In the doctrinal framework of Shincheonji, Mr. Tak Myung‑hwan (탁명환) is cast as the modern embodiment of the biblical “Nicholas” (니골라)—a symbolic dragon and destructive Nicolaitan leader opposing the “true pastor,” Lee Man‑hee. Mr. Tak is not merely a historical figure but a central character in the spiritual narrative of the Book of Revelation. He is portrayed as a figurative fulfillment of multiple prophetic roles, representing one of the most significant adversarial forces against God’s work during what SCJ teaches is the time of the end.
Mr. Tak is known for his leadership as the director of the Stewardship Education Center (SEC), a training ground for pastors that, according to SCJ doctrine, became the epicenter of betrayal and destruction within the former Tabernacle Temple. SCJ teachings claim that although the Tabernacle Temple was initially chosen by God, it eventually fell into corruption through the infiltration and leadership of false pastors—chief among them being Mr. Tak.
His actions are interpreted through the lens of Revelation symbolism: he is described as the “great prostitute,” the rider of the beast, one of the seven heads of the beast, and a key agent of the beast from the sea. These metaphors, according to SCJ interpretation, describe a single, spiritually destructive entity—a false pastor who led many astray, introduced heresies, and opposed the one who was sent to overcome.
Mr. Tak’s figurative identity ties into the broader SCJ narrative of betrayal, destruction, and eventual salvation. Understanding his symbolic role is essential to grasp how Shincheonji interprets the historical and spiritual fall of the former religious order and the necessity of the rise of the New Heaven New Earth through “the one who overcomes.”
See Terms:
Mr. Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환): The Figurative Dragon in Shincheonji’s Theology and Cult Crusader in South Korea
Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a controversial new religious movement founded in South Korea in 1984 by Lee Man-hee. The name “Shincheonji” means “New Heaven and New Earth,” referencing the promised new kingdom in the Book of Revelation. Lee Man-hee claims to be the “Promised Pastor” or the one who fulfills biblical prophecies in Revelation, and mainstream Korean churches widely consider Shincheonji a cult.
Opposing Shincheonji’s expansion and doctrine was the late Mr. Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환), a prominent cult researcher. Mr. Tak (often romanized Tark or Tahk) was the director of the International Religious Problems Research Institute and publisher of the magazine Modern Religion (현대종교). He dedicated his life to documenting Korea’s many new religious sects and warning of their dangers. In fact, Mr. Tak identified hundreds of fringe religious groups – by the mid-1970s he estimated 302 sects around Seoul alone (including 64 Christian-based groups with up to 1.4 million total followers). Many of these groups were led by self-proclaimed messiahs, saviors, or “Second Coming” Christs, which contributed to a rising “cult problem” in South Korea. Mr. Tak became one of the fiercest public critics of Shincheonji and its founder.
In Shincheonji’s narrative, this opposition was figuratively cast in biblical terms – Mr. Tak was identified with the negative figures of Revelation. Early Shincheonji teachings portrayed Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환) as the embodiment of the “great prostitute Babylon” in Revelation 17 who colluded in destroying the “first tabernacle,” and later as part of the “beast with seven heads” from Revelation 13. In other words, Shincheonji believers came to see Mr. Tak as a key human agent of Satan (“the Dragon”) opposing God’s work. It must be emphasized that these labels are figurative from Shincheonji’s perspective – essentially equating Mr. Tak’s anti-cult activities with the satanic forces in Revelation. Mr. Tak himself was a Presbyterian layman and scholar, not an apocalyptic figure. (In reality, he was never an official member of the “Stewardship Education Center,” the Christian institute often blamed in Shincheonji doctrine for persecuting Lee; he was only a guest lecturer and supporter there .) The conflict between Mr. Tak and Lee Man-hee was waged in the arena of publications, sermons, and lawsuits not through any recorded physical altercations. Despite some dramatic rumors within Shincheonji, there is no evidence that Mr. Tak ever physically attacked Lee Man-hee. The “war” between them was ideological. In fact, it was Shincheonji members who occasionally used disruptive tactics – for example, Shincheonji adherents would appear at seminars where Mr. Tak’s family spoke, staging protests and even storming the stage, though Mr. Tak’s son declined to press charges for these incidents. The enmity was real, but it played out via exposés and counter-accusations rather than fists.
South Korea’s “Cult Purification” Campaign of the 1980s
To understand this conflict, it’s important to see the bigger picture of South Korea’s religious climate in the 1970s-80s. The country experienced a boom of new messianic movements in the post-war decades. A 1976
Newsweek report noted “a dozen self-proclaimed messiahs” had appeared in Korea since the Korean War. Some prominent examples of Korean messiahs and cult leaders (and their followings) include:
- Rev. Sun Myung Moon – Founder of the Unification Church (the “Moonies”), who claimed to be the Messiah completing Jesus’ mission. By the 1970s he had millions of followers worldwide (Moon was the only one of these leaders to successfully expand abroad).
- Rev. Park Tae-seon – Leader of the “Olive Tree” movement, a faith-healing revivalist who proclaimed himself a Second Coming Christ figure. By the mid-70s, he had 30,000 ardent followers and built communal compounds; his sect mixed Christianity with shamanistic practices.
- Yoo Jae-yeol – Founder of the Tabernacle Temple (Jangmak Seongjeon) in the 1960s, who along with his father claimed to be the literal “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11. Yoo enticed believers with a doomsday prophecy that the world would end in September 1969, and managed to gather about 2,000 followers in a makeshift “ark” compound near Seoul. When the prophecy failed to occur, disillusionment followed and the group fractured. (Yoo’s failed prediction and ensuing scandal eventually led a young Lee Man-hee, who had been one of Yoo’s devotees, to leave that group .) Yoo Jae-yeol’s sect collapsed by 1980 amid fraud charges – he was arrested and jailed for 2.5 years in 1976 after the authorities cracked down on his corrupt activities.
- Lee Jang-rim – Founder of Dami Mission, infamous for predicting the rapture on October 28, 1992. This doomsday prophecy caused nationwide panic: an estimated 20,000 Koreans believed they would be taken to heaven that night. Some devotees quit jobs, sold all possessions, and even abandoned families in preparation. The prophecy, of course, failed; Lee Jang-rim was arrested for fraud in September 1992 and later convicted for swindling his flock out of huge sums of money. The “October 28, 1992” fiasco, coming on the heels of other cult troubles, underscored how serious the cult phenomenon had become.
- Jung Myung-seok – Founder of Providence (JMS) in the 1980s, who claimed to be the new Messiah taking a Korean bride as the “Heavenly Mother”. He amassed thousands of followers (especially on college campuses) and was later exposed for sexual abuse, eventually being convicted of rape in the 2000s. Despite his crimes, many JMS members continued to revere him as divine.
- Yoo Byung-eun – Co-founder of the Evangelical Baptist Church (Salvation Sect), not a messiah claimant per se, but a leader of a cult-like sect implicated in financial fraud and negligence. His group was branded heretical by major churches. Yoo became notorious as the de-facto owner of the ferry company involved in the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster; he fled and died during the investigation. Decades earlier, an offshoot of his sect was linked to the 1987 Odaeyang mass suicide/murder, where 32 devotees of a splinter cult were found dead under gruesome circumstances. (No direct legal link was proven to Yoo, but the incident heightened public fears of cults.)
- Kim Ki-sun – Leader of the “Baby Garden” cult in the 1980s, who declared herself an immortal goddess. She ran a closed commune and exploited followers; her group collapsed in 1996 amid allegations that she ordered the killings of defectors. (Kim was acquitted of murder for lack of evidence but jailed for tax evasion.)
- Cho Hee-seong – Leader of Yeongsaenggyo (“Eternal Life Church”), a Christian extremist cult of the 1980s. He promised his followers eternal life on earth, extorted large sums of money, and allegedly ordered violent retribution against opponents. The group’s spree culminated in the kidnapping and murder of at least 9 people (including would-be defectors and critics). Cho was convicted for harboring the killers (though acquitted of murder charges) and died in prison in 2004.
By the late 1970s, South Korean society had witnessed multiple cult-related tragedies and scandals, from failed doomsday prophecies to mass suicides and murders. The mainstream Presbyterian and Methodist churches were alarmed by the exodus of believers to these new sects, and the government grew concerned about social instability caused by cults. In
Newsweek‘s words, “many of these new religions are sowing seeds of social unrest” and there were growing calls to “purify” the religious circles of such groups. A pro-government newspaper at the time urged vigorous investigation into the cults “not only to uproot social evils, but also to purify whole religious circles”. This set the stage for a broad “Purification Campaign”.
In 1980, President Chun Doo-hwan’s regime launched a formal “religious purification policy” as part of a larger authoritarian crackdown on anything deemed socially undesirable. Under this campaign, authorities targeted fringe religious movements (especially those labeled “pseudo-Christian cults” by the established churches). A key player was the Christian Stewardship Education Center (SEC), an institute originally created to train clergy, which took a lead in coordinating church-led anti-cult actions. The SEC partnered with major denominations to identify, infiltrate, and if possible absorb or disband the cultic groups. Mr. Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환), as a renowned anti-cult expert, lent his support to these efforts (lecturing about heresies, sharing information on groups he had researched, etc.).
One high-profile target was the aforementioned Tabernacle Temple of Yoo Jae-yeol – the very group where Lee Man-hee had gotten his start. By 1980, Yoo’s Tabernacle was in disarray after his failed prophecies and legal troubles. Sensing an opportunity, the SEC intervened decisively. In September 1981, the Tabernacle Temple was effectively taken over: 17 of its evangelists were ordained as pastors in a mass ceremony on Sept. 20, 1981, and the church was merged into the Presbyterian denomination. Pastor Oh Pyeong-ho (오평호), a Presbyterian minister working with the SEC, was installed as the new head pastor of the Tabernacle (which was renamed Isaac Presbyterian Church). This event – a cult church being absorbed and “purified” – was celebrated by the authorities and mainstream church as a victory of orthodoxy. Yoo Jae-yeol, the former cult leader, signed a contract on Sept. 14, 1981 transferring all control to SEC Director Tak Seong-hwan (탁성환) and Rev. Oh (note: Tak Seong-hwan here was an SEC official – despite the similar surname, this was not Tak Myung-hwan, though Shincheonji later conflated the two). Six days later, at the Sept. 20 ordination, the Tabernacle Temple’s era came to an end – Yoo Jae-yeol relinquished his remaining authority and soon went into exile abroad. The Tabernacle’s congregants were either integrated into the Presbyterian Church or scattered. For the government’s “cult purification” initiative, this was a showcase outcome.
However, to a small group of loyalists – Lee Man-hee and a handful of others who refused to join the Presbyterian fold – these events were seen as a spiritual betrayal. Lee and some fellow believers viewed the SEC-led takeover as the work of “outsiders” and “apostates” infiltrating God’s temple. Indeed,
Newsweek had quoted Mr. Tak in 1976 recommending that prosecutors file criminal charges and even investigate rumors of “ritual sex” and tax evasion in groups like Yoo’s and Park’s. Now in 1981, Mr. Tak and the SEC pastors had, in Lee’s eyes, actually “destroyed the Tabernacle Temple”. Lee Man-hee would later condemn this as the fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies of a “fallen tent” and a “great harlot” causing the collapse from within.
The “Two Witnesses” Incident: Imprisonment and 3.5 Days ‘Death’
Lee Man-hee did not quietly accept the end of the Tabernacle Temple. In the late 1970s and up to 1981, he tried to resist the corruption and the takeover through what he called a “war of doctrine”. Before the final merger, Lee authored a 72-page booklet titled “The World of Religion’s Greatest News” proclaiming that the events at the Tabernacle were actually the sign of the end-times (claiming “the prophecies of the New Testament and Revelation have been fulfilled in reality”). In this pamphlet and in numerous letters, Lee accused Yoo Jae-yeol’s leadership of betrayal and urged members to hold to the original covenant. He referred to the new Presbyterian-backed leaders (the SEC pastors and those who joined them) as “destroyers” and spiritual false shepherds. Lee’s persistent mailings and sermons called for repentance of those who “fell away” to worldly authority. Initially, many in the Tabernacle dismissed Lee as a nuisance – “just the talk of a poor man,” as he later wrote. But as he gained a following among some defectors, the patience of the new regime wore thin.
Eventually, the Presbyterian coalition fought back using the law. The offended parties – likely Rev. Oh and possibly Yoo’s remaining associates – filed a criminal complaint for defamation against Lee Man-hee and another zealous evangelist who stood with him. (One source notes that Yoo Jae-yeol himself instigated a libel suit, feeling slandered by Lee’s accusations .) According to Lee’s testimony, “the seven heads [leaders] of the enemy and the group of apostates… finally filed a complaint with the prosecution. As a result, the beast that came up from the abyss started a war with the two witnesses”. Here, Lee is describing these events in Revelation symbolism: the “beast from the Abyss” (representing secular power and satanic forces) making war on God’s two witnesses. In late 1981, Lee Man-hee and one close colleague (often interpreted as the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11 in Shincheonji’s theology) were arrested and briefly imprisoned by the authorities. Historical accounts indicate they were detained for about 3 months. In Shincheonji’s own literature, it’s stated: “the two witnesses were detained by the prosecution and sentenced to one hundred days in prison”. After this initial jail term, the court released Lee and his co-defendant early in 1982 with a suspended sentence – essentially probation – for the defamation charge.
This outcome meant that for a fixed period (several years) Lee Man-hee was legally forbidden from proselytizing, under threat of having the suspension revoked. He later recounted that the court “suspended [the sentence] for two and a half years, and the period of disciplinary action reached three and a half years”. During that time, he could not publicly testify about his message – effectively muzzling him. Shincheonji equates “the Word” with life, so if an evangelist is gagged from preaching, it is as if he “lost his life”. This is how Shincheonji interprets the prophecy of the “two witnesses” being killed and lying dead for three and a half days (Revelation 11:9-11). Lee Man-hee taught that those “3.5 days” were not a literal period of 84 hours, but rather symbolized 3.5 years – the sum of the jail time plus probation during which the two witnesses could not prophesy. In an early Shincheonji commentary from 1985, Lee explained: “The three-and-a-half days suggested in the text means three and a half years, the sum of the actual sentences received by the two witnesses and the probation period… The suspension was given so that he could not testify to the word, so he ended up in a dead position”. In other words, being silenced by the legal sentence was equated with the “death” of the witnesses in a spiritual sense. And just as Revelation 11 foretells God reviving the two witnesses, Shincheonji claims that after the probation ended (i.e. after 3.5 years), Lee Man-hee was “brought back to life” and free to resume preaching the “open scroll” of Revelation. Indeed, “after three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them and they stood up,” says Revelation 11:11 – Shincheonji believes this was fulfilled when Lee’s suspended sentence period expired and he could stand up and testify again. (Notably, in recent years Shincheonji has adjusted its teaching to say the “3.5 days” were literal days – from January 30 to February 2, 1981-but this contradicts earlier accounts. The core idea, however, remains that the two witnesses “death” was figurative and temporary.)
It’s important to verify these claims with external facts. Contemporary records from the early 1980s do indicate that Lee Man-hee and at least one associate were convicted of libel against the Tabernacle’s new leaders and received suspended jail sentences. For example, Korean sources note that “Lee Man-hee was imprisoned for defamation by Mr. Yoo [Jae-yeol] along with Mr. Hong Jae-ho (홍재호); even the last two people were sentenced” (the names suggest Lee and Mr. Hong were the final holdouts and were duly punished). Thus, the defamation imprisonment story is grounded in real events – although Shincheonji’s prophetic spin on it is obviously a matter of faith.
As for Mr. Tak’s role in this episode, he was not the plaintiff (it was primarily Yoo’s faction who pressed charges). Mr. Tak did, however, publicize Shincheonji’s troubles in
Modern Religion (현대종교) magazine, and he remained an arch-critic. Shincheonji, in turn, vilified Tak. In 2003, Mr. Tak’s son (Tak Ji-il) revealed plans to sue Shincheonji for defamation because Shincheonji had published a book slandering the late Mr. Tak as “a modern-day Judas Iscariot… a swindler and liar… a shaman… clearly heretical… practically insane” – all in retaliation for Tak’s magazine exposing Shincheonji. The bad blood was intense and deeply personal. Yet, despite the hostility, Mr. Tak never resorted to violence – and tragically, he himself became a victim of violence from another source. In 1994, Mr. Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환) was murdered by a religious zealot from yet another cult he had criticized, in an attack outside his Seoul home. The shocking assassination of Korea’s foremost cult researcher showed how dangerous this field could be. Mr. Tak was later honored by Christian circles as a martyr for truth, and his work is carried on by his sons (who are professors and anti-cult experts).
Lee Man-hee’s “Victory” over the Dragon and Aftermath
From the Shincheonji point of view, the early 1980s were the prophesied time of trial – the “Period of Destruction” when God’s tabernacle was invaded by the forces of the Dragon (Satan). Mr. Tak, the SEC pastors, and the Presbyterian establishment are collectively seen as the embodiment of that “Dragon” (working through the beast and Babylon). But Shincheonji teaches that this was not the end of the story. In Revelation 12, a woman clothed with the sun is pursued by the dragon, and her male child is caught up to God, who then “overcomes the Dragon”. Lee Man-hee claims to be that male child – the one who overcomes. According to Shincheonji’s official testimony, after the oppression of the two witnesses, “the one who overcomes manifested himself…and fought and was victorious over the Nicolaitans (betrayers) and the destroyers”. With the enemies defeated in court and in spirit, Lee was vindicated as the “Promised Pastor of the New Testament” – the very role Revelation had foretold. In Shincheonji’s theology, this victory meant that the power of the Dragon (Satan) was cast down and spiritual authority transferred to Lee, who would go on to create God’s new kingdom.
Indeed, in March 14, 1984, Lee Man-hee founded a new church which he pointedly named “Shincheonji (New Heaven and New Earth), the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony”. Shincheonji teaches that at this moment – after the 3.5 years of “death” ended – Revelation 21:1 was fulfilled: the first heaven (old Tabernacle Church) passed away, and a new heaven and new earth were created. What began as a tiny group of perhaps a dozen followers in 1984 grew steadily in the following decades. By 1986, Shincheonji still had under 120 members (a mustard seed). But a turning point came with the establishment of formal Shincheonji “Zion Mission Centers” for intensive Bible courses in the 1990s, which started yielding large numbers of converts. Many recruits were won from mainstream churches, leading to fierce backlash from those churches for “sheep-stealing”. Despite opposition, Shincheonji’s growth accelerated: by 2007 membership reached ~45,000, and by 2012 it surpassed 120,000. According to Shincheonji’s own statistics (cited in a 2020 academic report), the church had about 140,000 members in 2014, 170,000 in 2016, and 200,000 by 2018. Today, Shincheonji claims to have over 200,000 members globally and has exported its teachings to dozens of countries. Lee Man-hee – now well into his 90s – remains at the helm, revered by followers as the only person who “overcame” Satan and can testify to the hidden mysteries of Revelation.
It is remarkable that a once-persecuted sect has achieved such size a fact Shincheonji attributes to divine favor. Mainstream society, however, continues to view Shincheonji with suspicion. In 2020, the group made international headlines as a COVID-19 super-spreader cluster in Daegu; authorities even briefly investigated Shincheonji for allegedly obstructing disease control. (Chairman Lee was arrested on charges of impeding epidemiological efforts, but he was cleared of the major charges and given a suspended sentence for minor violations .) The COVID incident reinvigorated public criticism of Shincheonji’s secretive practices. Korean Christian organizations still label Shincheonji a heresy and run awareness campaigns against it. Ironically, these modern critics include second-generation researchers like Prof. Tark Ji-il (탁지일) – Mr. Tak’s son – who warned that “old stereotypes about cults” persist for groups like Shincheonji because of their aggressive proselytizing and schismatic doctrines.
Yet, from Shincheonji’s perspective, such opposition is merely history repeating itself – the continuation of the Dragon’s war against God’s kingdom. In their eyes, every lawsuit, media exposé, or protest by the established church only serves to fulfill prophecy and prove that Lee Man-hee’s testimony is true. Lee often reminds his flock of his “victory” in the 1980s, when the first tabernacle was judged and he stood triumphant. Having “overcome the Dragon” once before, Lee assures believers that no force can destroy Shincheonji now, for the scriptures must be fulfilled. Indeed, Shincheonji sees itself as the only church that has mastered Revelation – and points to its survival and growth as evidence that “God’s promises have all been fulfilled” so far.
Conclusion
In summary, Mr. Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환) played a crucial role in South Korea’s efforts to rein in unorthodox religious movements during a time of explosive cult growth. He symbolized the “purification campaign” that confronted groups like Shincheonji in their infancy. Shincheonji’s founder, Lee Man-hee, endured imprisonment and opposition in the early 1980s, experiences which his church interprets through a prophetic lens – as the martyrdom of Revelation’s two witnesses and the subsequent victory of the overcomer. The facts show that Lee did face legal persecution (a defamation conviction) but emerged to establish a new sect that has since flourished against the odds. Meanwhile, Mr. Tak’s crusade against “cults” culminated in his untimely death at the hands of another cult’s zealot in 1994 – a stark reminder of how heated the religion landscape became.
Today, the legacy of these events is twofold. On one hand, South Korea has improved oversight on religious groups (for instance, glaring fraud or apocalyptic panic like in 1992 is now met with swifter intervention). The “cult purification” spirit lives on in ministries and watchdog centers that monitor groups and educate the public. Mr. Tak’s own son continues to research new religions and advise the government. On the other hand, Shincheonji stands as a testament to the fact that some new religions survived the purge and adapted. Lee Man-hee’s movement, once a tiny persecuted remnant, is now a well-organized international church – one that still sees itself fulfilling biblical prophecy in real time. To Shincheonji members, Mr. Tak and the forces he represented were ultimately defeated by the truth, just as “the darkness could not overcome the light”. In their narrative, Lee Man-hee overcame “Mr. Tak the Dragon” by testifying to the fulfillment of Revelation and by outlasting his enemies. It’s a dramatic story – part documented history, part theological interpretation – and it highlights the fascinating and turbulent intersection of new religious movements and mainstream reaction in modern Korean history.
Sources: Historical and doctrinal details have been confirmed with academic and news sources: e.g.
Newsweek (1976) on Korean messiahs ; the JoongAng Daily on Mr. Tak’s work and fate; Korean court and church records on Shincheonji’s defamation cases ; and Shincheonji’s own teachings as cited by ex-member researchers. All efforts were made to ensure this account distinguishes established facts from Shincheonji’s theological claims, providing a factual yet comprehensive picture of Mr. Tak’s significance and the tumultuous era that forged Shincheonji.
Sources
- Wikipedia – Shincheonji Church of Jesus
- Wikipedia – Tabernacle Temple Church (장막성전)
- The Korea Herald – “Shincheonji’s secretive rise and modern scandals”
- Closer Look Initiative – “Tabernacle Temple, Yoo Jae-yeol, and the Rise of Shincheonji”
- Closer Look Initiative – “The Founding of Shincheonji and the Fall of Tabernacle Temple”
- Truth About Shincheonji – “What is Shincheonji’s Origin Story?”
- Watchman Fellowship – “Shincheonji Profile Report” (PDF)
- Newsweek Archive (1976) – “The New Messiahs of Korea”
- Modern Religion Magazine (현대종교) – Official Website
- The Hankyoreh – “Mass Rapture Panic of 1992”
- JoongAng Ilbo – “Life and Death of Tak Myung-hwan”
- Amennews – Interview with Pastor Oh Pyeong-ho
- CBS Korea – Special Report on “Pseudo Christianity in Korea”
- Wikipedia – Lee Jang-rim and the Dami Mission 1992 Doomsday Prediction
- Wikipedia – Yoo Byung-eun and the Salvation Sect
- Wikipedia – Jung Myung-seok (JMS) and Providence
- The Korea Times – “JMS Scandal and Cult Crimes in Korea”
- The Dong-a Ilbo – “Religious Cult Violence Cases in 1980s-1990s Korea”
Additional References for more Exploration
Mr. Tak Myeong-hwan (often romanized as Tahk Myeong-hwan) was a prominent South Korean Christian journalist and cult researcher who dedicated his life to exposing dangerous new religious movements. In 1980, he founded a monthly magazine called
Modern Religions to inform clergy, students, and believers about the “current issues, facts, and dangers of cults”. Through this publication and his 16 books on cults, Mr. Tak became the country’s best-known “cult hunter,” shining light on groups he deemed heretical or harmful.
His outspoken crusade, however, made him a target for retaliation. Over a 20-year career, he endured “over seventy terror and death threats” and numerous violent attacks. For example, the Unification Church (the “Moonies”), one of the cults he criticized, planted a bomb in his car in 1985 (leaving him permanently deaf in one ear) and sent 300 followers to storm one of his lectures in 1988. Cult members harassed him dozens of times, even labeling him “the Devil” and “more evil than Judas” on placards at protests. Despite living under constant threat, Mr. Tak remained resolute. He wrote that “these endless threatening situations” made him feel “today may be my last day,” yet he was motivated to continue “glorifying my Lord as best I can” in defense of the faith. He believed God would protect his life until his mission was fulfilled.
Conflict with Lee Man-hee and Shincheonji
Among the movements Mr. Tak scrutinized was a fringe apocalyptic group originally known as the Tabernacle Temple (Jangmak Seongjeon), founded in the 1960s by Yoo Jae-yeol. Lee Man-hee, later the founder of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was involved with that group in the 1970s. Mr. Tak investigated the Tabernacle Temple early on and documented its failed prophecies and scandals as early as 1974. When the Tabernacle Temple imploded amid fraud charges and disbanded in 1980, Lee Man-hee broke away to start his own sect, Shincheonji, in 1984. From the start, Lee viewed critics like Mr. Tak as enemies of God’s work.
In Shincheonji’s theology, opposition from mainstream churches and cult-monitoring ministries is cast in stark spiritual terms; Mr. Tak was portrayed as an agent of Satan seeking to destroy the “true” church. In fact, Shincheonji retroactively wove Mr. Tak into its prophetic narrative of the end times: internal doctrine identified him with the “beast from the sea” in the Book of Revelation, a satanic destroyer figure. Shincheonji taught that this “beast” (Mr. Tak) began to exert influence over the Tabernacle Temple, bringing a period of great tribulation.
“42 Months of Destruction” in Shincheonji’s Narrative
According to Shincheonji’s interpretation, the “work of destruction” lasted for 42 months (three and a half years), a timeframe drawn from Revelation. This corresponds to roughly 1980-1984, when the Tabernacle Temple was beset by “destroyers” and ultimately fell. Mr. Tak was explicitly named as one of these destroyers, accused of spiritually betraying and “invading” the church. Shincheonji’s materials (which have been revised over time) at one point identified a Pastor Oh Pyung-ho, the Tabernacle Temple’s leader, as the primary “beast with seven heads and ten horns” who reigned for 42 months. Later, the sect changed the identity of the beast from the sea to Mr. Tak (sometimes transliterated as Tak Seong-hwan) in their official teachings. In Shincheonji lore, this was the period when “Satan” attempted to destroy God’s chosen people through outside persecution. Lee Man-hee has claimed that during those years he himself “was unable to testify the word for 42 months” due to fierce opposition. Yet, as Shincheonji teaches, Lee “overcame” this trial.
Lee Man-hee as “The One Who Overcomes”
A core tenet of Shincheonji is that Lee Man-hee is the “Promised Pastor” or “the One who Overcomes (이긴자)” foretold in Revelation. Adherents believe that after the tribulation, Lee triumphed over the Dragon (Satan) and his agents. By March 14, 1984, Lee founded Shincheonji (meaning “New Heaven and New Earth”), seen as the restored true church after the corrupted Tabernacle Temple’s fall. In Shincheonji’s view, this marked the fulfillment of biblical prophecy: Lee had conquered the forces of evil that worked through the “destroyers”. In practical terms, “overcoming” meant surviving the onslaught of criticism and defections that had dismantled the previous ministry, and then rebuilding anew. Shincheonji even commemorates this victory. For example, at the sect’s third anniversary in 1987, Lee Man-hee publicly celebrated with former opponents; he dined with one ex-member of the “7 Head, 10 Horn beast” group who had once fought against him. Through such stories, Lee cultivates an image of having “fought the enemy and won”. From his perspective, Mr. Tak’s demise was a spiritual vindication, proof that no antagonist could ultimately thwart God’s new kingdom. Indeed, after Mr. Tak’s death, Shincheonji grew exponentially, which Lee’s followers interpret as the result of Satan’s hindrance being removed. While Lee may not publicly gloat over Mr. Tak, within Shincheonji he is cast as a vanquished Satanic figure who failed to stop “the one who overcomes”.
Cult Threats and a Deadly Climax
From Mr. Tak’s angle, however, these events were not cosmic drama but real-life dangers. He was never a member of the groups Shincheonji claimed; “he never entered the Tabernacle Temple,” an ex-member notes, calling Shincheonji’s claims about his role “completely false”. Mr. Tak was, in reality, an independent researcher (director of the International Religious Research Institute) who had no official backing from the government to “purify” heretical sects. He simply published investigative reports. But those reports made him a marked man. Shincheonji was just one of “many cults [that] targeted him”. At times, Mr. Tak did not even realize how close to danger he was; “not knowing how threatening his life is,” as he confided to colleagues, he pressed on in exposing what he saw as deception. His family later revealed that he received anonymous phone calls saying he would be killed if he continued his work. He lived with the constant possibility of violence, yet refused to be silenced.
Tragically, the threats eventually culminated in murder. On February 18, 1994, Rev. Tak Myeong-hwan was ambushed outside his home in Seoul by assailants who beat him with an iron pipe and stabbed him to death. He was 56. Investigators linked the killing not to Shincheonji, but to another extremist sect he had recently criticized on television. Just three days before his death, Mr. Tak appeared on a TV program condemning Yongsaeng-gyo (the “Eternal Life” Church), a doomsday cult whose leader had been arrested for fraud. The night of the attack, Mr. Tak was returning from a meeting with former members of that sect and human rights advocates, indicating the murder was likely retaliation by a fanatic from Yongsaeng-gyo. (Yongsaeng-gyo’s leader, Cho Hee-seong, was notorious for ordering hits on defectors and critics in the 1980s .) In other words, Mr. Tak ultimately fell victim to the very kind of violent cult intimidation he had fought so long to publicize.
Legacy and Perspectives
Mr. Tak’s death sent shockwaves through South Korea’s religious community. Prominent faith leaders across denominations, Protestant pastors, Catholic Cardinal Stephen Kim, and even Buddhist monks, mourned the loss of this courageous “pseudo-religion critic”. They noted that for 30 years he had exposed leaders who committed fraud and manipulation, weathering over 70 attacks in the process. His martyrdom spotlighted the dangers of unchecked cults and spurred calls for greater oversight. As one sociologist put it, Korea had become a “supermarket of world religions” with hundreds of new sects, some of which “rock society” with scandal and crime. Mr. Tak had been on the front line of this battle.
From Shincheonji’s perspective, however, Tak Myeong-hwan was a dangerous opponent removed from the scene. Lee Man-hee likely viewed Mr. Tak as a serious threat precisely because his magazine and lectures pulled back the curtain on Shincheonji’s doctrines and recruitment tactics. Mr. Tak’s reporting in the 1980s would have hindered Shincheonji’s growth by warning Christians to stay away from the group. In response, Shincheonji’s leaders demonized Mr. Tak as “satanic,” in effect telling followers that any criticism from him (or the media) was the work of the devil trying to slander God’s church. By discrediting him spiritually, they nullified his influence over Shincheonji members. Even after Mr. Tak’s passing, Shincheonji literature continued to disparage him. As noted, they inserted him into their official prophecy fulfillments (albeit with some factual distortions). This suggests Lee Man-hee indeed saw Mr. Tak as a significant adversary: both as a public critic who had to be refuted, and as a symbolic embodiment of Satan’s opposition in Shincheonji’s theology.
Mr. Tak’s family and colleagues have a different interpretation of these same events. They do not see his death as some divine victory for Lee Man-hee, but as a sobering reminder of how far cult devotees will go. His eldest son, Prof. Tark Ji-il, later wrote that his father “dedicated his life to the study of new religious movements in Korea, focusing on the so-called Christian heresies, and was killed by a member of one of those movements in 1994”. Both of Mr. Tak’s sons (Tark Jiwon and Tark Ji-il) have continued their father’s work in the field of counter-cult research. They insist that their father was motivated by love for deceived believers and was not an agent of any “Stewardship Education Center” or government plot, contrary to what some cults allege. In interviews, Prof. Ji-il has also addressed Shincheonji specifically, warning that Lee Man-hee’s self-proclaimed role as “the one who overcomes” has led many astray. In essence, the Tak family views Lee not as a persecuted saint but as one of many charismatic figures who mislead followers, the very type of leader Rev. Tak devoted his life to exposing.
Conclusion
Looking at Mr. Tak’s story from multiple angles reveals a harrowing clash between a truth-seeking reformer and the fringe religious movements he challenged. On one side, Mr. Tak Myeong-hwan was a principled investigator who braved bombs, knives, and endless threats because he felt a calling to protect people from spiritual harm. He paid the ultimate price for that calling, becoming a martyr in the eyes of Korea’s mainstream churches. On the other side, Lee Man-hee and his Shincheonji church regarded Mr. Tak as a dangerous enemy, a “satanic” force trying to thwart God’s new work. In their theology, Mr. Tak’s fierce opposition in the early 1980s was the fulfillment of Revelation’s prophesied persecution, and Lee emerged as the triumphant overcomer who outlasted those “42 months of destruction”. To Shincheonji’s faithful, this narrative reinforces their conviction that Lee Man-hee is divinely chosen; after all, the opponent (Mr. Tak) who denounced Lee as a cult leader was himself struck down, which they interpret as vindication from above.
In reality, the death of Mr. Tak did not “prove” the truth of any one sect, but it did prove the extreme dangers that can arise when religious zeal curdles into violence. Mr. Tak’s life and death highlight the tenacity of those who confront abusive cults, as well as the fanaticism of those who will stop at nothing to defend their messianic leaders. Lee Man-hee may have considered Mr. Tak a satanic threat to his movement, and indeed Mr. Tak’s reporting threatened to expose Shincheonji’s secrets. Yet far from silencing criticism, Mr. Tak’s legacy lives on through his writings and his family’s testimony. In the end, his story is a sobering reminder that speaking truth to power, especially spiritual power, can carry deadly risks, but it is a mission that many, like Mr. Tak, deem worth every risk.
Sources
- AmenNews – “탁명환 소장 피살사건 보도”
Coverage of Mr. Tak’s 1994 assassination by a Daesung Church member.
https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=13029 - MBC News – “피살 된 탁명환 씨와 갈등관계 종교단체”
National broadcast report detailing the murder investigation and cult opposition.
https://imnews.imbc.com/replay/1994/nwdesk/article/1923106_30690.html - Hankyoreh – “공수부대 출신이 사탄도 때려잡지 못하고…”
Biographical article outlining Mr. Tak’s threats, activism, and death.
https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/604885.html - Kyunghyang Shinmun – “하나님의 공소시효는 결코 끝나지 않았습니다”
20th-anniversary remembrance piece on Mr. Tak’s death and cult violence.
https://www.khan.co.kr/article/201402132118485 - Wikipedia (Korean) – “탁명환”
Summary of Mr. Tak’s life, publications, and assassination.
https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/탁명환 - Dangdang News – “탁명환 씨의 생애”
Retrospective article on Mr. Tak’s anti-cult legacy and biographical detail.
https://www.dangdangnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3740 - Modern Religion (현대종교) Archive – “누가 탁명환 소장을 살해하려 했는가?”
Commentary by Mr. Tak on receiving terror threats and exposing cults.
https://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/m/content/view.html?category=54&no=14922§ion=52 - Monthly Chosun – “탁명환의 저서로 본 兪炳彦”
Investigative overview of Mr. Tak’s opposition to Yoo Byung-eun and cults.
https://monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?nNewsNumb=201406100014 - Tragedy of the Six Marys – “Testimony: Tak Myeong-hwan, Murdered”
English summary of Tak’s life and death due to cult retaliation.
https://tragedyofthesixmarys.com/testimony-tahk-myeong-hwan-murdered/ - Affinity PDF – “Cults Update”
Christian academic commentary on cults in Korea and risks faced by researchers like Mr. Tak.
https://www.affinity.org.uk/app/uploads/2022/08/35_21.pdf - Closer Look Initiative – “Shincheonji & the Reality of SEC”
Contextual article analyzing Shincheonji’s portrayal of Mr. Tak in their doctrine.
https://closerlookinitiative.com/archives/11548
Hello, this is Professor Tak Jae-il.
Not long ago, I received an unexpected email from someone in the United States. It was from a former member of Shincheonji, and the question they asked completely caught me off guard. They asked about a group called the “Stewardship Education Center” (SEC), and whether it was true that my late father, Tak Myeong-hwan, had created it at the request of former President Chun Doo-hwan—alongside my uncle, Pastor Tak Seong-hwan—with the goal of destroying the Tabernacle Temple, the spiritual predecessor of Shincheonji, which was founded by Yoo Jae-yeol.
At first, I found the question ridiculous and unbelievable. But when I watched a YouTube video titled “The Light of the East: The True Story of Revelation (동방의 빛: 요한계시록 실화)”, produced by a Shincheonji-affiliated organization, I began to understand where this bizarre narrative was coming from.
According to the video, my father, Tak Myeong-hwan, was supposedly asked by former President Chun to eradicate so-called heretical groups. The story claimed that he then established the Stewardship Education Center through his younger brother, Tak Seong-hwan, and used this group to destroy Yoo Jae-yeol’s Tabernacle Temple. It even claimed the SEC had seized religious influence nationwide by training and educating pastors. To put it simply—it was an outrageous fabrication.
Watching the video, I could only sigh in disbelief. The idea that such an illogical story is circulating—and worse, that Shincheonji members actually believe it—is deeply frustrating and saddening. Yes, a group called the Stewardship Education Center did exist, but it wasn’t anything like what Lee Man-hee claims. It wasn’t some massive political-religious task force backed by a military regime. It was just a small, local gathering of pastors with no secret agenda or powerful backing.
Furthermore, according to testimonies from Pastor Tak Seong-hwan’s family, the SEC continued to exist for several years after Shincheonji was officially founded in 1984. This fact alone contradicts Shincheonji’s claim that Lee Man-hee “overcame” the so-called destroyers before founding his church. In truth, the SEC wasn’t destroyed or defeated by Lee Man-hee at all. Rather, it was Lee who invented this dramatic tale to make his own rise—and Shincheonji’s birth—seem like the result of some grand victory over evil forces. In that story, the SEC becomes the villain, and Lee the hero.
But this isn’t just about the SEC. Lies and fabrications are everywhere in Shincheonji’s narrative.
Back in 2003, Shincheonji’s General Assembly Mission Department published a booklet titled “Reversal Letter to the Christian World”. In it, they distorted and insulted my family’s life story. They painted a false picture of our lives—claiming, for example, that my family lived in a luxurious mansion and that my father had a chauffeur-driven car. They even included photographs to support this lie.
Here’s the truth: until I reached middle school, my family moved from one tiny rented room to another on the outskirts of Seoul. We were five people squeezing into one or two-room apartments, barely making ends meet. Eventually, we managed to scrape together enough to get a modest standalone house with a rental deposit. But Shincheonji labeled this humble home as a “luxurious residence.”
As for the car—my father drove a run-down, second-hand Pony wagon himself. There was no chauffeur. In winter, the engine wouldn’t start, so my mother and I would often have to push the car until it sputtered to life. And yet, Shincheonji claimed he had a driver and a high-end car. Seeing this lie in print, I realized something profound: Shincheonji was built on falsehoods—its doctrines, its origin story, even its method of evangelism.
But perhaps the most striking example of Shincheonji’s hypocrisy happened in 1987. At that time, Shincheonji had opened its third regional base in a building in Anyang. My father, Tak Myeong-hwan—whom Lee Man-hee openly labeled as his “enemy” and “destroyer”—visited that location for an investigative report. And what did Lee do? Despite all his claims of being attacked and persecuted by my father, he posed next to him for a friendly photo, smiling for the camera. That contradiction speaks volumes about Shincheonji’s real story and its inconsistent doctrine.
To any Shincheonji members who may be reading or watching: I ask you sincerely—have you ever once fact-checked the claims you believe in? Have you taken the time to question whether what you’re being told is the truth?
I fear that many of you are putting your faith in elaborate lies. And that troubles me deeply.
This has been Professor Tak Jae-il. Thank you.
Mr. Tak in Shincheonji’s Revelation Teachings: Figurative Identities and Overcoming
“Great Prostitute” – Mr. Tak as Babylon the Great
In Shincheonji (SCJ) theology, Mr. Tak is figuratively identified with the “great prostitute” of Revelation 17. In Scripture, this figure is called “Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes” (Rev 17:5), symbolizing a corrupt spiritual kingdom opposed to God. SCJ teachings interpret Babylon the Great as the false religious world or “kingdom of demons” that has corrupted God’s people. Mr. Tak is said to fulfill this role as the leader of that fallen “Babylon.” He is described as holding the highest position among Satan’s pastors, being the head of the Stewardship Education Center (SEC) – an organization that trained pastors but betrayed God’s word. In other words, Mr. Tak stands as the Babylonian figure who spread spiritual adultery (false doctrine) to many, much like the prostitute who led “all nations” astray with the “wine of her adulteries” (Rev 17:1-5, 18:3). Shincheonji doctrine explicitly call Mr. Tak the “mother of prostitutes” in reality, meaning he produced other false pastors and teachings under Satan’s influence. This identification links him to Babylon’s fate: just as Babylon fell and became “a dwelling for demons” (Rev 18:2), SCJ teaches that Mr. Tak’s corrupt religious work was judged and destined to fall under God’s wrath.
Rider of the Seven-Headed Beast – Authority Over the Beast
Revelation 17 depicts the prostitute “sitting on a scarlet beast… with seven heads and ten horns” (Rev 17:3). SCJ interprets this as Mr. Tak exerting authority over the beast – he “rides” or rules that beastly organization. In practice, the beast represents a coalition of false pastors, and Mr. Tak was the chief among them. As the main head of the beast, Mr. Tak led the group that invaded God’s tabernacle (the “former heaven”). Shincheonji teaches that Satan (the dragon) worked through this beast by giving it power and authority (fulfilling Rev 13:2). Mr. Tak, as the director of the SEC, wielded all the authority of this beast – a throne empowered not by God but by the dragon. In other words, SCJ claims “the throne of Satan” was manifested through Mr. Tak, who carried out Satan’s work in the church. Because he sat atop the seven-headed beast, his position is likened to the prostitute riding the beast, showing he had the highest command. This scarlet beast he rode is understood as a false Christian institution under Satan’s control, which Mr. Tak directed to oppose God’s people. The imagery of riding the beast emphasizes that Mr. Tak controlled and guided the destructive entity, rather than being the whole beast himself. Shincheonji materials note that “Mr. Tak leads the beast” as its head, holding the top position (director of SEC) and thus effectively reigning over the seven heads and ten horns.
One of the Seven “Heads” – Leader among the Destroyers
Mr. Tak is further identified as one of the “seven heads” of the beast – in SCJ’s reality, these seven heads are seven top leaders or pastors who together led the SEC. Each “head” corresponds to a king or leader (cf. Rev 17:9-10), and SCJ teaches they were the seven influential pastors who rose up as “destroyers” in the church. Mr. Tak was “the main head among the seven”, meaning he was the foremost leader of that group. The seven heads in Shincheonji’s interpretation are called destroyers because they carried out the work of spiritually destroying the congregation with falsehood. For example, they are likened to the locusts and “angels of the abyss” in Revelation 9 – invading forces who devour the believers. SCJ explicitly names Mr. Tak as a destroyer, “the beast from the sea,” working alongside the beast from the earth (another leader, Mr. Oh) to corrupt the church. All seven heads together were part of Babylon’s leadership, the false pastor group prophesied in Revelation. They appointed subordinate “ten horns” (ten elders with authority) to assist in this takeover. Thus, Mr. Tak as one of the seven heads means he was one of the prophesied seven false pastors (the “seven kings” on the beast) who opposed God. Notably, SCJ materials emphasize his dual role: not only one of the seven, but effectively leading them as their head instructor. Under his direction, the seven heads and ten horns worked to destroy the Tabernacle Temple (the congregation that had been God’s people). These seven leaders are the ones who betrayed and “trampled” the former church, fulfilling the prophecies of destruction. Shincheonji calls them “the group of the dragon” or “the Nicolaitans” in their figurative teaching, and Mr. Tak was chief among them. In summary, Mr. Tak is figuratively one of the “seven heads of the beast”, representing those top false pastors, and in fact the primary head who guided the others in opposing God’s work.
The Beast from the Sea – False Pastors Invading the Church
Shincheonji theology uses “the beast from the sea” (Revelation 13:1) to describe the organization and work that Mr. Tak led. Figuratively, the “sea” represents the world – specifically the secular or worldly realm of religion. In SCJ’s interpretation, this means the beast comes from the worldly Christian sphere (human-origin teachings, not from God). Mr. Tak’s group emerged from the “sea” of the world to invade the “ship” of God’s church. They are characterized as false pastors lacking God’s Word, who spiritually devour God’s chosen people like sea monsters. Shincheonji doctrine explains that such beasts are “destroyers who do not understand” — they feed lies to the flock, causing spiritual death. Indeed, Mr. Tak and his fellows are said to have “devoured” the congregation by introducing false doctrine and “making the inhabitants drunk” with false teachings (Rev 17:2). The beast from the sea in Rev 13 also receives its power, throne, and great authority from the dragon (Satan) (Rev 13:2). SCJ teaches that this was fulfilled by the SEC’s authority coming not from God but from Satan. Mr. Tak, as the beast’s leader, received his authority from the dragon’s throne – symbolically, Satan worked through him to rule that group. The materials state plainly that Mr. Tak “wielded all the authority of the beast” as its director, but “this power was not given by God”. In other words, his authority was a satanic throne.
A key aspect of the beast’s activity is the invasion and conquest of the “tabernacle of heaven.” In Revelation 13:6-7, the beast blasphemes God and “wages war against the saints”, overcoming them. SCJ applies this to what Mr. Tak’s faction did to the Tabernacle Temple (the church that was God’s dwelling place). When the Tabernacle Temple was established, outsiders slandered it as a “cult” and heresy. Mr. Tak’s Stewardship Education Center took advantage of this, claiming they would purge out false teachings – but in reality they infiltrated the church and spread Satan’s lies while removing God’s truth. By doing so, the beast from the sea conquered the tabernacle: the congregation was deceived into following the false pastors. Shincheonji describes how no one discerned their true identity because they “masqueraded” as righteous ministers. Mr. Tak’s group effectively turned the church into “Babylon”, a dwelling of demons, by replacing the light of the Word with false doctrine. This corresponds to Revelation 13: the beast slandered God’s dwelling (calling it a cult) and “forced all to receive the mark of the beast” (Rev 13:16-17). In SCJ terms, the “mark of the beast” is entirely figurative – it represents accepting Satan’s false teachings and lies into one’s mind and actions. When Mr. Tak and his pastors taught their own doctrines, the congregation that received those teachings was marked as belonging to the beast. Shincheonji explicitly teaches “the mark of the beast represents Satan’s lies…false doctrines”. Thus, through Mr. Tak’s leadership, people were deceived into abandoning true faith and were figuratively marked by falsehood.
In summary, Mr. Tak’s beast from the sea is the fulfillment of Revelation’s monster rising from the sea of the world: a coalition of false pastors empowered by Satan, which infiltrated God’s temple, deceived the believers, and caused spiritual destruction. This beastly entity is equated with “Babylon” in SCJ doctrine – the fallen, demonic pseudo-Christian realm that ensnared God’s people. And at the helm of it was Mr. Tak, the “prostitute” who directed the beast’s movements.
“Fatal Wound” and Work of Destruction – Mr. Tak’s Leadership in Revelation 13
Revelation 13:3 speaks of one of the beast’s heads that “seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound was healed.” Shincheonji applies this prophecy to an incident in Mr. Tak’s rise to power. According to SCJ testimony, within the seven heads of the SEC there was an internal power struggle – a dispute between Mr. Tak and another pastor (referred to as Mr. Kim) over who would lead the organization. At one point Mr. Tak appeared to lose the leadership battle, which caused him great “heartache” – a figurative “wound of the heart”. He was so hurt by this loss among his “friends” that he even considered leaving his life of faith. This is interpreted as the “fatal wound” on one head of the beast (since Mr. Tak was a head). However, that wound was healed when the situation reversed and Mr. Tak ultimately gained the coveted position as director of the SEC. In other words, his leadership crisis was resolved in his favor – “he succeeded in becoming the director, which is why it is described as ‘the fatal wound was healed’”. Shincheonji emphasizes that the healing of the wound symbolized the resolution of the leadership dispute, allowing Mr. Tak to fully assume control. This fulfillment matches the prophecy that the beast would astonish people when the wounded head recovered (Rev 13:3-4). Indeed, after Mr. Tak secured his authority, “the whole world” (figuratively, the congregation) marveled and followed the beast’s leadership.
Once in power, Mr. Tak “did the work of destruction” for 42 months – precisely the period mentioned in Revelation 13:5-7. Shincheonji teachings recount that from September 1980 to March 1984 (a span of 3½ years or 42 months), the beast was active in the Tabernacle Temple. During this time, Mr. Tak and his cohort exercised authority to preach Satan’s doctrine and to deceive the congregation, spiritually killing the congregation who had betrayed. This period is known as the “Destruction of the Tabernacle,” when the chosen church completely fell under the beast’s control. Mr. Tak’s role as the primary destroyer is highlighted: it was under his direction that the congregation received the false teachings (the mark of the beast) and was led to ruin. SCJ lessons note that the beast “blasphemed God and slandered His dwelling” during this time (Rev 13:6) – fulfilled by Mr. Tak’s group labeling God’s true Tabernacle as a cult and forcing the people to accept lies. Consequently, the members who accepted those lies received the mark of the beast on their foreheads and hands (meaning in their thoughts and actions). Shincheonji literature plainly states: “The mark of the beast, 666, represents false teachings…Satan’s false doctrines”. By spreading these teachings, Mr. Tak “killed” the spirits of the congregation, fulfilling the prophesied destruction. Furthermore, SCJ identifies the SEC under Mr. Tak as “Babylon” on a small scale – the entity that made the congregation drink the maddening wine of adulteries (false doctrine). Because of this, SCJ asserts Revelation 18’s judgment was later carried out upon that organization (Mr. Tak’s fall being a small fulfillment of Babylon’s fall).
In essence, Mr. Tak’s career in SCJ’s reality encapsulates the first beast of Revelation 13: he rose as one of the seven heads, survived a near downfall (fatal wound healed), and then led a 42-month campaign of spiritual destruction against God’s former church. Under his leadership, people were branded with false doctrine and the “tabernacle of heaven” was overthrown. This makes him a key figure of betrayal and destruction in Shincheonji’s narrative of Revelation. All the while, Mr. Tak is not seen as the entirety of the beast but as the chief “head” and the figurative prostitute controlling it. He symbolizes the leadership of Babylon – the central figure who corrupted many, analogous to how the great prostitute led the kings of the earth astray.
War in Revelation and Lee Man-Hee’s Victory over Mr. Tak
Despite Mr. Tak’s destructive success for a time, Shincheonji emphasizes the outcome foretold in Revelation: God’s side wins in the end. The events of Revelation 12 and Revelation 13–14 are taught as the story of a spiritual war and the overcoming of the beast by the “one who overcomes.” In SCJ doctrine, New John (Chairman Lee Man-Hee) is the promised pastor who witnessed these events and fought back with the testimony of truth. Revelation 12 describes a war in heaven between the dragon and God’s chosen (Rev 12:7-11). SCJ identifies the “woman clothed with the sun” as the pastor of the tabernacle (Mr. Yoo) and the “male child” born from that woman as New John (Lee Man-Hee). The dragon with seven heads and ten horns in that chapter is the same beast from the sea – essentially Mr. Tak’s group – now in conflict with New John. After the initial destruction (Rev 13), New John confronted Mr. Tak and the destroyers with the testimony from Jesus. This is depicted as the war of Revelation 12: “The beast with seven heads and ten horns, [was] being confronted by New John… [and] attempted to attack him in this war”. However, just as Revelation 12:11 says “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,” SCJ teaches that Chairman Lee and the faithful overcomers defeated Mr. Tak’s faction through God’s help and true testimony.
Practically, this victory meant that Mr. Tak’s deception was exposed and his influence nullified when the time of “payback” came (Rev 17:16-17). SCJ accounts indicate that the very forces of the beast eventually turned against the prostitute – for instance, Mr. Oh (the “8th king”) and others ended up judging and “devouring” Mr. Tak, fulfilling Revelation 17:16. This internal collapse of the false group was seen as God’s judgment on Babylon. Meanwhile, Lee Man-Hee gathered the overcomers who refused the mark of the beast. According to SCJ, those who heeded New John’s testimony “did not worship the beast or his image” – they did not submit to Mr. Tak’s lies. These are the ones who “came out of Babylon” (Rev 18:4) and joined the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony (TTT), which Lee Man-Hee established after overcoming. In SCJ’s teaching, Revelation 15 and 16 describe the vindication of those overcomers: they sing the song of Moses at the sea of glass after defeating the beast (Rev 15:2), and the bowls of wrath are poured out on the false pastors’ kingdom. Indeed, Shincheonji often highlights that only those who overcame the beast from the sea (Mr. Tak), the beast from the earth (Mr. Oh), and the false image are able to belong to New Heaven New Earth. Chairman Lee is identified as “the one who overcomes” of Revelation 2–3, who attained victory over Satan’s group and thus could create the 12 tribes of SCJ. Through this overcoming, the “first resurrection” promises (Rev 20:4-6) apply to the overcomers – they did not take the beast’s mark but will reign with Christ.
In Shincheonji reality, Mr. Tak’s downfall was sealed when Lee Man-Hee overcame in doctrine. SCJ asserts that by proclaiming the revealed Word – the “word of testimony” – New John was able to “snatch up” believers from Babylon and bring them to the place of salvation. This is seen as fulfilling Jesus’s promise that “what was sealed would be opened” and that the lies of Babylon would be exposed. Eventually, Mr. Tak’s SEC faced judgement (both spiritually and even legally, according to SCJ accounts), and Shincheonji Church of Jesus was founded as the new spiritual kingdom free from Babylon’s adulteries. In prophetic terms, Revelation 18’s call “Come out of her, my people” was answered as people left Mr. Tak’s organization to join Lee Man-Hee. Lee Man-Hee is believed to have “won the war” by faithfully obeying Jesus’s commands, writing letters of warning to the betrayers, and enduring persecution until the false leaders were toppled.
Thus, the doctrinal victory involved identifying all the figurative realities (who the beast, prostitute, etc., were) and testifying about them publicly. By revealing that Mr. Tak was the fulfillment of the destroyer prophecies, Lee Man-Hee nullified the authority of the false pastors. He and the overcomers did not accept Mr. Tak’s teachings (beast’s mark) and held to God’s word instead. In the end, Mr. Tak is remembered in SCJ teaching as a cautionary figure – the “prostitute” who enjoyed power briefly but was defeated by God’s plan. Revelation 19’s rejoicing over the judgment of the great prostitute is applied to the aftermath of Mr. Tak’s fall, and the glory goes to God for establishing His new kingdom through the overcomer. Lee Man-Hee, as the “Promised Pastor”, is said to have carried out God’s victory by overcoming Mr. Tak and all the forces of the dragon. This victory paved the way for the creation of the 12 Tribes of Shincheonji, where truth reigns instead of Babylon’s lies.
Conclusion
In summary, Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation portrays Mr. Tak as a pivotal antagonist in the fulfillment of prophecy. Figuratively, he is “Babylon the Great, the Prostitute”, the head of a false religious empire. He is also the principal “head” of the seven-headed beast, leading a confederation of false pastors (the SEC) to betray and destroy God’s former church. As the “beast from the sea,” Mr. Tak’s organization arose from the worldly realm, received power from Satan, and invaded the tabernacle with lies. He fulfilled the fatal-wound-healed prophecy by surviving an internal struggle and then carried out 42 months of spiritual destruction. However, the story does not end with his triumph. According to SCJ doctrine (supported by their study materials and Bible references), Mr. Tak’s dominion was temporary – ultimately Jesus’s promised pastor (Lee Man-Hee) overcame him by the truth, leading to Babylon’s downfall and the rise of God’s New Kingdom. All of these claims are carefully derived from SCJ’s interpretation of biblical verses, which they support with extensive cross-references and explanations in their taught materials. Whether one accepts this figurative framework or not, it is clear that Mr. Tak represents, in Shincheonji’s reality of Revelation, the epitome of falsehood and opposition that had to be conquered. His character functions as a real-world fulfillment of Revelation’s Beast and Prostitute, against whom the faithful must fight and “overcome” to attain salvation. The victory of Chairman Lee over “Mr. Tak” is thus a cornerstone of SCJ’s doctrinal narrative, demonstrating the triumph of God’s truth over Satan’s deception in this modern apocalyptic drama.
Please take the time to check the Bible verses we’ve provided as references. Use them as a guide for your own understanding and discernment. It’s important to verify and confirm information with external sources, witnesses, and experts to ensure validity and transparency. Additionally, remember to pray for wisdom as you seek to identify any errors and ensure that your understanding aligns with biblical teachings.