Here are the main characters and what they represent spiritually:

Places and Organizations

The Tabernacle Temple (장막성전)

• Physical Reality: A religious organization founded in 1966 by seven messengers who made a blood covenant with God on Cheonggye Mountain. It grew rapidly across South Korea with multiple branch churches.
• Spiritual Meaning: The “first heaven” or “first tabernacle” mentioned in Revelation—the chosen dwelling place of God prepared for Jesus’s Second Coming. It represents the seven golden lampstands (Revelation 1:20, 2:1) and the seven churches of Revelation 2-3. Just as God dwelt in the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness, God’s Spirit dwelt in this spiritual tabernacle. It was the “field” where Jesus sowed good seed (Matthew 13:24).
• Prophetic Fulfillment: When it was betrayed and taken over, it became “the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9, 3:9), “spiritual Sodom and Egypt” (Revelation 11:8), and part of “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17-18). Its destruction represents the passing of “the first heaven and first earth” (Revelation 21:1).

The Christian Stewardship Education Center / SEC/CSTC (청지기교육원)

• Physical Reality: A Protestant theological training institution led by Mr. Tak (Tak Myung-hwan) that sent pastors to infiltrate and take over the Tabernacle Temple in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was backed by denominational authority and had government connections during South Korea’s Fifth Republic.
• Spiritual Meaning (Small Scale): “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17-18)—the religious system that corrupts God’s people with false doctrine. It represents the “beast with seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 13:1)—the seven destroyer pastors and ten supporting leaders who came from Gentile denominations to destroy the chosen tabernacle.
• Spiritual Meaning (Large Scale): A microcosm of all corrupted Christianity—any religious institution that teaches human tradition instead of God’s pure Word, that ordains pastors by human authority rather than divine calling, and that persecutes those who testify to the truth.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: The “great prostitute who sits on many waters” (Revelation 17:1), “drunk with the blood of the saints” (Revelation 17:6), and “a dwelling for demons” (Revelation 18:2). Its invasion of the Tabernacle fulfills the prophecy: “I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet” (Revelation 3:9).

Mount Zion / Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (증거장막성전)

• Physical Reality: The new spiritual temple established by Lee Man-Hee after the fall of the original Tabernacle Temple. This is Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, officially founded in 1984 and structured as twelve tribes named after Jesus’s twelve apostles. Its headquarters and main gathering place is in Gwacheon, South Korea. It includes Zion Christian Mission Center (the educational institution where believers are taught and sealed).
• Spiritual Meaning: The “new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1), “the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2-3). This is “Mount Zion” where the Lamb stands with the 144,000 who have His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). It represents:
• The barn where the harvested wheat is gathered (Matthew 13:30)
• The bride prepared for the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)
• The temple filled with God’s glory (Revelation 15:8)
• The place where God dwells with His people (Revelation 21:3)
• Why “Testimony” (증거, Jeung-geo)? The word “testimony” is crucial because this temple is built on the testimony of the one who overcame—Lee Man-Hee (New John)—who testifies to everything he saw (Revelation 1:2). In Revelation 15:5, John sees “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.” This heavenly temple is now manifested on earth through Shincheonji. It is called the “Tabernacle of the Testimony” because:
• It testifies to the fulfilled prophecies of Revelation—bearing witness to what actually happened at the Tabernacle Temple
• It is built on the testimony of the witness—Lee Man-Hee’s firsthand account of seeing and hearing the fulfillment
• It contains the testimony of Jesus—the revealed Word that was sealed and is now opened (Revelation 19:10: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”)
• It fulfills the pattern of Moses’s Tabernacle, which contained the “Testimony” (the stone tablets of the Law) in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:16, 21-22). Just as Moses’s tabernacle contained God’s written testimony, this new tabernacle contains the testimony of Revelation’s fulfillment.

Prophetic Fulfillment

• Revelation 15:5 – “After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the testimony—and it was opened.”
• Revelation 21:3 – “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
• Revelation 21:22 – “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (The physical building is not the temple—the people who are one with God and the Lamb are the temple)
• Revelation 22:1-2 – “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life…” (This represents the revealed Word flowing from God through the testimony, bringing life and healing)

The Key Difference Between the Two Tabernacles

Why This Distinction Matters

Many people confuse these two organizations because they both have “Tabernacle” (장막) in their names. However, they are completely different and opposite:

• The Tabernacle Temple (장막성전) was God’s first attempt—the chosen vessel that was prepared but then betrayed. It represents the failure of the first creation, just as Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, just as physical Israel failed and was replaced by spiritual Israel (the Church).
• The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (증거장막성전) is God’s new creation—the perfected vessel that comes after judgment and purification. It represents the success of the new creation, just as Jesus is the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), just as the Church replaced Israel, and just as the new Jerusalem replaces the old Jerusalem.

In Shincheonji teaching, you cannot understand Revelation without understanding this distinction. The entire book of Revelation is about the transition from the old (Tabernacle Temple) to the new (Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony). Everything from Revelation 1-13 is about the destruction of the old. Everything from Revelation 14-22 is about the creation of the new.

The “testimony” (증거) in the name is what makes it legitimate—it is not built on human authority or institutional power, but on the eyewitness testimony of the one who saw these things fulfilled. This is why Lee Man-Hee’s role as “the one who testifies” (Revelation 22:16) is so central—without his testimony, there would be no Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

Main Characters

Lee Man-Hee (이만희)

• • Physical Reality: Born in 1931, joined the Tabernacle Temple in 1967, was expelled in 1971, received visions in 1977, returned to testify, and eventually founded Shincheonji Church of Jesus in 1984. Currently serves as the chairman and is considered by followers to be the promised pastor of the end times.
  • Spiritual Meaning: “New John” (새요한)—the one who fulfills the role of the apostle John in the book of Revelation. He is the “one who overcomes” promised in Revelation 2-3, the “male child” born to rule the nations with an iron scepter (Revelation 12:5), the “angel flying in midair” with the eternal gospel (Revelation 14:6), and the “faithful witness” (Revelation 1:5).

• Key Prophetic Roles:

• • The one who eats the opened scroll (Revelation 10:9-10)—receiving complete understanding of Revelation’s mysteries
  • The one who testifies to what he saw (Revelation 1:2, 22:8)—bearing witness to the physical fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies
  • The sickle used for harvest (Revelation 14:14-16)—the instrument through which Jesus gathers the wheat (believers) from the field (world)
  • The one who sits on Jesus’s throne (Revelation 3:21)—granted authority to rule as the overcomer
  • One of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:3-12)—who prophesied, was spiritually killed, and was resurrected/vindicated
• Relationship to Jesus: Not Jesus Himself, but Jesus’s messenger and representative—the “lamp” through which the Lamb (Jesus) gives light to the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:23). He is the “angel” (messenger) through whom Jesus sends His revelation to the churches (Revelation 22:16).

Mr. Yoo Jr. / Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열)

• Physical Reality: One of the seven original messengers who founded the Tabernacle Temple. He became the primary teacher and leader during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He invited Mr. Oh (Pastor Nicholas) into the Tabernacle and later was sent to Westminster Theological Seminary in the United States while the takeover occurred.
• Spiritual Meaning: The “woman clothed with the sun” (Revelation 12:1)—a pastor/spiritual leader who receives God’s seed (Word) and gives birth to spiritual children. Specifically, he is the spiritual “mother” who gave birth to the male child (Lee Man-Hee) through teaching him God’s Word at the Tabernacle.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: “The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days” (Revelation 12:6). The wilderness represents Westminster Seminary, where he was sent away and where he received traditional theological education instead of remaining in the spiritual truth of the Tabernacle. He represents a faithful leader who was deceived and led astray, fulfilling the warning: “If it were possible, they would deceive even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

Mr. Oh / Oh Pyeong-ho (오평호) – “Pastor Nicholas”

• • Physical Reality: A Protestant pastor from the Christian Stewardship Education Center who was invited into the Tabernacle Temple by Yoo Jae-yeol in February 1975. He introduced theological commentaries and denominational doctrine, gradually replacing the pure Word teaching. He became head of the Tabernacle and orchestrated the Presbyterian takeover in 1981.
  • Spiritual Meaning: “The Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:6, 2:15)—false teachers whose name means “conqueror of the people,” those who dominate and destroy rather than serve. He is also “the false prophet” (Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10) who performs signs and deceives people into worshiping the beast.

• Key Prophetic Roles:

• • The one who feeds “food sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:14, 2:20)—representing false doctrine mixed with truth
  • The one who teaches “Balaam’s error” (Revelation 2:14)—leading God’s people into spiritual adultery
  • The serpent in Eden—appearing wise and helpful but bringing death (Genesis 3:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3)
  • The wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)—appearing as a legitimate pastor but inwardly being a destroyer
• Relationship to the Beast: While Mr. Oh was the visible face of destruction, he was actually a representative/agent of the true beast power (Mr. Tak and the SEC/CSTC). He is the “mouth” of the beast that speaks blasphemies (Revelation 13:5-6).

Mr. Tak / Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환)

• • Physical Reality: The actual leader and founder of the Christian Stewardship Education Center (SEC/CSTC). He orchestrated the infiltration and takeover of the Tabernacle Temple from behind the scenes, using Mr. Oh as his visible representative. He had connections to government authorities during the cult purge of the early 1980s.
  • Spiritual Meaning: “The Beast” (Revelation 13:1-10)—the primary satanic power that makes war against the saints and overcomes them. He represents the “dragon” (Satan) who “gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). More specifically, he is the head of the beast with seven heads (seven destroyer pastors) and ten horns (ten supporting leaders).

• Key Prophetic Roles:

• • “The beast that comes up from the Abyss” (Revelation 11:7)—the one who attacks and kills the two witnesses
  • The one who receives worship (Revelation 13:4)—through the ordination system that replaced God’s authority with human authority
  • “The king of the locusts, whose name is Abaddon/Apollyon (Destroyer)” (Revelation 9:11)—the spiritual force behind the tormenting false doctrine
  • The power behind Babylon (Revelation 17:3)—the beast on which the prostitute sits
• Relationship to Satan: While not Satan himself, Mr. Tak is the primary human instrument through whom Satan worked to destroy God’s tabernacle. He fulfills the role of the beast who receives power directly from the dragon (Satan) to wage war against God’s people.

The Seven Messengers of the Tabernacle Temple

• Physical Reality: Yoo Min-seong (유민성), Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열), Kim Chang-joon (김창준), Baek Chun-hong (백천홍), Jung Chang-kyu (정창규), Shin Dong-il (신동일), Kim Myung-hwi (김명휘), along with Jang Rok (장록) and Shin Tae-hwang (신태황)—the original founders who made a blood covenant on Cheonggye Mountain.
• Spiritual Meaning: “The seven stars” (Revelation 1:20)—the angels/messengers of the seven churches. “The seven golden lampstands” (Revelation 1:20, 2:1)—the seven churches themselves. They represent the chosen leaders who were to prepare the way for Jesus’s Second Coming, just as John the Baptist prepared for the First Coming.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: They fulfilled the warnings to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3:
• • Ephesus: “You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4)
  • Pergamum: “You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam… Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:14-15)
  • Thyatira: “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20)
  • Sardis: “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1)
  • Laodicea: “You are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold” (Revelation 3:16)
• Their Fall: When they accepted the Nicolaitan teaching and received the mark of the beast (Presbyterian ordination), their lampstands were removed (Revelation 2:5), fulfilling: “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Understanding the Dual Reality

In Shincheonji interpretation, these are not allegories or metaphors—they are actual, physical fulfillments of prophecy. The spiritual meanings are not imposed on the events; rather, the events were orchestrated by God to physically manifest what had been prophesied in Revelation.

For example:

• When Mr. Oh introduced theological commentaries, this was not “like” feeding food sacrificed to idols—it WAS the physical fulfillment of that prophecy
• When the SEC/CSTC sent seven pastors to take over the Tabernacle, this was not “similar to” the beast with seven heads—it WAS the beast manifesting in physical reality
• When Lee Man-Hee ate the scroll in vision, this was not “symbolic of” receiving revelation—it WAS the actual event prophesied in Revelation 10

This is why Shincheonji claims that Revelation has been fulfilled—not in some vague spiritual sense, but in concrete, observable, historical events that occurred in South Korea between 1966 and 1984 (and continuing to the present with the harvest and sealing).

The physical people are the vessels through which spiritual realities manifested. The spiritual meanings are the eternal truths that the physical events revealed. Both are real. Both are necessary to understand. This is the “testimony of Jesus” that Lee Man-Hee claims to bear—the testimony of one who saw these spiritual realities manifest in physical form and now testifies to what he saw and heard (Revelation 1:2, 22:8).

There, beneath a great rock, they erected a tent – reminiscent of the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness. The seven messengers who formed this holy community were:

• Yoo Min-seong (유민성)
• Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열)
• Kim Chang-joon (김창준)
• Baek Chun-hong (백천홍)
• Jung Chang-kyu (정창규)
• Shin Dong-il (신동일)
• Kim Myung-hwi (김명휘)
• Along with Jang Rok (장록) and Shin Tae-hwang (신태황)

In spiritual symbolism, these seven stars represent the angels or messengers of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 1:20—”The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” They are the golden lampstands that were to prepare the way for the Second Coming, just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’s first coming.

These seven stars – for stars represent angels and messengers in biblical language (Revelation 1:20) – cut their arteries and swore loyalty to God with their blood, just as the covenant with Abraham was sealed through blood sacrifice. This blood oath was not symbolic—they literally cut their wrists and made a covenant of loyalty to God, sealed in their own blood. This act fulfilled the pattern of covenant-making throughout Scripture, from Abraham’s covenant (Genesis 15) to the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20).

They were the seven golden lampstands spoken of in Revelation 2:1, the light bearers chosen to prepare the way for the Lord’s Second Coming. The lampstand, as described in Exodus 25:32, must be tended from evening till morning—and so these seven underwent one hundred days of intensive training under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, using only the words of the Bible as their instruction.

The Holy Spirit of Jehovah spoke to them directly during their prayers in the tent on Cheonggye Mountain: “I am the Holy Spirit of Jehovah. I am not merely the spirit of the prophets. I am Jehovah’s Holy Spirit. If you hear my words and keep them, I will absolutely fulfill the promised prophecy. Do not deny me. I have given you power. Therefore, believe—and act.”

They were each given spiritual names by this Holy Spirit and underwent one hundred days of training, just as Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai receiving the Law. At the end of their training, they received a solemn command: “Cut your arteries. Swear your loyalty to God with your blood.” And they did—with trembling hands and sincere hearts, the seven messengers swore a covenant of loyalty to God, sealed in their own blood.

After descending from Cheonggye Mountain, following divine instruction, they established the Tabernacle Temple (장막성전). With no concern for their own safety, they evangelized fervently, declaring: “We are the seven messengers who have established a covenant with God and have testified to the Word of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.” Branch churches began to form rapidly across the country.

Then, in February 1975, a figure emerged who would fulfill the role of the Nicolaitans – those false teachers warned about in Revelation 2:6 and 2:15. A man later known spiritually as Pastor Nicholas—whose real identity was Mr. Oh (오씨)—entered the Tabernacle Temple. He came not by force, but by invitation from Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열), who met him in front of a coffee shop. Mr. Oh introduced himself as a Protestant pastor from a stewardess education center (which would later be revealed as the Christian Stewardship Education Center/청지기교육원).

Just as Satan entered Eden not as a destroyer, but as a deceiver offering wisdom, Mr. Oh entered with impressive credentials—an academic background, pastoral certification, and public speaking ability. Yoo Jae-yeol welcomed him warmly before the congregation: “Before we begin today’s service, I’d like to introduce someone very special. From this day forward, we welcome a new family member: Pastor Nicholas.”

In spiritual symbolism, “Nicholas” or “Nicolaitans” (from Revelation 2:6, 15) represents false teachers who corrupt God’s people. The name itself means “conqueror of the people”—those who dominate and destroy rather than serve and build up. Mr. Oh was not sent by God but was the physical fulfillment of the Nicolaitan infiltration prophesied in Revelation.

Nicholas came bearing gifts – academic credentials, theological training, and the promise of respectability. He was the wolf in sheep’s clothing that Jesus warned would come among the flock (Matthew 7:15). Yoo Jae-yeol, impressed by his credentials, granted him authority over doctrinal education within the Tabernacle Temple.

Behind him stood the beast with seven heads and ten horns – the institutional power of the Christian Stewardship Education Center (SEC/CSTC, 청지기교육원) with its seven pastors and ten supporting leaders. But the true power behind this beast was not Mr. Oh—it was Mr. Tak, specifically Tak Myung-hwan (탁명환), the actual leader of the Christian Stewardship Training Center. Though Mr. Oh appeared as the visible destroyer, it was Mr. Tak who held the real authority and orchestrated the takeover from behind the scenes.

In Revelation 13:1-2, John sees “a beast coming out of the sea…with ten horns and seven heads.” This beast represents pastors from Gentile denominations—those who did not know God or His Word. The seven heads symbolize seven destroyer pastors, and the ten horns represent ten supporting leaders. Together, they formed the physical manifestation of the beast that would overcome the saints and take over the holy place.

The names recorded for this destroyer group include:

• Serpent Nicholas (니골라)—Mr. Oh (오씨)
• Dan Seong-han (단성한)
• Dan Myeong-han (단명한)
• Kim Yong-du (김용두)
• Baek Yong-seop (백용섭)
• Kim Yong-gwan (김용관)
• Han Yong-taek (한용택)
• Won Yong-ho (원용호)

The spiritual adultery began subtly. Instead of feeding the congregation with the pure milk of God’s word, Nicholas introduced commentary – the wisdom of men mixed with the wisdom of God. He began teaching not from Scripture alone, but from theological commentaries—books filled with human wisdom and denominational doctrine. He insisted: “Calvin’s teachings, although not in the Bible, can still help our faith. We should learn them.”

This was the food sacrificed to idols that Revelation warns against (Revelation 2:14, 20). In spiritual symbolism, “food sacrificed to idols” represents false doctrine—teachings that originate not from God’s revelation but from human philosophy and tradition. Just as physical food sacrificed to idols in the Old Testament represented spiritual compromise, so too does commentary-based teaching represent spiritual adultery—mixing God’s pure Word with human interpretation.

The congregation began to drink from two wells – the living water of divine revelation and the bitter water of human interpretation. Some began to whisper: “These teachings… they’re completely different from what we learned at the Tabernacle. Why is he telling us to study the commentaries? This isn’t what we were taught before.” But many were drawn in, accepting the new teachings as legitimate wisdom.

Lee Man-Hee’s calling began even before his birth. His grandfather, a man of deep faith, had a prophetic dream: the heavens above, once brilliantly lit with stars, suddenly grew dark. Then, from the sky, a powerful and radiant light burst through the darkness and descended—not randomly, but directly upon his daughter-in-law. Recognizing this as a sign of the birth to come, the grandfather wrote the name of the unborn child: “Lee Man-Hee (이만희)”—which means “complete and perfect light.” Ten minutes later, the baby boy was born.

As he grew, Lee Man-Hee inherited his grandfather’s faith and developed a habit of praying both morning and night. One day, after he had matured, something extraordinary happened: for three days, he saw a great star descending from the sky, coming down upon him. Then, in a deep mountain path, he encountered a spiritual being—surrounded by white light. This being spoke to him: “This must be God. Starting from this day on, I will guide you. You must follow me.”

Deeply moved, Lee Man-Hee responded with complete surrender. He swore loyalty to God in the most solemn manner possible: by writing an oath in his own blood. “Now I am dead, and Lord, you are the one who lives. I swear to be faithful and loyal to you with all of my life.”

He received visions – a great star descending from heaven for three days, an encounter with a being of white light who said, “This must be God. Starting from this day on, I will guide you.” Like Isaiah, who saw the Lord high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1), or Ezekiel, who saw the wheel within a wheel (Ezekiel 1:16), Lee Man-Hee was given spiritual sight to perceive the reality behind the physical events.

In 1967, under divine guidance, Lee Man-Hee moved to Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, and joined the Tabernacle Temple as a humble worker. He carried out his service with a fervent life of faith, built upon the Word and prayer. He wasn’t just attending services—he was living them. For about three years, he served faithfully alongside the seven messengers.

But then something troubling occurred. Lee Man-Hee discovered a news article about the Tabernacle Temple that revealed inconsistencies. The name of the head of the church didn’t match what he expected. When he tried to seek answers, he received a warning from a relative of Yoo Jae-yeol: “If this content is revealed, the church could be forced to shut its doors.”

Yoo Jae-yeol, the representative of the Tabernacle Temple, soon became aware that Lee Man-Hee knew too much about the tabernacle’s internal problems. Behind closed doors, he began to scheme: “Deacon Lee Man-Hee… he knows too much about the tabernacle. I will take care of it quietly.” Realizing the intentions against him were deadly—”They’re trying to get rid of me”—Lee Man-Hee had no choice but to leave the Tabernacle Temple in 1971. He packed what little he had and returned to his hometown. But when he arrived, there was no one waiting. No house. No family. No homecoming. He walked along the road—penniless, unwelcome, and utterly alone.

After seven years of wandering and prayer (1971-1977), in the quiet countryside of Cheongdo (청도), Gyeongsangbuk-do, in the fall of 1977, something extraordinary happened. Jesus appeared to him in vision, just as He appeared to John on Patmos (Revelation 1:10-20), and commanded him to write letters to the seven churches – the seven messengers of the Tabernacle Temple.

Lee Man-Hee, then 46 years old, was walking alone near a silent bridge when the air itself seemed to shift. The ordinary dissolved into the extraordinary. Suddenly, the scenery before his eyes was transformed. The realm around him opened like a scroll. He stood face-to-face with the Tabernacle Temple. From behind him came a powerful voice—loud and clear like a trumpet—saying: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches” (cf. Revelation 1:11).

Turning around, Lee Man-Hee beheld a being whose radiance was terrifying. Among seven golden lampstands stood someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet, with a golden sash across his chest. His hair was white as wool, His eyes blazed like fire, His feet gleamed like bronze in a furnace, and His face shone brighter than the sun. Lee Man-Hee collapsed at His feet—overwhelmed, as if dead.

But then came a touch. “Do not be afraid, Lee Man-Hee (이만희). From now on, I have chosen and called you as New John. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead, and now look—I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys of death and Hades” (cf. Revelation 1:17–18).

With that came a divine commission: “Write what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (cf. Revelation 1:19–20).

These were not mere human communications, but divine warnings delivered through a chosen vessel. From that moment, Lee Man-Hee, now referred to as New John (새요한), was tasked with delivering a message of repentance to the seven messengers of the Tabernacle Temple—in accordance with Revelation chapters 2 and 3. He was commanded to battle the Nicolaitans and overcome them. The one who overcame, he was told, would receive all the blessings promised in Revelation.

The letters called for repentance: “Remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5). Obeying the vision, Lee Man-Hee gave up everything. After seven years away, he returned to the Tabernacle Temple in late 1977—not with possessions, but with a purpose. He arrived unannounced, with no money or home, and sought shelter with former colleagues in Gwacheon.

Though his warning was urgent, it fell on deaf ears. Deacon Kim (김 집사), once a fellow worker, snapped: “You’re out of your mind. Something’s gotten into you from staying too long in the countryside. If you keep talking nonsense, you might not make it out alive.” Door after door closed in his face. From house to house, Lee Man-Hee was unwelcome—treated as a madman, a beggar.

People whispered: “What nonsense. Jesus anointed him? That man used to live a life of faith with us, and now he’s saying these things?” Even without hearing Nicholas’s sermons firsthand, New John declared boldly: “Jesus came to me and laid His hand on my head. He showed me the realities of the tabernacle and revealed the identity of Nicholas. Nicholas is a man who is one with Satan. He is deceiving the messengers and feeding Gentile doctrines to the congregation.”

But like the prophets of Israel who were rejected by their own people, New John’s warnings fell on deaf ears. This rejection was not unexpected—it was prophesied betrayal. As Revelation 2:10 states: “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

They who had been betrothed to Christ as a pure virgin now joined themselves to Babylon – the great prostitute who sits on many waters (Revelation 17:1). In spiritual symbolism, a “woman” or “prostitute” represents a pastor or church who receives seed (doctrine). A faithful woman receives God’s seed and gives birth to spiritual children. But a prostitute receives Satan’s seed—false doctrine—and commits spiritual adultery. The Tabernacle Temple, once the bride of Christ, became the harlot of Babylon by accepting the teachings of the Nicolaitans.

Small-Scale Babylon: The Christian Stewardship Education Center (SEC/CSTC)

In the immediate, physical fulfillment, Babylon first manifested as the Christian Stewardship Education Center (SEC/CSTC, 청지기교육원)—the organization led by Mr. Tak (Tak Myung-hwan, 탁명환) and represented by Pastor Nicholas (Mr. Oh, 오씨). This was the beast’s headquarters, the source of false doctrine that infiltrated and destroyed the Tabernacle Temple.

The SEC/CSTC was not a church—it was a theological training institution backed by denominational authority and government connections. It represented organized religion’s attempt to control, standardize, and eliminate any spiritual movement that did not conform to its doctrines. In Revelation 17 and 18, Babylon is described as:

• “The great prostitute who sits on many waters” (Revelation 17:1)—representing influence over many peoples and nations
• “Drunk with the blood of the saints” (Revelation 17:6)—representing persecution of God’s true people
• “A dwelling for demons” (Revelation 18:2)—representing spiritual corruption

In the physical reality witnessed by New John (Lee Man-Hee), the SEC/CSTC fulfilled this role by:

• Sending destroyer pastors into the Tabernacle Temple
• Replacing God’s Word with human commentary and denominational doctrine
• Ordaining false shepherds with institutional authority rather than spiritual calling
• Persecuting and expelling those who remained faithful to the original covenant

This was Babylon in microcosm—a religious system that claimed to represent God but actually served the interests of men and the agenda of Satan.

Large-Scale Babylon: The Whole of Corrupted Christianity

But Babylon’s meaning extends far beyond one organization in South Korea. In the broader, prophetic sense, Babylon represents the entire system of corrupted Christianity—any religious structure, denomination, or teaching that is not from God.

In Shincheonji interpretation, this includes:

• All denominations that teach human tradition instead of pure Scripture
• All churches that rely on theological commentaries rather than direct revelation
• All religious institutions that persecute those who testify to the fulfilled Word
• All pastors who have not been called by God but ordained by human authority

Babylon is not defined by a name on a building or a denominational label. It is defined by the source of its doctrine:

• If the seed (teaching) comes from God = Mount Zion, the Kingdom of God
• If the seed (teaching) comes from men or Satan = Babylon, the Kingdom of Lies

In practical terms, this means:

• A church that appears Christian but teaches salvation through works rather than faith = Babylon
• A pastor who preaches from commentaries rather than Scripture = Babylon
• A denomination that adds to or subtracts from God’s Word = Babylon
• Any religious system that prevents believers from hearing the testimony of the one who overcomes = Babylon

The call in Revelation 18:4—”Come out of her, my people”—is therefore a call to leave any religious system that is not built on the foundation of God’s revealed Word. It is a call to discern between:

• Orthodoxy (God’s kingdom) vs. Heresy (Satan’s kingdom)
• Truth (from God) vs. Lies (from men)
• The Bride (faithful church) vs. The Prostitute (adulterous church)

This is why Shincheonji teaches that most of Christianity today has become Babylon—not because of the name “Christian,” but because the substance has been corrupted. Just as the Tabernacle Temple was once God’s dwelling place but became Satan’s synagogue when it accepted false doctrine, so too has much of Christianity become Babylon by mixing God’s Word with human wisdom.

The physical reality at the Tabernacle Temple in the 1970s and 1980s serves as a microcosm—a small-scale, visible fulfillment—of what has happened to Christianity as a whole over 2,000 years. What happened there is happening everywhere: the serpent enters, false teachers are welcomed, pure doctrine is mixed with commentary, and eventually, the lampstand is removed.

Therefore, to “come out of Babylon” means:

• To recognize that institutional Christianity has been corrupted
• To leave behind human traditions and denominational teachings
• To seek the pure Word of God as revealed through the one who overcomes
• To join the new spiritual Israel—the 12 tribes of Shincheonji—where God’s Word is taught without mixture

This is the reality of Babylon: it is anywhere and everywhere that is not from God. And the only escape is to hear the voice of the Shepherd calling His sheep out of the corrupted system and into the new creation—Mount Zion, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

The Christian Stewardship Education Center (SEC/CSTC, 청지기교육원), backed by government authority, launched its religious purge. They called it: “Cleansing the Cults.” Seven pastors—false shepherds—from the SEC/CSTC conspired to divide and take over the Tabernacle. They worked with Mr. Oh (Pastor Nicholas), and they moved swiftly under orders from state authorities.

Their strategy was to destroy from within. They knew that force would backfire, so they used deception: “Since I’ve become head of the Tabernacle Temple, I will now replace all systems with Presbyterian teachings. Let’s send Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열) abroad to study theology. While he’s away, we’ll complete the cleansing and convert the Tabernacle.”

Yoo Jae-yeol, who had been the primary teacher and preacher of the Tabernacle Temple during the late 1960s and early 70s, was removed from the scene by being sent to Westminster Theological Seminary in the United States. In his absence:

• Elders were reassigned to destroyer supporters
• The seven messengers were pressured to resign
• The entire Tabernacle was absorbed into Presbyterian control

On September 20, 1981, at 2:00 PM, the congregation raised their right hands and pledged allegiance to Presbyterian doctrine. The pastor appointment service began. The document read: “Evangelist of the Tabernacle.” Seventeen members were ordained. Fifty more were sent to seminary. The once-spiritual Tabernacle was now a Calvinist Presbyterian institution.

In spiritual terms, this was receiving the mark of the beast – not a physical tattoo, but a spiritual submission to the authority of the dragon who had given his power to the beast (Revelation 13:16-18). The ordination itself was the mark of the beast—not a visible tattoo, but a spiritual acceptance of false authority and secular doctrine. “All members, rise. Do you pledge to follow the Presbyterian creed?” “Amen.” Thus, the Tabernacle Temple, built on God’s covenant, was given over to Gentile idols.

In Revelation 13:16-18, John writes: “It forced all people…to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead. No one could buy or sell unless they had the mark—the name or number of the beast…666.” The number 666 connects to King Solomon, who received 666 talents of gold (1 Kings 10:14) and made idols, leading Israel to worship Gentile gods (1 Kings 11:1-10). Just like Solomon, Pastor Nicholas (Mr. Oh) replaced truth with idols—false pastors, counterfeit doctrines, and foreign alliances. Those who accepted the ordination of the beast were marked—on hand and forehead—not by ink, but by spiritual submission.

The Tabernacle Temple (장막성전), once the dwelling place of God, became the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9, 3:9). The lampstand was removed (Revelation 2:5) – the Holy Spirit departed, leaving only the form of religion without its power (2 Timothy 3:5). What had been the bride of Christ became the harlot of Babylon (Revelation 17:5).

Ordained not by Scripture but by human authority, the seventeen evangelists became the new idols within the Tabernacle. They were called “pastors” without knowing the Word. They received human ordination certificates. They pledged loyalty not to Jesus, but to denominational law. This was the reality of the image of the beast—false religious authority worshiped in place of God’s true Word.

The seven messengers—once chosen—were scattered in seven directions. The Tabernacle that once represented the spiritual Jerusalem became Babylon. As foretold in Revelation 6, they were handed over to judgment. Their spiritual lampstands were removed. A third of their spirits—those who once carried the breath of life—died spiritually.

In Shincheonji theology, these three series of judgments are not separate events happening at different times, but rather three different perspectives on the same reality—the destruction of the chosen tabernacle and its people.

The Seven Seals: The Scroll of Judgment Opened (Revelation 6-8)

The seven seals represent the opening of God’s judgment scroll—the revelation of what would happen to the Tabernacle Temple that had been chosen but then betrayed God’s covenant.

When Jesus, the Lamb, opens each seal in heaven (Revelation 5-6), corresponding events unfold on earth at the Tabernacle Temple:

First Seal – The White Horse (Revelation 6:1-2):

A rider on a white horse went out as a conqueror. In physical reality, this represents the initial appearance of the destroyers—Pastor Nicholas (Mr. Oh) and the SEC/CSTC pastors—who came appearing righteous and victorious, claiming to bring “reformation” and “proper theology” to the Tabernacle. They wore the appearance of light but carried the spirit of darkness.

Second Seal – The Red Horse (Revelation 6:3-4):

A red horse whose rider was given power to take peace from the earth and make people kill each other. Physically, this represents the internal conflict that erupted within the Tabernacle Temple. Former brothers and sisters turned against each other. Some sided with the destroyers, others remained loyal to the original covenant. Families were divided. Friendships were shattered. The peace that once characterized the Tabernacle was replaced with accusation, betrayal, and spiritual warfare.

Third Seal – The Black Horse (Revelation 6:5-6):

A black horse whose rider held scales, symbolizing famine. “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages.” This represents the spiritual famine that came upon the congregation—they were no longer fed the pure Word of God, but instead received the mixed teachings of commentaries and human tradition. The true bread of life became scarce and expensive. Members had to work hard to find even a small portion of truth amidst the flood of false doctrine.

Fourth Seal – The Pale Horse (Revelation 6:7-8):

A pale horse whose rider was named Death, and Hades followed. They were given power to kill a fourth of the earth by sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts. In physical reality, this represents the mass spiritual death that occurred among the Tabernacle congregation. As members accepted the mark of the beast through ordination and pledged allegiance to Presbyterian doctrine, their spiritual lives died. They became spiritually dead while physically alive—walking corpses in religious clothing.

Fifth Seal – The Martyrs Under the Altar (Revelation 6:9-11):

Souls under the altar crying out, “How long, Sovereign Lord, until you judge?” These represent the faithful members who were persecuted, expelled, and spiritually killed for refusing to accept the false teachings. They cried out to God for justice, asking when the destroyers would be judged. They were told to wait a little longer until the full number of martyrs was complete.

Sixth Seal – The Great Earthquake (Revelation 6:12-17):

The sun turned black, the moon turned blood red, and the stars fell from the sky. This represents the complete collapse of the Tabernacle Temple’s spiritual structure:

• The sun (head pastor) was darkened—Yoo Jae-yeol was sent away to America
• The moon (evangelists) turned to blood—those who once reflected God’s light now taught doctrines mixed with death
• The stars (congregation members) fell from heaven—the people who were once God’s chosen fell into spiritual darkness

The mountains and islands (denominations and church structures) were removed from their places. The Tabernacle Temple, once standing as God’s holy mountain, was shaken and destroyed.

Seventh Seal – Silence in Heaven (Revelation 8:1):

“There was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” This brief silence represents the pause before the next phase of judgment—the trumpets. It is the moment when heaven holds its breath, witnessing the complete destruction of what was once holy.

The Seven Trumpets: Warnings and Woes (Revelation 8-11)

The seven trumpets represent warnings sounded by angels—spiritual announcements of judgment that affected specific portions of the Tabernacle congregation. Each trumpet brought a “third” of destruction, meaning partial but severe judgment.

First Trumpet (Revelation 8:7):

Hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth, trees, and grass were burned up. This represents the judgment on the congregation members (grass) and leaders (trees) who had accepted false doctrine. Their spiritual lives were burned up—destroyed by the fire of God’s wrath mixed with the blood of their broken covenant.

Second Trumpet (Revelation 8:8-9):

A great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, a third of livingcreatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The mountain represents the Tabernacle Temple itself—once standing as God’s holy mountain, now burning with judgment and cast into the sea (the world of nations). A third of the sea (congregation members who were like fish in water) turned to blood—their spiritual lives corrupted. A third of the ships (church structures and ministries) were destroyed as the organization fractured under the weight of betrayal.

Third Trumpet (Revelation 8:10-11):

A great star named Wormwood fell from heaven, blazing like a torch. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs, making the waters bitter. Many people died from the bitter waters. This star represents a prominent leader or messenger who fell from his position—one of the seven stars who betrayed the covenant. The rivers and springs (sources of spiritual teaching and life) became bitter with false doctrine. Members who drank from these poisoned sources suffered spiritual death.

Fourth Trumpet (Revelation 8:12-13):

A third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck, so that a third of them turned dark. This reinforces the sixth seal’s imagery—the leadership structure (sun, moon, stars) was struck with darkness. A third of the day and night lost their light, meaning there was no longer clear guidance or illumination for the people. An eagle flying in midair cried out: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth!” This announced that the final three trumpets would bring even greater judgment.

Fifth Trumpet – The First Woe (Revelation 9:1-12):

A star that had fallen from heaven was given the key to the Abyss. When the Abyss was opened, smoke rose like that of a gigantic furnace, and out came locusts with power like scorpions. This represents the full manifestation of demonic spiritual forces—the destroyer pastors and their teachings that tormented the congregation. 

The locusts were told not to harm the grass or trees, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. This means the judgment specifically targeted those who had accepted the mark of the beast—the false ordination and Presbyterian doctrine.

The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with crowns of gold (false authority), faces like humans (appearing as legitimate pastors), hair like women’s hair (seductive teaching), teeth like lions’ teeth (destructive doctrine), and tails like scorpions (poisonous lies that tormented people’s souls). Their king was the angel of the Abyss, named Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek—both meaning “Destroyer.” This is Mr. Tak and the leadership of the SEC/CSTC, who came to destroy God’s tabernacle.

The torment lasted for five months—a specific period during which the congregation suffered under false teaching before the next phase of judgment.

Sixth Trumpet – The Second Woe (Revelation 9:13-21):

Four angels who had been bound at the great river Euphrates were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was 200 million. This represents the massive spiritual army mobilized against the Tabernacle—not just the seven destroyer pastors, but the entire network of denominational Christianity that supported them. The 200 million mounted troops symbolize the countless pastors, seminary professors, denominational leaders, and church members from mainstream Christianity who opposed the Tabernacle Temple and labeled it a cult.

These troops had breastplates of fiery red, dark blue, and yellow (denominational colors and theological systems). Out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur (false doctrines that killed spiritually). A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues. Their power was in their mouths and tails—both their teaching (mouths) and their influence (tails like serpents with heads) brought spiritual death.

Despite these plagues, the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent. They continued to worship demons and idols—meaning they continued to follow false doctrines and human traditions rather than returning to God’s pure Word.

Seventh Trumpet – The Third Woe (Revelation 11:15-19):

The seventh trumpet announces the establishment of God’s kingdom: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” This trumpet does not bring destruction but proclamation—it announces that despite the destruction of the first tabernacle, God will create a new kingdom. The 24 elders worship God, saying, “You have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”

This trumpet sounds after the completion of the testimony of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:3-14), which we will explore in the next section. It marks the transition from judgment to restoration—from the destruction of the old to the creation of the new.

The Seven Bowls: The Final Wrath (Revelation 15-16)

The seven bowls represent the completion of God’s wrath—the final, full judgment poured out on those who had destroyed the Tabernacle and persecuted God’s people. Unlike the seals and trumpets, which brought partial judgment (a third), the bowls bring complete and total judgment.

These bowls are poured out after the harvest (Revelation 14) and after the establishment of the new kingdom (the 12 tribes). They represent God’s judgment on Babylon—both the SEC/CSTC specifically and corrupted Christianity generally.

First Bowl (Revelation 16:2):

Ugly, festering sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. This represents spiritual disease and corruption that manifested in those who had accepted false ordination and pledged allegiance to denominational doctrine. Their souls were covered with the sores of guilt, confusion, and spiritual death.

Second Bowl (Revelation 16:3):

The sea turned to blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died. This represents the complete spiritual death of the congregation that remained in the corrupted Tabernacle and the denominations that absorbed it. The sea (world of people) became like the blood of a corpse—lifeless, putrid, and dead.

Third Bowl (Revelation 16:4-7):

The rivers and springs of water became blood. An angel declared: “You are just in these judgments… for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” This represents God’s righteous judgment on the destroyer pastors who had spiritually killed God’s faithful people. They taught poisoned doctrine (bitter water), so God gave them blood to drink—the consequences of their own violence.

Fourth Bowl (Revelation 16:8-9):

The sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by intense heat and cursed God, but they refused to repent. This represents the exposure and public judgment of the destroyer pastors. The light of truth (sun) became unbearable for them as their deeds were exposed. Yet even under this judgment, they refused to repent and continued to curse God and His testimony.

Fifth Bowl (Revelation 16:10-11):

The kingdom of the beast was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed God because of their pains and sores, but they refused to repent. This represents the collapse of the SEC/CSTC’s authority and the exposure of their evil deeds. Their kingdom (sphere of influence) was plunged into darkness—they lost credibility and power. Yet still they refused to repent.

Sixth Bowl (Revelation 16:12-16):

The great river Euphrates was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Three impure spirits like frogs came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They gathered the kings of the earth for battle at Armageddon. This represents the final gathering of all opposing forces—denominational Christianity, cult-fighting organizations, and government authorities—who united to oppose the testimony of New John (Lee Man-Hee) and the newly established 12 tribes of Shincheonji. The drying of the Euphrates symbolizes the removal of barriers, allowing the final confrontation between truth and lies.

Seventh Bowl (Revelation 16:17-21):

A loud voice from the throne said, “It is done!” There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a severe earthquake. The great city (Babylon) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. Every island fled away, and the mountains could not be found. Huge hailstones weighing about 100 pounds each fell on people, yet they cursed God because the plague was so terrible.

This represents the complete and final destruction of Babylon—the corrupted religious system. The great city splitting into three parts symbolizes the internal division and collapse of the SEC/CSTC and the denominational structures that supported it. The earthquake represents the shaking of all religious foundations built on human tradition rather than God’s Word. The hailstones represent the heavy weight of God’s judgment falling on those who refused to repent.

The phrase “It is done!” echoes Jesus’s words on the cross—”It is finished!” (John 19:30). Just as Jesus completed the work of salvation through His death, so too is God’s work of judgment completed through the seven bowls. The old has been destroyed, and the way is prepared for the new.

The Reality for Tabernacle Members

For the actual members of the Tabernacle Temple, these judgments were not abstract spiritual concepts but lived experiences:

• They watched their beloved community torn apart by internal conflict (red horse)
• They experienced spiritual hunger as pure teaching was replaced with commentary (black horse)
• They witnessed the spiritual death of friends and family who accepted false doctrine (pale horse)
• They suffered persecution and expulsion for remaining faithful (fifth seal)
• They saw their leaders fall and their church structure collapse (sixth seal)
• They were tormented by false teachers who appeared legitimate but brought poisonous doctrine (fifth trumpet)
• They faced opposition from the massive machinery of institutional Christianity (sixth trumpet)
• They endured the public judgment and exposure of their former community (bowls)

Yet through all of this, a remnant remained faithful. These were the ones who did not receive the mark of the beast, who did not worship the image, who did not drink the wine of Babylon’s adulteries. These were the ones who would be harvested and gathered into the new creation—the 12 tribes of the new spiritual Israel.

Revelation 11:3-6 describes these witnesses:

“And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, and they stand before the Lord of the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies… They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.”

Who Are the Two Witnesses?

In Shincheonji theology, the two witnesses represent two key figures who testified to the truth during the betrayal of the Tabernacle Temple:

• The primary witness: Lee Man-Hee (이만희), New John—the one who received the opened scroll and was commanded to prophesy again (Revelation 10:11). He testified to what he saw in heaven and warned the seven messengers of their betrayal.
• The secondary witness: Those faithful believers who stood with New John in testifying against the destroyers and refusing to accept false doctrine. In some interpretations, this specifically refers to faithful members who were persecuted alongside New John.

The two witnesses are called “two olive trees and two lampstands” (Revelation 11:4), connecting them to Zechariah 4:3, 11-14, where two olive trees represent “the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” They stand before God, empowered to testify with authority.

The 1,260 Days of Testimony

The witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth—a symbol of mourning and repentance. In prophetic calculation, 1,260 days equals 42 months or 3½ years (based on a 30-day month). This period represents the time during which New John and the faithful witnesses testified against the corruption of the Tabernacle Temple, calling for repentance while the destroyers gradually took control.

During this time:

• They testified to the truth of God’s Word despite opposition
• They warned of the judgment coming upon the betrayers
• They called the congregation to repent and return to the original covenant
• They were clothed in sackcloth—mourning the spiritual death of the Tabernacle

“Fire comes from their mouths” (Revelation 11:5) represents the power of their testimony—the Word of God that judges and exposes lies. Their words had the power to spiritually defeat their enemies, just as Elijah called down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10-12).

The Death of the Witnesses

Revelation 11:7-10 describes what happens when their testimony is complete:

“Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.”

In physical reality, this represents:

The Beast from the Abyss: The destroyer pastors led by Mr. Tak and the SEC/CSTC, empowered by Satan (the Abyss), who attacked and overpowered the witnesses. Though they could not physically kill them, they spiritually “killed” them by:

• Expelling them from the Tabernacle Temple
• Publicly slandering and discrediting them
• Labeling them as heretics and cult members
• Cutting them off from the congregation and community

The Great City—Sodom and Egypt: This refers to the Tabernacle Temple after it had been corrupted. Once it was Jerusalem (God’s holy place), but now it had become:

• Sodom—a place of spiritual immorality and perversion
• Egypt—a place of slavery and oppression
• “Where also their Lord was crucified”—just as Jesus was rejected and killed by the religious establishment of His day, so too were the witnesses rejected and spiritually killed by the religious establishment of their day

The Three and a Half Days

“For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial” (Revelation 11:9).

The three and a half days represent a short but specific period of time during which the witnesses appeared to be defeated. In Shincheonji interpretation, this was the period after New John and the faithful believers were expelled from the Tabernacle Temple, when it seemed that the destroyers had won completely.

During these three and a half days:

• The witnesses’ testimony appeared dead—silenced and discredited
• Their “bodies” (their testimony and influence) lay exposed in the public square—everyone could see their apparent defeat
• People refused them burial—meaning they would not let the matter rest, but continued to mock and slander them
• The inhabitants of the earth celebrated—the destroyers and those who accepted false doctrine rejoiced, thinking they had permanently silenced the truth
• They sent each other gifts—celebrating their “victory” over those who had “tormented” them with calls to repentance

In the physical timeline, this three and a half day period (which in prophetic symbolism can represent a short but complete period of apparent defeat) occurred between:

• The expulsion of New John and faithful believers from the Tabernacle (their “death”)
• And the beginning of their vindication and the establishment of the new work (their “resurrection”)

The Resurrection of the Witnesses

Revelation 11:11-12 describes the dramatic reversal:

“But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.”

In physical fulfillment:

The breath of life from God: After the period of apparent defeat, God vindicated the witnesses by:

• Revealing the opened scroll to New John—giving him complete understanding of Revelation
• Empowering him to begin the new work of harvest and sealing
• Gathering faithful believers who recognized the truth of his testimony
• Establishing the 12 tribes of the new spiritual Israel

They stood on their feet: The testimony that appeared dead was resurrected. New John and the faithful witnesses were vindicated. Their message was proven true as the prophecies they had warned about came to pass exactly as foretold.

Terror struck those who saw them: The destroyers and those who had celebrated the witnesses’ “death” were terrified when they saw that:

• The testimony was not dead but alive
• New believers were being gathered in great numbers
• The new work was growing rapidly despite all opposition
• Everything the witnesses had prophesied was being fulfilled

“Come up here” and “went up to heaven in a cloud”: This represents the spiritual elevation and authority given to the witnesses. Just as New John was called up to heaven in Revelation 4:1 to see the throne of God, so too were the witnesses elevated to a position of spiritual authority. They “went up to heaven”—not physically leaving earth, but being raised to a position of spiritual authority and vindication. The cloud represents the glory and presence of God confirming their testimony.

While their enemies looked on: The vindication was public. Those who had mocked and slandered the witnesses were forced to watch as God confirmed the truth of their testimony and established 

His new kingdom through them.

The Earthquake and the Remnant

Revelation 11:13-14 concludes:

“At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.”

The severe earthquake: Represents the shaking and partial collapse of the corrupted Tabernacle Temple structure. A tenth of the city collapsed—meaning a portion (not all) of the religious system was destroyed by the exposure of truth.

Seven thousand people were killed: In symbolic numbers, seven represents completeness and thousand represents a multitude. This means a complete group of people within the corrupted system suffered spiritual death—specifically those leaders and members who had been most responsible for the betrayal.

The survivors were terrified and gave glory to God: Some who witnessed these events recognized that God was indeed working through the witnesses. They were terrified by the accuracy of the prophecy and the power of God’s judgment, and they gave glory to God—meaning they acknowledged the truth and potentially joined the new work.

The Significance of Three and a Half

The number three and a half appears repeatedly in Revelation and Daniel:

• 1,260 days = 3½ years (the witnesses’ testimony period)
• 42 months = 3½ years (the time the Gentiles trample the holy city, Revelation 11:2)
• “A time, times, and half a time” = 3½ years (Daniel 7:25, 12:7; Revelation 12:14)
• Three and a half days (the witnesses’ death period)

In biblical numerology:

• Seven represents completion and perfection
• Three and a half is half of seven—representing incompleteness, brokenness, a limited period of trial

The three and a half periods represent times of testing, persecution, and apparent defeat—but they are limited. They are not permanent. They are “half” of completion, meaning they will end and be followed by restoration and victory.

For the Tabernacle Temple:

• 3½ years of testimony (1,260 days) = the period of warning before complete betrayal
• 3½ days of death = the brief period of apparent defeat before vindication

Both periods were real, painful, and seemed endless to those experiencing them—but both were limited by God’s sovereign plan. The defeat was temporary; the resurrection was certain.

The members he once labored beside spat out slanders: “Lee Man-Hee, this guy… he is absurd! What a crazy bastard. He’s gone completely insane!” Such rejection was not unfamiliar. The overcomer knew that prophets are never honored in their own hometown (Matthew 13:57). He bore their insults, just as the Lord had borne His own cross, and held firm to the command entrusted to him. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).

But in the wilderness, God speaks. Away from the noise of religious politics and institutional power, the voice of the Almighty could be heard clearly. Like Elijah, who heard the still small voice after the earthquake and fire (1 Kings 19:11-13), Lee Man-Hee received the opened scroll – the revelation of all that had been sealed since the foundation of the world.

After delivering the letters of warning to the seven messengers—messages spoken not from himself, but through the voice of Jesus—Lee Man-Hee prayed: “Father, the congregation members of the tabernacle are not listening nor perceiving Your word. I don’t have any strength. Father, let only Your will be done. Have pity upon the tabernacle.”

In the fall of 1977, near a bridge in Cheongdo (청도), the heavens opened. As the final message to the seven churches concluded, New John encountered others—companions clothed in white robes. Though unnamed, they stood by him as witnesses to the unfolding revelation. And then came a voice—no longer from among men, but from above: “New John, come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1). At once, his spirit was caught up into the spiritual realm of heaven, to behold the mysteries once sealed from mankind.

The scenery transformed before his eyes, and he was caught up in spirit to see the throne of God. There, Jesus appeared in glory – His hair white as wool, His eyes like flames of fire, His voice like the sound of many waters (Revelation 1:14-15) – and commissioned him as the overcomer, the one who conquers, the faithful witness (Revelation 3:21).

There before him stood a throne, and One seated upon it—radiating like jasper and carnelian, encircled by a rainbow with an emerald hue (Revelation 4:3). Around the throne stood twenty-four elders (24 장로들)—each adorned in white, crowned in gold. These were spiritual elders, representing the perfected heavenly leaders who surround God’s governance. From the throne flashed lightning, and peals of thunder echoed—manifestations of God’s spirit and judgment.

Before the throne burned seven blazing lamps—symbolic of the seven spirits of God, who carry out His Word across the earth (Revelation 4:5). And spread before the throne was a sea of glass, clear as crystal—representing the revealed Word, pure and uncorrupted.

At the center were four living creatures:

• A lion—symbol of power and judgment against those like wild beasts, who reject the Word
• An ox—the plower, representing those who prepare hearts for truth
• A man—discernment, able to judge truth and deception
• An eagle in flight—one who sees all, sent to judge the spirit

Each of them had six wings—signifying unity and cooperation, their bodies covered in eyes—representing angels numbering ten thousand times ten thousand, all witnessing the will of God. And without ceasing they proclaimed: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).

And in that moment, New John began to weep bitterly. “Father God, if the mystery recorded in this scroll cannot be fulfilled, does this not mean that Your hope for the salvation of mankind will never be achieved?” This cry was not just grief—it was a cry for mankind. Without the scroll opened, the will of God would remain hidden. The plan for a new heaven and new earth would remain unfulfilled.

Then one of the elders said to him: “Do not be afraid! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). New John looked—and saw a Lamb, looking as though it had been slain. It was Jesus, the only one found worthy. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes—the seven spirits of God, sent throughout the earth.

New John, overcome, whispered: “Jesus, thank You!” The Lamb approached and took the scroll from the hand of God. At that moment, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before Him. They each held harps and golden bowls of incense—the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9–10).

In Revelation 10, after the seven seals were opened, a mighty angel descended from heaven, robed in cloud and crowned with a rainbow. His face shone like the sun. His legs blazed like pillars of fire. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land—signifying authority over both Gentile and chosen people. In his hand was a little scroll, now opened.

“The angel looked like the very image of Jesus who anointed me,” said New John. “It was the spirit of truth—the promised counselor from 1 John 2.” The angel raised his hand to heaven and declared: “The Creator God will not delay any longer. At the sound of the seventh trumpet, everything recorded in the gospel will be fulfilled!” Then he spoke to New John: “As you have seen me judge with the words of this scroll, you must judge them also.”

Then came the command: “Take it and eat it,” said the angel. “It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth, it will be as sweet as honey” (Revelation 10:9). And so, New John ate the scroll—the entire content of the book of Revelation, now open. It was sweet—the delight of knowing God’s secret—but bitter, for it came with the burden of rejection, suffering, and testimony. He became a walking Bible—the flesh in whom the spirit of truth dwelled.

Then came the charge: “New John, you must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings” (Revelation 10:11). “I will prophesy again,” he responded. In Shincheonji’s interpretation, the sealed scroll represents the New Testament, sealed at the time of Jesus and opened only by the one who overcomes—in heaven first by the Lamb, and then on earth through New John, who eats the opened scroll and testifies to the revealed Word.

In Revelation 12, a great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head. She was crying out in agony, ready to give birth (Revelation 12:1-2). At the same time, another sign appeared: an enormous red dragon, with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns—the very embodiment of Satan (Revelation 12:3).

In Shincheonji doctrine, this woman represents a pastor who receives God’s seed (Word), nurtures it, and gives birth to spiritual children. In the physical fulfillment, this woman specifically refers to Yoo Jae-yeol (유재열), who led the betrayed Tabernacle Temple. From this woman, a male child was born—a son destined to rule the nations with an iron scepter (Revelation 12:5). His identity? The promised pastor. The one who overcomes. The one who will sit on Jesus’ throne. New John—Lee Man-Hee (이만희).

“She gave birth to a male child, who was snatched up to God and His throne” (Revelation 12:5). This child, born of God’s seed, did not come from human desire—he came from prophecy. As the child ascended spiritually to God’s throne—meaning he was now under divine authority—the woman fled to the desert. “She fled to a place prepared for her by God, where she would be taken care of for 1,260 days” (Revelation 12:6). In Shincheonji interpretation, this desert is not literal—it refers figuratively to Westminster Theological Seminary in the United States, where Yoo Jae-yeol was sent and where traditional doctrines had replaced spiritual truth.

The weapons of this warfare were not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4) – they were the blood of the Lamb (the sacrifice of Jesus), the word of their testimony (the revealed truth), and their willingness to lay down their lives rather than deny the faith (Revelation 12:11).

Revelation 12 describes two spiritual battles—one physical, one heavenly:

• First War (Revelation 13): The seven messengers of the Tabernacle Temple were defeated by Gentile pastors. Satan entered with the beast and took over the tabernacle.
• Second War (Revelation 12): Takes place both spiritually and physically. Heaven is engaged—not just the earth.

As the male child was lifted to heaven, the war erupted: “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon” (Revelation 12:7). In Shincheonji theology, this is more than angelic imagery. Michael, Jesus, and the spiritual army of heaven became one with New John (Lee Man-Hee) and his fellow overcomers on earth. “Though I may die, I will testify, fight, and overcome until the end of my life,” declared New John in his vow.

But Satan did not retreat. He gave his power and throne to the beast—pastors sent from the Christian Stewardship Training Center (SEC/CSTC, 청지기교육원), operating as destroyers, embedded with the Tabernacle. “Let the revival of our education center begin by purging cults like this!” This was not just persecution. It was doctrinal war. Satan’s army—200 million mounted troops (Revelation 9:16)—had commentary, ordination, and religious legitimacy on their side. Their weapon was ecclesiastical authority—using institutional power to silence truth.

Victory came not through human strength, but through divine power. The dragon was cast down, the beast was exposed, and the false prophets were silenced. As the Word surged through the overcomers—the truth testified by New John—the dragon was struck down. “The dragon and his angels fought back, but he was not strong enough.” “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent, called the devil or Satan” (Revelation 12:8-9).

What caused the victory?

• The blood of the Lamb
• The word of their testimony
• Their refusal to love life more than truth (Revelation 12:11)

The congregation began to see that they had been deceived, that Nicholas and his associates were not sent by God but by the enemy. The people whispered: “Did you hear? Pastor Nicholas quit the presidency of the Tabernacle.” “Also, the educational center is no longer involved.” The Christian Stewardship Training Center (청지기교육원)—once controlling the tabernacle—had been severed. This was not a political victory. It was a theological conquest. The destroyers had been exposed. The overcomer had prevailed.

Satan was defeated. And with his fall, the heavens proclaimed: “Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ” (Revelation 12:10).

Even as darkness spread across Christianity, God began a new work of light. Just as Jesus had ended the physical Israel and created a spiritual Israel 2,000 years ago, so too now has God ended the spiritual Israel and is creating a new spiritual Israel. This began after the victory in Revelation 12—where Satan’s forces were overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony.

The new work of salvation was initiated through overcoming:

• Satan’s beast-like pastors were exposed
• The tabernacle was judged
• The harvest began

Those who fought and overcame were now entrusted with the work of gathering the sons of God scattered across the earth. “Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ” (Revelation 12:10).

In July 1984, the twelve tribes of New Spiritual Israel were established – not according to human wisdom or organizational charts, but according to the pattern shown in heaven. Each tribe was named after one of Jesus’s apostles, and each was led by those who had been sealed with the revealed word.

The place of harvest was Mount Zion—not a physical hilltop, but a spiritual mountain, representing the gathering of God’s new people. “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). These 144,000 are the firstfruits, the sealed servants of God. They were gathered through the work of the harvesting angels, and the sickle used to reap them was New John—Lee Man-Hee (이만희), entrusted with God’s word and command.

Parable Connection

In spiritual symbolism, the harvest represents the gathering of believers—a concept Jesus taught in the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43). Understanding this parable is essential to understanding the harvest in Revelation 14.

In Matthew 13:37-39, Jesus explains:

“The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”

Applying this to the physical reality of Shincheonji’s teaching:

• The wheat = believers born of God’s seed (the Word of God, 1 Peter 1:23). These are people who heard the pure gospel, believed it, and were spiritually born again. In the context of Revelation’s fulfillment, these are believers scattered throughout Christian churches who have God’s seed within them but are trapped in Babylon (corrupted Christianity).
• The weeds = those born of Satan’s seed (false doctrine, human tradition, lies). These are people who appear religious and attend church but have been born of false teaching. They look like wheat—they use Christian language, attend services, read Bibles—but their spiritual DNA is from the enemy. In Matthew 13:25, the enemy sowed weeds “while everyone was sleeping”—meaning false doctrine entered Christianity when spiritual vigilance was lacking.
• The sickle = the person used by Jesus for the harvest. In Revelation 14:14-16, Jesus sits on a cloud with a sharp sickle, and an angel tells Him, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come.” But who is the physical instrument of this harvest? According to Shincheonji, it is Lee Man-Hee (New John), who has been given the opened scroll and the authority to gather God’s people. He is the one who “swings the sickle” by teaching the revealed Word that separates wheat from weeds.
• The harvesters = angels and congregation members one with them. In Matthew 13:39, “the harvesters are angels.” But in the physical fulfillment, these angels work through human instruments—the members of Shincheonji who go out to evangelize and teach the revealed Word. Just as angels are messengers of God, so too are Shincheonji evangelists messengers who carry the testimony of New John to the world. They are “one with” the angels—united in purpose and empowered by the same Spirit.
• The barn = Mount Zion, the spiritual home. In Matthew 13:30, Jesus says, “Gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” The barn is not a physical building but a spiritual reality—the place where God’s harvested people are gathered, protected, and sealed. This is Mount Zion, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (증거장막성전), the 12 tribes of Shincheonji. It is the “barn” where the wheat is safe from the fire of judgment that will consume the weeds.

The process of harvest works like this:

• The sickle (New John/Lee Man-Hee) goes out into the field (the world/Christian churches)
• The harvesters (Shincheonji evangelists, one with angels) use the revealed Word to identify the wheat
• The wheat hears the voice of the Shepherd (John 10:27) and responds to the truth
• The wheat is cut from its roots in Babylon (separated from false doctrine and corrupted churches)
• The wheat is brought into the barn (enrolled in Zion Christian Mission Center, taught the revealed Word, sealed with understanding)
• The wheat becomes part of the 144,000 firstfruits (joins the 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel)

Meanwhile, the weeds are also gathered—but for a different purpose:

Matthew 13:30 says: “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”

The weeds are tied in bundles. What does this mean physically?

According to Shincheonji teaching, the bundles represent the doctrinal cords and organizational structures that bind people to false churches. When Shincheonji evangelists go out to harvest, the pastors of corrupted churches respond by “bundling” their members—tying them more tightly to their denominations through:

• Fear-based teaching: “Don’t listen to those cult members!”
• Organizational pressure: “If you study with them, you’ll be expelled from our church.”
• Doctrinal reinforcement: “Our denomination has the truth; they are heretics.”
• Social isolation: “We’ll cut you off from your Christian community if you associate with them.”

These bundles are preparation for burning—the judgment that will come upon those who reject the harvest. As Shincheonji teaches: “The pastors of the world bundle up the wheat so they will not be harvested. This is the reality of a bundle—the words that bind a soul to destruction.”

The wheat that escapes the bundles and responds to the harvest call is brought into the barn—Zion Christian Mission Center—where they undergo education:

These 144,000 are the firstfruits, the sealed servants of God. They were gathered through the work of the harvesting angels, and the sickle used to reap them was New John—Lee Man-Hee (이만희), entrusted with God’s word and command.

These were the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 7 – not a literal number, but a spiritual reality representing the complete number of those who would be saved in this generation. They were the firstfruits of the great harvest, the bride prepared for the Lamb, the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from heaven (Revelation 21:2).

Those harvested are led into Zion Christian Missionary Center, Shincheonji’s theology school. It is described as Heaven’s Education Organization, composed of:

• Introductory level classes
• Intermediate level classes
• Advanced level classes

Here, students are taught the new song—not with music, but with the revealed word of prophecy and fulfillment. This is the only place where it can be learned, and only the 144,000 who are sealed may sing it. “The sound of the new song is like a harp, like rushing waters. This is the testimony of the fulfilled word.”

Graduates of Zion Center become bride-like believers. They are not merely congregants—they are prepared as brides for the Lamb, learning the culture, rules, and laws of the kingdom they are about to inherit. They are trained in temple service, prayer posture, and spiritual discipline. And above all, they are given a new life in Mount Zion, where the Lamb now dwells. “The throne of heaven is with us now. You are the firstfruits—freed and chosen.”

The great multitude began to gather – people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who heard the testimony and came out of Babylon. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and stood before the throne crying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10).

But from the ruins of the former tabernacle—where betrayal had once destroyed the covenant—now came a great multitude. “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count…” (Revelation 7:9). These were the ones who had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. They came from every nation, tribe, people, and language—pouring into the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (증거장막성전). This is the fulfillment of Revelation 14. “The reality of Mount Zion is being fulfilled in Gwacheon. From the land of the East, a multitude in white is being gathered.”

The first heaven—the Tabernacle Temple that once belonged to Jesus—had fallen. It was deceived by Pastor Nicholas (Mr. Oh, 오씨), who introduced the teachings of Satan through the SEC/CSTC (청지기교육원), and committed spiritual adultery with unclean spirits. Though Jesus sent New John—Lee Man-Hee (이만희)—to call for repentance, the Tabernacle Temple rejected the message. As foretold in Revelation 6 and 13, this marked the passing of the first heaven—the collapse of the Church of Jesus, its pastors, prophecy, and gospel.

“The sun, moon, and stars were darkened and fell” (Revelation 6:12-13). This is not astronomy. It is symbolic of the complete spiritual fall of God’s people:

• The sun = the head pastor—now darkened
• The moon = the evangelist—no longer reflecting light
• The stars = the congregation—falling from heaven

This is the collapse of the first tabernacle. The once-spiritual house of God has returned to fleshly tradition, now aligned with Gentile doctrines. Its mountains and islands—symbols of denominations and churches—now belong to Satan. The scroll rolls up—the spirit departs. What was of God is now barren.

Those who enter this kingdom are not marked by human credentials or institutional authority, but by the name of God written on their foreheads – the revealed truth sealed in their minds and hearts (Revelation 14:1). They serve as priests and kings (Revelation 5:10), not in earthly temples made with hands, but in the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (증거장막성전) – the spiritual house built by God Himself.

This temple is not a church built by man, nor a denomination born of human tradition. It is the spiritual temple established by Jesus through the promised pastor, New John (Lee Man-Hee, 이만희). “The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were completed” (Revelation 15:8). Only after judgment can the people enter. The doors of the new heaven are not opened to the world until Babylon—the kingdom of the beast—is destroyed.

The light of this city is not the sun or moon, but the Lamb Himself (Revelation 21:23) – and His lamp is the one who overcomes, the faithful witness who testifies to what he has seen and heard (Revelation 1:2). There is no night there – no more darkness of deception, no more confusion of false doctrine, no more spiritual adultery (Revelation 21:25, 22:5).

In Revelation 2–3, seven blessings are promised to the one who overcomes:

• The right to eat from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7)
• Protection from the second death (Revelation 2:11)
• The hidden manna and a white stone (Revelation 2:17)
• Authority over the nations (Revelation 2:26)
• The morning star (Revelation 2:28)
• A white robe and never being blotted out from the book of life (Revelation 3:5)
• Being made a pillar in God’s temple (Revelation 3:12)
• The right to sit with Jesus on His throne (Revelation 3:21)

To Lee Man-Hee, these were not future metaphors. They were present realities—rewards for endurance, courage, and revelation. Through the blood of Jesus, the sword of testimony, and the suffering of the saints, the war had been won. At the center of it stood New John (Lee Man-Hee, 이만희)—the promised pastor, the one who overcomes, the one who fulfills Revelation 2–3. “By meeting him, salvation and eternal life are obtained. The one who overcomes is testified to in Revelation Chapter 12 and its physical fulfillment.”

The purpose of all this is clear and profound:

• To harvest the believers of all nations with the revealed word
• To seal them with the truth
• To create God’s new kingdom—the Twelve Tribes

When this is accomplished, something glorious is said to take place:

• God,
• Heaven,
• and Jesus will descend upon the twelve tribes

And finally, the long-awaited moment arrives: The Wedding Banquet of Spirit and Flesh. This is the culmination of everything that believers throughout history have longed for—a kingdom of peace where God reigns forever.

The bride has made herself ready – clothed in fine linen, bright and clean, which represents the righteous acts of the saints who have kept the revealed word (Revelation 19:8). The bridegroom comes not as a conquering king with sword and fire, but as the beloved who has prepared a place for His people (John 14:2-3).

Before judgment, there is always a song—not of sorrow, but of victory. Those who had overcome the beast, his image, and the number of his name were standing on what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire (Revelation 15:2). This sea—representing the Word and judgment—was now beneath their feet. They held harps and sang: “Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3–4).

This was the Song of Moses, sung after Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15), now fulfilled again by the spiritual Israel—the 12 tribes born of God’s seed and harvested into Mount Zion. It is also the Song of the Lamb, for the Lamb’s blood was the reason they overcame.

As the bowls were poured out and Babylon collapsed, New John (Lee Man-Hee, 이만희), the overcomer who received and delivered this testimony, now calls the world: “Come out of her, My people” (Revelation 18:4). “Do not share in her sins. Do not receive her plagues.” This is the cry not just of Revelation 16, but of all the chapters that came before. It is the invitation to salvation, to enter the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (증거장막성전), and to join the 12 tribes sealed with the Word.

This is not the end of the story, but the beginning – the opening of a new chapter in God’s eternal plan. The one who testifies stands not as a final authority, but as a faithful witness pointing always to the Lamb who was slain and yet lives forever (Revelation 1:18).

With Revelation 16, the final prophecy is fulfilled:

• The letters were sent
• The tabernacle was judged
• The war was fought
• The harvest was reaped
• The bowls were poured
• And God’s dwelling is now with His people

This is the testimony of the one who saw it all—Lee Man-Hee (이만희)—and now, the invitation is extended to all who would believe. “I, New John, testify that this is the fulfilled reality of Revelation.”

The river of life flows from this testimony to the ends of the earth, and whosoever will may come and drink freely (Revelation 22:17). The gates of the city are never shut (Revelation 21:25) – there is always room for one more who would wash their robes and enter by the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14).

“This is the era in which the last trumpet is sounding. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of God. Repent, you Gentile pastors who brought destruction. Repent!” The seventh trumpet—unlike the previous six—does not expose betrayal but announces salvation. It is the declaration of the creation of God’s kingdom, and the judgment of those who joined hands with Satan. This is the fulfillment of Revelation 11. According to Shincheonji’s doctrine, it has already happened in South Korea.