Promised Pastor – Glossary
A promised pastor is an individual prophesied in the Bible to appear, whose primary role is to fulfill prophecies and then provide testimony about those fulfillments. Such a pastor is identified by their ability to explain the previously sealed word and acts according to all prophecies spoken about them, with historical examples including Jesus and the New John. At the second coming, the promised pastor (New John) is specifically tasked with eating the open scroll and delivering the revealed word of Revelation (“food at the proper time”) to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, leading them to salvation and God’s kingdom
The Bible is not a book of human thought, but a record of prophecy and fulfillment, written so that God’s people may know His will in every generation (Hab 2:2–3; Jn 14:29). From the Old Testament to the New, God promised what would take place in the future, and He fulfills it according to His appointed time. At the time of fulfillment, He does not leave His people in confusion but sends the Promised Pastor to testify to the reality of the prophecies and to lead the believers to salvation (Rev 22:16; Rev 10:8–11). This was the pattern at the First Coming, when Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and declared their reality, saying, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30; Lk 24:44). In the same way, at the Second Coming, the words of the New Testament are being fulfilled and revealed through the one whom God has appointed (Rev 21:6; Rev 1:1–3).
Because this is the time of fulfillment, it is essential for believers to understand the correct terminology that expresses God’s work of salvation. Without this knowledge, believers cannot discern between truth and lies, nor can they recognize the reality of prophecy. God has warned that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6), and Jesus explained that the secrets of the kingdom of heaven are only given to those who are permitted to know them (Mt 13:11). Thus, knowing the precise meaning of biblical terms is not an option but a requirement for faith in the era of fulfillment.
Shincheonji, the New Heaven and New Earth, teaches that the terminology of prophecy and fulfillment is not based on man’s interpretation but on revelation given by God through His promised shepherd (2 Pt 1:20–21; Jn 16:13–15). Just as no prophecy came from man’s own will, so the mysteries of the kingdom cannot be explained by human wisdom. These terms are the language of heaven, concealed in parables (Jn 3:12; Mt 13:34–35) and now revealed to those who receive the testimony of the one sent by Jesus. This revealed language allows the believer to move from figurative understanding to the reality of fulfillment, from darkness into light.
Therefore, the purpose of this terminology is to open the eyes of believers to the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Col 1:26; Mt 13:11) and to prepare them to pass the spiritual examination of faith. Jesus taught that only those who hold to His word will know the truth and be set free (Jn 8:31–32). Likewise, Revelation records that those who endure the test will be kept in the hour of trial (Rev 3:10). By learning and holding onto the correct biblical terms, believers can distinguish truth from falsehood, overcome deception, and become part of God’s sealed people in the New Heaven and New Earth.
See Terms:
Be aware that groups like Shincheonji often respond to criticism by subtly adjusting their doctrine—a common tactic involving denial, adaptation, and manipulation; is a common tactic among high-control organizations. They may gather information on critics and “flip the script,” portraying exposure as persecution or misinformation. It’s essential to carefully observe doctrinal shifts rather than accepting new explanations at face value. Stay vigilant against gaslighting through evolving teachings designed to counter today’s realities and criticisms.
The Promised Pastor
From the beginning, God has always carried out His work of salvation through a chosen person in each era. In the time of the Old Testament, God used figures such as Moses, the prophets, and kings to proclaim His will and guide His people. Moses was appointed to lead Israel out of Egypt and deliver the Law, while prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel received visions and prophecies concerning future events. These chosen messengers were not acting on their own, but as instruments of God, declaring His covenant and preparing the way for the Messiah. In this way, God revealed the principle that He fulfills His work by appointing a shepherd through whom His will is made known (Hos 12:10, Amos 3:7).
At the First Coming, God fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies through Jesus Christ, who came as the promised Messiah. Jesus testified to the prophecies and showed their reality, declaring that everything written in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms had been fulfilled in Him (Lk 24:44, Jn 19:30). Yet even Jesus, the Son of God, worked not alone but through disciples and apostles who received His testimony and spread it to the nations. Just as the Jews who held only to the Law could not recognize Christ, today those who remain only with the letter of prophecy without its fulfillment cannot truly know God’s work. The pattern is consistent: God appoints a shepherd who reveals the hidden meaning of the prophecies and leads the believers to salvation.
In the same way, the New Testament speaks of a time when all its prophecies will be fulfilled. At the Second Coming, Jesus does not appear in the flesh again to do all the work Himself, but He appoints the Promised Pastor to whom He gives the opened scroll (Rev 10:8–11). This pastor receives the revelation from heaven and testifies to what he has seen and heard, becoming the messenger of Jesus to the churches (Rev 22:16). Just as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, and Jesus led the twelve disciples to form God’s spiritual Israel at the First Coming, the Promised Pastor leads the twelve tribes of Shincheonji, the New Heaven and New Earth, formed at the time of fulfillment (Rev 7, Rev 14). This shows the consistent will of God—to fulfill His promises through a chosen shepherd in every era, culminating in the Promised Pastor of today who testifies to the reality of Revelation’s fulfillment.
God’s word is expressed in parables, symbols, and figurative language, concealing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven from those who are not permitted to know (Mt 13:10–11, 34–35). This means that the terms of prophecy—such as “seed,” “harvest,” “lampstand,” “scroll,” or “Israel”—do not simply refer to their physical counterparts, but carry spiritual meanings that are revealed only at the time of fulfillment. Without knowing the correct terminology, a believer cannot perceive the reality of prophecy or recognize the work of God when it appears. Just as those who misunderstood the Law could not accept Jesus at the First Coming, so too those who cling to man’s interpretations today will not recognize the fulfillment of Revelation.
Correct terminology is essential because it separates truth from falsehood. Hosea 4:6 warns that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, and Jesus said that knowing the truth is what sets people free (Jn 8:31–32). If one confuses the figurative with the literal, or accepts the wrong meaning of key terms, then one’s faith is built on error rather than truth. This is why Revelation 3:10 speaks of an “hour of trial” that tests all who live on the earth—an examination of whether believers truly understand and hold onto God’s revealed word. By learning the precise meanings of the terms revealed by the Promised Pastor, believers can pass this spiritual examination, receive God’s seal, and become part of His kingdom.
Thus, terminology is not merely religious vocabulary, but the language of heaven by which God communicates His mysteries to His chosen people (Jn 3:12; Col 1:26). Only when believers are equipped with this language can they recognize the reality of fulfillment, understand God’s work in this generation, and join the New Heaven and New Earth. Without it, one remains blind to prophecy, unable to distinguish between the true and the false shepherds, and risks being excluded from God’s promise. For this reason, the study of terminology is indispensable for salvation in the era of Revelation’s fulfillment.
The Bible makes it clear that prophecy does not come from human interpretation, but from God who speaks through His chosen messengers (2 Pt 1:20–21). This means that no pastor, theologian, or religious leader has the authority to explain prophecy according to his own ideas. At the time of fulfillment, God sends the Spirit of truth to reveal the meaning of the parables and the hidden things of heaven (Jn 16:13–15). Therefore, the correct understanding of Scripture is not based on man’s wisdom, but on the revelation given from heaven through the promised shepherd. This principle safeguards believers from deception, since only the one who receives the opened scroll from heaven can testify to the reality of fulfillment (Rev 10:8–11).
Because God’s word is written in figurative language, it cannot be understood by the standards of the world (Jn 3:12). Jesus spoke in parables to hide the secrets of the kingdom of heaven from outsiders, while revealing them only to those permitted to know (Mt 13:11, 34–35). These spiritual terms—such as lampstands, bowls, trumpets, or stars—are not literal objects, but symbolic expressions that convey God’s heavenly will. To interpret them by human reasoning leads to error, but when revealed by God, they become the “language of heaven” by which the true people of God can understand His mysteries (Col 1:26).
Thus, the study of prophecy and fulfillment requires humility to receive what comes from heaven rather than relying on human teaching. Just as Jesus opened the meaning of the Scriptures to His disciples at the First Coming (Lk 24:27), today the Promised Pastor opens the hidden language of Revelation and makes it plain. Believers who learn this language of heaven can recognize the work of God in this time of fulfillment, while those who cling to man’s interpretation remain blind. For this reason, the correct interpretation—revealed from above and not invented by man—is essential for salvation and for entering the New Heaven and New Earth.
The purpose of biblical terminology is to reveal God’s will at the time of fulfillment. From the beginning, God expressed His plans through figurative language so that His secrets would remain hidden from the enemy and only be made known to His chosen people (Mt 13:10–11, 34–35). Words like “seed,” “harvest,” “temple,” “scroll,” and “Israel” contain spiritual meanings that are only revealed when the prophecy is fulfilled. This terminology is not meant to confuse, but to separate those who truly belong to God from those who do not. Just as Jesus used parables to test the hearts of the people in His time, the terminology of prophecy today serves as a filter to distinguish those who seek God’s truth from those who rely on human teachings.
Because of this, terminology functions as the foundation of the believer’s exam of faith. Hosea 4:6 warns that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, and Jesus said that knowing the truth sets people free (Jn 8:31–32). At the time of Revelation’s fulfillment, there is an “hour of trial” that comes upon the whole world (Rev 3:10)—a spiritual examination that tests whether one understands the revealed word correctly. Those who pass demonstrate faith not in men’s interpretations, but in God’s testimony through His promised shepherd. Those who fail reveal that their knowledge is earthly and not from heaven.
Thus, the terminology of prophecy and fulfillment is not merely academic knowledge, but the very key to salvation in the last days. Believers who grasp the true meanings revealed from heaven can recognize the realities of fulfillment, receive the seal of God, and become part of His kingdom. But those who misunderstand or reject the correct terminology cannot discern the difference between truth and falsehood. For this reason, the study and mastery of terminology is both the purpose of God’s hidden language and the exam of faith that determines who truly belongs to Him.
Additional References for more Exploration
Is there a "Promised Pastor"?
Doctrinal Issues of the “Promised Pastor of a New Testament”
Jesus warned us explicitly to run away from anyone who makes such exclusive claims, especially when one claims to be the only way to God and Jesus, as seen with Lee Manhee’s own literature.
The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, Page 10: “No one can come to Jesus, gain eternal life, or enter heaven except through the one who overcomes (Revelation 10).”
Lee Manhee also refers to himself as the savior,
The Creation of Heaven & Earth, Page 399: “To attain salvation, believers must recognize the true identities of the chosen people who are destroyed due to betrayal, the enemies of God who bring about this destruction, and the promised pastor who emerges as the savior.”
In Matthew 24:4-5, it says the following:
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
Then, in Matthew 24:23 – 24 –
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
To see how these verses also apply to Lee Manhee and his claims, we need to see what the word “messiah” means; after all, Shincheonji does not claim that Lee Manhee is Jesus, but instead is a person who speaks on behalf of Jesus.
The word “Messiah”, or “Christ” in Greek, means “annointed one”[s]. When looking at Lee Manhee’s own literature, we can see that he was annointed by Jesus in 1977, which is the fulfillment of Revelation 1:17, according to Shincheonji’s literature.
The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, page 41 –
When Jesus places his right hand on John, he is anointing John with the spirit and appointing John as his chosen pastor. From this time
on, John is a messenger who speaks on behalf of Jesus and comes in his name. When these prophecies are fulfilled and a messenger comes to speak on Jesus’s behalf and testify whatever Jesus commands, will people believe?
We can safely conclude that Lee Manhee fits the description of what Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24.
While Shincheonji may try to make the claim that we are supposed to “perceive” the Promised Pastor, the Biblical text plainly tells us not to even bother, as we already need to percieve that Jesus warns against anyone making such robust claims about themselves.
Then we can also see this get reinforced with Galatians 1:6-8 –
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
Looking at how Lee Manhee received his “open scroll” with an angel, and how without Lee Manhee’s testimony, we are unable to be receive atonement for our sins, it’s pretty clear that this warning can be applied to Lee Manhee and Shincheonji.
Of course, a Shincheonji member may push back, saying that the warning that Paul made was only for people in his era, and since we are now in the era of the fulfillment of Revelation, the warning no longer stands.
The only issue with this is that they are now taking away from scripture (Rev 22:18-19), which by their own definition is a lie. We can see this with 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible claims that all scripture is God breathed and is useful, which does not mean it is no longer applicable when a new “revelation” appears.
Click here to see the full refutation of the Promised Pastor of the New Testament
Is Jesus only a “Promised Pastor”?
Shincheonji (SCJ) denies Jesus’ deity and recasts Him as merely the “Promised Pastor,” but the objections they raise are old and already answered by historic Christianity. The core response is the Incarnation: Jesus is fully God and fully man. Thus, verses about His not “knowing” the day or hour can reflect His servant-role (with οἶδα plausibly meaning “declare”), and His growth in wisdom, hunger, fatigue, prayer, and suffering flow from His real humanity without negating His divine nature. Temptation passages speak of external testing (not inner sinful desire), “the Father is greater than I” refers to rank/mission during His humbled state (not essence), and “greater works” means broader scope after His ascension, not superior power. Likewise, John 5:19 and 5:30 highlight perfect unity of will and action with the Father—not inferiority—and Revelation 1:1 fits the Trinitarian pattern: from the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.
Other frequently-misused texts are answered in the same framework. Jesus’ cry, “Why have you forsaken me?” cites Psalm 22—signaling fulfillment and ultimate vindication, not ontological separation from the Father. Calling the Father “my God” (e.g., John 20:17; Rev 3:12) follows from the Incarnation: when the eternal Son takes on flesh, He truly relates to the Father as a man while remaining fully divine (cf. Heb 1:8; Col 2:9). Saying His teaching is from the One who sent Him (John 7:16) reflects role, not essence; the Son eternally reveals the Father and shares all that is the Father’s. Claims that Jesus “seeks acknowledgment” ignore repeated divine affirmations—“This is my beloved Son”—and the Bible’s demand that all honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Finally, the cross does not undermine but proves His deity. “How can God die?” mistakes biblical death (body–spirit separation) for annihilation: the divine nature does not cease; the God–Man truly dies in His humanity and rises by His own authority (John 10:17–18). Scripture even speaks of God purchasing the church “with His own blood” (Acts 20:28) and identifies the crucified One as the “Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:8). Jesus’ post-resurrection exaltation mirrors God’s Old Testament exaltations after mighty acts, publicly recognizing what He always was. Taken together, these texts affirm one coherent picture: distinct Trinitarian roles during the Son’s humbled mission, perfect unity of will and essence, and the unique fitness of Jesus—true God and true man—as the only mediator who redeems and reigns.
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.