Analysis of Shincheonji Bible Study Lesson 29: “Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Blind and Deaf”

Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

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Introduction: The Blindness Trap—Who Really Cannot See?

Lesson 29, titled “Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Blind and Deaf,” presents one of Shincheonji’s (SCJ) most psychologically sophisticated manipulation tactics. On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward biblical teaching about spiritual blindness—the inability to understand God’s Word. The lesson uses numerous Scripture passages and seems to encourage humility and spiritual perception.

However, as “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” demonstrates throughout its 30 chapters, SCJ consistently operates on multiple levels. What appears to be a call to spiritual awareness is actually a carefully constructed trap designed to undermine students’ confidence in their existing biblical understanding and prepare them to accept SCJ’s exclusive claims.

The central irony of this lesson is profound: While teaching about spiritual blindness, SCJ is actually creating it. By the end of this lesson, students who came in with genuine biblical understanding will be convinced they are blind and need SCJ to give them sight. Meanwhile, students who accept SCJ’s interpretations without testing them will believe they can see, when in fact they are being led into deeper darkness.

This lesson serves several crucial functions in SCJ’s indoctrination process:

1. Undermines existing biblical understanding – Makes students doubt their church’s teaching
2. Creates dependency on SCJ – Positions SCJ as the only source of true “sight”
3. Prepares for the “fulfillment” claim – Sets up the idea that only those who see “fulfillment” can understand
4. Silences critical thinking – Makes questioning SCJ seem like “blindness”
5. Justifies exclusive authority – Claims only SCJ has “opened eyes” at the Second Coming

By Lesson 29, students in the Introductory Level (“Parables”) are nearing the end of this phase and being prepared for the transition to the Intermediate Level (“Bible Logic”). This lesson is strategically placed to create maximum psychological impact before students move deeper into SCJ’s system.

Let’s examine this lesson through the Reflective Lens (understanding the psychological manipulation) and the Discernment Lens (testing against Scripture), as modeled in “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story.”

For comprehensive refutation of SCJ teachings, readers are encouraged to visit the Shincheonji Examination page at https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination.

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Part 1: The Opening Frame—”Yeast of Heaven” and the Hope Statement

What SCJ Teaches:

The “Yeast of Heaven” section states:

“Let us breathe with the Lord. If we do not hold on tightly to the Lord’s hand and word at this time and let it go, we will be blown away by the severe winds. Let us never let go. The armies of heaven are always protecting us. Let us pray earnestly. Victory!”

The lesson’s stated hope:

“Our Hope: To be sure that we are those who have eyes that can see and ears that can hear at the second coming!”

The Reflective Lens: Creating Anxiety and Dependency

This opening creates several psychological effects:

1. The Crisis Language

“If we do not hold on tightly… we will be blown away by the severe winds.” This creates immediate anxiety: You’re in danger. You must grip tightly or be destroyed.

This is the same fear-based motivation we saw in Lesson 30, but now it’s specifically tied to “seeing and hearing” at the Second Coming.

2. The Hope as Uncertainty

“To be sure that we are those who have eyes that can see and ears that can hear at the second coming!” This creates uncertainty: How can you be sure you have spiritual sight and hearing?

The implicit message: You need SCJ to give you this assurance. Without SCJ’s teaching, you might be blind and not even know it.

3. The Second Coming Focus

By emphasizing “at the second coming,” SCJ creates urgency: This is about your readiness for Christ’s return. If you’re blind at the Second Coming, you’ll miss it.

This prepares students to accept that only those who accept SCJ’s teaching about the Second Coming (which will be revealed in the Advanced Level) will have “eyes to see.”

4. The Military Language

“The armies of heaven are always protecting us… Victory!” This creates an us-versus-them mentality: We’re in a battle, and we need heaven’s protection to win.

This prepares students to see criticism of SCJ as spiritual attack and to view themselves as part of an exclusive army fighting for truth.

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Isolation Strategy: When Progressive Revelation Becomes Progressive Control,” addresses how SCJ uses crisis language and military metaphors to create psychological dependency and isolation.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Teach About Spiritual Sight?

Biblical Truth #1: Jesus Gives Sight to All Who Come to Him

John 9:39 – “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.'”

Jesus came to give sight to the spiritually blind—not just to a select few who join one organization, but to all who come to Him in faith.

John 12:46 – “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

“No one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” If you believe in Jesus, you have light—you don’t need one organization to give you sight.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

God makes His light shine “in our hearts”—this is the work of the Holy Spirit, not the work of a human organization.

Biblical Truth #2: Our Security Is in Christ’s Grip

The opening creates anxiety about “holding on tightly” or being “blown away.” But Scripture teaches that our security is in Christ’s grip:

John 10:28-29 – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

We are secure in Christ’s hand—not because of our tight grip, but because of His.

Jude 1:24 – “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.”

God is “able to keep you from stumbling.” He’s the one doing the keeping.

The Danger of SCJ’s Opening:

By creating anxiety about whether you have “eyes to see at the Second Coming,” SCJ:

• Undermines assurance – Makes you doubt your spiritual condition
• Creates dependency – Positions SCJ as the source of “sight”
• Produces fear – Constant worry about being “blind” without realizing it
• Prepares for exclusive claims – Only SCJ can give you the “eyes” you need

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Part 2: The Intelligence Disclaimer—”This Doesn’t Depend on IQ”

What SCJ Teaches:

The instructor states:

“This class does not depend on intelligence or IQ. Often the smartest people comprehend the Bible the least. Rather, it requires a humble, receptive heart. God gives spiritual insight to such people.”

The Reflective Lens: The Anti-Intellectual Setup

This statement appears humble and spiritual, but it’s actually a sophisticated manipulation tactic:

1. Disarming Intellectual Defenses

By saying “this doesn’t depend on intelligence,” SCJ disarms students’ critical thinking: “Don’t trust your intellect or education. Trust your heart.”

This is particularly effective with educated students who might otherwise question SCJ’s interpretations. They’re told that their intelligence might actually be a hindrance.

2. Redefining “Humble Heart”

“It requires a humble, receptive heart.” This sounds biblical, but SCJ is redefining what “humble” means.

SCJ’s definition: Humble = Accepting SCJ’s teaching without questioning Biblical definition: Humble = Recognizing your dependence on God and being teachable

By the end of the course, students will believe that questioning SCJ’s teaching is pride, while accepting it uncritically is humility.

3. The “Smartest People” Warning

“Often the smartest people comprehend the Bible the least.” This creates suspicion of educated Christians, theologians, and pastors.

The implicit message: Your pastor might be educated, but that doesn’t mean he understands the Bible. In fact, his education might make him less able to understand.

This prepares students to dismiss their pastors’ concerns about SCJ.

4. The Coming Application

This framework will be used to dismiss all criticism:

• Theologians warn about SCJ → “They’re too intellectual; they can’t see spiritual truth”
• Your pastor expresses concerns → “He’s educated but blind to fulfillment”
• You have doubts → “You’re trusting your intellect instead of having a humble heart”

Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Narrative Becomes More Important Than Truth: How SCJ Creates Compelling But False Stories,” addresses how SCJ uses anti-intellectual rhetoric to undermine critical thinking.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Say About the Mind?

Biblical Truth: God Values Both Heart and Mind

Matthew 22:37 – “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'”

Jesus commands us to love God with our mind as well as our heart. God doesn’t want mindless devotion—He wants thoughtful, intelligent love.

Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We’re transformed by the “renewing of your mind”—not by abandoning our intellect, but by submitting it to God’s truth.

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

We’re to give “an answer” and “the reason” for our hope—this requires thoughtful engagement, not mindless acceptance.

Acts 17:11 – “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans were commended for examining Scripture to test Paul’s teaching. They used their minds to verify truth—they didn’t just accept it because Paul said it.

The Balance: Heart and Mind Together

Yes, spiritual understanding requires a humble heart. But humility doesn’t mean abandoning critical thinking. True humility means:

• Recognizing we don’t know everything
• Being willing to learn and be corrected
• Testing teachings against Scripture
• Submitting our minds to God’s Word

Proverbs 2:1-6 – “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Notice the active verbs: “accept,” “store up,” “turning your ear,” “applying your heart,” “call out,” “cry aloud,” “look for,” “search.” This is not passive acceptance—it’s active, thoughtful engagement.

The Danger of SCJ’s Anti-Intellectual Stance:

By discouraging intellectual engagement, SCJ:

• Undermines critical thinking – Makes questioning seem like pride
• Dismisses educated Christians – Positions pastors and theologians as blind
• Creates false humility – Redefines humility as uncritical acceptance
• Prepares for control – Students who don’t question are easier to control

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Part 3: The Figurative Blindness Definition—”Eyes But Cannot See”

What SCJ Teaches:

The lesson defines figurative blindness:

“Blind is one who does not understand the word despite seeing it. Deaf is one who does not understand the word despite hearing it.”

Using Matthew 6:22-23:

“Jesus uses figurative language to make an important point. He states that the eye is like a lamp that brings light to the body. If a person’s perspective or understanding is sound, then their whole being will be filled with spiritual insight and wisdom. But if their perspective is impaired or limited, if they lack understanding, then they will be filled with spiritual darkness and ignorance.”

The Reflective Lens: The Definition Setup

This definition appears straightforward, but it’s setting up a crucial framework:

1. The Reasonable Definition

“Blind is one who does not understand the word despite seeing it.” This is a reasonable, biblical definition. Jesus did use blindness as a metaphor for spiritual ignorance.

By starting with truth, SCJ gains students’ agreement and appears biblical.

2. The Coming Redefinition

Once students accept this definition, SCJ will redefine what it means to “understand the word”:

Stage 1: Understanding = Grasping the meaning of Scripture (Biblical) Stage 2: Understanding = Seeing how prophecy is fulfilled (SCJ’s focus) Stage 3: Understanding = Recognizing Chairman Lee Man-hee as the fulfillment (SCJ’s exclusive claim)

By the Advanced Level, students will believe that if you don’t recognize Lee as the “one who overcomes” in Revelation, you’re “blind”—you don’t “understand the word.”

3. The Self-Diagnosis Trap

The lesson asks: “Are you blind or can you see?” This creates self-doubt: “How do I know if I truly understand? Maybe I’m blind and don’t realize it.”

This self-doubt makes students vulnerable to accepting SCJ’s claim that only they can give “sight.”

4. The Matthew 6:22-23 Application

SCJ uses Matthew 6:22-23 to suggest that if your “eye” (understanding) is unhealthy, your “whole body will be full of darkness.”

The implicit message: If you don’t understand correctly (according to SCJ), you’re filled with darkness. But if you accept SCJ’s teaching, you’ll be filled with light.

Chapter 15 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “What Pastors and Counselors Discovered,” includes testimonies from former members who describe how the “blindness” teaching was used to undermine their confidence in their existing biblical understanding.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Matthew 6:22-23 Actually Mean?

Let’s examine the passage in context:

Matthew 6:19-24 – This section is about treasures, priorities, and serving God versus money. Let’s read the full context:

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:22-23 – “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

What Does “Eye” Mean in This Context?

In the context of Matthew 6:19-24, the “eye” represents your focus, your priorities, what you’re looking at and pursuing.

• Healthy eye = Single-minded devotion to God, focusing on eternal treasures
• Unhealthy eye = Divided loyalty, focusing on earthly treasures and money

The Greek word for “unhealthy” is ponēros, which can mean “evil” or “stingy.” In Jewish culture, a “good eye” meant generosity, while an “evil eye” meant stinginess or greed.

Jesus is teaching: If your focus is on God and eternal things (healthy eye), your whole life will be filled with light. But if your focus is on money and earthly things (unhealthy eye), your whole life will be filled with darkness.

What This Passage Is NOT About:

This passage is not primarily about:

• Understanding biblical interpretation
• Recognizing fulfillment of prophecy
• Having correct doctrinal knowledge

It’s about priorities, focus, and what you’re living for.

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By applying Matthew 6:22-23 to biblical understanding and interpretation, SCJ:

• Misuses the passage – Takes it out of context
• Creates false guilt – Makes students doubt their spiritual condition
• Positions SCJ as the solution – Only they can give you a “healthy eye”
• Prepares for control – If your “eye” (understanding) must align with SCJ’s, they control your entire worldview

Biblical Truth About Spiritual Blindness:

Yes, spiritual blindness is real:

2 Corinthians 4:4 – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Spiritual blindness is primarily about not seeing “the gospel”—not seeing Christ as Savior and Lord.

What gives sight?

2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

God makes His light shine in our hearts—this is the work of the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to see Christ.

Acts 26:18 – “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

The purpose of opening eyes is “to turn them from darkness to light”—from unbelief to faith in Christ, not from one Christian organization to another.

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Part 4: The Laodicean Example—”You Think You Can See, But You’re Blind”

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Revelation 3:17-18, the instructor teaches:

“We have one of the letters sent to the messenger of the church in Laodicea. It says here that the church believes it is rich and lacks nothing. However, Jesus says ‘You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.’ Let’s consider this – if someone is physically poor, they know it, correct? If someone is physically naked or blind, they are aware of it. But this church is not aware. So the conditions Jesus points out are not physical, but spiritual. This is a church that thinks it can see, but in reality it is blind.”

The Reflective Lens: The “You’re Blind But Don’t Know It” Trap

This is one of SCJ’s most psychologically powerful manipulation tactics:

1. The Self-Doubt Creation

“This is a church that thinks it can see, but in reality it is blind.” This creates profound self-doubt: “What if I think I understand, but I’m actually blind?”

This is a double-bind: If you think you can see, that might be evidence that you’re blind. How can you ever be sure?

2. The Church Condemnation

By applying this to “a church,” SCJ plants seeds of doubt about students’ churches: “What if my church is like Laodicea—thinks it’s spiritually rich but is actually poor and blind?”

This prepares students for the eventual instruction to leave their churches.

3. The Coming Application

This framework will be used to claim:

• Traditional churches = Laodicea (think they have truth but are blind)
• SCJ = The solution (has the “salve” to give sight)
• Students who stay in their churches = Blind like Laodicea
• Students who accept SCJ’s teaching = Have received sight

4. The Irony

The profound irony is that SCJ is creating the very condition they’re warning about. By teaching students to distrust their existing biblical understanding and accept SCJ’s interpretations uncritically, SCJ is making students blind while convincing them they can see.

Chapter 13 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Church Under Attack: How SCJ Undermines Your Faith Community,” addresses how SCJ uses the Laodicean accusation to separate students from their churches.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Revelation 3:14-22 Actually Teach?

Let’s examine the passage in its proper context:

Revelation 3:14-22 – This is one of seven letters to seven actual churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) in the late first century. Each letter addresses specific issues in that specific church.

The Laodicean Church’s Problem:

Revelation 3:15-16 – “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

The Laodicean church was “lukewarm”—complacent, comfortable, lacking zeal.

Revelation 3:17 – “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

Laodicea was a wealthy city known for banking, textile production, and a medical school that produced eye salve. The church had become self-sufficient, thinking they didn’t need anything—including God’s help.

The Specific Problem:

The Laodicean church’s problem was not that they misunderstood biblical interpretation. Their problem was:

1. Spiritual complacency – They were “lukewarm,” lacking passion for God
2. Self-sufficiency – They thought they were “rich” and didn’t “need a thing”
3. Pride – They were unaware of their true spiritual condition
4. Materialism – They trusted in their wealth rather than God

Jesus’ Solution:

Revelation 3:18 – “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

Jesus offers:

• Gold refined in the fire = True spiritual wealth (faith tested by trials)
• White clothes = Righteousness and purity
• Salve for eyes = Spiritual sight

These are metaphors for returning to dependence on Christ, not literal things to obtain from one organization.

Can We Apply Laodicea to Modern Churches?

Yes, the warnings to Laodicea have application for churches today. Churches can become:

• Complacent and lukewarm
• Self-sufficient and proud
• Materialistic and worldly
• Unaware of their spiritual poverty

But notice what the warning is NOT about:

• Misunderstanding biblical interpretation
• Failing to recognize fulfillment of prophecy
• Not accepting one organization’s exclusive teaching

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By applying the Laodicean warning to churches that don’t accept SCJ’s teaching, they:

• Misuse the passage – Apply it to a different problem than Jesus addressed
• Condemn faithful churches – Label churches that faithfully preach the gospel as “blind”
• Create false dichotomy – Either accept SCJ or be like Laodicea
• Position SCJ as the solution – Only they have the “salve” to give sight

The Question to Ask:

If your church faithfully preaches the gospel, teaches Scripture, serves the community, and produces transformed lives, is it really like Laodicea? Or is SCJ creating a false comparison to undermine your confidence?

The test of a church is not whether it accepts SCJ’s teaching, but whether it faithfully proclaims Christ and produces good fruit:

Matthew 7:16-20 – “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

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Part 5: The Isaiah Prophecies—”The Sealed Book”

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Isaiah 29:9-13, the instructor teaches:

“This is a vision or prophecy from the book of Isaiah. God is prophesying about those who cannot understand spiritual truths. Both those who can read scripture and those who cannot read are spiritually blind. Neither group has access to the word or prophecy because it has been sealed to them. Though one group can literally read the words, both are blind in understanding. The prophecy is not about literal reading ability, but rather the ability to spiritually understand God’s word. ‘Read’ in this context means ‘understand.’ They cannot understand because the meaning has been sealed to them.”

Then using Isaiah 35:4-5:

“Your God will come. And when He comes, not only will He bring retribution, He will open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. Glory to God. So how is that fulfilled?”

The Reflective Lens: The “Sealed Book” Setup

This teaching is setting up one of SCJ’s most crucial exclusive claims:

1. The Sealed Book Framework

“The meaning has been sealed to them.” This creates the idea that Scripture’s true meaning is hidden, sealed, inaccessible—until someone comes to “unseal” it.

This prepares students for SCJ’s claim that only Chairman Lee Man-hee has the “opened word”—he’s the one who unseals Scripture’s true meaning.

2. The “Reading ≠ Understanding” Equation

“Though one group can literally read the words, both are blind in understanding.” This undermines confidence in anyone’s ability to understand Scripture through normal reading and study.

The implicit message: You can read the Bible, go to church, study theology—but you still don’t truly “understand” unless you have SCJ’s “opened word.”

3. The Coming Application

This framework will be used to claim:

• Before SCJ = The sealed book era (no one truly understood)
• Chairman Lee = The one who opens the sealed book
• SCJ’s teaching = The “opened word” that gives true understanding
• All other Christians = Still reading the “sealed book” without understanding

4. The Isaiah 35:4-5 Setup

“When He comes… He will open the eyes of the blind.” This prepares students to believe that at the Second Coming, someone will come to “open eyes.”

SCJ will claim that Chairman Lee is this person—he’s the one who came to open the eyes of the blind at the Second Coming.

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Wisdom of Hiding: Deceive, Deny, Revise,” addresses how SCJ uses the “sealed book” concept to establish exclusive authority.

The Discernment Lens: What Do the Isaiah Passages Actually Mean?

Isaiah 29:9-13 in Context:

Let’s examine the full passage:

Isaiah 29:9-14 – “Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer. The LORD has brought over you a deep sleep: He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers). For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ they will answer, ‘I can’t; it is sealed.’ Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ they will answer, ‘I don’t know how to read.’ The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.'”

The Historical Context:

Isaiah was prophesying to Judah in the 8th century BC. The people were:

• Outwardly religious (honoring God with their lips)
• Inwardly rebellious (hearts far from God)
• Following human traditions rather than God’s commands
• Spiritually blind despite having God’s Word

Why Was the Vision “Sealed”?

The vision was “sealed” not because it was inherently incomprehensible, but because the people’s hearts were hard. They chose not to understand.

Matthew 13:14-15 quotes this passage and explains: “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'”

The problem was not that Scripture was inherently sealed, but that the people’s hearts were closed.

Isaiah 35:4-5 in Context:

Isaiah 35:4-6 – “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

The Context:

Isaiah 35 is a prophecy of restoration and salvation. When God comes to save His people:

• The blind will see
• The deaf will hear
• The lame will leap
• The mute will shout
• The desert will bloom

The Fulfillment:

This was fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming:

Matthew 11:2-5 – “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.'”

Jesus was pointing to His fulfillment of Isaiah 35 (and other passages) as evidence that He was the Messiah.

But the fulfillment was not only physical:

Jesus also gave spiritual sight to those who were spiritually blind:

Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus came to give both physical and spiritual sight.

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By claiming that Isaiah’s prophecies about opening blind eyes are fulfilled through Chairman Lee Man-hee at the Second Coming, SCJ:

• Ignores the first coming fulfillment – Jesus already fulfilled these prophecies
• Creates false exclusivity – Claims only Lee can give “sight”
• Misuses prophecy – Applies it to one man rather than to Christ
• Undermines the gospel – Shifts focus from Christ to a human leader

Biblical Truth: Jesus Gives Sight

John 9:5 – “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus is the light of the world—not Chairman Lee, not any human organization.

John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'”

Whoever follows Jesus has the light of life—not just those who join SCJ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

God gives light “in our hearts”—this is the work of the Holy Spirit, not the work of a human teacher.

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Part 6: The First Coming Fulfillment—Setting Up the Pattern

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Matthew 15:14, the instructor teaches:

“Jesus taught about discerning true guidance in spiritual matters. He referred to certain religious leaders of His time, specifically in Matthew 15:1, where Pharisees and teachers of the law approached Him with questions. In verse 14, Jesus speaks of these leaders as ‘blind guides.’ These leaders, including Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, were responsible for interpreting the Old Testament. However, they did not understand its sealed message. Jesus characterized these leaders as misleading. They focused on human traditions, as highlighted in Mark 7, rather than divine truths. Their blindness, in turn, was imposed upon their followers.”

The instructor emphasizes:

“It’s important to note that even if a person is kind, compassionate, and engages in charitable acts like feeding the poor, if they lack understanding of the word, they can inadvertently mislead others. The leaders in question were not good people, but the crucial point is that they were trusted leaders who failed to comprehend and teach the word correctly.”

The Reflective Lens: The Pattern Establishment

This teaching serves several crucial psychological functions:

1. The Historical Pattern Creation

By establishing that religious leaders at Jesus’ first coming were “blind guides,” SCJ creates a pattern: Throughout history, religious leaders have been blind, even when they seemed knowledgeable and sincere.

The implicit message: Just as the Pharisees were blind at the first coming, today’s pastors and church leaders are blind at the Second Coming.

2. The “Good People Can Be Blind” Warning

“Even if a person is kind, compassionate, and engages in charitable acts like feeding the poor, if they lack understanding of the word, they can inadvertently mislead others.”

This is a crucial statement. It prepares students to dismiss their pastors’ godly character and good works: “Yes, my pastor is kind and does good things, but he might still be a blind guide if he doesn’t understand the word (according to SCJ).”

This undermines one of the biblical tests of true teaching—good fruit (Matthew 7:16-20). SCJ is saying: “Good fruit doesn’t matter if they don’t have correct understanding.”

3. The “Trusted Leaders” Emphasis

“The crucial point is that they were trusted leaders who failed to comprehend and teach the word correctly.”

This creates suspicion of all religious authority: The most trusted leaders can be the most dangerously blind.

The coming application: Your pastor is a trusted leader, but he might be blind like the Pharisees. Don’t trust him—trust SCJ.

4. The “Understanding the Word” Redefinition

Throughout this section, SCJ emphasizes “understanding the word” as the key issue. But what does “understanding the word” mean?

SCJ’s definition (which will be fully revealed later):

• Understanding = Recognizing fulfillment of prophecy
• Fulfillment = What’s happening in SCJ
• Therefore, understanding = Accepting SCJ’s claims

By this definition, any pastor who doesn’t accept SCJ’s teaching “doesn’t understand the word,” regardless of his biblical knowledge, godly character, or fruitful ministry.

Chapter 13 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Church Under Attack: How SCJ Undermines Your Faith Community,” addresses how SCJ uses the Pharisee comparison to undermine students’ trust in their pastors and church leaders.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Matthew 15:14 Actually Teach?

Let’s examine the passage in context:

Matthew 15:1-20 – This chapter records a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees about ritual hand-washing and the traditions of the elders.

The Issue:

Matthew 15:1-2 – “Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!'”

The Pharisees were concerned that Jesus’ disciples weren’t following the ritual hand-washing traditions.

Jesus’ Response:

Matthew 15:3-9 – Jesus accused the Pharisees of:

• Breaking God’s commands to keep their traditions (verses 3-6)
• Being hypocrites (verse 7)
• Honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him (verse 8)
• Worshiping in vain, teaching human rules as doctrines (verse 9)

Jesus’ Teaching About Defilement:

Matthew 15:10-11 – “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.'”

Jesus taught that spiritual defilement comes from the heart, not from external rituals.

The Disciples’ Question:

Matthew 15:12 – “Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?'”

Jesus’ “Blind Guides” Statement:

Matthew 15:13-14 – “He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.'”

What Was the Pharisees’ Problem?

The Pharisees’ problem was not simply that they “didn’t understand the word.” Their specific problems were:

1. Elevating tradition over Scripture – They made human traditions equal to or greater than God’s commands
2. Hypocrisy – They honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him
3. Legalism – They focused on external rituals while neglecting the heart
4. Rejecting Jesus – They refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah despite clear evidence
5. Leading people away from God – Their teaching led people into legalism and away from true worship

The key issue was not biblical interpretation methodology, but heart condition and rejection of Christ.

Can We Apply This to Modern Church Leaders?

Yes, Jesus’ warning about blind guides has application today. Church leaders can become:

• Hypocritical (saying one thing, doing another)
• Legalistic (focusing on rules rather than relationship with God)
• Tradition-bound (elevating human traditions over Scripture)
• Self-righteous (trusting in their own righteousness rather than Christ’s)

But notice what the warning is NOT about:

• Failing to recognize one organization’s exclusive claims
• Not accepting a specific interpretation of Revelation
• Refusing to acknowledge one man as the “promised pastor”

The Biblical Tests of True vs. False Teachers:

1. Do they preach the gospel?

Galatians 1:8-9 – “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”

The primary test is whether they preach the true gospel—salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.

2. Do they point to Christ?

1 John 4:2-3 – “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.”

True teachers acknowledge Jesus Christ and point people to Him, not to themselves or their organization.

3. Do they produce good fruit?

Matthew 7:15-20 – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

True teachers produce good fruit—transformed lives, love, service, godly character.

4. Do they live what they teach?

Matthew 23:3 – “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

Jesus criticized the Pharisees for hypocrisy—not practicing what they preached. True teachers live consistently with their teaching.

5. Do they encourage testing and discernment?

Acts 17:11 – “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

True teachers welcome scrutiny and encourage people to test their teaching against Scripture.

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By comparing pastors who don’t accept SCJ’s teaching to the Pharisees, SCJ:

• Creates false equivalence – Equates faithful pastors with Christ-rejecting Pharisees
• Undermines legitimate authority – Makes students distrust their pastors
• Dismisses good fruit – Says good character and works don’t matter if they don’t accept SCJ
• Establishes exclusive authority – Only SCJ has “true understanding”

The Question to Ask:

Does your pastor:

• Preach the gospel of grace?
• Point people to Christ?
• Produce good fruit in his life and ministry?
• Live consistently with his teaching?
• Encourage you to test his teaching against Scripture?

If yes, he’s not a “blind guide” like the Pharisees—regardless of whether he accepts SCJ’s teaching.

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Part 7: The Disciples’ Sight—”Blessed Are Your Eyes”

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Matthew 13:10-11, 16-17, the instructor teaches:

“Let’s examine the differences between Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducees, and why Jesus was able to give sight to the blind. Jesus explains that the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been revealed to his followers (you), but to the Pharisees and Sadducees (them), he speaks only in parables. As a result, they are left continually unable to understand… But the disciples were different. They were able to see with their eyes and hear with their ears.”

The instructor then explains why:

“The prophets and righteous people did not have access to the complete understanding of the prophecies they wanted to understand, because those prophecies had not yet been fulfilled. That is why, even though they were righteous, they could not fully comprehend the scriptures. Fulfillment is what opens our eyes. When prophecies come to pass before people’s eyes, it grants understanding. The disciples were able to witness firsthand the embodiment of the very prophecies they had been studying, become a reality.”

The Reflective Lens: The Fulfillment Framework

This teaching is setting up one of SCJ’s most crucial claims:

1. The Fulfillment = Understanding Equation

“Fulfillment is what opens our eyes. When prophecies come to pass before people’s eyes, it grants understanding.”

This creates the equation: Understanding Scripture = Seeing fulfillment of prophecy

This prepares students for SCJ’s claim: “We understand Scripture because we’re seeing fulfillment happening in SCJ right now.”

2. The “Righteous But Blind” Paradox

“Even though they were righteous, they could not fully comprehend the scriptures.”

This is a crucial statement. It prepares students to accept that even righteous, godly Christians today might not “fully comprehend” Scripture because they’re not seeing “fulfillment” (in SCJ).

The implicit message: Your pastor might be righteous and godly, but he can’t fully understand Scripture because he’s not witnessing fulfillment like you are (in SCJ).

3. The “Word Became Flesh” Application

“The Word become flesh was standing right before them. They could touch and feel, tangible and present.”

This prepares students for a shocking claim that will come in the Advanced Level: Just as the Word became flesh in Jesus at the first coming, the Word has become flesh in Chairman Lee Man-hee at the Second Coming.

SCJ will claim that Lee is the physical embodiment of Revelation’s fulfillment, just as Jesus was the physical embodiment of Old Testament prophecy.

4. The Coming Parallel

“However, the logic applies similarly for the time of the Second Coming. There will be those who are blind who follow the same characteristics as those before.”

This creates the parallel:

• First Coming: Pharisees were blind; disciples could see because they witnessed fulfillment
• Second Coming: Pastors are blind; SCJ members can see because they’re witnessing fulfillment

The implicit message: You’re like the disciples—you’re privileged to see fulfillment that others are missing.

Chapter 16 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Messiahs Multiply: The Pattern of Korean Messianic Movements,” addresses how multiple Korean groups use the “fulfillment witness” claim to establish exclusive authority and elevate their leaders.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Matthew 13:10-17 Actually Teach?

Let’s examine the passage in context:

Matthew 13:1-9 – Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower to a large crowd.

Matthew 13:10-17 – The disciples ask why Jesus speaks in parables. Jesus explains:

Matthew 13:10-11 – “The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.'”

Matthew 13:13-15 – “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”‘”

Matthew 13:16-17 – “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Why Could the Disciples See?

1. They had open hearts:

The key difference was not intelligence or special privilege, but heart condition. The crowds had “calloused hearts” and “closed eyes”—they chose not to understand. The disciples had open, receptive hearts.

2. They believed in Jesus:

John 6:68-69 – “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.'”

The disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah. This faith opened their eyes to understand.

3. They were taught by Jesus:

John 14:26 – “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.”

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would teach the disciples. Their understanding came from divine teaching, not just from witnessing events.

What Did the Prophets Long to See?

Matthew 13:17 – “For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

What did the prophets long to see? The Messiah—Jesus Christ Himself.

1 Peter 1:10-12 – “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

The prophets longed to see:

• The Messiah’s coming
• His suffering and glory
• The salvation He would bring
• The gospel being preached

The disciples were blessed because they saw Jesus—the fulfillment of all prophecy.

Does This Mean We Need to See Physical Fulfillment to Understand?

No. Notice what Jesus said after His resurrection:

John 20:29 – “Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”

Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who believe without seeing physical fulfillment. We don’t need to witness physical events to have faith and understanding.

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

We walk by faith, not by sight. Our understanding comes through faith in God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s teaching, not through witnessing physical events.

Romans 10:17 – “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

Faith comes from hearing the Word—not from witnessing fulfillment events.

The Danger of SCJ’s “Fulfillment = Understanding” Claim:

By claiming that understanding requires witnessing fulfillment, SCJ:

• Creates dependency – You need SCJ to show you “fulfillment”
• Undermines faith – Shifts from faith in God’s Word to sight of events
• Establishes exclusive authority – Only SCJ is witnessing “fulfillment”
• Prepares for false claims – Will claim events in SCJ are prophetic fulfillment

Biblical Truth: Understanding Comes From the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 – “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned spiritually.”

Understanding comes from the Holy Spirit, not from witnessing physical events.

1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

The Holy Spirit teaches believers—we don’t need one organization to show us “fulfillment.”

John 16:13 – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

The Spirit of truth guides us into all truth—not a human organization.

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Part 8: The Second Coming Warning—”Let Us Not Fall Into the Trap”

What SCJ Teaches:

The instructor warns:

“However, the logic applies similarly for the time of the Second Coming. There will be those who are blind who follow the same characteristics as those before. Let us not fall into the trap of the past by thinking ‘That was them, we are different.’ People with that mindset often fall into the same traps as those they feel superior to. Let us learn from those who came before so we do not commit the same mistakes in our time. Now let us return to the Book of Revelation to examine what it says about the Second Coming.”

The Reflective Lens: The Trap Within the Warning

This warning appears humble and wise, but it’s actually a sophisticated psychological trap:

1. The Humility Appearance

“Let us not fall into the trap of the past by thinking ‘That was them, we are different.'” This sounds humble: “We shouldn’t think we’re better than those who came before.”

But notice what SCJ is actually doing: They’re warning you not to think you’re different from the Pharisees—while simultaneously positioning themselves as the ones who are different (like the disciples).

2. The Superiority Reversal

“People with that mindset often fall into the same traps as those they feel superior to.”

This is a clever reversal. If you think “I’m not like the Pharisees,” SCJ says that very thought proves you’re like them.

But SCJ is claiming: “We’re like the disciples who could see, while others (your church) are like the Pharisees who were blind.” This is the ultimate superiority claim, disguised as humility.

3. The Coming Application

This warning prepares students to accept:

• Your church is like the Pharisees (blind)
• You might be like the Pharisees if you stay in your church
• SCJ is like the disciples (can see)
• You can be like the disciples if you join SCJ

4. The Critical Thinking Shutdown

By warning against thinking “we are different,” SCJ shuts down the critical question: “Wait, are we actually like the Pharisees? Let me test this claim.”

Instead, students accept the premise: “I must be careful not to be like the Pharisees. I should listen to SCJ’s teaching about how to avoid that trap.”

Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Narrative Becomes More Important Than Truth: How SCJ Creates Compelling But False Stories,” addresses how SCJ uses historical parallels to create compelling but false narratives that shut down critical thinking.

The Discernment Lens: How Do We Actually Avoid the Pharisees’ Trap?

The Pharisees’ trap was not “thinking they were different.” Their trap was:

1. Elevating tradition over Scripture
2. Trusting in their own righteousness
3. Rejecting Jesus despite clear evidence
4. Leading people away from God
5. Hypocrisy—not practicing what they preached

How do we avoid these traps?

1. Test everything against Scripture:

Acts 17:11 – “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans tested Paul’s teaching. They didn’t just accept it because Paul said it.

2. Focus on the gospel of grace:

Galatians 2:16 – “Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”

The Pharisees trusted in law-keeping. We trust in Christ’s righteousness, not our own.

3. Remain humble and teachable:

James 4:6 – “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'”

True humility is not accepting every teaching uncritically. True humility is recognizing our dependence on God and being willing to be corrected by His Word.

4. Produce good fruit:

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

The Pharisees were hypocrites. We should live consistently with our faith, producing the fruit of the Spirit.

5. Point people to Christ, not ourselves:

1 Corinthians 1:23 – “But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”

The Pharisees pointed people to themselves and their traditions. We point people to Christ.

The Real Question:

Who is more like the Pharisees?

A church that:

• Preaches salvation by grace through faith
• Points people to Christ
• Encourages testing teachings against Scripture
• Operates with transparency
• Produces transformed lives

Or an organization that:

• Claims exclusive authority
• Gradually reveals controversial teachings
• Discourages questions and testing
• Operates with deception and hiding
• Separates people from family and church

The answer should be clear.

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Part 9: The Revelation 5 Setup—”The Sealed Scroll”

What SCJ Teaches:

The lesson transitions to Revelation 5:1-3:

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.”

(Note: The transcript cuts off here, but based on SCJ’s teaching pattern, we can anticipate where this is going.)

The Reflective Lens: The Sealed Scroll Framework

This is setting up SCJ’s most crucial exclusive claim:

1. The Sealed Scroll = Scripture

SCJ will claim that the sealed scroll in Revelation 5 represents Scripture—specifically, the book of Revelation itself.

This creates the framework: Revelation is “sealed” and no one can understand it until someone “opens” it.

2. The One Who Opens = Chairman Lee

SCJ will claim that Chairman Lee Man-hee is the one who opens the sealed scroll. He’s the only one who can understand and explain Revelation.

This establishes Lee’s exclusive authority: Only he has the “opened word.”

3. The Coming Application

This framework will be fully developed in the Advanced Level (Revelation), where students will be taught:

• Lee is the “one who overcomes” in Revelation 2-3
• Lee is the “promised pastor” who received the opened word
• Only those who accept Lee’s teaching can understand Revelation
• All other Christians are reading a “sealed book” without understanding

4. The Dependency Creation

By claiming that Revelation is sealed until Lee opens it, SCJ creates total dependency: You cannot understand the most important book of the Bible (about the Second Coming) without SCJ.

Chapter 17 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Logical Contradiction in Shincheonji’s Claims,” systematically dismantles SCJ’s “sealed scroll” interpretation and demonstrates its logical and biblical flaws.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Revelation 5 Actually Mean?

Let’s examine the passage in its proper context:

Revelation 5:1-5 – “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'”

Revelation 5:6-10 – “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 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. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.'”

Who Opens the Scroll?

Jesus Christ—the Lamb who was slain.

The passage is crystal clear:

• The Lion of Judah (Jesus) has triumphed
• The Lamb who was slain (Jesus) is worthy
• He purchased people with His blood
• He alone can open the scroll

This is about Jesus’ authority and worthiness, not about a human teacher’s ability to interpret Revelation.

What Is the Scroll?

The scroll represents God’s plan for history and judgment—the unfolding of end-times events described in the rest of Revelation.

It is NOT:

• The book of Revelation itself
• A sealed Bible that needs human interpretation
• Something that requires one man to “open” through special teaching

It IS:

• God’s sovereign plan
• The judgments and events that will unfold
• Something only Christ is worthy to execute

Why Is Jesus Worthy?

Revelation 5:9 – “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.”

Jesus is worthy because:

• He was slain (crucified)
• His blood purchased redemption
• He conquered sin and death
• He is the Lion of Judah and Root of David

No human being—not Chairman Lee, not anyone—can claim this worthiness.

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By claiming that the sealed scroll represents Scripture and that Chairman Lee opens it, SCJ:

• Misinterprets Revelation 5 – Applies it to human interpretation rather than Christ’s authority
• Elevates a human leader – Claims Lee has a role that belongs only to Christ
• Creates false dependency – Makes understanding Revelation dependent on one man
• Contradicts the text – Ignores that only the Lamb who was slain is worthy

Biblical Truth: Revelation Is Not Sealed

Revelation 22:10 – “Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.'”

John was specifically told NOT to seal up Revelation. It’s meant to be read and understood by all believers.

Revelation 1:3 – “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.”

There’s a blessing for those who read and hear Revelation—not just for one man who claims exclusive understanding.

Revelation 22:18-19 – “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: 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, which are described in this scroll.”

This warning is for “everyone who hears”—Revelation is meant to be accessible to all believers, not sealed until one man opens it.

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Part 10: The Progression of Indoctrination—Where Lesson 29 Fits

By Lesson 29, students in the Introductory Level (“Parables”) are nearing the end of this phase. Let’s map how this lesson advances the indoctrination process:

Introductory Level (Parables) – Lessons 1-30:

Early Lessons (1-10):

• Goal: Establish that the Bible requires special interpretation
• Method: Teaching that parables have hidden meanings only revealed to the chosen
• Effect: Students learn dependency on SCJ’s interpretive method

Middle Lessons (11-20):

• Goal: Build the figurative framework
• Method: Teaching that physical things represent spiritual realities
• Effect: Students accept that everything in Scripture has hidden meanings

Later Lessons (21-29):

• Goal: Undermine existing biblical understanding and prepare for exclusive claims
• Method: Teaching that most people (including church leaders) are spiritually blind
• Effect: Students doubt their churches and become dependent on SCJ for “sight”

Lesson 29 Specifically:

Goal: Create maximum doubt about students’ existing biblical understanding and position SCJ as the exclusive source of spiritual sight

Method: Teaching that:

• Spiritual blindness means not understanding Scripture despite reading it
• Religious leaders at Jesus’ time were blind guides
• Even righteous people couldn’t understand without seeing fulfillment
• The same pattern applies at the Second Coming
• Revelation is sealed until someone opens it

Effect: Students feel:

• Doubt – “Maybe I’m blind and don’t realize it”
• Suspicion – “Maybe my pastor is a blind guide like the Pharisees”
• Dependency – “I need SCJ to give me sight”
• Urgency – “I need to see fulfillment at the Second Coming or I’ll miss it”
• Exclusivity – “Only SCJ can open the sealed scroll”

Intermediate Level (Bible Logic) – Coming Next:

Goal: Complete the framework for exclusive authority and begin separating students from their churches

Method: Teaching that:

• Clothes = Heart + Actions + Doctrines
• Treasure = The Word
• Water = Word; SCJ is the “spring”; churches are the “sea”
• Only the “opened word” gives true understanding

Effect: Students see their churches as spiritually dead and SCJ as the only source of truth

Advanced Level (Revelation) – Final Stage:

Goal: Reveal Chairman Lee Man-hee’s exclusive claims and secure total commitment

Method: Teaching that:

• Lee is the “one who overcomes” (Revelation 2-3)
• Lee is the “promised pastor” who received the “opened word”
• Only those sealed by SCJ (144,000) will be saved
• All other Christians are “Babylon” and must be fled from

Effect: Students accept SCJ’s complete authority, leave their churches, and commit full-time to SCJ

The Strategic Function of Lesson 29:

Lesson 29 serves as a crucial preparation for the transition to the Intermediate Level. It:

1. Maximizes Doubt:

• From “My church teaches the Bible” to “Maybe my church is blind like the Pharisees”

2. Establishes the Fulfillment Framework:

• From “I understand Scripture through study” to “I can only understand by seeing fulfillment”

3. Prepares for the Sealed Scroll Claim:

• From “Revelation can be understood” to “Revelation is sealed until someone opens it”

4. Creates Dependency on SCJ:

• From “The Holy Spirit teaches me” to “I need SCJ to give me sight”

5. Justifies Leaving Church:

• From “My pastor is a faithful teacher” to “My pastor might be a blind guide”

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” maps this entire progression, explaining how each level builds psychological dependence while gradually revealing more controversial claims.

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Part 11: The Subtext—What Lesson 29 Is Really Teaching

Let’s identify the hidden messages beneath the surface teaching:

Surface Message:

“Spiritual blindness is real. Many people, including religious leaders, don’t truly understand God’s Word. We need to have eyes that see and ears that hear. Understanding comes through seeing fulfillment of prophecy. Let’s learn from history so we don’t repeat the mistakes of those who were blind at Jesus’ first coming.”

Hidden Subtext:

1. You’re Probably Blind and Don’t Know It

“This is a church that thinks it can see, but in reality it is blind.” You might think you understand the Bible, but you’re probably blind without realizing it.

2. Your Pastor Is a Blind Guide

“Even if a person is kind, compassionate, and engages in charitable acts… if they lack understanding of the word, they can inadvertently mislead others.” Your pastor might be a good person, but he’s a blind guide like the Pharisees.

3. Your Church Has Lost God’s Word

“The meaning has been sealed to them.” Your church is reading a sealed book without understanding. They’ve lost access to the true meaning.

4. SCJ Can Give You Sight

“When He comes… He will open the eyes of the blind.” SCJ is here to open your blind eyes and give you true understanding.

5. Understanding Requires Seeing Fulfillment

“Fulfillment is what opens our eyes.” You can’t truly understand Scripture through study alone. You need to see fulfillment—which is happening in SCJ.

6. Only SCJ Is Witnessing Fulfillment

“The disciples were able to witness firsthand the embodiment of the very prophecies.” Just as the disciples witnessed fulfillment at the first coming, SCJ members are witnessing fulfillment at the Second Coming.

7. Revelation Is Sealed Until SCJ Opens It

“No one in heaven or on earth… could open the scroll.” Revelation is sealed until Chairman Lee Man-hee opens it. Only through SCJ can you understand it.

8. You Must Leave Your Church

“If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” If you stay in your church (with your “blind guide” pastor), you’ll fall into the pit. You must leave and join SCJ.

Chapter 14 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Testimony Vault: Voices From Inside the System,” includes testimonies from former members who describe how these hidden messages became clear only after leaving. One former member stated: “I didn’t realize I was being taught that my pastor was a blind guide and that I needed to leave my church. The teaching was so gradual and subtle that I accepted it without questioning.”

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Part 12: Critical Questions for Discernment

If you’re studying with SCJ or considering their teachings, here are essential questions to ask:

About Spiritual Blindness:

1. What is the biblical definition of spiritual blindness? Is it primarily about not understanding biblical interpretation, or about not seeing Christ as Savior? (2 Corinthians 4:4)
2. Can faithful Christians be spiritually blind? If someone has faith in Christ, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and produces good fruit, are they spiritually blind? (1 John 2:20, 27)
3. Is SCJ creating the blindness they’re warning about? By teaching you to distrust your existing biblical understanding and accept their interpretations uncritically, are they actually making you blind?

About Your Pastor:

1. Does your pastor preach the gospel? Does he teach salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone?
2. Does your pastor point to Christ? Or does he point to himself or an organization?
3. Does your pastor produce good fruit? Are lives being transformed in your church?
4. Does your pastor encourage testing? Does he welcome questions and encourage you to test his teaching against Scripture?
5. Is SCJ’s comparison fair? Is your pastor really like the Pharisees (who rejected Christ), or is SCJ creating a false comparison?

About the Fulfillment Claim:

1. What fulfillment is SCJ claiming to witness? What specific prophecies do they claim are being fulfilled?
2. Can these claims be verified? Are they based on Scripture in context, or on SCJ’s interpretations?
3. Does understanding require seeing fulfillment? Or does it come through the Holy Spirit’s teaching? (1 Corinthians 2:12-14, 1 John 2:27)
4. Why does Jesus bless those who believe without seeing? (John 20:29) If seeing fulfillment is necessary for understanding, why does Jesus commend faith without sight?

About the Sealed Scroll:

1. Who opens the scroll in Revelation 5? Is it Jesus Christ, or a human teacher?
2. What is the scroll? Is it Scripture itself, or God’s plan for history?
3. Is Revelation sealed? What does Revelation 22:10 say? (“Do not seal up the words of this prophecy”)
4. Can only one man understand Revelation? Or is it meant to be read and understood by all believers? (Revelation 1:3)

About Your Experience:

1. How do you feel after studying with SCJ? Do you feel peace and assurance, or doubt and anxiety?
2. Are you becoming more confident in Christ? Or more dependent on SCJ?
3. Are you growing in love? Or growing in suspicion of your church and pastor?
4. Can you talk openly with family and friends? Or do you feel the need to hide your involvement?
5. Are you being encouraged to test SCJ’s teaching? Or discouraged from questioning?

Chapter 27 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “Your Investigation Begins: The Detective’s Report,” provides a comprehensive framework for investigating spiritual claims through careful questioning and multiple sources.

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Part 13: The Way Forward—Responding to Lesson 29

For Those Currently Studying with SCJ:

1. Test the Blindness Claim

Honestly evaluate whether you’re truly “blind”:

• Do you understand the gospel—that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ?
• Do you have a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit?
• Is your life being transformed by God’s Word?
• Are you producing the fruit of the Spirit?

If yes, you’re not spiritually blind—regardless of whether you accept SCJ’s interpretations.

1 John 2:20 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.”

If you’re in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit’s anointing and can know truth.

2. Evaluate Your Pastor Fairly

Don’t let SCJ’s Pharisee comparison undermine your trust without fair evaluation:

• Does your pastor preach the gospel?
• Does he point people to Christ?
• Does he live consistently with his teaching?
• Does he produce good fruit?
• Does he encourage testing and discernment?

If yes, he’s not a “blind guide”—regardless of whether he accepts SCJ’s teaching.

Matthew 7:16 – “By their fruit you will recognize them.”

Test by fruit, not by whether someone accepts one organization’s claims.

3. Question the Fulfillment Framework

Ask yourself:

• What specific fulfillment is SCJ claiming?
• Can these claims be verified from Scripture in context?
• Am I being asked to see “fulfillment” in ordinary events or organizational claims?
• Is SCJ using “fulfillment” to establish exclusive authority?

Acts 17:11 – “They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Test SCJ’s fulfillment claims against Scripture, just as the Bereans tested Paul.

4. Research the Sealed Scroll Claim

Study Revelation 5 in context:

• Who does the passage say opens the scroll? (Jesus, the Lamb who was slain)
• What is the scroll? (God’s plan, not Scripture itself)
• Is Revelation sealed? (No—Revelation 22:10 says “do not seal up”)
• Can only one man understand it? (No—Revelation 1:3 blesses all who read it)

Don’t accept SCJ’s interpretation without testing it against the text.

5. Talk to Your Pastor

Show your pastor SCJ’s materials and ask:

• What do you think of their teaching that religious leaders are “blind guides”?
• Does this align with Scripture?
• What concerns do you have about this teaching?

If SCJ discourages you from talking to your pastor, ask yourself why. Truth can withstand scrutiny.

6. Research Independently

Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive refutation of SCJ’s teachings.

Read testimonies from former members. Listen to their stories. Ask yourself: Do their experiences sound like what you’re experiencing?

For Those Who Have Left SCJ:

1. Recover From the Blindness Accusation

You may be struggling with SCJ’s teaching that you were “blind” and that leaving SCJ means returning to blindness.

Rediscover the truth:

1 John 2:20, 27 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.”

If you’re in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit’s anointing. You’re not blind—SCJ was creating blindness by undermining your confidence in the Holy Spirit’s teaching.

2. Rebuild Trust in Your Pastor

SCJ taught you that your pastor was a “blind guide” like the Pharisees. This may have damaged your trust.

Recognize: If your pastor faithfully preaches the gospel, points to Christ, and produces good fruit, he’s not a blind guide. SCJ created a false comparison to separate you from faithful teaching.

Rebuild: Reach out to your pastor. Share your experience. Ask for help processing what you went through. Give the relationship time to heal.

3. Process the Fulfillment Manipulation

Recognize that SCJ’s “fulfillment” claims were manipulation designed to establish exclusive authority.

The truth: Understanding comes through the Holy Spirit’s teaching, not through witnessing organizational events.

John 16:13 – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

The Spirit guides you into truth—not a human organization.

4. Unlearn the Sealed Scroll Lie

SCJ taught you that Revelation was sealed until Chairman Lee opened it. This may have created dependency on SCJ for understanding.

The truth: Revelation is not sealed. It’s meant to be read and understood by all believers.

Revelation 22:10 – “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.”

You can understand Revelation through careful study, the Holy Spirit’s teaching, and faithful biblical resources—you don’t need SCJ.

5. Find a Healthy Church

Look for a church that:

• Faithfully preaches the gospel of grace
• Points people to Christ, not to human leaders
• Encourages testing and discernment
• Operates with transparency and accountability
• Produces transformed lives and good fruit

For Pastors and Christian Leaders:

1. Teach About Spiritual Blindness Correctly

Help your congregation understand what spiritual blindness really means:

• Primarily, it’s about not seeing Christ as Savior (2 Corinthians 4:4)
• It’s not about failing to accept one organization’s interpretations
• Believers have the Holy Spirit’s anointing and can know truth (1 John 2:20, 27)

2. Address the Pharisee Comparison

When groups compare pastors to Pharisees, teach:

• The Pharisees’ problem was rejecting Christ and trusting in their own righteousness
• Faithful pastors who preach the gospel are not like the Pharisees
• Test teachers by their fruit, not by whether they accept exclusive claims (Matthew 7:16-20)

3. Teach About Fulfillment

Help your congregation understand:

• Yes, prophecy is fulfilled—primarily in Christ
• Understanding doesn’t require witnessing physical events
• We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)
• Beware of groups that claim exclusive access to “fulfillment”

4. Explain Revelation 5 Correctly

Teach the proper interpretation:

• Jesus Christ (the Lamb who was slain) opens the scroll
• The scroll represents God’s plan, not Scripture itself
• No human being can claim the role that belongs to Christ alone
• Revelation is not sealed—it’s meant to be read by all believers

5. Provide Resources

Direct people to resources like https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive information about SCJ’s teachings and tactics.

Chapter 30 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “How Does God Actually Speak to You?” provides guidance for church leaders in helping members discern God’s voice from manipulative teachings.

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Conclusion: Who Is Really Blind?

Lesson 29 asks: “Do you have eyes that see and ears that hear?” SCJ’s answer: “Most people are blind, including religious leaders. You need SCJ to give you sight.”

But the Bible’s answer is different and far more beautiful:

Jesus gives sight to all who come to Him in faith.

John 9:39-41 – “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, ‘What? Are we blind too?’ Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.'”

The Pharisees’ problem was not that they couldn’t see—it was that they claimed to see while rejecting Jesus. They trusted in their own understanding rather than receiving Jesus as the light of the world.

The profound irony of Lesson 29 is this:

SCJ warns about spiritual blindness while creating it. They teach students to distrust the Holy Spirit’s teaching, to doubt their pastors’ faithful instruction, to dismiss their existing biblical understanding, and to accept SCJ’s interpretations uncritically.

This is the very definition of spiritual blindness—not seeing Christ clearly because human teaching has obscured Him.

Who is really blind?

Not those who:

• Trust in Christ alone for salvation
• Rely on the Holy Spirit for understanding
• Test teachings against Scripture
• Produce the fruit of the Spirit
• Walk by faith, not by sight

But those who:

• Trust in one organization’s exclusive claims
• Rely on one man’s interpretations
• Accept teachings without testing
• Separate from the body of Christ
• Demand to see “fulfillment” to believe

The True Light

John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'”

Jesus is the light of the world—not Chairman Lee Man-hee, not Shincheonji, not any human organization.

John 1:9 – “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”

Jesus gives light “to everyone”—not just to those who join one organization.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

God makes His light shine “in our hearts”—this is the work of the Holy Spirit, not the work of a human teacher.

The True Understanding

1 Corinthians 2:12 – “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

We understand through the Spirit—not through one organization’s exclusive teaching.

1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

The Holy Spirit teaches us—we don’t need one organization to mediate understanding.

Ephesians 1:17-18 – “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

Paul prayed that God would enlighten “the eyes of your heart”—this is God’s work, not a human organization’s.

The True Scroll

Revelation 5:9 – “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.”

Jesus alone is worthy to open the scroll—no human being can claim this role.

Revelation 22:10 – “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.”

Revelation is not sealed—it’s meant to be read and understood by all believers.

Revelation 1:3 – “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.”

There’s a blessing for all who read Revelation—not just for one man who claims exclusive understanding.

The Invitation

If you’re studying with SCJ and feeling increasing doubt about your spiritual condition, know this: If you have faith in Christ, you’re not blind. The Holy Spirit dwells in you and teaches you. You don’t need one organization to give you sight.

If you’ve left SCJ and are recovering from their teaching that you were blind, know this: You have the Holy Spirit’s anointing. You can know truth. You can understand Scripture. You’re not dependent on any human organization.

As “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” demonstrates throughout its 30 chapters, freedom comes through seeing both the psychological tactics (Reflective Lens) and the biblical truth (Discernment Lens). Use both lenses. Test everything. Hold fast to what is good.

And above all, trust in Jesus Christ—the true light of the world, the one who gives sight to the blind, the one who opens our eyes through His Spirit, the Lamb who alone is worthy to open the scroll.

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

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

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For comprehensive refutation of Shincheonji teachings and support for those investigating or leaving the group, please visit the Shincheonji Examination page at https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination.