[Ch 25] The Scarlet Thread – Part 2

Before we dive into the New Testament, we need to understand why God was silent for four centuries. This wasn’t random. It was purposeful.

The last Old Testament prophet was Malachi, writing around 430 BC. His final words were a promise and a warning:

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction” (Malachi 4:5-6).

And then… silence.

For 400 years, no prophet arose in Israel. No “Thus says the LORD.” No new Scripture. Just waiting.

But God wasn’t absent during these centuries. He was orchestrating history, preparing the world for the coming of His Son.

During these 400 years:

• The Persian Empire fell (around 330 BC) – Alexander the Great conquered the known world, spreading Greek language and culture everywhere. This would become crucial, because the New Testament would be written in Greek, allowing the gospel to spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire.
• The Greek Empire divided (323 BC) – After Alexander’s death, his empire split into four parts. The Ptolemies ruled Egypt, the Seleucids ruled Syria, and Israel was caught in between. This led to persecution and suffering that refined God’s people.
• The Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BC) – When the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the temple and tried to force Jews to abandon their faith, a family called the Maccabees led a successful revolt. This established Jewish independence for about 100 years and showed that God’s people would not compromise their faith.
• The Roman Empire rose (63 BC) – Rome conquered Jerusalem, bringing “Pax Romana” (Roman peace) – a unified empire with roads, common language, and relative stability. This created the perfect conditions for the gospel to spread.
• Religious groups formed – During this period, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and scribes emerged. These groups would play crucial roles in Jesus’ ministry.
• The Septuagint was translated (around 250 BC) – Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, making God’s Word accessible to the entire Greek-speaking world. The apostles would later quote from this translation.
• Messianic expectation grew – As suffering increased under foreign domination, the Jewish people’s longing for the Messiah intensified. By the time Jesus was born, expectation was at a fever pitch.

God’s silence wasn’t absence. It was preparation.

He was setting the stage for the greatest entrance in human history.

As Dr. Warren Gage notes, “The 400 years of silence weren’t empty years. They were the final preparations before God would speak His final Word – not through a prophet, but through His Son.”

When the fullness of time came, when every piece was in place, God broke the silence:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The silence was over. The Word became flesh.

An Angel Appeared

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God'” (Luke 1:26-35).

This was the moment.

The promise made in Genesis 3:15 – the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head – was about to be fulfilled.

The promise made to Abraham – that through his offspring all nations would be blessed – was about to come true.

The promise made to David – that his throne would be established forever – was about to be realized.

Isaiah’s prophecy – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14) – was about to happen.

After 4,000 years of waiting, God was about to do what only He could do.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Why This Chapter Matters

In the last chapter, we walked through all 39 books of the Old Testament and saw God making promises – promises of a Redeemer, a King, a Suffering Servant, a New Covenant.

Now, in this chapter, we’re going to walk through the 27 books of the New Testament and see how Jesus fulfilled every single one of those promises.

This is what Shincheonji doesn’t want you to see.

Because when you see how completely and perfectly Jesus fulfilled everything the Old Testament prophesied, you realize:

• There is no need for another “promised pastor” – Jesus is the final fulfillment
• There is no need for progressive revelation – Jesus is God’s final word (Hebrews 1:1-2)
• There is no need for hidden knowledge – Jesus made everything clear
• There is no need for organizational membership – Jesus Himself is the way to God
• There is no need for human mediators – Jesus is the one mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)

When you see the whole New Testament in context, Shincheonji’s system collapses.

So let’s walk through it together.

Where Jesus Fulfills All the Promises

Why Four Gospels?

The New Testament opens with four accounts of Jesus’ life – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Why four? Why not just one?

Because each Gospel presents Jesus from a different perspective, for a different audience:

• Matthew – Written to Jews, presenting Jesus as the promised King
• Mark – Written to Romans, presenting Jesus as the suffering Servant
• Luke – Written to Greeks, presenting Jesus as the perfect Man
• John – Written to the world, presenting Jesus as God incarnate

Together, they give us a complete picture of who Jesus is.

Not four different Jesuses. Not contradictory accounts. But four complementary perspectives on the same Person – the God-Man who came to save the world.

But here’s something remarkable that most people miss: these four Gospels don’t just tell the same story from different angles. They’re literarily connected to each other and to the rest of the New Testament in ways that prove divine authorship.

One of the most powerful evidences that the Bible is divinely inspired is how the books connect to each other – not just thematically, but literarily. The same authors use the same vocabulary, the same themes, the same structure across different books, creating a unified testimony to Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at the most striking examples:

John’s Gospel and Revelation: One Author, One Message

The Gospel of John and the book of Revelation were written by the same person – the apostle John. And when you read them side by side, you see the same distinctive vocabulary, themes, and theology running through both books.

The Word/Logos:

• Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)
• Revelation: “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13)

Only John uses “the Word” (Greek: Logos) as a title for Jesus. This isn’t coincidence – it’s the same author with the same theological understanding.

The Lamb:

• Gospel of John: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
• Revelation: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne” (Revelation 5:6)

John uses “Lamb” (Greek: arnion) for Jesus 28 times in Revelation. This picks up directly from his Gospel’s opening declaration.

Living Water:

• Gospel of John: “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38)
• Revelation: “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” (Revelation 22:1)

Light and Darkness:

• Gospel of John: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12)
• Revelation: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23)

Witness/Testimony:

• Gospel of John uses “witness” (martyria) and “testify” (martyreō) over 45 times
• Revelation uses these same terms repeatedly: “the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:2, 9; 12:17; 19:10; 20:4)

I Am Statements:

• Gospel of John: Jesus uses “I am” (egō eimi) to identify Himself with God’s name (John 8:58; 18:5-6)
• Revelation: “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8); “I am the First and the Last” (Revelation 1:17); “I am the Living One” (Revelation 1:18)

The Advocate/Paraclete:

• Gospel of John: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate [paraklētos] to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17)

This is crucial: John explicitly identifies the Advocate as the Holy Spirit, not a human being. We’ll explore this more deeply later, but notice that Revelation never transfers this title to a human mediator. The Spirit remains the Advocate throughout.

Overcoming:

• Gospel of John: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace… But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)
• Revelation: “To the one who is victorious [overcomes]…” appears seven times in the letters to the churches (Revelation 2-3)

Dr. Warren Gage emphasizes this point: “When you read John’s Gospel and Revelation together, you realize they’re two parts of one testimony. The Gospel shows us Jesus in His first coming – humble, suffering, dying for our sins. Revelation shows us Jesus in His second coming – glorious, reigning, making all things new. But it’s the same Jesus, the same message, the same salvation.”

This literary connection proves something crucial: John didn’t write Revelation as a secret code book that needs a special decoder. He wrote it using the same vocabulary and theology he used in his Gospel – vocabulary his readers would have understood because they knew the Old Testament and they knew Jesus.

Shincheonji treats Revelation as if it’s a completely separate book that needs a new interpretive system. But John wrote it as the continuation and culmination of his Gospel testimony about Jesus.

Luke and Acts: A Two-Volume Work

Luke wrote both his Gospel and the book of Acts as a unified, two-volume work. This isn’t speculation – Luke tells us this explicitly:

• Gospel of Luke: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us… I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:1-4).
• Acts: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen” (Acts 1:1-2).

Notice the connection: “In my former book” – Acts is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel. Both are addressed to Theophilus. Both are carefully researched historical accounts.

But here’s what’s brilliant: Luke structures these two books to show a deliberate parallel:

Luke is showing us that Acts isn’t a new story – it’s the continuation of Jesus’ story through His Spirit-empowered Church.

The Gospel shows what Jesus did in His physical body. Acts shows what Jesus continues to do through His spiritual body, the Church.

This literary structure proves something vital: There is no gap between Jesus’ ministry and the Church’s ministry. There is no need for a new mediator. Jesus continues His work through the Holy Spirit dwelling in His people.

Shincheonji creates an artificial gap – claiming that after the apostles died, the truth was lost and needs to be restored through Lee Man-hee. But Luke’s literary structure shows continuous, unbroken ministry from Jesus through the Spirit in the Church.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke: The Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the “Synoptic” Gospels (from Greek syn = “together” and opsis = “seeing”) because they present Jesus’ life from similar perspectives, often using the same stories and even the same wording.

This isn’t plagiarism – it’s testimony.

When multiple witnesses tell the same story with the same details, it confirms the truth of what happened. The Synoptic Gospels function like three witnesses in a courtroom, each providing their perspective on the same events.

But notice what they all agree on:

• Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament
• Jesus performed miracles proving His divine authority
• Jesus taught with unparalleled wisdom and authority
• Jesus died on a cross for our sins
• Jesus rose bodily from the dead
• Jesus ascended to heaven
• Jesus will return

Three witnesses. One testimony. One Jesus.

What These Literary Connections Prove

The literary connections between biblical books prove several crucial truths:

1. The Bible has unified authorship While human authors wrote the individual books, the Holy Spirit guided them to create a unified testimony. The same vocabulary, themes, and theology running through different books proves divine orchestration.
2. The message is consistent across time John wrote his Gospel around 90 AD and Revelation around 95 AD. Yet the message is identical: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away sin, the Light of the world, the Living Water, the Word made flesh. The message doesn’t change with time or circumstance.
3. No special decoder is needed The books interpret each other. When you don’t understand something in Revelation, you look at John’s Gospel. When you want to understand Jesus’ continuing work, you read Luke and Acts together. The Bible is its own best interpreter.
4. Jesus is the consistent center Every book, every author, every literary connection points to the same Person: Jesus Christ. Not to a system. Not to an organization. Not to a human mediator. To Jesus.

This is why Shincheonji’s interpretive method is fundamentally flawed. They approach Revelation as if it’s a standalone puzzle that needs a special key. But John wrote Revelation using the same vocabulary and theology he used in his Gospel – vocabulary drawn from the Old Testament that his readers already knew.

They claim you need Lee Man-hee to understand the “true meaning.” But the books interpret each other, and they all point to Jesus.

The Symphony of Scripture

Now let’s zoom out and see the bigger picture. The literary connections aren’t just within the New Testament – they span the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

The Staggering Statistics

Consider these numbers:

• The New Testament contains approximately 7,957 verses.
• Of those verses, scholars have identified:
  • Over 300 direct quotations from the Old Testament
  • Over 4,000 allusions to Old Testament passages
  • Over 1,000 references that echo Old Testament language and themes

That means more than 50% of the New Testament is either quoting, alluding to, or echoing the Old Testament!

But here’s what’s truly remarkable:

• The book of Revelation, with only 404 verses, contains over 500 Old Testament allusions.

That’s more than one Old Testament reference per verse!

In fact, Revelation has more Old Testament allusions per verse than any other New Testament book.

Where Do These Allusions Come From?

Revelation draws from virtually every major Old Testament book, but especially:

Plus dozens more from Joel, Amos, Hosea, Zephaniah, and other prophets.

Yet remarkably, John never once uses a quotation formula.

He never says “as it is written” or “the prophet said” or “this fulfills what was spoken.”

Instead, he weaves the Old Testament into the fabric of his vision so seamlessly that his original audience – who knew their Scriptures – would have immediately recognized these echoes.

This is what scholars call “intertextuality” – the way different texts interact with and illuminate each other.

Why This Matters

This massive interconnection between Old and New Testament proves several crucial points:

1. The Bible is a unified book It’s not disconnected stories that need a human teacher to tie together. The books naturally connect because they have one divine Author.
2. The Old Testament is essential for understanding the New You cannot properly understand Revelation without knowing Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the other prophets. The books are in conversation with each other.
3. Jesus is the interpretive key All these Old Testament passages find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He’s not one fulfillment among many – He’s THE fulfillment that makes sense of everything.
4. No special knowledge is needed The original readers of Revelation didn’t have a “promised pastor” to decode it. They had the Old Testament Scriptures and the testimony of Jesus. That was enough.

Examples of How the Books Talk to Each Other

Let’s look at specific examples of how the books interact – showing that Scripture interprets Scripture, and all of it points to Jesus.

Example 1: The Throne Room Vision (Revelation 4-5)

When John describes the throne room of heaven in Revelation 4-5, he’s not inventing new imagery. He’s weaving together multiple Old Testament visions:

• From Isaiah 6:
  • “I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne” (Isaiah 6:1)
  • “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty” (Isaiah 6:3)
  • → Revelation 4:2, 8 – John sees the same throne, hears the same “Holy, holy, holy“
• From Ezekiel 1:
  • Four living creatures with different faces (Ezekiel 1:5-10)
  • The appearance of a throne with someone seated on it (Ezekiel 1:26)
  • → Revelation 4:6-7 – John sees four living creatures around the throne
• From Daniel 7:
  • “Thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat” (Daniel 7:9)
  • “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him” (Daniel 7:10)
  • → Revelation 4:2; 5:11 – John sees the same throne and countless angels

But John adds something NEW:

A Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne (Revelation 5:6).

This is Jesus – the fulfillment of:

• The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12)
• Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:7 – “led like a lamb to the slaughter”)
• The daily sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7)

John is showing us that the throne room Isaiah saw, the vision Ezekiel received, the prophecy Daniel recorded – they all find their fulfillment in Jesus, the Lamb who was slain.

The books are talking to each other, and they’re all saying the same thing: Jesus is the center of heaven’s worship.

Example 2: The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22)

When John describes the New Jerusalem, he’s drawing from multiple Old Testament sources:

• From Ezekiel 40-48:
  • A vision of a new temple and city (Ezekiel 40:2)
  • A river flowing from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1)
  • Trees on both sides of the river bearing fruit (Ezekiel 47:12)
  • → Revelation 21-22 – John sees the same city, river, and trees
• From Isaiah 60:
  • “The glory of the LORD rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1)
  • “Nations will come to your light” (Isaiah 60:3)
  • “Your sun will never set again” (Isaiah 60:20)
  • → Revelation 21:23-24 – The city has no need of sun because God’s glory gives it light
• From Genesis 2:
  • The tree of life in the garden (Genesis 2:9)
  • A river watering the garden (Genesis 2:10)
  • God walking with man (Genesis 3:8)
  • → Revelation 22:1-2 – The tree of life restored, the river flowing, God dwelling with man

But John adds the fulfillment:

“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:3-4).

What was lost in Genesis 3 is restored in Revelation 22 – but now perfected and eternal through Jesus Christ.

The books are in conversation:

• Genesis says: “Here’s what was lost”
• Ezekiel says: “Here’s what will be restored”
• Isaiah says: “Here’s the glory that’s coming”
• Revelation says: “Here’s how it’s all fulfilled in Jesus“

Example 3: Typology – How Old Testament Stories Point to Jesus

Beyond direct quotations and allusions, the Old Testament contains “types” – people, events, and institutions that foreshadow Jesus Christ.

Dr. Warren Gage explains: “A type is a person or event in the Old Testament that God designed to prefigure the coming Messiah. These aren’t just coincidental similarities – they’re divinely orchestrated patterns that point forward to Jesus.”

Let’s look at some stunning examples:

Adam and Jesus: The Two Adams

In the beginning, like Jesus, Adam was innocent and full of life. But God put Adam into a deep sleep, resembling death. Then God pierced Adam in the side and took out a rib that he used to create a bride.

Finally, God awakened Adam in the garden to receive the glorious gift of his bride.

Now, did you hear another story in that?

The Apostle Paul says that Jesus was a new Adam (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:45). Like Adam, Jesus was innocent and full of life.

But God brought the sleep of death upon him on the cross. Then God allowed the Roman spear to pierce Jesus’ side. And just like Adam, God took what flowed from Jesus’ side – the water and the blood – to create his bride.

God took the blood for her purchase and the water to make her pure.

Finally, God awakened Jesus from death to one day receive us as his bride in a glorious new garden.

This isn’t coincidence. This is divine design. The story of Adam was written to point forward to Jesus.

Joseph and Jesus: The Beloved Son

The Bible tells us about a young man named Joseph, who was the beloved son of his father Jacob. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he gave him a special coat of many colors. But this made Joseph’s brothers jealous, so jealous they wanted to kill him.

One brother, whose name was Judah (or Judas in Greek), convinced the others to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt for 20 pieces of silver.

After he was taken down to Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused and condemned to an underground dungeon where prisoners often awaited death. There, the innocent Joseph found himself between two criminals with two different destinies – Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer, the stewards of the bread and the wine.

When asked to interpret their dreams, Joseph explained they would each meet their different destinies after three days. The baker would be hanged on a tree, while after three days the cupbearer would be raised to the right hand of the king.

And Joseph, in between the stewards of the bread and the wine, said, “Remember me.”

In the end, Pharaoh learned Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph was raised up from the dungeon and ascended to the right hand of the king. From there, he arranged to give life-giving bread to all the nations during a great famine.

Does this story sound familiar?

Like Joseph, Jesus was the beloved son of his father, but his Israelite brothers grew jealous of him, especially Judas. Like Joseph’s brother Judah, he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

At the last supper, with the bread and the wine, Jesus said, “Remember me.”

After that, Jesus was falsely accused and condemned to death on the cross where he found himself between two criminals with two different destinies.

But in the end, like Joseph, Jesus was raised from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the king. His heavenly father gave him a throne surrounded by a rainbow of many colors, and from there, Jesus offers the bread of life freely to anyone among the nations who simply asks him.

The story of Joseph was written to point forward to Jesus.

Moses and Jesus: The Deliverer

The Bible compares Egypt to a fertile garden like the Garden of Eden. The Israelites who came to Egypt in the days of Joseph were fruitful and multiplied and filled the land. But there was a serpent in the garden.

The Bible says Pharaoh was a twisting serpent who enslaved the people and schemed to bring the male children to death. But God raised up a deliverer named Moses.

Moses confronted Pharaoh and demanded, “Let my people go!” When Pharaoh refused, God sent plagues on Egypt. The final plague was the death of the firstborn.

But God provided a way of escape: a lamb without defect would be killed, and its blood would be painted on the doorposts. When the angel of death saw the blood, he would pass over that house.

Then Moses led the people through the Red Sea – a baptism of sorts – delivering them from slavery into freedom. He gave them the Law on Mount Sinai, fed them with manna from heaven, and brought water from a rock.

Moses said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15).

That prophet is Jesus.

Like Moses, Jesus was threatened with death as an infant (Herod’s massacre). Like Moses, Jesus was called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15). Like Moses, Jesus confronted the powers of darkness and demanded freedom for God’s people.

Jesus is the Passover Lamb whose blood saves us from death. Jesus leads us through the waters of baptism into new life. Jesus gives us the bread of life from heaven. Jesus is the rock from which living water flows.

Moses pointed forward to Jesus.

For More Examples: Watermark Gospel

The Pattern Is Clear

Throughout the Old Testament, we see patterns, types, shadows – all pointing forward to Jesus:

• Adam → Jesus (the Second Adam)
• Abel’s sacrifice → Jesus’ sacrifice
• Noah’s ark → Salvation in Jesus
• Abraham’s offering of Isaac → God’s offering of His Son
• The Passover lamb → Jesus, the Lamb of God
• The manna → Jesus, the bread of life
• The bronze serpent → Jesus lifted up on the cross
• The tabernacle → Jesus dwelling among us
• The mercy seat → Jesus, our propitiation
• The high priest → Jesus, our great High Priest
• The scapegoat → Jesus bearing our sins away
• David the shepherd-king → Jesus, the Good Shepherd and King
• The temple → Jesus’ body
• Jonah in the fish → Jesus in the tomb
• The suffering servant → Jesus on the cross

Every story, every person, every institution – pointing to Jesus.

Dr. Warren Gage summarizes it perfectly: “The Old Testament is not just predicting Jesus – it’s portraying Him. Every major figure, every significant event, every sacred institution is designed by God to prefigure the coming Christ. When you read the Old Testament with eyes to see, you see Jesus on every page.”

This is why Jesus could say to the disciples on the road to Emmaus:

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

Jesus showed them that the entire Old Testament was about Him.

Not about a pattern of rotating mediators. Not about organizational structures. About Him.

What This Means for Shincheonji’s Claims

The massive intertextuality of Scripture – the way books connect to each other, quote each other, echo each other, and all point to Jesus – completely dismantles Shincheonji’s interpretive system.

Shincheonji claims:

• You need special knowledge to understand the Bible
• You need a promised pastor to decode the symbols
• The Bible contains hidden meanings that only their organization can reveal
• Revelation is a puzzle that requires Lee Man-hee’s interpretation

But the evidence shows:

• The Bible interprets itself through its interconnections
• The symbols aren’t hidden – they’re drawn from the Old Testament
• The meaning isn’t secret – it’s consistently pointing to Jesus
• Revelation is the culmination of biblical themes, not a new puzzle

When you let Scripture interpret Scripture, when you trace the literary connections, when you see how the books talk to each other – you don’t need a human decoder.

You need Jesus.

Because every book, every connection, every allusion points to Him.

Before we continue through the New Testament, we need to address something crucial that Shincheonji gets fundamentally wrong: the identity and role of the Holy Spirit.

Shincheonji teaches that “the Advocate” (or Counselor/Helper) promised by Jesus is not the Holy Spirit, but a human being – specifically, Lee Man-hee.

This is not just wrong. It’s heretical. And it’s easily disproven by Scripture.

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is not a force. Not an influence. Not a human being. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity – fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son.

This is essential Christian doctrine, clearly taught throughout Scripture.

The Holy Spirit Is Personal

The Holy Spirit is not an “it” – He is a Person with intellect, emotions, and will.

• The Holy Spirit has intellect:
  “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God… no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
• The Holy Spirit has emotions:
  “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). You can’t grieve a force. You can only grieve a person.
• The Holy Spirit has will:
  “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit makes decisions, distributes gifts according to His will. This is personal agency.
• The Holy Spirit speaks:
  “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it'” (Acts 8:29).
• The Holy Spirit teaches:
  “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).
• The Holy Spirit can be lied to:
  “Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?'” (Acts 5:3). You can’t lie to a force. You can only lie to a person.
• The Holy Spirit can be blasphemed:
  “blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31).

These are all characteristics of personhood. The Holy Spirit is not a thing – He is a Person.

The Holy Spirit Is God

The Bible explicitly identifies the Holy Spirit as God:

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit… You have not lied just to human beings but to God‘” (Acts 5:3-4).

Notice the equation: lying to the Holy Spirit = lying to God. Peter explicitly identifies the Holy Spirit as God.

The Holy Spirit has divine attributes:

• Omnipresent (everywhere at once):
  “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7-8).
• Omniscient (all-knowing):
  “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
• Omnipotent (all-powerful):
  “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4).
• Eternal:
  “who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God” (Hebrews 9:14).

The Holy Spirit does divine works:

• Creation:
  “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).
• Inspiration of Scripture:
  “prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
• Regeneration (new birth):
  “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5-6).

The Holy Spirit is associated with the Father and Son as equal:

• The baptismal formula:
  “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Notice: “in the name” (singular) of three Persons. This is Trinitarian language – one God in three Persons.
• The apostolic blessing:
  “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Holy Spirit is God. This is not debatable. It’s clearly taught throughout Scripture.

The Holy Spirit Is the Advocate

Now here’s where Shincheonji’s error becomes clear.

Jesus promised to send “another Advocate” (John 14:16). Shincheonji claims this is a human being who would come after Jesus.

But Jesus explicitly identifies the Advocate as the Holy Spirit:

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

Jesus doesn’t say, “The Advocate, who is a human pastor.” He says, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit.”

This is direct identification. The Advocate = the Holy Spirit.

Jesus continues:

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me” (John 15:26).

Again: The Advocate = the Spirit of truth = the Holy Spirit.

The Advocate would come after Jesus left. And who came? The Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The promise was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit came. The Advocate is here.

Not in one human being. But in every believer.

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Every believer receives the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, teaches us, guides us, empowers us.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

This is not reserved for a special class of believers. This is not limited to one “promised pastor.” This is the experience of every Christian.

Why This Matters for Chapter 25

We’re focusing on Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament promises in this chapter. And one of the key promises Jesus fulfilled was sending the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon specific people for specific tasks.

Joel prophesied this would change:

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people… Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29).

Jesus fulfilled this promise:

“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers.

This is the New Covenant reality:

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts… No longer will they teach their neighbor… because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

Under the New Covenant, every believer has direct access to God through the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.

• We don’t need a human mediator to teach us. The Holy Spirit teaches us.
• We don’t need a human advocate to represent us. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate.
• We don’t need organizational membership to access God. The Holy Spirit gives us direct access.

And Shincheonji’s teaching directly contradicts this.

By claiming that Lee Man-hee is the Advocate, they’re:

• Denying the deity of the Holy Spirit
• Denying the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise
• Denying the New Covenant reality of direct access to God
• Creating a human mediator where none is needed

This isn’t just wrong theology. It’s a denial of the gospel itself.

The Trinity: One God in Three Persons

Before we move on, we need to address the doctrine of the Trinity, because understanding this is crucial for understanding Jesus’ fulfillment and the Holy Spirit’s role.

The Trinity is the Christian teaching that:

• There is one God
• This one God exists eternally as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• Each Person is fully God
• Yet there are not three Gods, but one God

This is one God in three Persons – a mystery that is clearly taught in Scripture.

• The Father is God (Romans 1:7)
• The Son is God (John 1:1; 20:28)
• The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:4)

Yet there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

The three Persons work together in perfect unity:

• In salvation: The Father sends the Son, the Son dies for our sins, the Spirit applies salvation to our hearts.
• In our Christian life: We pray to the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Spirit.

And this is why Shincheonji’s teaching is so dangerous. By denying the deity of the Holy Spirit and replacing Him with a human being, they’re denying the Trinity itself.

They’re creating a different God – one who needs human mediators, one who can’t indwell all believers, one who operates through organizational structures rather than direct spiritual presence.

That’s not the God of the Bible.

Now that we’ve established the literary connections between books, the massive intertextuality of Scripture, and the identity of the Holy Spirit, let’s continue walking through the New Testament to see how Jesus fulfilled all of God’s promises.

Matthew: The King Has Come

Matthew writes to a Jewish audience, showing that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King promised in the Old Testament.

The book opens with a genealogy: “Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

Right from the start, Matthew establishes Jesus’ credentials:

• Son of Abraham – The one through whom all nations will be blessed
• Son of David – The rightful heir to David’s eternal throne

Matthew then shows how Jesus fulfilled prophecy after prophecy:

• Born of a virgin: “to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel‘ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:22-23, fulfilling Isaiah 7:14).
• Born in Bethlehem: “out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6, fulfilling Micah 5:2).
• Called out of Egypt: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2:14-15, fulfilling Hosea 11:1).
• Rachel weeping for her children: (Matthew 2:17-18, fulfilling Jeremiah 31:15).

Matthew uses the phrase “to fulfill what was spoken” or similar language over 60 times. He’s showing his Jewish readers: This is the one we’ve been waiting for. Every prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus.

But Jesus isn’t just fulfilling individual prophecies. He’s fulfilling entire patterns and institutions:

• Jesus is the new Moses: Saved from massacre, called out of Egypt, tested in the wilderness, gave the Law from a mountain (the Sermon on the Mount).
• Jesus is the new Israel: Tested in the wilderness for 40 days and succeeded, unlike Israel who failed for 40 years.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them… until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).

Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion. He came to fulfill everything the Old Testament pointed toward.

And Matthew’s Gospel climaxes with Jesus’ authority:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me… Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

All authority. Not shared authority. Not delegated authority that passes to another. All authority belongs to Jesus, forever.

Mark: The Suffering Servant

Mark writes to a Roman audience, presenting Jesus as the suffering Servant who came not to be served, but to serve.

Mark’s Gospel is fast-paced, action-oriented, showing Jesus constantly on the move.

But the central theme is stated by Jesus Himself:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

This is Isaiah 53 fulfilled – the Suffering Servant who would bear our sins:

“He was despised and rejected by mankind… But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities… and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6).

Mark shows Jesus fulfilling this prophecy: despised, a man of suffering, pierced, bearing our sins.

But Mark also emphasizes Jesus’ divine authority:

• Jesus forgives sins: “Son, your sins are forgiven… Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:5-7). The implication is clear: Jesus is God.
• Jesus calms the storm: “‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down… ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!'” (Mark 4:39-41). Who commands nature? God. Jesus commanded nature.
• Jesus claims divine authority: “‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven‘” (Mark 14:61-62). Jesus claims the divine role of the Son of Man from Daniel 7:13-14.

And Mark’s Gospel ends with the resurrection:

“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene…” (Mark 16:9).

The Suffering Servant who died for our sins rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death.

Luke: The Perfect Man

Luke, a physician and careful historian, writes to a Greek audience, presenting Jesus as the perfect Man – the ideal human being who came to seek and save the lost.

Luke emphasizes Jesus’ humanity: born as a baby, grew in wisdom and stature, experienced hunger, felt compassion, wept, prayed, suffered, died.

But Luke also emphasizes Jesus’ divinity and His mission to save:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Luke records the parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son (Luke 15). All three emphasize God’s heart for the lost and His joy when they’re found.

Luke also emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s role more than any other Gospel:

• The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ conception (Luke 1:35)
• The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ baptism (Luke 3:21-22)
• The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry (Luke 4:1, 14)
• The Holy Spirit promised to believers: “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

Luke is showing that the Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus’ ministry will also empower His followers. This sets up his second volume – the book of Acts – where we see the Holy Spirit poured out on all believers.

The Gospel shows what Jesus began to do and teach. Acts shows what Jesus continues to do through His Spirit-empowered Church.

Luke’s Gospel ends with Jesus’ ascension and a promise:

“he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:50-53).

The disciples rejoiced because they knew He would send the Holy Spirit, and His work would continue through them.

John: The Word Became Flesh

John’s Gospel is different from the other three. John focuses on Jesus’ identity.

John’s purpose is stated clearly:

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

The Gospel opens with one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3).

This is staggering. John is saying:

• Jesus (the Word) existed before creation
• Jesus is distinct from God the Father
• Jesus is fully God
• Jesus created everything

Then comes the incarnation:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us… the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

God became man. The Creator entered His creation. The eternal Word took on human flesh.

Jesus’ “I AM” Statements: Claiming to Be God

Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus makes seven “I am” statements that identify Him with God:

1. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).
2. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
3. “I am the gate” (John 10:9).
4. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
6. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
7. “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).

But the most significant “I am” statement comes in John 8:

“‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!‘ At this, they picked up stones to stone him” (John 8:58-59).

Why did they try to stone Him? Because “I am” (Greek: egō eimi) is the divine name – the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).

Jesus was claiming to be Yahweh, the God of Israel. The Jewish leaders understood this perfectly – that’s why they tried to stone Him for blasphemy.

John also records Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit – the Advocate we discussed earlier:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth… I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

• “Another advocate” – Another one like Jesus, but distinct from Jesus
• “The Spirit of truth” – Identifying the Advocate as the Holy Spirit
• “He lives with you and will be in you” – The Spirit will dwell in believers
• “I will not leave you as orphans” – Jesus will continue to be present through the Spirit

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things” (John 14:26).

“When the Advocate comes… he will testify about me” (John 15:26).

The Holy Spirit’s role is to testify about Jesus – not to replace Jesus, not to bring new revelation that supersedes Jesus, but to point people to Jesus.

The Advocate came at Pentecost (Acts 2). The promise was fulfilled. And He’s not a human being – He’s the Holy Spirit dwelling in every believer.

John’s Gospel climaxes with Thomas’s confession:

“Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!‘” (John 20:28).

Thomas called Jesus “my Lord and my God.” And Jesus accepted this worship.

If Jesus were merely human, this would be blasphemy. But Jesus is God, and He rightly receives worship.

What the Four Gospels Teach Us About Jesus

When we read all four Gospels together, we get a complete picture of Jesus:

• Matthew shows us: Jesus is the promised King, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
• Mark shows us: Jesus is the suffering Servant who gave His life as a ransom for many.
• Luke shows us: Jesus is the perfect Man who came to seek and save the lost.
• John shows us: Jesus is God in flesh, the eternal Word who became human.

Four perspectives. One Jesus. One message: Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the only way to the Father.

The New Testament is crystal clear about Jesus’ divine nature. He is not merely a prophet, a teacher, or even the greatest human who ever lived. He is God incarnate – fully God and fully man.

This is crucial because Shincheonji, like many cults, subtly downgrades Jesus’ divine status to make room for their human leader.

• If Jesus is merely a prophet or a vessel, then Lee Man-hee can claim to be another prophet or vessel.
• But if Jesus is fully God – the eternal, uncreated, all-powerful Creator who became human – then no human leader can claim to share His authority, His role, or His glory.

Jesus Is Called God

• John 1:1, 14: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh.”
• John 20:28: Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jesus accepted it).
• Romans 9:5: “the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.”
• Colossians 2:9: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
• Hebrews 1:8: The Father Himself calls the Son “Your throne, O God.”

Jesus Has Divine Attributes

• Eternal (always existed): “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)
• Omnipresent (present everywhere): “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)
• Omniscient (all-knowing): “you know all things” (John 16:30)
• Omnipotent (all-powerful): “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18)
• Unchangeable: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8)

Jesus Does What Only God Can Do

• Creates: “Through him all things were made” (John 1:3); “in him all things were created” (Colossians 1:16).
• Sustains creation: “sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3).
• Forgives sins: “your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
• Gives eternal life: “I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:40).
• Judges humanity: “The Father… has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
• Receives worship: “those who were in the boat worshiped him” (Matthew 14:33); “every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10-11).

Jesus Claimed Equality with God

• John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” (The Jewish leaders tried to stone Him for it).
• John 14:9: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

Philippians 2:5-11 – The Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord…”

Jesus is God by nature. He is equal with God. He humbled Himself to become a servant and die on a cross. He is now exalted and receives universal worship.

Colossians 1:15-20 – The Supremacy of Christ

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…”

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is before all things. He is fully God. He is supreme in everything.

The Problem with “Spirit and Flesh” Theology

Shincheonji teaches that Lee Man-hee is the “flesh” that the “spirit” of Jesus works through – essentially claiming that Jesus needs a human vessel to accomplish His work on earth today.

This teaching fundamentally misunderstands who Jesus is and creates a theological problem that undermines the entire gospel.

1. Jesus is Already Both Spirit and Flesh

The incarnation is permanent. Jesus is eternally the God-Man – fully God and fully human.

After His resurrection, Jesus had a physical, resurrected body:

“A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:39).

When Jesus ascended, He took that physical body with Him:

“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Jesus will return physically, visibly, and gloriously – not spiritually inhabiting another person.

2. God Doesn’t Need a Human Vessel – He Never Has

If God needed a human vessel to interact with humanity, why didn’t He need one in the Garden of Eden?

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden” (Genesis 3:8).

God walked and spoke directly with Adam and Eve. He didn’t need a vessel.

When God chose to become human, He did so in Jesus Christ – the eternal Word who became flesh. Jesus is not a human vessel that God’s spirit inhabits. Jesus IS God who took on human nature.

3. Jesus Doesn’t Need a Human Mediator

The entire message of the New Testament is that Jesus Himself is our mediator. We don’t need another human being to bridge the gap between us and God.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

One mediator. Not two. Not a succession of mediators. One: Jesus Christ.

If we needed Lee Man-hee to mediate between us and Jesus, then Jesus would not be the “one mediator.” The gospel would be incomplete. Jesus’ work on the cross would be insufficient.

But Scripture is clear: Jesus’ work is finished (John 19:30). He sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12) – a posture of completed work.

4. We Have Direct Access to God Through Jesus

Because Jesus is both fully God and fully human, He bridges the gap between God and humanity in His own person.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence… through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way” (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-20).

We can approach God directly, with confidence, through Jesus – not through a human organization or a promised pastor.

Why Human Mediators Undermine the Gospel

Imagine a marriage where the husband and wife can only communicate through a third person. That intermediary blocks the intimacy that should exist.

God desires direct relationship with His people:

“they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest” (Jeremiah 31:33-34, quoted in Hebrews 8:10-11).

Under the New Covenant, every believer knows the Lord directly.

Jesus is the Bridegroom; the Church is the Bride. The relationship is intimate, personal, direct – like a marriage. Any teaching that inserts a human mediator between believers and Jesus is destructive.

John the Baptist’s Example: He Must Increase, I Must Decrease

True servants of God point away from themselves and toward Jesus.

John the Baptist, chosen by God to prepare the way for Jesus, said:

“He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

He compared himself to the friend of the bridegroom (the best man) whose job is to step aside and let the bride and groom have their moment.

This is the pattern for all true servants of God:

• Point people to Jesus
• Step aside
• Decrease so that Jesus can increase

The pattern in cult leaders is the opposite: increase their own prominence and insert themselves as essential intermediaries.

True humility says: “Look at Jesus, not at me. He is enough.“

False humility says: “I’m just a humble servant – but you need me to reach Jesus.“

John the Baptist simply said: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Christians believe there is one God who is three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The idea that God can be three in one is difficult to explain, but teachers have used everyday images to give us glimpses of this truth.

1. Colors of Light – Three Beams, One White

Imagine three spotlights (blue, red, green) shining on the same wall. Where they overlap, you see a single white light.

If one light is removed, the whiteness vanishes. Likewise, if Jesus were not truly God, Christian faith would be something else entirely.

This speaks to the unity and distinctness within God. The Father, Son and Spirit are not three gods but three persons of one God whose light is pure and whole.

2. DNA – Three Parts, One Message

DNA is built from units called nucleotides, and each nucleotide has three parts – a phosphate group, a sugar group and one of four nitrogen bases. These three pieces form a single unit; remove any part and the nucleotide will no longer function.

Likewise, God’s being consists of three Persons, distinct yet united in essence.

If you tried to understand the Father without the Son or the Spirit, you would no longer grasp the fullness of God’s identity.

3. One Government, Three Branches

In a constitutional republic, the federal government is one entity, yet the Constitution divides it into three branches – legislative, executive and judicial. Each branch has distinct roles (drafts laws, carries out laws, interprets laws) but works together.

In a similar way, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share one divine nature yet have different roles. The Father is often portrayed as the source, the Son as the redeemer, and the Spirit as the empowerer. They do not compete but operate in perfect unity.

Important note: These are imperfect illustrations. No analogy perfectly captures the Trinity. They are signposts that point toward the mystery, not definitions that replace faith.

“I Have the Spirit of Jesus”

Jesus warned us that false christs would come:

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect… if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:23-27).

Jesus says don’t believe claims that the Messiah has appeared in a specific location or through a specific person.

The claim “I have the spirit of Jesus” is a red flag. Throughout history, many cult leaders have made this claim (Sun Myung Moon, Jim Jones, David Koresh, Lee Man-hee, etc.).

How Can You Tell Who Truly Has the Spirit of Jesus?

You can’t. These claims are unfalsifiable. But Scripture gives us a test:

“test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist” (1 John 4:1-3).

Anyone who diminishes Jesus’ role, who adds requirements to faith in Him, who claims to be essential alongside Him – that’s the spirit of antichrist.

Scripture gives us clear tests:

1. Do they confess Jesus came in the flesh as fully God? (1 John 4:2-3)
2. Do they point people to Jesus or to themselves? (The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus, not a human leader – John 15:26)
3. Do they glorify Jesus or seek glory for themselves? (The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus – John 16:14)
4. Do they teach what Jesus taught or add new requirements? (The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ words – John 14:26)

Any teaching that diminishes Jesus’ sufficiency, that adds requirements to faith in Him, that inserts a human mediator – that teaching does not acknowledge Jesus as He truly is.

Shincheonji claims Lee Man-hee fulfills numerous roles prophesied in Scripture:

• The Promised Pastor
• The One Who Overcomes (Revelation 2–3)
• The Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:45)
• The Male Child (Revelation 12:5)
• The White Horse Jesus Rides (Revelation 19:11)
• The Pillar in God’s Temple (Revelation 3:12)
• The One Who Eats the Open Scroll (Revelation 10)
• The Bride of Christ (Revelation 19 & 21)
• The Advocate / Counselor (John 14:26)
• The Morning Star (Rev 2:28)
• The Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1–2)
• The One Sealing the 144,000 (Rev 7)

This is an astonishing list. Lee Man-hee claims to fulfill virtually every significant role in Revelation and much of the New Testament.

Lee Man-hee presents himself as humble, but notice what’s happening:

1. He claims titles that belong to Jesus alone

• “The Morning Star” – Jesus says: “I am… the bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). Since Jesus himself is the morning star, granting this blessing means that Jesus (who is in spirit) will become one with the one who overcomes (who is in flesh, Lee Man-hee) and they will live together. The iron scepter, the word of truth, is also equated with the Holy Spirit and the morning star.
• “The Tree of Life” – Jesus is the source of eternal life (Revelation 22:1-2).
• “The Bride of Christ” – This is the Church, not an individual person (Revelation 19:7-9).

2. He claims to be the vessel Jesus works through

By claiming to be “the white horse Jesus rides” and “the throne of Jesus,” Lee Man-hee positions himself as the physical means by which Jesus operates on earth.

This creates a theological problem: If Jesus needs Lee Man-hee to accomplish His work, then Jesus is not fully God. He’s dependent on a human being.

3. He claims to be the Advocate/Counselor

This is the most serious claim, because Jesus explicitly identified the Advocate as the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). By claiming this title, Lee Man-hee is replacing the third person of the Trinity with a human being.

4. He positions himself as essential to salvation

By claiming to be “the one sealing the 144,000” and “the oil seller,” Lee Man-hee makes himself necessary for salvation.

This makes Lee Man-hee, not Jesus, the functional savior.

When you apply the biblical tests, these claims fail because they:

• Diminish Jesus’ sufficiency by portraying Him as a spirit needing a vessel.
• Point people to Lee Man-hee as essential.
• Claim titles that belong to Jesus alone.

The Humble Servant Strategy: How False Teachers Avoid Direct Claims

Lee Man-hee avoids claiming to be Jesus directly, instead positioning himself as an essential messenger whose authority cannot be questioned.

He says: “To reject the promised pastor is to reject Jesus who sent him.“

This sounds humble but makes the leader’s authority unquestionable.

True humility (like John the Baptist) says: “Look at Jesus, not at me. He is enough.”

False humility says: “I’m nothing – but you must follow me to reach Jesus.”

Jesus warned about this: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15).

Where the Holy Spirit Comes and Jesus’ Work Continues

The book of Acts is the continuation of Luke’s Gospel, showing what Jesus continues to do through His Spirit-empowered Church. There is no gap in church history.

The Promise Fulfilled

Acts opens with Jesus’ final instruction:

“wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5).

Ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, the promise was fulfilled:

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4).

The Holy Spirit came upon all the believers (about 120 people).

Peter explained that this was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy:

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people… Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Acts 2:17-18).

The “last days” had begun. Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, giving them direct access to God (the New Covenant reality).

Peter’s sermon concluded with the invitation:

“Repent and be baptized… And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).

The Holy Spirit is promised to all believers, for all time, in all places.

The new believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47).

The Gospel Spreads

The rest of Acts shows the gospel spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Peter and John preached one name:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus alone. Not multiple mediators.

When Stephen was martyred, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God – the position of supreme authority (Acts 7:55-56). He’s reigning forever.

The gospel spread to the Gentiles when Peter preached to Cornelius’s household (Acts 10:44-46), proving the Church is universal.

The message was always the same:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

Just believe in Jesus. That’s the gospel.

Acts ends abruptly because the story isn’t finished. The work of Jesus through His Spirit-empowered Church continues to this day. There’s no gap.

What Acts Teaches Us

• The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost and dwells in all believers. The Advocate is here.
• The Church is universal, not organizational. It’s all believers in Jesus.
• Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone.

Jesus continues His work through His Church. The story is unbroken.

Where the Gospel Is Explained and Defended

After the Gospels and Acts, we come to the letters (epistles) written to churches and individuals. These letters explain the gospel, address problems, correct false teaching, and encourage believers.

The majority of these letters were written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Let’s walk through them and see how they consistently point to Jesus as the complete and final revelation of God.

Romans: The Gospel Explained

Romans is Paul’s masterpiece – a systematic explanation of the gospel from beginning to end.

Paul opens with his credentials and his message:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son… Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:1-4).

Notice: The gospel was promised beforehand through the prophets. This isn’t new information. It’s the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.

Paul then explains the human condition:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Every human being is a sinner. No one is righteous. No one can earn salvation through good works or special knowledge.

But God provides a solution:

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known… This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe… and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus… to be received by faith” (Romans 3:21-25).

This is the heart of the gospel:

• Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ
• It’s a free gift of grace
• It comes through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross
• It’s received by faith

Paul continues:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).

We have peace with God through Jesus. We have access to God through Jesus. Not through a human mediator. Not through organizational membership. Through Jesus alone.

Paul explains that Jesus is the second Adam:

“just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

Adam brought sin and death. Jesus brings righteousness and life.

Paul celebrates the security of believers:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? … For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31, 38-39).

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Our salvation is secure in Christ.

This directly contradicts Shincheonji’s teaching that believers can lose their salvation if they don’t recognize Lee Man-hee or if they leave the organization.

Paul ends with God’s exaltation:

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).

All glory belongs to God – not to human organizations, not to human leaders, but to God alone.

1 Corinthians: Correcting Problems in the Church

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians addresses various problems in the church: divisions, sexual immorality, lawsuits, and confusion over spiritual gifts.

But throughout, Paul points back to Jesus as the foundation:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Jesus is the foundation. Not an organization. Not a human leader. Jesus.

Paul addresses divisions in the church:

“One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13).

The Corinthians were dividing into factions based on human leaders. Paul rebukes this. We follow Christ alone.

Paul explains the message he preaches:

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Paul’s message was simple: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Not complex allegorical interpretations.

Paul addresses spiritual gifts:

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11).

The Holy Spirit distributes gifts to believers as He determines. Not as a human leader determines.

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. The Church is universal.

Paul’s famous “love chapter” (1 Corinthians 13) shows that love is greater than all gifts:

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge… but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

This is a rebuke to any system that prioritizes knowledge over love.

Paul ends with a defense of the resurrection:

“Christ has indeed been raised from the dead… as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20, 22).

The resurrection is central to the gospel.

2 Corinthians: Paul Defends His Ministry

Paul defends his apostolic ministry against false teachers who masqueraded as apostles.

“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ… Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

False teachers masquerade as servants of righteousness. They appear godly and use biblical language.

Paul explains that believers are new creations:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

We are reconciled to God through Christ. This is the message we proclaim – not organizational membership.

Paul makes a stunning statement about Jesus:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus became sin for us so we could become the righteousness of God. This is the great exchange – and it is complete in Jesus.

Galatians: Freedom in Christ

Galatians is Paul’s passionate defense of salvation by grace through faith alone, written to churches influenced by false teachers who wanted to add requirements to the gospel.

Paul opens with strong words:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all… even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-9).

The gospel is fixed. It’s not subject to revision or addition. Anyone who adds to it is accursed.

The false gospel was adding Jewish law (circumcision). Paul’s response is clear:

“a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16).

Justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law.

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21).

If we could save ourselves, Christ’s death was unnecessary. His death is sufficient. Nothing needs to be added.

Paul celebrates our freedom in Christ:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Christ set us free from the need to earn salvation. Don’t go back to slavery by adding requirements (like recognizing a promised pastor or organizational membership).

He explains that freedom leads to love:

“serve one another humbly in love… For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Galatians 5:13-14).

He contrasts the flesh and the Spirit:

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).

Genuine Christianity is recognized by the fruit of the Spirit, not by claims of special knowledge.

Ephesians: The Mystery Revealed

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals “the mystery” – God’s plan to unite all things in Christ and to create one new humanity from Jews and Gentiles.

Paul opens with praise for our spiritual blessings “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

He explains the mystery:

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

The mystery is that Gentiles are included in God’s people through faith in Christ. Jews and Gentiles are united in one body – the Church.

Paul prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts and that we may know “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:17, 19).

“There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

One body. One Lord. One faith. Not multiple bodies with different mediators for different eras.

Paul warns against false teaching:

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).

We must speak truth in love and grow up into Christ, who is the head.

He calls believers to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Philippians: Joy in Christ

Philippians is full of joy despite Paul writing from prison. The theme is joy in Christ regardless of circumstances.

Paul expresses his confidence:

“he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

God finishes what He starts. Our salvation is secure.

Paul gives one of the most profound passages about Jesus:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant… God exalted him to the highest place… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:6-10).

Jesus is God who became man, died, and was exalted. Every knee will bow to Him – not to a human organization, not to a promised pastor, but to Jesus alone.

Paul warns against false teachers who put confidence in the flesh (human achievement):

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).

Paul counted all his religious credentials as garbage compared to knowing Christ. Our righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not our achievements or organizational status.

Colossians: The Supremacy of Christ

Paul’s letter to the Colossians was written to combat false teaching that was adding requirements: special knowledge, mystical experiences, and adherence to rules.

Paul’s response is to exalt Christ as supreme over everything:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Colossians 1:15-19).

Jesus is supreme. He’s not one mediator among many. He is the Creator and Sustainer.

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness” (Colossians 2:9-10).

We have been brought to fullness in Christ. We don’t need anything else. We don’t need special knowledge or organizational membership.

Paul warns against deceptive philosophy based on human tradition:

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

This applies directly to Shincheonji’s system, which depends on human interpretation (Lee Man-hee’s allegorical system) rather than on Christ.

The Old Testament regulations were shadows. The reality is found in Christ. Stay connected to Christ, the head (Colossians 2:17-19).

1 & 2 Thessalonians: The Return of Christ

Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians focus on the return of Christ and how believers should live while waiting for Him.

He commends them for their “work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Paul addresses the return of Christ:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

This is our hope. Not organizational membership. Not special knowledge. Being with the Lord forever.

He instructs them to test everything:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances… Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22).

In 2 Thessalonians, Paul addresses confusion about the day of the Lord, warning them not to be deceived by those claiming it has already come (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). Christ’s return will be unmistakable.

1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: Instructions for Church Leaders

These are the “Pastoral Epistles” giving instructions for ministry.

In 1 Timothy, Paul warns against false teachers who promote “controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:4).

He gives this crucial statement:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

One mediator: Jesus Christ. This verse alone destroys Shincheonji’s claim that Lee Man-hee is a mediator.

Paul warns about false teachers motivated by greed who have “been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain” (1 Timothy 6:5).

In 2 Timothy, Paul’s final letter, he charges Timothy:

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season… For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead… they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

We must preach the word and stand firm against myths.

In Titus, Paul summarizes the gospel:

“The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people… while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11, 13).

Jesus is our great God and Savior.

Philemon: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Paul’s personal letter to Philemon asks him to receive back his runaway slave, Onesimus, who had become a Christian.

“Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother” (Philemon 1:15-16).

In Christ, relationships are transformed. The gospel breaks down barriers.

Paul offers to pay any debt:

“If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.” (Philemon 1:18).

This is a picture of what Christ did for us. We owed a debt we couldn’t pay. Christ said, “Charge it to me.”

The Supremacy of Christ Over Everything

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians tempted to return to Judaism. The author shows that Jesus is better than everything in the Old Testament system.

The book opens with a powerful statement:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Jesus is God’s final word. There is no further revelation needed. No new mediator. God has spoken through His Son.

The author shows that Jesus is better than:

• Better than the angels (Hebrews 1-2) – Angels worship Jesus.
• Better than Moses (Hebrews 3) – Moses was a faithful servant; Christ is the faithful Son.
• Better than the priesthood (Hebrews 4-7) – Jesus is our great high priest who gives us direct access to God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). He is a priest forever (Hebrews 7:17).
• Better covenant (Hebrews 8) – Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant, where “they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest” (Hebrews 8:10-11).
• Better sacrifice (Hebrews 9-10) – Jesus entered heaven “once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:12, 14).

His work is finished. He sat down. By one sacrifice, we are perfect forever.

The author calls us to run the race:

“let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

The book ends with the assurance:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:8-9).

Jesus does not change. His gospel does not change.

What Hebrews Teaches Us

Jesus is God’s final word.

• No need for another mediator. Jesus is our high priest forever.
• No need for another sacrifice. Jesus offered Himself once for all.
• No need for further revelation. God has spoken through His Son.

This completely destroys Shincheonji’s system, which claims a new mediator and new revelation is needed.

James, Peter, John, and Jude

James: Faith That Works

James, the brother of Jesus, focuses on practical Christianity – faith that produces works.

He addresses wisdom:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

We have direct access to God’s wisdom.

He addresses self-deception:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).

True religion is caring for the vulnerable and living holy lives (James 1:27).

He addresses faith and works:

“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Genuine faith produces works. We are saved by faith alone, but saving faith is never alone – it produces fruit.

He addresses wisdom:

“the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit” (James 3:17).

True wisdom produces peace and love, not division and selfish ambition.

1 Peter: Hope in Suffering

Peter encourages Christians scattered by persecution to stand firm in their faith despite suffering.

“he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Our hope is living, based on Jesus’ resurrection. Our salvation is secure.

“you were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

We were redeemed by Christ’s blood.

He describes believers:

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9).

Every believer is part of a royal priesthood. We all have direct access to God.

He warns about the devil:

“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

2 Peter: Warning Against False Teachers

Peter warns against false teachers who will secretly introduce destructive heresies.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him” (2 Peter 1:3).

We have everything we need – no additional revelation is required.

He emphasizes the reliability of Scripture:

“no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Scripture is God’s word, not human interpretation.

He warns that false teachers will be motivated by greed and exploit people with fabricated stories (2 Peter 2:1-3).

He warns about those who scoff at Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:3-9).

And he warns that “ignorant and unstable people distort” Scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). We must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

1, 2, 3 John: Love and Truth

John’s three letters emphasize love and truth.

1 John opens with John’s eyewitness testimony about Jesus (1 John 1:1-3).

He gives the test of knowing God:

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands… Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3, 6).

He warns about antichrists who deny that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:18, 22). Anyone who diminishes Jesus is antichrist.

He gives the test of spirits:

“test the spirits to see whether they are from God… Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:1-2).

The test is Jesus.

He defines love:

“Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).

He gives assurance of eternal life:

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

You can know you are saved now. Shincheonji denies this assurance.

2 John warns against receiving false teachers who do not continue in the teaching of Christ (2 John 9-11).

3 John warns against Diotrephes, who loved to be first (3 John 9-10) – a warning against authoritarian leadership.

Jude: Contending for the Faith

Jude urges believers to contend for the faith:

“the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 3).

The faith was delivered once for all. No new revelation is needed.

Jude describes false teachers as:

• Ungodly people who pervert grace
• Motivated by profit
• Shepherds who feed only themselves
• Clouds without rain (promising but not delivering)
• Wandering stars (leading astray)

He ends with a beautiful doxology:

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory… through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 24-25).

God is able to keep us from stumbling. Our security is in Him.

Where Everything Comes Together

We’ve finally arrived at the last book of the Bible – Revelation. This is where everything we’ve seen throughout Scripture comes together in a glorious finale.

As we discussed earlier in this chapter, Revelation is not a secret code book that needs a special decoder. It’s the culmination of biblical themes, drawing heavily from the Old Testament (over 500 allusions in 404 verses), written by the same John who wrote the Gospel of John, using the same vocabulary and theology.

Revelation is meant to be understood. In fact, the word “revelation” (Greek: apokalypsis) means “unveiling” or “disclosure.” This book unveils Jesus Christ in His glory.

The Purpose of Revelation

John states the purpose clearly:

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place… Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:1-3).

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ. It’s meant to be read, heard, and taken to heart. And there’s a blessing promised to those who do.

If Revelation were a secret code that only one person in history could understand, this blessing would be meaningless. But it’s not. It’s meant to be understood by ordinary believers.

The Vision of Jesus

John receives a vision of Jesus in glory:

“among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet… His eyes were like blazing fire… his voice was like the sound of rushing waters… His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance… ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades‘” (Revelation 1:12-18).

This is Jesus – not the humble carpenter of the Gospels, but the glorified Lord of heaven. Yet it’s the same Jesus. He was dead, but now He’s alive forever. He holds the keys of death and Hades.

Notice the imagery – it’s drawn from Daniel 7, Daniel 10, and other Old Testament passages. John is showing that Jesus fulfills all these visions.

The Letters to the Seven Churches (Revelation 2-3)

Jesus dictates letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. These letters show Jesus’ intimate knowledge of His churches. He knows their works, their struggles, their failures, their faithfulness.

And He calls them to overcome – not through organizational membership, but through faith in Him.

The promises are for all who overcome through faith in Jesus. Not for a select few. Not for those who recognize a promised pastor. For all who believe.

“To the one who is victorious I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

The Throne Room Vision (Revelation 4-5)

John’s vision of the throne room draws from Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, and Daniel 7. But John adds something new – the Lamb who was slain.

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne… And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation…'” (Revelation 5:6, 9).

The Lamb who was slain is worthy. He purchased people from every tribe and language. This is the universal Church – not limited to one organization, one nation, one leader.

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!‘” (Revelation 5:13).

Every creature worships the Lamb. Not a human leader. Not an organization. The Lamb.

The Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls (Revelation 6-16)

The middle section of Revelation describes judgments that come upon the earth – seals, trumpets, and bowls, drawn from Old Testament imagery.

The point is clear: God judges sin. He’s patient, giving time for repentance. But ultimately, He will judge those who reject Him.

Throughout these judgments, we see God’s people protected. God doesn’t abandon His people during tribulation.

The Woman and the Dragon (Revelation 12)

Revelation 12 tells the story of a woman (God’s people/Church) who gives birth to a male child (Jesus), and a dragon (Satan) who tries to devour the child.

“She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne” (Revelation 12:5).

This is the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 – the seed of the woman crushing the serpent’s head.

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11).

Satan is defeated. How? By the blood of Jesus and faithful testimony.

The Beast and the False Prophet (Revelation 13)

Revelation 13 describes two beasts, representing the culmination of human rebellion against God and false religion united against God’s people.

“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are secure.

The Fall of Babylon (Revelation 17-18)

Revelation 17-18 describes the fall of “Babylon the Great” – a symbol of worldly power, wealth, and corruption opposed to God.

“Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

God’s people are called to come out of Babylon – to separate from worldly systems that oppose God, including false religious systems like Shincheonji.

The Return of Christ (Revelation 19)

After Babylon falls, heaven worships, celebrating the wedding of the Lamb (the Church as the bride).

Then John sees Christ returning:

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True… His name is the Word of God… On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

This is Jesus – the Word of God. He returns visibly, powerfully, gloriously to judge and to reign.

The beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

The Final Judgment (Revelation 20)

After Satan is bound for a thousand years and released for a final rebellion, he is thrown into the lake of fire forever.

Then comes the final judgment:

“Then I saw a great white throne… Another book was opened, which is the book of life… Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

Only those who belong to Christ will be saved.

The New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21-22)

The book ends with the glorious vision of the new heaven and new earth:

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband… God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them… ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away'” (Revelation 21:1-4).

This is our future: God dwelling with His people. What was lost in Genesis 3 is restored in Revelation 21-22 – but now perfected and eternal.

“The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14).

The city is built on the apostolic testimony about Jesus.

“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:3-4).

The Final Words

The book ends with Jesus’ promise and invitation:

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:12-13).

Jesus is the beginning and the end.

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).

The gospel invitation: Take the free gift. By grace. Through faith in Jesus.

A warning is given:

“If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City” (Revelation 22:18-19).

Don’t add to Scripture. Don’t take away from Scripture. This is God’s final word.

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21).

Seeing God’s Character Through the New Testament

Throughout this book, we’ve examined Scripture through one essential lens: How does it point to Jesus? We’ve traced the scarlet thread of redemption and demonstrated that Jesus is God’s final word—not one mediator among many, but the complete and sufficient Savior.

That perspective is foundational. But Scripture is like a diamond with many facets. The same truth can be seen from multiple angles, each enriching our understanding.

In this section, we’re viewing the New Testament through a complementary lens: What does it reveal about God’s character?

This isn’t a departure from seeing Jesus—it’s an expansion. When we see how God acts, pursues, remains faithful, and completes what He starts, we’re seeing Jesus. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Why This Matters

Shincheonji teaches a pattern of betrayal, destruction, and replacement—a cycle where God repeatedly abandons one group and starts over with another. This creates a picture of a God who is inconsistent, frustrated, and constantly needing to restart His mission.

But when we read the New Testament as a continuous narrative of God’s unchanging character, we see something completely different:

• God is faithful — He completes what He starts, never abandoning His people
• God is sufficient — His grace is enough; His Spirit empowers all believers
• God is relentless — He pursues the lost with unstoppable love

What You’ll See

As we walk through each New Testament book, you’ll notice this repeated phrase:

“God’s character revealed:“

This shows what each book teaches us about who God is and how He works. Together, these summaries reveal a consistent thread:

God keeps His promises • God doesn’t abandon messy people • God’s grace is complete • God’s power works through weakness • God transforms communities • God will finish what He started

This is not a God who needs to restart His mission every few centuries.

This is not a God who requires new mediators because previous ones failed.

This is a God whose faithfulness never wavers, whose plan never fails, and whose work in Jesus is complete.

Two Lenses, One Truth

• Lens 1: How does Scripture point to Jesus as the final fulfillment?
• Lens 2: What does Scripture reveal about God’s unchanging character?

Both show the same truth: Jesus is God’s final word because God’s character is faithful, complete, and sufficient.

• There is no need for another promised pastor, because God already sent the ultimate Pastor—Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
• There is no need for new revelation, because God has spoken His final word in His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).
• There is no need for organizational membership, because the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers, giving us direct access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).

As you read these summaries, ask yourself: Does this sound like a God who needs to keep starting over? Or a God whose plan is unfolding exactly as He intended—faithfully, powerfully, completely?

The answer changes everything.

The 400 Years of Silence End

For 400 years after Malachi, heaven was silent. No prophets. No visions. No “Thus says the Lord.” But God was preparing the world:

• Greek became the common language, allowing the gospel to spread rapidly
• Roman roads connected the empire, making travel possible
• Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, providing a foundation for the message
• The Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures) made the Old Testament accessible to Gentiles

Everything was being set in place for the moment when God would speak again.

And when He finally did speak, He didn’t send another prophet with another message.

He sent His Son—the Word made flesh.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

This is crucial: God has spoken through His Son. Not “is speaking” through multiple messengers across different eras. He “has spoken“—past tense, completed action—through Jesus.

Jesus is God’s final word. Not the first word of a new pattern. Not one mediator among many. The final, complete, sufficient word.

The Gospels: Four Witnesses, One Jesus

Matthew: The King Has Come

Matthew is about Jesus as the long-awaited King and Messiah. Writing to a primarily Jewish audience, Matthew connects the dots between Old Testament prophecy and the life of Jesus.

Every detail shows how Jesus fulfills God’s promises. He’s the new Moses, the true Israel, the son of David, come to establish a kingdom that’s not of this world.

God’s character revealed: The promised King has arrived. Every prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus. God kept every promise He made through the centuries.

Mark: The Suffering Servant

Mark is about action, urgency, and Jesus as the suffering servant. It moves at a rapid pace, showing Jesus constantly healing, teaching, and confronting evil.

The deep message: “The Son of God came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The cross is at the center of his mission.

God’s character revealed: God doesn’t rescue through power and conquest alone. He rescues through suffering and sacrifice. The King becomes the servant who gives His life as a ransom.

Luke: The Savior of All People

Luke is about Jesus as the savior of all people. Written by a doctor and historian, it highlights Jesus’ compassion for the outcasts—women, Gentiles, the poor, and sinners.

Jesus is the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost. Grace has no boundaries, and no one is too far gone for God’s love.

God’s character revealed: The same God who pursued Israel through all their failures now comes in person to seek and save the lost. His compassion extends to everyone—no exceptions.

John: The Word Became Flesh

John is about who Jesus is on the deepest level. He opens with eternity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John focuses on Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, using seven powerful “I Am” statements that reveal Jesus’ divine nature. His goal is clear: “That you may believe and have life in his name.”

God’s character revealed: Jesus IS God. Not a representative. Not a messenger. God Himself became flesh to dwell among us. This is the ultimate expression of God’s relentless pursuit—He came Himself.

The Early Church: The Spirit Empowers

Acts: The Mission Continues

Acts is about the birth and explosion of the early church. The Holy Spirit empowers the disciples at Pentecost, launching a movement that spreads from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Acts shows that the mission isn’t over. What Jesus began, the church continues. It’s a story of courage, unity, and unstoppable growth, driven by the Spirit of God.

God’s character revealed: God doesn’t abandon His mission after Jesus ascends. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in ALL believers, empowering them to continue the work. God is still pursuing the lost through His people.

Paul’s Letters: The Theology of Grace

Romans: The Gospel Explained

Romans is about the gospel—clearly, deeply, and beautifully explained. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus alone.

Paul unpacks how the gospel transforms everything, always circling back to this:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

God’s character revealed: Nothing can separate us from God’s love. His faithfulness is unshakeable. Our salvation is secure because it depends on Jesus, not on us.

1 Corinthians: A Messy Church, A Faithful God

1 Corinthians is about a messy church and a faithful God. The Corinthians had issues—divisions, immorality, pride. Paul writes to correct them and remind them that love is greater than any gift.

He makes it clear that Christ is not divided, so they shouldn’t be either.

God’s character revealed: God doesn’t give up on messy, struggling churches. He remains faithful even when His people are divided and confused. He pursues unity and holiness through patient correction.

2 Corinthians: Strength Through Weakness

2 Corinthians is about strength through weakness and the heart of real ministry. Paul defends his apostleship, revealing the personal cost of following Jesus.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God’s power comes through our weakness, proving it is His power and not ours.

God’s character revealed: God’s power works through our weakness. He doesn’t abandon us in suffering—He sustains us, proving His faithfulness even in our hardest moments.

Galatians: Freedom in Christ

Galatians is about freedom—freedom from the law and freedom in Christ. Paul passionately fights the false teaching that believers need to follow laws to be saved.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Salvation is by grace, through faith, not by works.

God’s character revealed: God’s grace is complete. We don’t need to add anything to what Jesus has done. God’s faithfulness means we’re free—truly free.

Ephesians: Our Identity in Christ

Ephesians is about identity, unity, and the cosmic scope of God’s plan. Paul reminds believers who they are in Christ—chosen, redeemed, sealed by the Spirit.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The church is a unified body, a family, a spiritual temple.

God’s character revealed: God chose us before the foundation of the world. Our identity is secure in Christ. God’s faithfulness established our salvation before we ever existed.

Philippians: Joy in Every Circumstance

Philippians is about joy—joy in every circumstance. Paul writes this letter from prison, urging believers to grow in love, unity, and humility.

He points to Jesus as the ultimate example, who was in very nature God yet humbled Himself.

“Rejoice in the Lord always… Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:4, 6).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness gives us joy even in suffering. Our circumstances don’t determine God’s presence or power. He remains faithful in every season.

Colossians: The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians is about the supremacy of Christ over everything. Paul combats false teachings that said Jesus wasn’t enough.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the creator, sustainer, and savior of the universe… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Colossians 1:15-19).

Jesus is supreme. We don’t need to chase spiritual shortcuts or legalistic rules.

God’s character revealed: Jesus is supreme. He is sufficient. We don’t need anything else. God’s faithfulness is complete in Christ.

1 Thessalonians: Expecting Christ’s Return

1 Thessalonians is about encouragement, endurance, and expecting Christ’s return. Paul reassures the thriving church that believers who have died will rise when Jesus returns.

“The Lord himself will come down from heaven… And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness extends into the future. He will complete what He started. Jesus will return to gather His people.

2 Thessalonians: Stand Firm

2 Thessalonians is about clarity and perseverance in the face of confusion and persecution. Paul corrects those who thought the day of the Lord had already come, urging them to stand firm in the truth they’ve received.

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness includes clarity. He doesn’t leave us confused. His word is trustworthy, and He will fulfill His promises in His time.

1 Timothy: Leading with Truth and Integrity

1 Timothy is about leading the church with truth and integrity. Paul gives practical instructions on dealing with false teachers, sound doctrine, and qualifications for leaders.

He provides the foundational statement:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

God’s character revealed: God cares about how His church is led. He provides wisdom and structure to protect His people from false teaching. His faithfulness includes guidance for healthy community.

2 Timothy: Finish Well

2 Timothy is Paul’s final letter, urging Timothy to stay strong, keep preaching the word, and not be ashamed of the gospel.

Paul reflects: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness sustains us to the end. Even when we face death, God remains faithful. He gives us strength to finish the race.

Titus: Building Strong Churches

Titus is about building strong churches with strong, godly leaders on the island of Crete. Paul stresses the need for sound teaching.

He reminds Titus that salvation isn’t earned, but it does produce a life of good works.

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness includes transformation. His grace doesn’t just save us—it changes how we live in every area of life.

Philemon: Forgiveness and Equality

Philemon is about forgiveness, equality, and reconciliation. Paul calls Philemon to receive his runaway slave, Onesimus, back “no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.”

It’s a picture of how the gospel breaks down social barriers.

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness transforms relationships. The gospel changes how we treat each other. God pursues reconciliation.

General Letters: Wisdom for the Church

Hebrews: Jesus is Superior

Hebrews is about the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. It shows that Jesus is better than everything that came before: Moses, the priesthood, and the Old Covenant.

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness is complete in Jesus. There is no need for another sacrifice, another mediator, another covenant. Jesus is enough.

James: Faith That Works

James is about faith that produces action. He says faith without works is dead—not that works save us, but that real faith naturally produces good deeds.

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness calls for our response. True faith isn’t just intellectual agreement—it’s lived-out trust that produces transformation.

1 Peter: Hope in Suffering

1 Peter is about hope and perseverance in the midst of suffering. Peter reminds believers of their living hope through the resurrection and urges them to trust that their suffering is refining their faith.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness sustains us through suffering. He doesn’t abandon us in trials—He refines us and cares for us through them.

2 Peter: Guard Against False Teachers

2 Peter is about growing in faith and guarding against false teaching. Peter warns about those who will twist the truth and lead people astray.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise… Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness includes patience. He delays judgment because He desires all to come to repentance. His heart is still pursuing the lost.

1 John: Love and Truth

1 John is about living in the light, walking in love, and knowing that we belong to God. John writes to assure believers of their salvation.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

God’s character revealed: God is faithful to forgive. When we confess, He doesn’t reject us—He cleanses us. His faithfulness never wavers.

2 John: Walk in Truth and Love

2 John is a brief letter warning against false teachers and encouraging believers to walk in truth and love. John emphasizes that truth must not be compromised.

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness includes protecting His people from deception. Truth and love go together—we can’t have one without the other.

3 John: Support Faithful Workers

3 John is a personal letter commending Gaius for his hospitality and faithfulness, while warning against authoritarian leadership.

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness is seen in faithful servants who support His mission. He values those who humbly serve.

Jude: Contend for the Faith

Jude is a passionate warning against false teachers who have infiltrated the church. Jude urges believers to contend for the faith.

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness protects us. He is able to keep us from falling. Our security is in His power, not ours.

Revelation: The Final Victory

Revelation: Jesus Wins

Revelation is about the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of all God’s promises. It shows the cosmic battle, the judgment of the wicked, and the vindication of God’s people.

It ends with a new heaven and new earth, where God dwells with His people forever.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

God’s character revealed: God’s faithfulness will be fully realized. He will complete what He started. Every promise will be fulfilled. Jesus will return, evil will be defeated, and God’s people will dwell with Him forever.

The Consistent Thread: God’s Faithfulness from Beginning to End

From Matthew to Revelation, one truth echoes through every book:

• Jesus is the fulfillment of every Old Testament promise
• Jesus is sufficient — we need nothing else
• Jesus’ work is finished — “It is finished” means complete
• Jesus is coming back — to complete what He started
• Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ

The New Testament isn’t about a pattern that repeats. It’s about a Person who completes.

Jesus didn’t come to start a cycle of “betrayal, destruction, and salvation through replacement.”

He came to finish the work of redemption once and for all.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

God has spoken His final word: Jesus.

Not one word among many. Not one mediator for one era.

The final, complete, sufficient Word.

This is the story the New Testament tells. Not a pattern to be repeated, but a work completed. And that completed work has a name: Jesus Christ, the faithful God who became man to save faithless people—once and for all.

We’ve now walked through all 66 books of the Bible – from Genesis to Revelation. We’ve seen how the Old Testament prophets testified about Jesus, how Jesus fulfilled every prophecy, how the apostles testified about Jesus, and how all of Scripture points to Jesus as God’s final word.

This raises a crucial question that exposes the fundamental flaw in Shincheonji’s teaching:

If Lee Man-hee is truly God’s promised pastor, who testifies about him?

Think about it:

• In the Old Testament, multiple prophets testified about Jesus: Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, Malachi. Multiple witnesses, over hundreds of years, all pointing to the same Person.
• In the New Testament, multiple witnesses testified about Jesus: John the Baptist, the apostles, the Holy Spirit, the Father, Jesus’ works, Scripture. Multiple witnesses, all confirming the same truth.

But who testifies about Lee Man-hee?

Lee Man-hee testifies about himself. That’s it.

There are no Old Testament prophecies about Lee Man-hee. There are no New Testament promises of a future mediator after Jesus. There are no multiple witnesses confirming his identity. There is only his own claim.

And Jesus said:

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true” (John 5:31-32).

Jesus didn’t rely on self-testimony. He pointed to multiple witnesses.

But Lee Man-hee has only self-testimony and the testimony of those he has convinced. There is no biblical foundation. There is no prophetic witness. There is no divine confirmation.

This is the fundamental difference between Jesus and every false christ:

• Jesus was testified about by Scripture, confirmed by miracles, validated by resurrection, and worshiped as God.
• False christs testify about themselves, manipulate Scripture to fit their claims, and demand recognition without biblical foundation.

The question “Who testifies about Lee Man-hee?” exposes the emptiness of Shincheonji’s claims. If he were truly God’s promised pastor, Scripture would testify about him.

But there is only silence. Because he is not God’s promised pastor. He is a false teacher leading people away from the true Christ.

Addressing Shincheonji’s Talking Points About the “True Church”

Shincheonji members often ask: “Is there a true church?” and use a prepared response to plant doubt and position Shincheonji as the only answer. Let’s examine their typical answer and expose the flaws:

Shincheonji’s Claim:

• “No, the true church doesn’t exist. All churches or sects preach a half-gospel, and those that preach the full gospel are considered cults… the true church is a product of human desire.”
• Justification: “The reason cults grow is because there are people who are seeking more knowledge of God’s word. Unfortunately, they can’t find answers in their own churches, so they fall prey to cults.”

Flipping the Script: The Biblical Response

This argument is built on several false premises:

1. “All churches preach a half-gospel”

This is a false dichotomy. Shincheonji wants you to believe it’s either “Traditional Churches (half-gospel)” or “Shincheonji (full gospel).”

The full gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The full gospel is Jesus. It is not Shincheonji’s complex allegorical interpretations. There are many faithful churches around the world that preach this full, unadulterated gospel.

2. “Those that preach the full gospel are considered cults”

This is victim mentality designed to inoculate members against criticism.

Jesus said: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).

Shincheonji is criticized not because they preach Jesus, but because they:

• Use deceptive recruiting tactics
• Demand absolute loyalty to Lee Man-hee
• Add requirements to the gospel
• Manipulate Scripture to fit their system

That’s not persecution for truth. That’s accountability for deception.

3. “Why does a gospel of sects grow more than traditional churches?”

This argument assumes that growth equals truth. Jesus warned the opposite:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The narrow road has fewer travelers. Cults often grow fast because they use high-pressure recruiting, promise secret knowledge, and create a sense of elite belonging.

Growth doesn’t equal truth. Cancer grows fast too. That doesn’t make it healthy.

4. “People fall prey to cults because they can’t find answers in their churches”

While some people seek deeper knowledge, the solution isn’t to join a cult.

Shincheonji doesn’t actually provide answers. They provide Lee Man-hee’s interpretations, which they claim are answers. When tested against Scripture, these interpretations fall apart.

5. The Biblical Counterpoint: Assurance and Fruit

Shincheonji uses uncertainty to control members. But Scripture says we can have assurance:

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

And we can recognize true believers by their fruit:

“By their fruit you will recognize them… every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17).

The fruit of Shincheonji is deception in recruiting, broken families, spiritual abuse, and idolatry of a human leader. That’s bad fruit.

From Pentecost to Present

Shincheonji teaches that after the apostles died, the church fell into spiritual darkness and that a restoration was needed—a restoration that came through Lee Man-hee starting in 1984.

This narrative clashes with the continuous work of the Holy Spirit promised in Scripture.

Phase 1: The Promise (Before Jesus Left)

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit’s presence:

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever… I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

• “Be with you forever” – Not “until the apostles die,” but forever.
• “I will not leave you as orphans” – A promise of continuous presence, not abandonment.

If Shincheonji claims a 1,900-year gap (100 AD to 1984), how does this reconcile with Jesus’ promise of “forever”?

Phase 2: The Fulfillment (10 Days After Jesus Ascended)

There was no gap between Jesus’ ascension and the Spirit’s arrival:

“When the day of Pentecost came… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4).

Peter extended the promise to all future generations:

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).

Peter doesn’t mention an expiration date.

Phase 3: The Apostolic Era (33-100 AD) – The Spirit Actively Working

The Holy Spirit was continuously and actively working in the early church: speaking directly, guiding missionaries, appointing leaders (Acts 4:31, 8:29, 13:2, 20:28).

Paul’s letters affirm that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers (present tense):

“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9).

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

If the Spirit’s work was interrupted, why did Paul write as if every believer had the Spirit dwelling in them?

Phase 4: Post-Apostolic Era (100 AD – Present) – Did the Spirit Really Leave?

If the church fell into complete darkness, we would expect Christianity to fade away. Instead, history shows explosive growth and transformation despite brutal persecution.

• Martyrs like Polycarp (a disciple of John) in 155 AD chose to be burned alive rather than deny Christ, dying with supernatural peace.
• The courage of thousands of martyrs in the 2nd-4th centuries is evidence of the Spirit’s work, just as He worked in Stephen (Acts 7:55-60).

If the Holy Spirit had left, what power sustained these believers? Was the Spirit not still working?

The Holy Spirit’s job is to:

1. Convict of Sin (John 16:8)
2. Transform Lives (2 Corinthians 3:18)
3. Glorify Jesus, not a human leader (John 16:13-14)
4. Produce Recognizable Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)
5. Give Assurance and Comfort (Romans 8:16)

The historical reality of Christianity—its transformation of lives, its growth despite persecution, its unwavering testimony to Jesus—matches the promised work of the Holy Spirit.

A Question About Salvation

If recognizing Lee Man-hee as the promised pastor is essential for salvation, what happened to the millions of believers between 100 AD and 1984 AD?

• Were they all lost because they couldn’t recognize someone who hadn’t been born yet?
• Or were they saved by faith in Jesus alone, empowered by the Holy Spirit?

Romans 10:9-10 says salvation comes through declaring “Jesus is Lord” and believing God raised Him from the dead. Acts 4:12 says salvation is found in no other name.

Jesus’ Promise About His Church

Matthew 16:18: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

If the church fell into complete darkness for 1,900 years, wasn’t it overcome? Jesus promised this wouldn’t happen. The truth is, the true church—all genuine believers in Jesus—has never been completely overcome.

Shincheonji doctrine emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and role as a vessel or tabernacle for God’s spirit, seeming to downplay His divine nature to make room for a second “tabernacle” (Lee Man-hee).

The Authority Question

Jesus claims: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me… I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18, 20).

If Jesus is merely a human vessel, how can He claim:

• All authority in heaven and earth? That is universal, cosmic authority that only God possesses.
• To be with us always, to the very end of the age? This implies omnipresence, an attribute only God possesses.

If Jesus has these attributes, it indicates He is more than just a human vessel.

The “I Will Ask the Father” Problem

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate” (John 14:16).

If Jesus is just a human vessel, why is He the one asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit?

This shows Jesus in a unique relationship with both the Father and the Spirit—not as a mere vessel, but as one who has authority to request and promise the Spirit’s coming.

The Worship Question: A Critical Test

Worshiping anything or anyone other than God is idolatry (Exodus 20:3-5).

• Angels refuse worship: “I am a fellow servant with you… Worship God!” (Revelation 19:10).
• Apostles refuse worship: Peter said, “I am only a man myself” (Acts 10:25-26).

But Jesus accepts worship:

• After the resurrection, the disciples “worshiped him” (Matthew 28:17; Luke 24:52).
• Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28), and Jesus accepted this declaration.
• God the Father commands the angels to “worship him” (Hebrews 1:6).
• Every knee will bow to Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11).

The Question That Cannot Be Escaped:

If Jesus is merely a human vessel, why did He accept worship?

There are only two possible explanations:

1. Jesus committed blasphemy (violated the first commandment).
2. Jesus is God (and rightly receives worship).

There is no middle ground. The only answer that makes sense is that Jesus is fundamentally different from any human leader—He is God in human flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9).

If Shincheonji teaches that Lee Man-hee is a similar vessel, then I must ask: Should we worship Lee Man-hee? The only way to answer “No” without violating Scripture is to admit that Jesus is God, and Lee Man-hee is merely a man.

Shincheonji teaches that Christianity fell into darkness and became a domain for demons.

Jesus taught that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand:

“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:26).

The Question: If Christianity became Satan’s domain, why has Satan attacked it so viciously for 2,000 years?

The Historical Reality of Christian Persecution:

Christianity is one of the most persecuted religions in human history.

• Roman Persecution (1st-4th centuries): Thousands of Christians fed to lions and executed.
• Modern Persecution (20th-21st centuries): Millions killed under Communist regimes and in various parts of the world.

This persecution specifically targets those who confess Jesus as Lord.

If Christianity were Satan’s kingdom, Satan would protect it. Instead, the world hates those who follow Jesus:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:18, 20).

The 2,000-year history of Christian persecution looks exactly like what Jesus predicted: the world attacking those who belong to Him.

The supernatural courage of martyrs throughout history is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work, directly contradicting the claim that the Spirit had left and the church was in darkness.

God is clear: “I will not yield my glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). God will not share His glory with created beings.

The Question: If Jesus is merely a human vessel, why would God allow billions of people to worship Jesus for 2,000 years?

That would be the greatest act of idolatry in human history. Why wouldn’t God make it clear: “Stop worshiping Jesus! He’s just a vessel!“

The only way this makes sense is if Jesus IS God.

The Trinity: Why It Matters

The doctrine of the Trinity (one God eternally existing as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is the foundation of the gospel.

• If Jesus is not fully God, His death cannot save us (only God can forgive sin).
• If the Holy Spirit is not fully God, He cannot dwell in all believers simultaneously (only God is omnipresent).

If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God:

• Jesus’ death is sufficient to save completely.
• Worshiping Jesus is proper worship of God.
• The Holy Spirit can dwell in all believers everywhere simultaneously.
• No human mediator is needed beyond Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

When someone redefines Jesus’ nature or the Holy Spirit’s nature, they’re not just adjusting minor details—they’re changing the entire gospel.

Test everything against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21). It’s not rebellious to ask questions; it’s exactly what God commands.

We’ve walked through all 27 books of the New Testament. We’ve seen how Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament promise. We’ve seen how the apostles proclaimed Jesus as Lord. We’ve seen how the Holy Spirit came to dwell in all believers. We’ve seen how Scripture testifies that Jesus is God’s final word.

The message is clear and consistent:

• Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
• He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
• He is God’s final word. There is no need for another mediator, another revelation, another promised pastor.

“In these last days, God has spoken through His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

That word is final. That word is sufficient. That word is Jesus.

Shincheonji’s system is built on sand because:

• They claim you need Lee Man-hee to understand Scripture. (False: Scripture interprets itself and points to Jesus).
• They claim you need their organization to be saved. (False: Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone).
• They claim they have new revelation. (False: God has spoken His final word in Jesus).
• They claim Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor. (False: There is one mediator: Jesus Christ).

The scarlet thread runs from Genesis to Revelation. It is the blood of Jesus, shed for the forgiveness of sins.

“It is finished” (John 19:30).

The work of redemption is complete. When He returns, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Jesus Christ alone.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The truth is Jesus. And He sets us free from bondage to false teachers.

Jesus is enough.