“Doctrinal Changes” as Understood by Former Members and Critics
What is Happening in SCJ Doctrinal Shifts:
• Vague and General Language: Critics point out that SCJ often uses vague or general language in its doctrines, which allows for continuous reinterpretation and avoids accountability for perceived mistakes.
• Denial and Blame-Shifting: When confronted with inconsistencies, SCJ leaders may deny that any changes have occurred, state that the questioner lacks understanding, or shift blame onto external sources, such as “slanderous information” from the internet or others’ misinterpretations. They also label criticism as “persecution” to deflect from accountability.
• Information Control: New members are generally not made aware of past doctrinal changes, and existing members are discouraged from seeking outside information, which is often dismissed as “poison” or “slander”. Questions and doubts are often suppressed, sometimes by labeling them as originating “from the devil”.
Think of it like a continually shifting sandcastle: SCJ claims it’s a perfectly stable, divinely designed structure being progressively revealed, but critics and former members observe that its builders are constantly reshaping its foundational elements to fit the changing tides of reality, while insisting the blueprint has never changed.
The analysis shows that Shincheonji’s teaching method—claiming that prophecies can only be fully understood after they are physically fulfilled—creates a system that allows for constant reinterpretation. While this may preserve the appearance of prophetic accuracy within the group, it results in clear inconsistencies when measured against the Bible and real-world events. For example, teachings like the “3.5 days” prophecy have been altered over time, the concept of “partially sealed” members was added after the fact to explain unmet targets, and historical references like the Tabernacle Temple and the Stewardship Education Center have been misrepresented.
The report also points to the fragility of the group’s claim that Chairman Lee Man-hee will live physically into the millennial kingdom—a belief increasingly strained as he ages and as other senior leaders pass away. Additionally, Shincheonji’s use of deceptive recruitment tactics and revisionist history raises ethical concerns and further distances the group from biblical principles. These patterns suggest that Shincheonji often reshapes its doctrines in reaction to events rather than offering reliable prophecy. The report also explores Lee Man-hee’s past involvement in other religious movements—connections the group rarely acknowledges—and how those influences may have shaped Shincheonji’s current teachings. Tactics like gaslighting are also examined as tools used to suppress doubts and control the narrative when doctrines shift.
1. Introduction: Understanding Shincheonji’s Claims and Context
Imagine trying to follow a story that keeps changing its key plot points, or a map where the landmarks suddenly shift places. For many, navigating the doctrines and history of Shincheonji (SCJ) can feel a bit like this. While SCJ presents its teachings as a consistent unveiling of divine truth, directly revealed by Jesus to Chairman Lee Man-Hee, and claims to be the only place with a perfect understanding of the Bible’s prophecies and their fulfillment, ex-members and critical analyses reveal a different picture: one of significant doctrinal adjustments and historical discrepancies.
1.1. Overview of Shincheonji and its Theological Framework
A foundational aspect of Shincheonji’s theology is its belief that the Bible is divided into history, moral instruction, prophecy, and fulfillment. Crucially, prophecies are expressed through parables, and their true meaning is believed to be understood only when they are physically fulfilled in the present day. This interpretive approach grants the leadership, particularly Chairman Lee, considerable flexibility in applying scripture to contemporary events. Shincheonji teaches a “two seeds” doctrine (God’s seed and Satan’s seed) and views the Bible as a succession of covenants. They assert that the “New Spiritual Israel” is established at the Second Coming, with Shincheonji itself being the fulfillment of these New Testament prophecies.
1.2. Chairman Lee Man-hee: The “Promised Pastor” and “New John”
Shincheonji teaches that its founder, Lee Man-hee, is the “promised pastor” foretold in the New Testament—particularly in the Book of Revelation—who has overcome false pastors (referred to as “Nicolaitans”) and established the “new heaven and new earth” (Shincheonji), thereby restoring God’s kingdom on earth as the New Spiritual Israel. Lee claims to be the “New John,” who has seen and heard all the events of Revelation, eaten the “little scroll” of Revelation 10, and received a perfect understanding of prophecy directly from God—not from human teachers. This positions him as the sole authoritative interpreter of Revelation and makes his testimony the foundation of Shincheonji’s theological system.
Within this framework, prophecies are not truly understood until they are “physically fulfilled” and later revealed by Lee, granting Shincheonji’s leadership immense doctrinal flexibility. If events unfold differently from what was initially taught, the meaning of the prophecy can be retroactively revised under the justification of “clarification at the proper time.” This renders Shincheonji’s prophecies functionally unfalsifiable, as only Lee is deemed capable of revealing their true meaning. Former members describe this as a mechanism that suppresses critical thinking and fosters intellectual dependence, since members are conditioned to wait for Lee’s interpretation rather than evaluate teachings independently. In effect, Lee’s proclamations override both prior doctrine and observable reality.
**NOTE** This is just an example, and in the article for the “history of lee manhee’, this is where we can go into greater detail about his involvment with the different cults that he was in and where he got most of his doctrines.
1.3. Shincheonji’s Narrative and Gaslighting
Shincheonji’s narrative presents Lee Man-hee as the “one who overcomes” who fought against the corruption of the Tabernacle Temple and established Shincheonji as the true fulfillment of prophecy. However, the organization often omits or reinterprets his prior affiliations and the shared doctrinal elements (such as time-limited prophecies and claims of physical immortality) with these earlier groups.
When confronted with historical discrepancies or doctrinal changes, Shincheonji employs tactics that former members describe as “gaslighting”. They may dismiss questions as “persecution” or “satanic opposition” to deflect scrutiny and frame dissent as a lack of spiritual understanding. The phrase “Food at the proper time” is used to delay answering difficult questions, conditioning recruits to suppress critical thought. This allows Shincheonji to continuously reshape its doctrine to fit Lee Man-hee’s actions and pronouncements, making any challenge to him tantamount to heresy. The organization’s reliance on a “rewritten history” and the claim that “details don’t matter” when inconsistencies are exposed are further examples of this manipulative approach to maintain its narrative and control over members.
2. The Evolving Revelation 7 Doctrine: The 144,000 and the Great Multitude
The doctrine surrounding Revelation 7, particularly concerning the 144,000 sealed individuals and the “Great Multitude,” represents a core tenet of Shincheonji’s theology and a significant point of contention for former members due to observed discrepancies and changes.
2. Shincheonji’s Core Teaching on Revelation 7
Shincheonji’s doctrine asserts that the 144,000 saints, specifically 12,000 sealed individuals from each of the 12 tribes (as referenced in Revelation 7:2-8 and 14:1-5), are currently being gathered and will participate in the “first resurrection”. These 144,000 are believed to become one with the souls of martyrs descending from Heaven and will reign on earth with Jesus for 1,000 years as priests and kings. This is presented as a literal, physical fulfillment occurring within Shincheonji itself.
The movement claims that its total number of followers has already exceeded 144,000, with the excess members constituting the “Great White Multitude” (Revelation 7:9-10) who will also achieve salvation. A particularly compelling aspect of Shincheonji’s teaching is the claim that Chairman Lee Man-hee, as the promised pastor, will not die. Instead, he will enter the millennial Kingdom of God with his physical body, alongside many other living members who will survive until the Millennium. This promise of physical immortality on earth serves as a powerful incentive for adherence.
2.1. Ex-Members’ Concerns and Discrepancies
Former members of Shincheonji have pointed to major doctrinal contradictions surrounding Revelation 7, particularly regarding the sealing of the 144,000 and the timing of the great tribulation. One of the most glaring issues was the failure of certain tribes—most notably Bartholomew—to reach the required 12,000 sealed members by early 2020. Internal reports verifying these numbers conveniently ceased around the time this failure would have become apparent, leading many to suspect deliberate obfuscation. In response, Shincheonji introduced the concept of “partially sealed” members—a term not previously used—which critics argue was a retroactive adjustment meant to account for the unexpected disruption caused by COVID-19. This shift allowed the organization to reinterpret Revelation 7’s sequence, making the sealing and tribulation occur simultaneously, despite the biblical phrase “after this” suggesting a clear order. Such a change made the prophecy functionally unfalsifiable and undermined previous claims of a complete and literal fulfillment.
Additionally, Shincheonji initially taught that the tribulation (which they later equated with the pandemic) would devastate the world’s churches and drive people to join Shincheonji. In reality, it was Shincheonji that suffered most, especially in South Korea, damaging its public image and recruitment. Former members also recall being taught that once the 144,000 were sealed, evangelism would no longer be necessary; yet evangelism efforts intensified after the pandemic. Compounding these contradictions is the unresolved claim that Chairman Lee and many members will physically live to enter the millennial kingdom. With Lee now in his 90s and other leaders having already died, this prophecy faces empirical scrutiny. The leadership’s fallback response—that “everything will happen according to God’s will”—acts as a theological buffer but fails to resolve the deepening credibility crisis. Together, these inconsistencies highlight a pattern of adaptive reinterpretation in Shincheonji doctrine, aimed at preserving authority and cohesion but at the cost of increasing cognitive dissonance among critically thinking members.
3. Biblical Principles of Prophecy: Lessons from Deuteronomy
To evaluate Shincheonji’s prophetic claims, it’s important to use biblical standards—especially Deuteronomy 18:22, which says that if a prophet’s words do not come true, then God did not send them. This verse offers a clear and testable way to identify false prophets: their predictions must be fulfilled exactly as spoken. The Bible also warns in Deuteronomy 13:1-3 not to trust prophets who lead people toward false teachings, even if their signs appear to come true.
When Shincheonji’s changing interpretations—such as the failure to seal 144,000 members or the misapplication of the COVID-19 pandemic as the predicted “tribulation”—are examined in light of these biblical tests, serious problems emerge. Rather than making clear predictions that are fulfilled, Shincheonji often alters or reinterprets doctrine after events have unfolded. This directly contradicts the biblical model, where prophecy must be proven by reality. Shincheonji’s shifting explanations and hidden teachings reveal a theological inconsistency that undermines their claim to divine authority. By biblical standards, their prophetic system fails the test, relying on redefined history rather than truth clearly revealed and fulfilled.
The above references are really just scratching the surface. There are even more changes in SCJ’s doctrines, especially for their supposed unchanging fulfillment.