum and Sardis). He urged Yoo in particular to remember his calling and not to “give what is holy to dogs”. These internal documents circulated clandestinely, as the new management certainly did not endorse them. According to SCJ’s “two witnesses” narrative, this was the climactic period of their testimony: “The witnesses, who tirelessly sent letters urging repentance, continued to appeal for the recovery of the lost nation…”. They boldly prophesied that God would soon strike the unified Babylon – that the Presbyterian takeover would not prosper beyond the allotted 42 months.

Physical Collapse – Temple Demolished: In mid-1980, external circumstances sealed the Tabernacle Temple’s fate. The Gwacheon land on which the sect’s compound stood was sold (likely under duress) to the Seoul Metropolitan Government as part of a development project. The authorities had planned a grand amusement park (Seoul Grand Park) in Makgye-dong – and the cult’s “Zion” village was in the way. By

September 1980, demolition crews arrived. The iconic prayer hall, the “hut” where the seven angels once convened, and the surrounding communal facilities were razed to the ground. “Not a single stone [was] left upon another,” as SCJ somberly notes, alluding to Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of the temple in Matthew 24. The members who had lived in the believers’ village were evicted – some “followed the Session chairman to the mountain” (meaning they relocated with Pastor Oh to a temporary worship location in the hills). The holy ground itself literally became part of a zoo (Seoul Grand Park’s zoo opened in

1984 on that site, so construction was underway). This literal destruction fulfilled for SCJ the prophecy of Revelation 13: “the beast…made war on the tabernacle and overcame it”. The Tabernacle Temple organization was officially dissolved in

September 1980. What had been touted as the “Refuge of the Apocalypse” was now rubble and public property.

October 1980 – Yoo Flees to the U.S.: Humiliated and effectively powerless, Yoo Jae-yeol left South Korea in October 1980, ostensibly to study theology in America. Yoo was then

31 years old. He was still a relatively young man but carried the stigma of a failed cult leader. His departure marked the end of an era. Shincheonji writings describe this moment poignantly: “The session chairman, who had been managing the temple in Samson’s place, could no longer bear the criticisms in the letters after forty-two months. He passed on his position to his followers and went to the United States to build a church.”. In SCJ’s eyes, Yoo (“Samson” was his nickname) had endured exactly 42 months of reproach from the two witnesses (from early

1978 to the fall of 1980), and then gave up. This timing is crucial – it signifies that the prophesied 1260 days/42 months of Revelation were fulfilled to the letter. By

late 1980, the “first tabernacle” had fallen: the chosen people betrayed their covenant, the gentile destroyers had done their work, and the “first heaven” (the former church age) vanished like a scroll rolled up.

  • Seventh Trumpet – Victory Proclaimed: With the collapse of the Tabernacle Temple, Shincheonji teaches that the second woe (the period of betrayal and destruction) ended and the third woe began (Rev 11:14). In the biblical sequence, after the two witnesses are killed and resurrected, the seventh angel blows the trumpet (Rev 11:15). SCJ identifies this moment with
     late 1980 into 1981: “After the 42 months of destruction have passed, the two witnesses come back to life… and the seventh trumpet is blown”. The sounding of the seventh trumpet signifies a turning point: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev 11:15). In other words, God’s salvation work can now fully commence, because betrayal and judgment upon the former house are complete. From the ashes of the Tabernacle Temple, a new spiritual temple would rise. (It is noteworthy that on
     March 14, 1981, exactly one year after Yoo’s abdication, Lee Man-hee is said to have received a divine commission to start anew. At this time, Lee Man-hee was
     50 years old. SCJ sources often imply that 3/14 has a providential pattern in this story ).

In summary, the year

1980 witnessed the literal and figurative fall of the Tabernacle Temple – a dramatic convergence of historical events and (as Shincheonji believes) biblical prophecy. The 42-month countdown of Rev. 11:2 and 13:5 ran its course. Physically, the cult was dismantled: its leader gone, its property destroyed, its members absorbed or scattered. Spiritually, this was the darkest hour that would soon give way to light – the moment the “two witnesses” lay dead (having seemingly failed to stop the takeover) just before God revives them. For SCJ, the stage was now set for the next act: the creation of a new movement that would claim the mantle of true faith. Before moving to that, one loose end remained: the final judgment on the betrayers and destroyers, symbolized in Revelation as the seven bowls of wrath.

1981-1984: Aftermath – A New Temple and the Bowls of Wrath

  • The Remnant Gathers (1981): In early 1981, with the Tabernacle Temple era over, Lee Man-hee and a handful of faithful believers found themselves as spiritual orphans. They were among the few who had not “united with the destroyers” during the crisis. Lee, in particular, had “overcome” the trial by refusing to compromise on what he saw as God’s revelation. This group of “overcomers” began meeting in modest settings – prayer retreats on mountains, small home gatherings – to worship and study the Word anew. In Shincheonji doctrine, this corresponds to the “woman clothed with the sun” fleeing into the wilderness for safety, and the appearance of the “male child” who will rule all nations (Rev 12:5-6, 12:14). SCJ interprets Revelation 12 as describing how, during the 42-month war, a new child (God’s new pastor and people) was born and protected by God while the dragon raged. Indeed, Lee Man-hee often testifies that in
     1981 he had a profound spiritual experience on a mountain (Guksabong) where he started writing the manuscript of The Creation of Heaven and Earth, recording the vision of the new spiritual Israel.
  • Two Witnesses Resurrected: After the collapse of the former church, Revelation 11 says the two witnesses’ dead bodies come to life after “three and a half days” and ascend to heaven (Rev 11:11-12). Shincheonji parallels this to the revival of Lee and his companion’s ministry shortly after the 42 months ended. In
     late 1980 and into 1981, what had seemed a defeat (their testimony was ignored, the tabernacle fell) was reversed – God “breathed life” into their work again. They did not literally ascend to the sky, but SCJ explains that “their spirits were carried up to heaven in the clouds”, meaning they were called into God’s presence and given authority in the new spiritual temple. In practical terms, Lee claims to have received heavenly approval as the “Promised Pastor” to begin anew. The fact that exactly 3.5 years after Yoo’s
     March 1980 fall on March 14, 1984 – Lee Man-hee officially founded Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, is regarded as no coincidence. At this point, Lee Man-hee was
     53 years old. It signifies that the two witnesses completed their resurrection and the seventh trumpet sounded, inaugurating a new era.
  • Shincheonji Founded (1984) – The New Tabernacle of Testimony: Lee’s group formally organized as “Shincheonji” (New Heaven and New Earth) on March 14, 1984. They claim this date was divinely appointed – precisely 18 years after the Tabernacle Temple’s founding (
    1966), indicating a continuity of providence. SCJ was presented not as a mere new sect, but as the fulfillment of Revelation 15:5 – “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony” that appears in heaven after the conquering of the beast. In SCJ’s view, the “first tabernacle” had been a physical model that failed, whereas Shincheonji is the spiritual reality that succeeds. Lee Man-hee taught his followers that all the prophecies of Revelation (the war, the victory, the harvest) had now appeared in Korea in real life, and that they – as the 12 tribes of Shincheonji – were the first fruits of God’s new kingdom. Key individuals from the Tabernacle Temple reappear in SCJ’s narrative but in new roles: the disgraced “seven stars” of the old are contrasted with new “seven messengers” (the seven angels of the new church who carry out God’s final plagues). Lee is regarded as the “one who overcomes” (Rev 2-3) who has inherited all the promises that the fallen pastors lost.
  • Seven Bowls of Wrath – Judging the Betrayers (1981-1990): With Shincheonji established, SCJ doctrine says the next phase was executing God’s judgment on the betrayers and destroyers of the previous era. This is symbolized by the seven golden bowls filled with God’s wrath (Revelation 16). According to Lee, the “seven angels” who had remained with him (or whom God appointed in SCJ) were given these bowls – meaning they were entrusted with God’s wrathful messages. “The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony” (SCJ) is specifically the place from which the angels receive and pour out the plagues (Rev 15:5-7). What were these plagues in reality? SCJ describes them as the “words of judgment” proclaimed against the corrupt “Babylon” of the fallen church. In practical terms, from the
     mid-1980s onward, Lee Man-hee and his disciples continuously exposed the sins of the Tabernacle Temple and the SEC/Pastor Oh’s betrayal in their teachings and publications. They declared that all who participated in that betrayal must repent or face spiritual death (loss of salvation). This had a twofold effect: it deterred SCJ members from ever returning to mainstream churches, and it also served as a vindication – a warning to any of the Tabernacle Temple’s remnants that their path was cursed.
  • Historical Outcome: Over the 1980s, the Presbyterian “Church of Isaac” (the integrated Tabernacle Temple) did not thrive. Most of its members drifted away. By
     1990, the Stewardship Education Center (SEC) that had orchestrated the merger was shut down. This final closure, SCJ argues, is proof that the “Babylonian organization” met its end exactly as prophesied: “when the forty-two months were over, the power of Babylon was broken… seven thousand people were killed by the earthquake”. (Revelation 11:13’s “7,000 killed” is taken figuratively by SCJ to mean the complete collapse of the 7 heads and 10 horns entity – indeed, 7 (leaders) x 10 (elders) x 100 (worldly completeness) = 7,000 symbolizes the total defeat of that group.) Shincheonji members even later visited the ruins of the Tabernacle Temple in Gwacheon as a solemn reminder of God’s judgment. On the other hand, Shincheonji itself saw steady growth – which SCJ frames as the vindication and reward promised to the one who overcomes (Rev 2:7, 2:17, etc.). By the
     early 1990s, SCJ had established 12 tribes and was emerging as a significant new religious movement in Korea. Lee Man-hee was in his
     late 50s to early 60s during this period of growth.
  • Key Figures and Their Roles Revisited: To crystallize the alignment between the historical figures and the apocalyptic symbols as understood by Shincheonji: Yoo Jae-yeol is “the fallen star, Wormwood” who made the waters bitter (Rev 8:10-11) and the “first heaven” that passed away. He is the “betrayer” in SCJ’s Betrayal-Destruction-Salvation paradigm. Oh Pyung-ho (and the SEC) is identified as “the beast from the sea with 7 heads and 10 horns”, the collective “destroyer” or “son of perdition” who came into the tabernacle, wielding the authority of the dragon for 42 months. The seven branch leaders of the Tabernacle Temple are the “seven lampstands” that once were lit but went out due to betrayal – they correspond to the seven churches of Revelation, each of whom failed to overcome in the end. Lee Man-hee, in turn, is the one who “hears and obeys the Spirit” like the overcomer in Rev 2-3 ; he is portrayed as the modern equivalent of John (hence “New John”), the appointed “messenger for the churches” who saw and testified to all these events. During the 42 months, Lee (with an assistant) fulfilled the role of the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11 – preaching in sackcloth, confronting the beast, and figuratively being killed and resurrected. After the 42 months, Lee is further seen as the embodiment of the “male child who will rule all nations” (Rev 12:5) and the “rider on the white horse” who leads the final battle (Rev 19:11-16) – though SCJ emphasizes that Lee does nothing by his own power, but only as an “advocate” of Jesus, with Jesus working through him.
  • Interpretation and Legacy: The 1978-1981 saga of the Tabernacle Temple’s betrayal and collapse is absolutely foundational to Shincheonji’s theology. It is presented as the “physical fulfillment of Revelation”, a real-world precedent that authenticates Lee Man-hee’s authority as the one who saw and overcame the events of the end times. SCJ’s official texts – such as “The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation” and “The Reality of Revelation” – go to great lengths to detail this timeline in parallel with scripture. They interpret even minute details: for example, the “half hour of silence in heaven” (Rev 8:1) is taught as a roughly 6-month gap of relative calm before the final SEC takeover – some SCJ teachers say that equates to
     late 1979 when plans were quietly in motion. The seven trumpets are explained as the sequential “plagues” that struck the Tabernacle Temple through
     1978-1980 as the destroyers gained ground. The seventh trumpet (sounded after the two witnesses’ revival) is identified with the declaration of SCJ’s establishment – God’s kingdom rising after the fall of the former church. Meanwhile, the seven bowls are interpreted as the spiritual ammunition by which SCJ would “pour out God’s wrath on the betrayers and destroyers” in the subsequent years. SCJ claims this dual mission – harvesting new believers for God’s new kingdom and condemning the “Babylon” of corrupt Christianity – continues to this day, as part of the final fulfillment of Revelation.
  • Post-Collapse Reactions in Wider Context: Outside of SCJ, the fall of the Tabernacle Temple became a cautionary tale in Korea. Media and Christian counter-cult ministries in the
     1980s and 1990s frequently referenced it, both to laud the authorities’ crackdown and to warn that new incarnations of such groups might arise. When Lee Man-hee began drawing followers in the
     late ’80s, some noticed that “Shincheonji’s roots are in the Tabernacle Temple”, causing mainline churches to label SCJ a re-branded heresy from the same lineage. Indeed, Lee did not hide this – he openly wrote about the Tabernacle Temple’s betrayal to contrast it with Shincheonji’s purity. Over time, SCJ published primary documents like
     The Twelve Tribe Administrative Reports and Lee’s letters to document what happened in 1978-1981, essentially appropriating the Tabernacle Temple’s story into their sacred history. Academics like Tark and Kim in the
     2010s studied these internal documents, acknowledging that Shincheonji’s doctrine of “betrayal-destruction-salvation” is directly drawn from the Tabernacle Temple incident. Massimo Introvigne, a scholar of new religions, notes that for SCJ believers, a visit to the former Gwacheon site (now a part of a public park) is almost like visiting a biblical battleground – it affirms their conviction that prophecy was indeed fulfilled in their homeland.

Conclusion

From

1978 to 1981, a period of roughly three and a half years, the Tabernacle Temple in South Korea went through a remarkable trajectory of betrayal, destruction, and a rebirth (albeit under a new name). The Tabernacle Temple had been in existence for approximately 14 years before this period of betrayal began. In Shincheonji’s integrated view, every step of that trajectory corresponded to the visions of Revelation. The 42 months of Gentiles trampling the holy city were not a far-off mystery – they were lived out in Gwacheon when a once-zealous millenarian church was infiltrated by “secular” church leaders and dismantled. The “two witnesses” were not ancient prophets, but a modern prophet (Lee Man-hee) and his fellow servant who testified in sackcloth by writing letters and urging repentance during the crisis. The beast from the abyss was not a literal monster, but the coalition of a Presbyterian pastor and his colleagues who entered the Tabernacle Temple under the banner of reform. The “seven trumpets” signaled stages of capitulation and collapse, and when the “seventh trumpet” sounded, it meant a new divine order had begun. Finally, the “seven bowls” of wrath were (and are) the potent words of judgment that the new Shincheonji congregation would hurl back at their predecessors and at the wider world that opposed them.

In a date-based timeline, the 42 months span can be outlined as follows, showing the parallel of physical events and figurative fulfillments:

  • Mid-1978: (Approximately the start of 42 months) – Betrayal begins. Yoo Jae-yeol, who was around
     29 years old at this time, and leaders seek alliance with “Gentiles.”
     Prophecy: Outer court given to gentiles (Rev 11:2); measuring of the temple commences (Rev 11:1).
     Event: Lee Man-hee, then 47 years old, (New John) receives the revealed “little scroll” (Rev 10) and starts prophesying in sackcloth alongside an assistant.
  • 1979: – Infiltration and Warning.
     Prophecy: First through sixth trumpets sound (Rev 8-9), devastating one-third of the spiritual “land/sea” (the church) – a period of partial ruin and intense warning.
     Events: Pastor Oh and associates quietly instruct members; Lee Man-hee, around
     48 years old, and loyalists send letters urging repentance. Government plans crackdown. The Tabernacle Temple leadership “breaks the covenant” by yielding doctrinal control.
  • March 1980: – Hand-over and Apostasy.
     Prophecy: The beast from the sea (Rev 13:1) appears with 7 heads and 10 horns – given authority by the dragon to act 42 months. The false prophet (beast from earth) also emerges, deceiving the people to accept the new order (Rev 13:11-14).
     Events: Yoo Jae-yeol abdicates on 3/14/1980; Pastor Oh (Presbyterian) takes leadership, bringing a team of 7 pastors/10 elders (the SEC). The Tabernacle Temple, having existed for 14 years, undergoes this leadership change. The congregation is urged to integrate into mainstream Christianity – effectively worshiping the image of the beast by honoring an authority other than God (Rev 13:14-15). Lee Man-hee’s, then
     49 years old, protest intensifies; he is effectively marginalized or expelled for opposing the new regime (much as one would be “killed” for not worshiping the beast – Rev 13:15).
  • Mid-Late 1980: – Destruction completed.
     Prophecy: The two witnesses are “killed” by the beast after finishing their testimony (Rev 11:7). The second woe (6th trumpet) ends; the seventh trumpet is poised to sound (Rev 11:14-15).
     Events: The Tabernacle Temple’s property is demolished (summer 1980) ; membership officially absorbed into Presbyterian Church by fall. The Tabernacle Temple organization is officially dissolved in
     September 1980. Yoo Jae-yeol, then
     31 years old, leaves for the US in October 1980. Lee Man-hee, around
     49 years old, and a few others have no platform within the old church – their testimony seems “dead” and silenced as of late 1980. But they hold faith that God will vindicate them.
  • Early 1981: Turnaround and Resurrection.
     Prophecy: “After 3½ days the breath of life from God entered them” – the two witnesses revive and ascend (Rev 11:11-12) ; seventh trumpet blasts announcing God’s Kingdom (Rev 11:15). In heaven, “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God” (Rev 12:10) – for the dragon has been cast down.
     Events: A few months after the collapse, Lee Man-hee, then 50 years old, experiences a spiritual empowerment. He and his followers regroup. By
     mid-1981, Lee claims God’s spirit has instructed him to form a new spiritual temple. The “dragon” (Satan working through secular authority) has been figuratively cast out of the spiritual realm he usurped – meaning the failed church is no longer in the picture, and God can start fresh. Lee begins to testify “again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings” (Rev 10:11), but now with a new message for a new audience.
  • March 14, 1984: – Salvation and New Creation.
     Prophecy: God creates the New Heaven New Earth (Rev 21:1) after the first heaven passed away. The Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony appears (Rev 15:5), and the seven angels with seven last plagues proceed to judge the world (Rev 15:6, 16:1).
     Events: Lee Man-hee officially founds Shincheonji (abbrev. of New Heaven New Earth) on 3/14/1984, at the age of 53, in fulfillment – as SCJ believes – of Revelation’s promise of a new spiritual nation. Almost immediately, Shincheonji missionaries begin “consuming” the legacy churches by converting their members, seen as the start of Babylon’s fall (Rev 17-18). By
     late 1980s, SCJ is actively pronouncing woes upon Protestant churches for their unbelief, describing them as the Babylon to be destroyed by God’s wrath.
  • 1990: Final Bowl poured.
     Prophecy: “Babylon the great was remembered in God’s presence and He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce wrath” (Rev 16:19). Also, “Come out of her, my people” (Rev 18:4) – a call to salvation from the judged system.
     Events: The SEC’s church (the merged remnant of Tabernacle Temple) formally disbands by 1990. The last traces of that ministry evaporate, as many either returned to mainstream Presbyterian communities or fell away. Shincheonji by this time established its first Mission Center in Seoul (
    June 1990) , symbolically drawing away people from the fallen “Babylon” and into the new holy city. Lee Man-hee was
     59 years old in 1990.

In the eyes of Shincheonji, the 42 months of

1978-1981 stand as a completed paradigm of God’s work: betrayal, destruction, and salvation. This narrative is not merely history to SCJ members – it is sacred prophecy realized, a cornerstone of their faith. SCJ’s founder Lee Man-hee emphasizes in his writings that anyone who wants to attain salvation today must recognize these events and their significance. Just as early Christians pointed to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s promise, SCJ points to the Tabernacle Temple’s betrayal, destruction, and the subsequent rise of Shincheonji as the fulfilled testimony of Jesus’ Second Coming work. All of it, they insist, was foretold in figurative language in the Scriptures and has now been made known “according to the six-thousand-year plan of God”. Whether one views this interpretation with belief or skepticism, the timeline of

1978-1981 undeniably had a profound impact: it destroyed one movement while inadvertently seeding another. The Stewardship Education Center’s intervention, meant to extinguish a cult, became in SCJ’s storytelling the very catalyst that fulfilled Revelation – bringing about the end of the first heaven and clearing the way for what they call New Spiritual Israel. Thus, the legacy of those 42 months lives on, enshrined in Shincheonji’s doctrines and in the cautionary memories of Korean Christianity, as a period where prophecy and reality intersected on a 42-month countdown clock.

Sources:

  • Lee Man-hee, The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation. Shincheonji Press, 2014. (See p.232-234 on the 42-month trampling of the tabernacle and two witnesses; p.237-239 on the two witnesses’ resurrection and seventh trumpet; p.171-174 on the beast’s 42-month integration of the tabernacle and its collapse; p.365-366 on the summary of events
     1966-1985 and letters to Yoo.)
  • Lee Man-hee, The Creation of Heaven and Earth. Shincheonji Press, 2007. (See p.405-408 on war between dragon’s organization and new born child, and the 42 months in Revelation 12-13; p.393 on chronology of Rev 12 after Rev 13 events.)
  • The Reality of Revelation (Translation of Lee’s 1985 Korean text). (See p.155 on measuring the temple and 42 months; p.364 on Yoo leaving after 42 months of letters; final remarks on not dismissing these events as mere cult history.)
  • Tabernacle Temple Church –
     Wikipedia (historical overview of Yoo’s movement)
  • Shincheonji Church of Jesus –
     Wikipedia (background on Lee, and SCJ’s view of Tabernacle Temple)
  • Introvigne, Massimo (2020). “Shincheonji: An Introduction” – The Journal of CESNUR 4(3). (Describes Yoo’s step-down in
     1980 and Pastor Oh’s integration of Tabernacle Temple into Presbyterian Church, as well as Lee’s reaction letters).
  • Tark & Kim (
    2011), Young Sang Kim (2016) – Academic analyses of Shincheonji (document the history of Tabernacle Temple, Yoo’s fraud trial, and how Shincheonji frames its origin).
  • Closer Look Initiative – “
    Stewardship Education Center (SEC)” (2020 report on how Pastor Oh’s SEC team merged the Tabernacle Temple into Presbyterianism, causing its dissolution in 1980).
  • JoongAng Ilbo (
    2020), “Gwacheon Tabernacle Temple, 18-year-old leader Yoo Jae-yeol, and Lee Man-hee’s Shincheonji” – Korean media interview with an ex-Tabernacle member, reflecting on the movement’s collapse and connection to Shincheonji.
  • Lee Man-hee’s letters and testimony as cited in SCJ sources, which mirror Revelation’s epistles and provide a rare primary window into the internal admonitions during the 42 months.

The timeline above illustrates how Shincheonji weaves a dual narrative: on one level, a factual recounting of a religious sect’s rise and fall in South Korea (

1978-1981), and on another level, a theological drama in which that sect’s fall is the very fulfillment of apocalyptic scriptures. The 42 months of betrayal and destruction are therefore not an abstract concept to SCJ members – they are a lived reality that underpins the claim: “Revelation has been fulfilled in our time, and we have witnessed it”.

The Tabernacle Temple: An In-Depth Analysis from the SCJ Bible Study Advanced Level

The Tabernacle Temple holds a pivotal position in the Shincheonji Bible Study Advanced Level, serving as the focal point for numerous prophetic events detailed in the book of Revelation. These events encompass betrayal, destruction, and divine judgment.

The Tabernacle Temple: A Historical and Prophetic Overview

The Tabernacle Temple was established in 1966 in Gwacheon, South Korea, at the base of Cheonggye Mountain. Initially, it is depicted as a place where Jesus actively worked with His chosen people, referred to as the seven stars. These seven messengers were appointed by Jesus to prepare the way for His second coming and to propagate a new word, drawing many people to this location.

However, the Tabernacle Temple eventually succumbed to a period of betrayal and subsequent destruction. This betrayal commenced in 1975 with the arrival of Mr. Oh, also identified as Nicholas or the beast from the earth, who introduced divergent teachings. Consequently, individuals within the Tabernacle Temple began consuming “food sacrificed to idols” and engaging in “spiritual sexual immorality,” thereby abandoning their “first love,” Jesus.

Despite Jesus’ efforts to call them to repentance through letters sent via New John, the chosen people failed to heed the warnings. As a result, destruction was visited upon the Tabernacle Temple, primarily through the actions of the “beast with seven heads and ten horns” (Mr. Tak), representing the Christian Stewardship Training Center (CSTC) or Stewardship Education Center (SEC). The Tabernacle Temple ultimately ceased its physical existence, having been thoroughly destroyed.

The Seven Trumpets: Announcements of Judgment

The seven trumpets in Revelation primarily serve to announce judgment and destruction upon the betrayers within the Tabernacle Temple.

  • First Trumpet (Revelation 8:6-7): This trumpet signals the onset of judgment. It brings “hail and fire mixed with blood” hurled down upon “the earth,” resulting in a “third of the earth, a third of the trees, and all the green grass” being burned up. This is interpreted as a spiritual judgment, with the “hail on fire mixed with blood” representing New John and the “Word of God’s wrath”. The “earth, trees, and grass” symbolize the congregation members of the Tabernacle Temple who experience spiritual death.
  • Second Trumpet (Revelation 8:8-9): Upon the sounding of this trumpet, “something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed”. The “huge mountain” represents the Headquarters (HQ) of the Tabernacle Temple, which is “thrown into the sea,” symbolizing its judgment and its integration into “Babylon”. The “ships” represent branch churches, and the “living things in the sea” (fish) are the congregation members who spiritually perish. This event signifies the exposure of Satan’s doctrines as false.
  • Third Trumpet (Revelation 8:10-11): A “great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter”. The “star Wormwood” is identified as Mr. Oh, a false pastor who disseminates “Satan’s lies” or “false doctrines”. The “springs” symbolize pastors, and “rivers” represent evangelists and disciples who are corrupted by these false teachings, leading to spiritual demise.
  • Fourth Trumpet (Revelation 8:12-13): This trumpet strikes “a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night”. The “sun, moon, and stars” symbolize the pastors, evangelists, and saints of the Tabernacle Temple, respectively. Their darkening signifies their spiritual fall and incapacity to proclaim the truth, as the Tabernacle Temple increasingly succumbs to spiritual darkness.
  • Fifth Trumpet (Revelation 9:1-12): This trumpet reveals a “star that had fallen from the sky to the earth,” identified as Mr. Oh (Wormwood), who is given the “key to the shaft of the Abyss”. Upon the opening of the Abyss, “smoke rose from it… The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss”. This “smoke” represents “false teachings from false pastors”. From this smoke emerge “locusts,” identified as “destroyers” like the Nicolaitans and the “beast with seven heads and ten horns,” who inflict “torture” for “five months”.
  • Sixth Trumpet (Revelation 9:13-21): This trumpet releases “four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year… to kill a third of mankind”. These “four angels” are “angels who sinned” and are aligned with Satan. They emerge from the “great river Euphrates,” which represents the “headquarters of the destroyers” (SEC/CSTC). The killing of a “third of mankind” is spiritual, brought about through “false teachings”.
  • Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 10:7, 11:15): In contrast to the preceding six trumpets that herald destruction, the seventh trumpet signifies “salvation”. It proclaims “the kingdom of the world becoming the kingdom of God” and the “mystery of God,” encompassing “eternal life and resurrection”. New John is identified as the “seventh trumpet”.

The Seven Bowls of Wrath: Final Judgment and Payback

The seven bowls of wrath represent God’s ultimate judgment and recompense, poured out upon both the betrayers and the destroyers, who have become unified. This judgment fulfills God’s promise to avenge the martyrs’ blood, as indicated in Revelation 6.

  • First Bowl (Revelation 16:1-2): Poured on “the land,” it results in “ugly and painful sores” appearing on those who have “the mark of the beast” and worship his image. This “earth” represents the “congregation members of the Tabernacle Temple who betrayed”. The “sores” symbolize a “wound of the heart,” signifying their realization of their erroneous choices.
  • Second Bowl (Revelation 16:3): Poured on “the sea,” it transforms into “blood like that of a dead man,” causing “every living thing in the sea” to perish. The “sea” here represents the “world” of the “destroyers,” specifically the “Stewardship Education Center”. The sea turning to “blood” symbolizes the exposure of “Satan’s doctrines as lies”.
  • Third Bowl (Revelation 16:4-7): Poured on “the rivers and springs of water,” causing them to “become blood”. “Rivers and springs” symbolize evangelists and pastors who are aligned with Satan. The “blood to drink” means they are “forced to hear their doctrines are false”.
  • Fourth Bowl (Revelation 16:8-9): Poured on “the sun,” which is “given power to scorch people with fire”. The “sun” represents a “false pastor” like Mr. Tak of the SEC. The “scorching with fire” is a form of “persecution” administered through “false teaching”.
  • Fifth Bowl (Revelation 16:10-11): Poured on “the throne of the beast,” plunging “his kingdom into darkness”. The “throne of the beast” is identified with “false pastors and his organization,” specifically Mr. Tak and the Stewardship Education Center. The “darkness” indicates that the destroyers’ doctrines are “revealed to be lies”.
  • Sixth Bowl (Revelation 16:12-16): Poured on the “great river Euphrates,” causing its water to “dry up to prepare the way for the kings from the East”. The “river Euphrates” is the “headquarters of the destroyers” (SEC/CSTC). Its drying up signifies that their “false doctrines are exposed to be lies”. The “kings from the East” represent God’s kingdom and priests.
  • Seventh Bowl (Revelation 16:17-21): Poured into “the air,” leading to “flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake”. The “air” represents “rumors from press and media” through which the destruction is revealed. A “great city” splits into three parts, symbolizing the division of the “Stewardship Education Center” into betrayers, destroyers, and saviors. This bowl culminates in the full judgment of Babylon.

The 42 Months of Destruction: A Timeline

The “42 months of destruction” represents a crucial period during which many events of betrayal and destruction unfold. This timeframe is also referred to as “1,260 days” or “three and a half years”. It commenced in

September 1980 and concluded on March 14, 1984, a date that also marks the establishment of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (TTT), signifying the beginning of the “period of salvation”.

Timeline of Events:

  • 1965: Jesus appears to the seven stars.
  • 1966: The Tabernacle Temple (TT) is established.
  • 1967: New John enters the Tabernacle Temple as a member. Mr. Yoo (the father) is expelled due to internal quarreling among the seven stars.
  • 1971: New John departs from the Tabernacle Temple due to corruption and threats.
  • 1975: Mr. Oh (Nicholas) enters the Tabernacle Temple, introducing false teachings and accelerating the period of betrayal.
  • 1977 (Fall): Jesus appears to New John, appointing him and instructing him to send letters.
  • 1979: New John sends letters of repentance to the Tabernacle Temple, but they are ignored.
  • September 1980: Destruction officially begins. The seven stars resign, and the Tabernacle Temple’s name is changed to Central Isaac Presbyterian Church, symbolizing its unification with the Gentiles and the destroyers. This marks the start of the
     42 months of destruction.
  • January 30 – February 2, 1981: The two witnesses (New John and Mr. Hong) are imprisoned for three and a half days on defamation charges, representing their spiritual “death” or inability to perform their duty.
  • September 20, 1981 (2 PM): The pastor commencement or ordination service occurs at the Tabernacle Temple. 17 evangelists are illegally ordained as pastors and receive the “mark of the beast” (false teachings) on their foreheads and hands. Mr. Yoo briefly returns for this event, then flees back to the US after being persecuted.
  • March 14, 1984: The 42 months of destruction conclude. This date also marks the establishment of Shincheonji, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (TTT), signifying the beginning of the
     period of salvation.
  • 1984-1990: The 7 years of judgment (double the 42 months of destruction) are poured out upon Babylon, representing the “Christian world”.
  • June 12, 1990: The first Shincheonji Bible Center opens, allowing people to learn the open word. This marks a significant point where people could enter the TTT after the completion of the 7 plagues.
  • April 1, 1991: The first class graduation from the Bible Center takes place.
  • November 2019: The first 100,000 graduation occurs at Mount Zion.
  • Early 2020: COVID-19 emerges, representing the “great tribulation”. Shincheonji faces persecution and allegations related to the virus.
  • Ongoing (Post-2019): The gathering of the “great multitude” continues. The work of “healing the nations” through evangelism continues. The determination of priests (the 144,000) is still ongoing.
  • Early December 2024 (anticipated): Another large graduation (aiming for 110,000 participants) is expected.
  • Ongoing: The 1,000-year reign of God and Jesus (beginning March 14, 1984) is in progress.

After 1,000 years: Satan will be released, and the final judgment will occur.

SCJ Terminology

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