Shincheonji and the Promised Pastor
Shincheonji teaches that God has always worked through a central figure, or pastor, in every era of biblical history. Adam, Noah, Moses, Joshua, the prophets, John the Baptist, and finally Jesus are all presented as examples of “promised pastors” who received revelation directly from God and led His people. Jesus, in particular, is considered the Promised Pastor of the Old Testament, fulfilling the Law and the Prophets at His first coming. On this basis, SCJ argues that the New Testament also anticipates another Promised Pastor who will appear at the time of Revelation’s fulfillment to guide believers into the truth.
To explain this, SCJ categorizes pastors into three groups: pastors of prophecy, general pastors, and promised pastors. Pastors of prophecy, such as Isaiah or Apostle John, foretell God’s future plans. General pastors, which include most leaders throughout church history, preach about fulfillment but are ultimately limited in understanding, often compared to the spiritually blind Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus. Promised pastors, however, are those chosen to fulfill key prophecies and reveal their true meaning. SCJ claims that Jesus was one such pastor, and that another promised figure—the “New John”—is required for the last days.
The need for this New Testament Promised Pastor, according to SCJ, is evidenced by the confusion and division within Christianity, often pointed to in the statistic of “40,000 denominations.” Because God is not the author of disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33), SCJ argues that such division shows the church has fallen into darkness. Furthermore, since Revelation is written in sealed parables, no one could understand it for the past 2,000 years. At the appointed time, however, God would raise up a Promised Pastor to receive the opened scroll, testify to what he has seen and heard, and provide the “food at the proper time” for salvation.
SCJ identifies their leader, Lee Man-Hee, as this figure. They interpret Revelation 2–3 (“the one who overcomes”), Revelation 10 (the open scroll), Revelation 12 (the male child with the iron scepter), Matthew 24:45–47 (the faithful and wise servant), John 14–16 (the Advocate), and Daniel 12 (the sealed book) as prophecies pointing to him. Just as Jacob established the twelve tribes of Israel and Jesus established the twelve apostles of spiritual Israel, Lee is said to have established the twelve tribes of “New Spiritual Israel” through Shincheonji. In their theology, God, Jesus, and the heavenly kingdom dwell with him, making him the unique channel of salvation for all believers today.
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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.
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SCJ argues that throughout biblical history, God has always worked through a central figure—a pastor—who receives revelation and leads His people:
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Adam received God’s word in Eden.
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Noah was chosen to reveal the coming judgment by flood.
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Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai to guide Israel.
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Joshua continued God’s mission into the Promised Land.
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The prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, etc.) delivered visions of God’s plan.
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John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah.
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Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies as the “Promised Pastor” of the First Coming.
From this pattern, SCJ concludes that the New Testament also requires a promised figure—a pastor—who reveals God’s will at the time of fulfillment, just as Jesus did in His era.
SCJ classifies pastors into three biblical categories:
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Pastors of Prophecy – those who declare God’s future plans (e.g., Isaiah, Daniel, Apostle John).
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General Pastors – those who preach and testify about what has been fulfilled, but without full understanding (e.g., Jesus’ disciples, most pastors in church history).
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Promised Pastors – those who appear at key turning points in salvation history, fulfill prophecies, and reveal the “physical reality” of God’s word (e.g., Jesus at the First Coming, and the “New John” at the Second Coming).
This categorization is meant to show that only a Promised Pastor can open sealed prophecies and correctly teach the revealed word.
SCJ claims that Christianity today proves its spiritual blindness through division and confusion—pointing to the “40,000 denominations” as evidence that God is not with them (1 Cor 14:33).
They argue that since Revelation is written in sealed parables (cf. Hosea 12:10; Rev 5; Isa 29), no one for 2,000 years could understand it. At the appointed time, God would send another Promised Pastor to:
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Unseal the hidden truths (Dan 12:4).
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Testify to what he has seen and heard (Rev 22:8, 16).
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Guide the church to salvation with the revealed word.
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Revelation 2–3 – The “one who overcomes” is promised blessings like hidden manna, the iron scepter, and authority to rule. SCJ applies this directly to their leader, Lee Man-Hee.
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Revelation 10 – The angel gives John the open scroll. “John” here is symbolic of the New John (Lee), who eats the scroll (internalizes revelation) and must testify again to all nations.
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Revelation 12 – The male child who rules with an iron scepter is not Christ (who already has authority) but the New John, spiritually caught up to God, who leads the new 12 tribes.
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Matthew 24:45-47 – The faithful and wise servant who gives food at the proper time is interpreted as Lee, who provides the revealed word of Revelation’s fulfillment.
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John 14–16 – The promised Advocate is not the Holy Spirit at Pentecost but the one who testifies plainly at the end time. SCJ claims this was fulfilled when Lee received the open scroll in 1980.
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Daniel 12 – The sealed book is opened at the time of the end. SCJ interprets Lee as the one who fulfills this by unsealing Revelation.
SCJ frames their leader, Lee Man-Hee, as the continuation of biblical overcomers:
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Jacob overcame and established 12 tribes of physical Israel.
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Jesus overcame and established 12 apostles for spiritual Israel.
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Lee has overcome at the Second Coming and established the 12 tribes of “New Spiritual Israel” (Shincheonji), proving his identity as the Promised Pastor.
According to SCJ:
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God, Jesus, and the heavenly kingdom descend upon the Promised Pastor to work through him.
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He is the channel of salvation, the only one who can open Revelation.
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Believers must unite with him and learn from him to receive eternal life.
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Opposition from “general pastors” is expected, just as Jewish leaders opposed Jesus.
Shincheonji’s perspective is built on the claim that God works through one central figure per era, who fulfills prophecy and establishes God’s kingdom anew. Since Revelation is sealed in parables, only the Promised Pastor of the New Testament—identified as Lee Man-Hee—can unseal it, testify to what he has seen, and establish the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel. This figure is viewed as the embodiment of the Advocate, the faithful and wise servant, the male child of Revelation 12, and the one who overcomes in Revelation 2–3.