Introduction
A defining feature of Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation is its systematic reduction of the supernatural into the purely human. Rather than reading Revelation as a vision of divine, heavenly, and cosmic action initiated by God, Shincheonji reinterprets its imagery so that nearly every heavenly event is fulfilled within an earthly religious organization. This shift is not incidental. It is foundational to how Shincheonji maps Revelation onto the history and structure of the Tabernacle Temple and, ultimately, onto itself.
To make this framework work, Shincheonji must fundamentally redefine key biblical categories, especially “heaven,” “angel,” and “divine action.” What Scripture consistently presents as God’s transcendent dwelling, the seat of His throne, and the source of angelic decree is reframed as a symbolic reference to human leadership, organizational authority, and internal church events. As a result, scenes that the biblical text portrays as supernatural proclamations from the heavenly realm are collapsed into human testimony delivered through a single figure on earth.
This section examines how Shincheonji’s reinterpretation of “heaven” functions as the gateway to this broader theological shift. By redefining heaven as a religious structure rather than God’s dwelling place, Shincheonji removes the need for supernatural intervention and replaces it with institutional fulfillment. In doing so, the cosmic drama of Revelation is transformed into an inward-looking narrative about church reform, leadership transfer, and doctrinal authority. What is lost in this process is not merely symbolism, but the biblical continuity of God acting openly, sovereignly, and supernaturally in history.
The following analysis will show that Shincheonji’s rejection of a supernatural reading is not demanded by the text of Revelation, but required by their theology. Once heaven is reduced to a human system, angels become human agents, divine judgments become organizational events, and God’s climactic acts are replaced by human testimony. This collapse of the heavenly realm into the earthly one fundamentally alters the message of Revelation and redirects its focus away from Christ’s reign toward the validation of a movement.
Be aware that groups like Shincheonji often respond to criticism by subtly adjusting their doctrine—a common tactic involving denial, adaptation, and manipulation; is a common tactic among high-control organizations. They may gather information on critics and “flip the script,” portraying exposure as persecution or misinformation. It’s essential to carefully observe doctrinal shifts rather than accepting new explanations at face value. Stay vigilant against gaslighting through evolving teachings designed to counter today’s realities and criticisms. (Read More)
Shincheonji’s Perspective
Revelation 11:15 – The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
This “trumpet” proclaims the revealed word of fulfillment — the open scroll — at the time of the end.Jesus works through this messenger (Lee Man-hee) to make known the “mystery of God” and to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth (Shincheonji).
They believe the “seventh trumpet” is the final and greatest revelation, marking:
- The completion of the mysteries of God (Rev 10:7).
- The proclamation of the kingdom (Rev 11:15).
- The judgment of those who do not receive the revealed word
The Verses SCJ Uses to Justify the “Trumpet = Messenger” Idea
Trumpets as Messengers or Proclamation of God’s Word
Isaiah 58:1 – “Cry aloud, do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression…”
- The “voice” compared to a trumpet = a person proclaiming God’s message loudly. Therefore, “trumpet” = messenger proclaiming revelation.
Hosea 8:1 – “Put the trumpet to your lips! One like an eagle comes against the house of the Lord…”
- The trumpet is not literal but symbolic of a warning message from God through a person.
Joel 2:1 – “Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain!”
- Again, the “trumpet” = proclamation of judgment and revelation through a chosen messenger.
Ezekiel 33:3–6 – The watchman who sees the sword coming blows the trumpet to warn the people.
- The “watchman” = a prophet or messenger who warns God’s people; The “trumpet” = the message or proclamation that the watchman delivers.
Trumpets Connected to Revelation (God’s Judgment and Fulfillment)
Revelation 8:6 – “Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.”
- “Angel” = messenger of God. Since “angel” means “messenger,” these trumpets are the messages proclaimed through messengers on earth.
- Each trumpet = one stage of revelation proclaimed by one messenger
Revelation 10:7 – “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God will be finished…”
- The “voice” of the seventh angel = the revealed word spoken through the promised pastor (Lee Man-hee).
- The “mystery of God” = the hidden prophecies now revealed through him.
- Therefore, the seventh trumpet = the messenger revealing the mystery of God.
Revelation 11:15 – “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.’”
- When the seventh trumpet (messenger) sounds, the kingdom (Shincheonji) is established.
- The “loud voices in heaven” are the testimony of the “heavenly realm” (God, Jesus, and angels) working through the “earthly realm” (Lee Man-hee).
New Testament Verses About the “Last Trumpet”
1 Corinthians 15:52 – “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable…”
- The “last trumpet” = the final messenger who proclaims the word that brings spiritual resurrection.
The “dead” = those who were spiritually dead because they did not know the truth.
When the “trumpet” sounds (Lee Man-hee testifies), they come to life spiritually.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God…”
- The “voice of the archangel” and “trumpet call of God” = the same sound — the revealed word proclaimed through the Promised Pastor.
- Jesus “descends” by working spiritually through the messenger who speaks the truth.
Old Testament Precedent of God Working Through Men
Amos 3:7 – “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
- God always uses a man to reveal His secrets — the “trumpet” is that man.
- Therefore, God and Jesus must also use a man at the time of Revelation’s fulfillment.
Ezekiel 3:17 – “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”
- God gave His message through Ezekiel, a human messenger.
- Similarly, Jesus gives His message through the “trumpet” messenger today.
Revelation 22:16 – “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches.”
- The “angel” sent by Jesus = a person chosen on earth to testify to the fulfilled events — Lee Man-hee.
- Therefore, the “seventh trumpet” and the “angel sent by Jesus” are the same person.
The Overall Connection and Chain of Reasoning
- Trumpets = voices of proclamation. (Isa 58:1; Ezek 33:3–6)
- God works through messengers (angels) on earth. (Amos 3:7; Rev 22:16)
- The “angel” who sounds the trumpet = a human messenger at the time of fulfillment. (Rev 8:6, 10:7)
- The “seventh trumpet” = the final messenger revealing the mystery of God. (Rev 10:7 → Rev 11:15)
- Through this trumpet, the kingdom is established. (Rev 11:15)
- That messenger is Lee Man-hee, the one who received the open scroll (Rev 10:8–11) and testifies to all churches (Rev 22:16).
| Symbol | Meaning |
| Trumpet | Messenger proclaiming revelation |
| Seventh trumpet | Final messenger (Lee Man-hee) revealing the mystery |
| Sounding the trumpet | Delivering the revealed word |
| Loud voices in heaven | Testimony from the spiritual realm through the messenger |
| Establishment of the kingdom | Creation of Shincheonji (new heaven and new earth) |
SCJ bypassing the Supernatural
Often, Shincheonji would try to make the book of Revelation into something that is small and obscure; especially when they map the book of Revelation onto a Korean sect called the Tabernacle Temple.
We can see this with how SCJ redefines what “heaven” can mean.
Heaven in Shincheonji Theology
While SCJ has multiple interpretations for “heaven”, when reviewing Revelation 11:15, the phrase “There were loud voices in heaven saying” would be interpreted as the place where God dwells.
The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p. 261
There are two kinds of heaven in the Bible: spiritual and physical. The spiritual heaven is the kingdom of God Apostle John visits in the spirit in Rv 4. The physical heaven is the tabernacle of the chosen people.
This is also the place where the 144,000 will reign with the “New John”, where God will descend from Heaven onto this place to dwell and reside.
The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, p 165
The place upon which God’s tabernacle descends becomes God’s throne, his temple, and his tabernacle on Earth (Jer 3:14-17). Revelation 21 describes the process by which God creates his tabernacle among men. It calls God’s tabernacle the holy city New Jerusalem and describes how it descends from the spiritual heaven to unite with the new heaven and new earth. Saying the 144,000 people and the great multitude dressed in white, who are flesh, serve God before his throne and in his temple (Rv 7:15), means they serve God at the place the spiritual heaven descends.
In normal biblical language, “heaven” is the dwelling place of God, the realm of His throne, and the origin of angelic decrees. It is holy, incorruptible, and the source of revelation and divine judgement (Ps 103:19; Matt 6:9–10; Rev 4:1–2).
In SCJ, they have a more nuanced set of Heavens, where Heaven, especially for Revelation 11:15, the specific heaven in reference is:
- “Heaven” = the spiritual organization or leadership structure of a religious group.
- Thus, when Revelation mentions “heaven” being cleansed, war in heaven, or voices in heaven, they interpret it as events occurring inside churches — specifically, the “corruption and restoration” of the church system at the time of fulfillment.
So when Revelation 11:15 says:
- “There were loud voices in heaven saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ…’”
They would claim:
- “This heaven” is the new heaven (Shincheonji), where the voice of testimony is proclaimed on earth through the Promised Pastor.
In short, “heaven” would mean the leadership class, and then the earth would be the congregation.
This is why they reject the supernatural reading, they’ve collapsed the heavenly realm into a human one.
The First War: Persecution, Not the Church’s Betrayal
Angels are spiritual messengers working through people
In biblical language, angels refer to:
- Heavenly beings who carry out God’s decrees (Rev 8:2; 9:14; 14:6, 17–19; 16:1).
- Or, in the letters to the seven churches (Rev 2–3), symbolic representatives of each church — not literal men acting as prophets.
However, in SCJ’s reinterpretation:
- “Angels” are the spiritual beings who work through human counterparts — “the spiritual and physical angels.”
- The “spiritual angel” is in heaven; the “physical angel” (Lee Man-hee) acts on earth.
- Thus, when Revelation 11:15 says “the seventh angel sounded his trumpet,” they argue that it’s Jesus’ angel working through the physical messenger (Lee Man-hee).
This framework then allows SCJ to merge heaven and earth into a dual-layered symbolic system:
| Heaven | Earth |
| Spiritual angel | Physical messenger |
| Voice in heaven | Testimony on earth |
| Heavenly event | Fulfillment in Shincheonji |
So whenever Revelation says “angel,” SCJ reinterprets it as a man who reveals God’s word on behalf of heaven.
“Supernatural events” are reinterpreted as human events
Since they reject literal or cosmic phenomena, SCJ humanizes every judgment, trumpet, and plague.
Their logic:
- “God’s word is spiritual, so the prophecies must be fulfilled spiritually, not physically.”
Meaning:
- When stars fall → pastors fall from authority.
- When the sky darkens → understanding of the word disappears.
- When angels sound trumpets → evangelists testify about revelation.
- When the temple opens in heaven → the new church (Shincheonji) is revealed.
Conclusion
Shincheonji’s reinterpretation of Revelation does not merely offer an alternative reading of symbolic language; it requires a structural denial of the supernatural in order to function. By redefining heaven as a human organization, angels as men, and divine judgments as internal church events, the biblical distinction between the heavenly realm and the earthly realm is effectively erased. What Scripture presents as God acting from His throne in heaven is reduced to human activity justified after the fact by symbolic reinterpretation. This is not a neutral hermeneutical choice, but a necessary maneuver to relocate divine authority from God’s visible action to a single human intermediary and an institutional structure.
Once the supernatural is removed, Revelation no longer testifies to God’s sovereign intervention in history, the enthronement of Christ, or the coming judgment of the world. Instead, it becomes a closed system in which fulfillment is confined to organizational developments and leadership claims within Shincheonji itself. This collapse of heaven into earth reverses the biblical pattern, where God reveals His will through unmistakable divine action and confirms it through heavenly power. By bypassing the supernatural, Shincheonji does not clarify Revelation; it empties it of its central message and replaces the glory of Christ’s reign with the authority of a man.