This lesson covers the figurative meaning of “beasts” and the three types of animals used symbolically in biblical prophecy – those representing betrayal, destruction, and salvation.
Beasts refer to false pastors or those who lack true understanding of God’s word. They act solely on instinct, cannot reason, have no hope for the future, cannot speak truth, and are consumed with mere survival.
The flow of end-time prophecy involves first a rebellion/betrayal, then a man of lawlessness bringing destruction, followed finally by the day of the Lord’s salvation.
Animals representing betrayal are dogs, pigs, and lost sheep – those who turn away from the truth after receiving it.
Animals of destruction are predators like wolves, lions, leopards, bears – false teachers who devour the betrayers who are now unprotected.
Animals of salvation are lambs/sheep (the obedient), oxen (hard workers for God’s Word), and horses (riding into spiritual battle).
The lesson emphasizes striving to be the obedient, hardworking, spiritually-fighting believers prepared for the Lord’s coming, armed with the true, opened Word.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
Beasts = False Pastors and people who do not understand the word.
Animals = People. These people come in Three Categories: Betrayal, Destruction and Salvation.
The Beast with seven heads and then horns = Seven Pastors who lack understanding of the word and who devour their congregation.
God’s prophecies occur in a specific order, and there is a flow to the way God carries out events before the day of the Lord can happen. | 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
The Flow of Fulfillment (Revelation) = Betrayal, Destruction and Salvation. They structure how prophecies will be fulfilled.
The betrayers, destroyers, and the saviors – they’re people.
1. Dog, pig and lost sheep = A person who betrays. | 2 Peter 2:20-22, Matthew 15:24.
2. Lion, Leorpard, bear (predators) and locusts = the betrayers. | Isaiah 56:9-11, Matthew 7:15, Nahum 3:16-17. Representing people who devour and people who are devoured.
3. Lamb, Oxen, horses = people of salvation, people who are obedient, people who carry out God’s work | John1:29, Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Corinthians 9:9-10, Revelation 19:11, Isaiah 31:3
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Beast
(3 Types of Animals in Prophecy)
One thing I want to mention about the word before we get started for today is how we should think about what we'll be learning. Not everything in the Bible is pleasant. There are quite a few things in the Bible that are difficult, hard to read, and of course, hard to understand as well. But God tells us the unpleasant things so that we do not experience them or can avoid them or can learn from them. So today, we'll be going over content that will be hard but important, so that we are ready and we don't do the things that we read about here in the scripture.
However, we'll also look at things that we should do. So this lesson is about self-reflection and not about any kind of offense. Please keep that in mind as we're going over the topic for today.
The content for today will have two main areas. First, we'll talk about the figurative Beast and what that means because we know that beasts appear in Revelation, so we are prepared and ready.
And then, in the second part of the lesson, we'll talk about three types of animals that we typically see in Prophecy. Remember "OPAGH": Objects, People, and Animals will be today's topic. Geographic locations and historical events will be in the next lesson.
So, what is a figurative Beast?
Beasts (in moral teachings) are False Pastors and people who do not understand the word.
The word is a powerful weapon, is it not? It's compared to a sword in Hebrews 4:12. And in Ephesians 6:17, it has power. But if someone does not understand the weapon they are wielding, they can do a lot of damage with that sword, with that weapon. And in Revelation 13, which we will get to, we see a beast that has a particular kind of power. You will understand this more in this lesson.
The second one is animals in Prophecy. And they represent people. And these people come in three categories or three types (B, D, S).
Our Hope for today is to be a sheep-like believer, not in our own eyes or another person's eyes, but in God's eyes. Why? So that we can be those who understand His word and live according to His word, act according to His word.
Figurative Beast
Main Reference
Revelation 13:1-4
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
In Revelation 13, we see a prophecy about a particular beast that appears. Have you ever encountered a beast with seven heads and ten horns, resembling a lion, a leopard, and a bear? These are land animals. Yet, what are they doing? Coming out of the sea. Quite a strange sight for the Apostle John to witness. However, by this point in the course, I hope you understand that this should not be taken literally.
God is very logical and uses words intentionally for a reason. He does not speak carelessly or accidentally. Let us emulate God in this way. Let us use our words wisely and intentionally, speaking clearly, especially when it comes to the word of God.
We see a lion, a leopard, and a bear coming out of the sea. By understanding this lesson, we will comprehend what this means, what it refers to, and how we can avoid this type of beast. We will also learn how to discern if this beast has already appeared or not.
As we know, the title suggests that the term "beast" in these teachings represents a false pastor or someone who does not understand the word correctly. So, let me ask you this.
Why is a beast equaling a person who does not understand the word?
Let us examine some characteristics of beasts so that we can comprehend why a person may be likened to a beast in Prophecy.
Jude 1:10
Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Jude draws a comparison to a group of people who speak abusively. He points out that these people do not engage in reasoning. Instead, they act on instinct, like beasts. And what is their behavior?
Rather than attempting to understand, rather than trying to reason like a human, they instead try to destroy what they do not comprehend.
Let us examine these physical characteristics of beasts so that we can ensure we are not individuals who exhibit such traits.
Physical Characteristics of Beast
Romans 1:20 and Hosea 12:10
God uses creation to explain Himself so that we are without excuse. We can understand physically what beasts are like. So now we can understand spiritual beasts because they'll have the same characteristics. This is also important for Revelation, as stated in Hosea 12:10. What did God say in Hosea 12:10?
"I spoke to the prophets, like Apostle John. I gave them many visions like the Book of Revelation, and told parables through them - beast, sea, lion, leopard, bear, heads, horns - all parables, all of which we will study."
So, what are the characteristics of a beast?
1. Beasts cannot reason. They can only act on instinct.
Because of this, when something happens, instead of taking a step back, observing, processing, and analyzing, they act immediately. Everything is about survival for them. If they're scared, they run. If they're scared, they fight. If they're hungry, they eat. They act solely on instinct.
2. No hope. Beasts are not beings that hope.
Beasts are only concerned about the current and present situation. You might find a few animals that have the ability to store for a future time, but that's quite rare. Most creatures or beasts can only worry about now, today. "I'm hungry today. I'm in danger today. I need to get into a safe place today." They cannot think about the future.
This ability to plan, to have forethought about what we want life to be like, and then take proper steps to get there, is a characteristic that sets us apart from animals - human beings.
3. Beasts also cannot speak.
They have no words. They can communicate with each other in a language that only they can understand. But they cannot speak to other organisms, and they cannot speak language like we speak.
4. A beast - all they do is worry about survival: wake up, work to eat, sleep, repeat until they die. You can also add reproduction in there; that's also important. But that's it - that's their whole life from start to finish.
As we look at these characteristics, we should think, "Uh oh. That sounds familiar." Not just for literal animals, but maybe sometimes even for ourselves too.
How often do we focus only on today?
How often do we focus only on survival and routine?
How much of the Word do we understand? And do we act on instinct and feeling instead of logic, reasoning, and the Word?
This is something very important for us to understand because people who only act on feeling - "I feel like this" or "I feel like that" - they are often misled. And they often go away from what God intends them to do. Because what God intends people to do is not always comfortable.
In fact, it's often not comfortable. And a beast will seek comfort instead of seeking what it needs to do.
So, let's understand now how the Bible categorizes spiritual beasts so that we can avoid being like these.
2. Spiritual (True) Meaning of Beast
Proverbs 30: 2-4
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
If you understood the profound concepts mentioned in this verse, there are indeed numerous profound things to explore. Agur, the author of this particular proverb, is someone who is highly self-reflective. He is deeply contemplating himself in a critical manner, as he does not refer to himself in a highly esteemed or kind way. This is because he possesses a desperate yearning to comprehend these profound mysteries. What did he say at the beginning?
Verse 2 states: "I am the most ignorant of men." What does he declare? He lacks human understanding or a man's understanding. So, what is the opposite of a man or human? A beast.
Furthermore, he proceeds to describe the things he cannot comprehend, and he mentions many profound matters – which we will discuss in later lessons.
He references a lack of knowledge of the Holy One and also the Holy One's Son. Did you notice that – a very profound concept? This is found in the Book of Proverbs, written a thousand years before the first coming of Christ. So, he was pondering these mysteries that he did not yet have access to and would not have access to even after his death, until they were fulfilled. I'm sure some of us have felt similar to Agur in this regard.
One who lacks a man's understanding, one who is ignorant and has no knowledge of the Holy One – from God's perspective, that man is like the beast.
Reminder:
Ignorant = No knowledge of Holy One
– Not man’s understanding = beast
Psalms 49:20
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Let's understand more about the man who has riches. This is most likely someone who, by the world's standards, is highly esteemed. Unfortunately, we often glorify people who have much wealth, oftentimes undeservedly. We look at those people and aspire to be like them.
So the world puts such people on a high pedestal, but from God's perspective, ultimately the only perspective that matters, that person who does not understand His Word, no matter what surrounds them or how much they have, is a beast in God's eyes. And what happens to this kind of beast? This kind of beast perishes. It comes to an end.
This kind of person, to say it directly, is one who greatly values physical wealth above true spiritual wealth.
If you think about a dog and a human being, two very different beings, if you lay a gold bar in front of a dog, what will the dog do with that gold bar? Maybe it will lick it and then walk away because the dog does not understand the value of that treasure. But if you give a bone to a human being, what will they do? The same thing? What are they supposed to do with it? In some cultures, they might break the bone and suck the marrow out, and then toss the rest because they can't really use it.
So there is a difference in value systems based on a beast and a man. Someone who is a beast from God's perspective only values the things of the world and often puts the things of the world before the Word of God. The Word of God, which He says in Psalm 12:6 is like silver, flawless, refined in the fire seven times, is the most important thing to God.
God will never put you in a position where it compromises your understanding of the Word. It doesn't make sense to say, "Oh, God blessed me with this opportunity, but now I have to miss class because of the opportunity God gave me." God gave me an opportunity that pulls me away from the most valuable thing to Him. A job can be a blessing, but it's the priority you put it in that can turn it into a curse.
The same can be said with relationships or even family. What is our priority? Is God's Word where it needs to be? Do we trust that God will protect us and provide for us if we put His Word first, as Matthew 6:33 promises? God promised that He will take care of these things if we put His Word first.
Studying His Word is the most valuable use of your time because it will lead to many blessings.
So a beast, in moral teachings, is a false pastor and one who does not understand the Word.
Figurative Animals in Prophecy
3. The Order of Fulfillment of Prophecy
One of the things I came to understand when I was taught the open word is that God's prophecies occur in a specific order, and there is a flow to the way God carries out events. Although His prophecies might be spoken out of sequence, some prophecies and some books happened chronologically before books that come later.
However, there is a particular flow to how things are meant to unfold. For instance, Jesus could not have died on the cross before He was born. That would not align with the intended sequence of events. But here's the thing: The second coming is actually very similar in that there is a specific flow of events.
If you do not comprehend or understand this flow, then you cannot grasp the events themselves. And someone who claims to understand the flow of Revelation or claims to understand how Revelation is fulfilled, but does not grasp this flow, also lacks true understanding. So let's examine this flow.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
The Apostle Paul provides us with the ingredients, the structure, and the flow, so that we are not deceived when it comes to prophecies in the Bible. This is something I have mentioned many times, but I'll continue to repeat it so that it really sinks in for us.
We cannot look at world events or the media as evidence for the fulfillment of prophecies, because a world event might look or feel similar to one prophecy in the Bible, but it cannot explain all the others.
If a person at the first coming claimed to be the Messiah, but that person was born in Samaria, that person cannot be the Messiah. Even if he teaches the word, he feels like he comes from God, even if he was able to perform miracles, if he did not account for one of the important prophecies, he is not the Messiah and should not be listened to.
So we should not have partial prophecy fulfillment. We should actually be waiting for what the word and testimony teach us, as we learned in the last lesson. So what should we be expecting as believers?
Let's break down 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. The first thing that the Apostle Paul mentions is in verse 2: "But not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy report or letter supposed to have come from us saying the day of the Lord has already come." So the end goal, the day we are all waiting for, is the day of the Lord. That's the end. But then Paul says there are two other events that must happen first before the day of the Lord can happen.
So what was the first event that he mentioned must take place first at the beginning of verse 3? What did he say?
One - The rebellion must occur first, or you can say betrayal.
They mean the same thing. There must first be a rebellion. And there have been many rebellions that have occurred in Bible times. Most people like to reference times close to the first coming, saying, "This rebellion happened, that rebellion happened, so this entire book must already be fulfilled." That is an incorrect understanding. But a rebellion must first occur, and that means that there will be people who carry out the work of betraying - betrayers.
Then the Apostle Paul mentions the second thing that must then take place:
Two - A man lawlessly must appear that is doomed to destruction.
And he is lawless because he also destroys others. So there must be a rebellion or betrayal, then there must be one who does the work of destruction - a destroyer - who then is destroyed himself.
Three - Then comes the day of the Lord, and the day of the Lord is the day of salvation. And there will be even saviors appointed by God who carry out this work at the time of Revelation's fulfillment. This is the flow.
So if someone has an explanation of the second coming fulfillment and it does not follow this flow and every other verse related to the second coming, if it cannot account for them all, you should not be listening to that explanation.
It is like maddening wine or seawater. What happens when you drink seawater? Your spirit dies. Don't drink seawater.
Now, one thing that's important to understand:
The betrayers, destroyers, and the saviors - they're people. They appear as people.
It's hard to distinguish people by appearance alone, but how can we distinguish or determine between people by what they do?
According to what is recorded in the prophecy, what are their prophetic actions? This is how Jesus was able to testify about what he heard and saw the Pharisees do - the things Isaiah said they would do.
John the Baptist is the Elijah that is to come.
Jesus was able to do that because he was pointing to the prophecies and the actions of the people, and he was the only one at the time of the first coming who could do this. The second coming will be similar.
So these things will be covered many times because it's the flow of fulfillment - betrayal, destruction, salvation - we'll be looking at them many times throughout the rest of the course.
Now, what's cool about betrayal, destruction, and salvation is that they structure how prophecies will be fulfilled, which means there are parables that fit into these buckets or categories like animals.
So let's look at the different animals that fit into betrayal, the different animals that fit into destruction, and the different animals that fit into salvation. We'll look at that now.
Betrayal
Matthew 7:6
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Jesus is not referring to literal dogs here. Of course, you should not give valuable things to your literal dog either.
However, Jesus is not concerned with literal dogs in this context. So, you can continue loving your dog. He compares good things to spiritual "dogs" for a reason. He said, "Do not give what is sacred to dogs, why? Because they will trample on those sacred things." He also said, "Do not give to pigs, for they do not understand the value of what is sacred and will trample on those sacred beings."
Jesus mentions this immediately after talking about removing the speck from one's eye, clearly referring to people.
Before judging someone else, make sure the plank is out of your own eye. Let's examine the explanation or the expansion of the definition of "dogs" and "pigs."
2 Peter 2:20-22
20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
Let's break down what the Apostle Peter is saying here. He stated that it would have been better for this person to have never received the way of righteousness than to receive it and turn their backs upon it. This is considered betrayal. A person like this is referred to as a dog and a pig.
Why is this important? Because we see dogs and pigs mentioned in the Book of Revelation too, primarily dogs.
And dogs are on the outside, outside of the city. And what did it say about these people? They returned to their vomit. Vomit is a bodily fluid that was once inside the body but is expelled.
However, to return to what has been expelled is a gratuitous act. What is expelled from a person when they receive what is sacred and righteous? Understanding or lies – things that are not true.
Those falsehoods are expelled when someone receives the truth, but to return back to falsehood after receiving the way of righteousness is to betray it.
Meaning, one who has now come to Christ and understands who He is – the prophesied Messiah, Prophet, Son of God, the one who comes to bring salvation – to turn away from those truths is to return to the vomit of all.
What about us? We are now receiving what is sacred, what is treasure – the open word to lead.
The open word is to go, not return to vomit, not return to a time where no one understands anything and everyone has their own opinion, a thousand opinions, like returning to the sea when one has come to fresh water. We cannot be like that, not at this time.
So, dogs and pigs. There's one more animal of betrayal, one that Jesus mentions in Matthew 15:24.
Matthew 15:24
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
A sheep that is lost has no shepherd. The people had no shepherd. And Jesus came to be their shepherd, but what did they do to Him instead? They rejected Him. And remained shepherdless. Not a good situation to be in.
So dogs, pigs, and lost sheep are animals. They represent betrayal. When you see a dog, a pig, or a lost sheep in Prophecy, think of a person who betrays.
What did they betray? The Word. But not just the Word. The Word that had been fulfilled. The open Word. On a deeper level.
Let's not be this kind of person. Now, this person is vulnerable when they betray. It's like the hedge of protection is removed from them.
Destruction
The sheep are now vulnerable, exposed and easy prey. A lost sheep is helpless against predatory animals that seek to devour and destroy. Let us turn our attention to the Book of Isaiah in the Bible.
Isaiah 56: 9-11
9 Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain.
This is the book of Isaiah, which means it is a prophecy, and figurative language is being used, right? However, God is very specific about whom he is talking to here – Israel's Watchmen, those who have the job of being leaders.
What did they do? Firstly, they lacked understanding; they were blind. And they were like mute dogs that cannot bark. Instead of fulfilling their roles, what did they do? They sought their own gain; they lazed around in their sleep. And when they were hungry, they devoured the sheep.
Instead of being Shepherds who lead the flock, what did it say? Shepherds who lack understanding will turn to their own way. Ever wonder why the Israelites at the first coming were lost sheep? The Shepherds were not leading them.
Do you understand? So, what did they do? Instead, they devoured; they destroyed.
This behavior is not good. So, who is the reality of this type of sheep?
Who did Jesus call them? This type of sheep at the first coming?
He called them a "brood of vipers" or snakes.
Jesus said, "You Pharisees, you brood of vipers." And Jesus had just finished rebuking them for many things, "You make people twice as much a son of hell as you. Are you preventing people from entering Heaven who are trying to, and you yourself won't do so? Outside you are whitewashed tombs, but inside you are full of dead men's bones. You are full of hypocrisy; your bowls are dirty. You are serpents, snakes."
This is Jesus's testimony, testifying to what he saw and heard, confirming the word of God, the prophecy. The word of God, prophecy, and testimony fulfillment are like that. Jesus also called them another name.
Matthew 7:15
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Be cautious of false prophets or pastors. Outward appearances are insignificant. It is the inner character that truly matters. This is how you can discern who is a wolf in God's eyes and who is genuinely a sheep.
Now, when we examine the Book of Revelation 13, we should comprehend the passage about the Beast with seven heads and ten horns from a different perspective, correct?
Lions, leopards, and bears are predatory animals.
They are among the world's most formidable predators. They devour their prey. They are ferocious.
So the Beast with seven heads and ten horns represents seven pastors who lack understanding of the word and who devour their congregation.
You should not be thinking, "Oh, I know who those seven are," and then start naming pastors you dislike. That is not the purpose here. That is not what it means to testify.
We should grasp the significance of their actions. Now, when you read Revelation 13, it makes much more sense. Because they are compared to those who destroy or devour. And the ones they devour, their targets, are those who have betrayed.
Predatory animals destroy and devour animals that betray. That is their target. Because this person is no longer protected by God. They have betrayed God. No longer protected, they are exposed. Easy to devour.
There is one more type, and I want us to read this passage as well. It describes another type of destructive animal. There are actually a few more, but for the sake of time, they cannot cover them all. But when you are reading prophecy, if you think an animal destroys, think, "Ah, right, it makes sense."
Nahum 3:16-17
16 You have increased the number of your merchants till they are more numerous than the stars in the sky, but like locusts they strip the land and then fly away.
17 Your guards are like locusts, your officials like swarms of locusts that settle in the walls on a cold day— but when the sun appears they fly away, and no one knows where.
The prophet Nahum prophesies about a group of people, referring to them by different names: Merchants, guards, and officials.
What did they do?
They are likened to locusts. How did God create locusts? They are creatures that devour everything.
They devour crops, wheat, and come after these things, destroying the land. We also see locusts mentioned in the Book of Revelation 9. We will understand that as well, but consider a person who devours everything and leaves nothing behind.
So these are the two sets of bad animals in prophecy, representing people who devour versus people who are devoured, the betrayers.
However, there is a third group of people, the ones we want to emulate. We want to be those whom God considers saviors or salvation, those who bring salvation to others.
So there are three kinds here. Let us first look at our example, the Savior, the one we should strive to be like.
Salvation
John 1:29
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
What did John the Baptist say? He said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.'
I used to often wonder why Jesus was called the Lamb. Most people make a reference to Him being born in a manger, right? But that's not the reason He was called the Lamb.
The reason goes much deeper than that, and we'll talk about that very soon. We'll actually look at the figurative meaning of the flesh and blood, the Lamb, very soon, coming up.
But Jesus is compared to a lamb, which is a very innocent animal often used for ritual sacrifice in the time of the Old Testament.
And Jesus Himself was the one who was sacrificed for sin. A lamb is another way of referring to a sheep.
Matthew 25:31-34
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
There are two groups of people, right? There is a gathering and a sifting, good fish and bad fish, wise versions and foolish versions. Wheat and chaff or weeds, there is always a separation, or that's how it's going to happen at the second coming. And we see that there are those who are like the Sheep.
Hence, our hope from the beginning of the class. Let us be sheep-like believers. Why? Because they will be the ones who inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus goes on to describe what these people should be like. So, please read Matthew 25 to understand a little bit more.
But know that this parable is a prophecy, so it's also using figurative language. Yes, we should take care of those who are around us, take care of the needy and the poor, and visit those in prison, definitely. Yes, but we should also do the spiritual version of all those things as well.
Taking care of those who are spiritually naked, spiritually blind, spiritually hungry, and spiritually in prison. They too need deliverance. Let us be like that.
But there are also goats. What are the characteristics of goats? Stubborn, they don't listen to anything. "Oh, I'm doing whatever I want to do, wrong." Right. They are very stubborn.
They do whatever they like, and they'll eat whatever they like, and they'll fight whatever they like. Not godly. So, let us not be like goats. All right, two more. We'll go over these quickly.
1 Corinthians 9:9-10
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.
This one is truly remarkable. It actually describes us, the evangelists and instructors.
What is an apostle? Paul says the law is only a shadow. God spoke things in the law to point to a future time.
What does he say about oxen? "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Oxen should not be muzzled, or they cannot work effectively. Those who do the work of God are hoping and waiting to take part in the harvest.
We, the Harvest class, evangelists and instructors, work very hard for you. Why? Because we love you deeply. And I want you to receive this word. That's why we put aside all these other things in our lives so that we can be here for you. Let's be like that. Let's do the same.
Revelation 19:11
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
So, what do we see here? Something amazing, right? An amazing sight. We have the writer on the White Horse, whose name is Faithful and True. With justice, he makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire. Who is this rider on the White Horse?
This is a vision of the Heaven and the spiritual world that John has seen. The rider is a spirit. In this case, Jesus, the one who is called faithful and true. But we know that visions are spoken in parables. So, is Jesus literally riding a white horse, or does this signify something else?
That's a good question. Because this rider is riding a horse.
Horses are controlled by their riders. They go where the rider tells them to go if it's a well-trained horse, right? Let's not be stubborn horses, kicking their back feet. All right, but let's be like this white horse that Jesus rides into battle. The spirit represents a person's flesh.
The spirit of Jesus works throughout the time of the second coming, within a person.
Isaiah 31:3
3 But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together.
The Egyptians are not men, nor are they God. Their horses are flesh, and their forces are flesh.
Animals of salvation represent three things: sheep, oxen, and horses.
Let us strive to be like them at the time of the Second Coming.
Sheep are obedient; they listen to the shepherd. Oxen are hard workers, and they perform the work of God. Horses ride into battle.
Let us fight, let us work diligently, and let us defeat the enemy with Jesus on our side.
So, animals of salvation symbolize people who are obedient, people who carry out God's work, and people who ride into battle with heaven. God's work comes in many forms, not just as an instructor or evangelist. There are numerous ways in which God requires people to serve, and we shall learn about those as we continue to study.
However, to be these people, one must possess the word – not just any word, but the open word at this time. This is our sword, our tool to wield and fight with.
Memorization
Psalm 49:20
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Proverbs 30:2-4
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
Instructor Review
SUMMARY
We learn about the figurative beasts and three types of animals in prophecy. Beasts act on instinct. They cannot discern or reason; they only follow their present feelings.
They are stuck in the present and cannot plan for the future or engage with God's plan because they lack understanding of God's word. From God's perspective, they are beasts, not humans who can reason. However, we also see animals appear in prophecy, representing betrayal, destruction, and salvation for the time of the second coming.
The second coming must follow this flow: first, there must be a rebellion or betrayal. Then, the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction, the man who carries out the work of destruction. All of these things must happen first, as Paul said.
After that, the day of the Lord will come, the day of our salvation. There are people at every stage who do this work. That's how we can know you are the reality of this prophecy in Revelation. You are the reality of this person in Revelation.
Dogs, pigs, and lost sheep betray. They have no leader or shepherd, and they return to their old ways, their vomit. They can go back to the mud after being washed clean. It's not just falling away from Christianity; we need to understand it deeper than that.
Then there are animals of destruction, those that devour and destroy with lies and falsehood. Outwardly, they look like sheep, but inwardly, they are ferocious wolves, snakes, lions, leopards, and bears. They destroy with falsehood, and their main targets are those who have betrayed because they no longer have protection.
They are vulnerable, like in Revelation 13. There are many types of these creatures mentioned in Revelation, such as scorpions, locusts, snakes, lions, leopards, and bears, but I didn't mention them all.
However, there are also animals that do the work of salvation, like Jesus, our representative lamb. We too should be like sheep, sheep-like believers who inherit the kingdom of heaven by taking care of people both physically and, more importantly, spiritually.
Let's be those who are workers for God, with a humble heart to work wherever God needs us. God, send me where you need me, like that. Let's be those who ride in the battle of Jesus and follow the one Jesus is writing to, because the white horse is there, but there are also horses that fall behind.
Let's Us Discern
Analysis of Shincheonji Bible Study Lesson 37: "Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Beast"
Using "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story"
Introduction: The Beast Within and Without
Lesson 37, titled "Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Beast," marks a critical turning point in Shincheonji's (SCJ) curriculum. The lesson appears to offer practical spiritual teaching about avoiding beast-like behavior—acting on instinct rather than reason, focusing only on survival, lacking understanding of God's Word. On the surface, this sounds like helpful moral instruction that any Christian teacher might offer.
However, as "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story" demonstrates throughout its 30 chapters, SCJ's lessons consistently operate on two levels: the surface teaching (which sounds biblical) and the hidden subtext (which prepares students to accept SCJ's exclusive claims). Lesson 37 is no exception.
By this point in the Intermediate Level ("Bible Logic"), students have been conditioned through dozens of lessons to:
- Accept SCJ's interpretive framework without question
- Doubt their previous understanding of Scripture
- Isolate themselves from outside corrective voices
- Believe the "word is sealed" except through SCJ's revelation
Now, Lesson 37 introduces the concept of "beasts" in a way that will ultimately be used to categorize all Christians outside SCJ as spiritually deficient—as "beasts" who don't truly understand God's Word. This sets the stage for the Advanced Level (Revelation), where students will learn that only those who accept Chairman Lee Man-hee's revelation can be truly "human" (understanding) rather than "beast-like" (ignorant).
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 closerlookinitiative.com.
Part 1: The Setup—Defining "Beast" in Moral Terms
What SCJ Teaches:
The lesson begins by defining "beast" in two contexts:
1. In Moral Teachings: "Beasts are False Pastors and people who do not understand the word."
2. In Prophecy: "Animals represent people. And these people come in three categories or three types (B, D, S)." [The transcript cuts off before explaining these categories, but they likely refer to Beast, Dragon, and Serpent, or possibly Bird, Dog, and Sheep]
The instructor emphasizes: "The word is a powerful weapon... But if someone does not understand the weapon they are wielding, they can do a lot of damage with that sword, with that weapon."
He then lists physical characteristics of beasts and applies them spiritually:
Physical Characteristics of Beasts:
- Cannot reason—only act on instinct
- Have no hope—only concerned with the present
- Cannot speak—have no words/understanding
- Only worry about survival—wake, eat, sleep, repeat
Spiritual Application: The instructor asks students to self-reflect: "How often do we focus only on today? How often do we focus only on survival and routine? How much of the Word do we understand? And do we act on instinct and feeling instead of logic, reasoning, and the Word?"
The Reflective Lens: The Psychological Trap
This teaching appears to be about personal spiritual growth—avoiding beast-like behavior and growing in understanding. However, it's actually laying groundwork for a much more problematic categorization system. Let's identify the psychological progression:
1. The Reasonable Starting Point
The lesson begins with something everyone can agree with: We shouldn't act like animals—driven only by instinct, lacking understanding, focused only on survival. This is biblically sound and psychologically reasonable. By starting here, SCJ gains students' agreement.
2. The Self-Condemnation Mechanism
Notice how the instructor turns the lens inward: "How often do we focus only on today? How often do we focus only on survival and routine?" He's encouraging students to identify beast-like tendencies in themselves. This creates:
- Guilt: "I do act on instinct sometimes. I do focus on survival and routine."
- Inadequacy: "I don't understand the Word as well as I should."
- Dependency: "I need help to become more understanding, more human, less beast-like."
This is a classic cult tactic identified in Chapter 11 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Isolation Strategy: When Progressive Revelation Becomes Progressive Control." The chapter explains how groups claiming exclusive truth systematically undermine members' confidence, creating a vacuum that only the group's teaching can fill.
3. The Binary Framework
The lesson establishes a binary: You're either understanding (human) or not understanding (beast-like). There's no middle ground. This black-and-white thinking is a hallmark of high-control groups.
Chapter 12 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "When Narrative Becomes More Important Than Truth," addresses this binary thinking. The chapter explains how oversimplified categories (us/them, enlightened/ignorant, understanding/beast-like) prevent nuanced thinking and make it easier to control members' worldview.
4. The Authority Transfer
Who determines whether someone is "understanding" or "beast-like"? Who decides whether someone truly comprehends God's Word? In SCJ's system, it's ultimately Chairman Lee Man-hee and the organization he leads. Students are being prepared to accept that judgment.
The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Actually Teach?
Let's examine whether SCJ's "beast" teaching aligns with biblical truth.
Biblical Truth #1: Scripture Does Use Animal Imagery for People
The Bible does indeed use animal imagery to describe human behavior and spiritual conditions. SCJ is correct about this:
Psalm 49:20 - "People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish."
Jude 1:10 - "Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—destroy them."
2 Peter 2:12 - "But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish."
So far, SCJ's teaching aligns with Scripture. The problem comes in how they apply this imagery.
Biblical Truth #2: However, the Context Matters
When Scripture uses "beast" or "animal" imagery, it's referring to specific behaviors and attitudes, not to a permanent category of people who lack special knowledge. Let's examine the contexts:
Psalm 49:12-20 - This passage contrasts those who trust in wealth and worldly wisdom with those who trust in God. The "beast-like" quality is trusting in temporary things rather than eternal God—not lacking access to special revelation.
Jude 1:3-16 - Jude is writing about specific false teachers who have "secretly slipped in among you" (v. 4), who "reject authority" (v. 8), who "follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit" (v. 19). These are people who claim to be believers but live in rebellion against God's clear commands. Jude is not talking about sincere Christians who haven't received special interpretive knowledge.
2 Peter 2:1-22 - Similarly, Peter is describing false teachers who "deny the sovereign Lord who bought them" (v. 1), who "follow the corrupt desire of the flesh" (v. 10), who "promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity" (v. 19). Again, this is about moral rebellion, not lack of special knowledge.
The Biblical Pattern:
Scripture uses "beast" imagery to describe:
- Those who trust in wealth rather than God (Psalm 49)
- Those who live by fleshly instincts rather than the Spirit (Jude, 2 Peter)
- Those who reject God's authority and live in moral rebellion (Jude, 2 Peter)
Scripture does NOT use "beast" imagery to describe:
- Sincere believers who haven't received one person's exclusive interpretation of Revelation
- Christians who attend churches outside one particular organization
- People who lack access to "sealed knowledge" that's been "opened" by one leader
Chapter 9 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Parable Puzzle: How SCJ Redefines Biblical Interpretation," addresses this pattern. The chapter explains how SCJ takes legitimate biblical concepts (like animal imagery) and redefines them to support their exclusive claims.
Biblical Truth #3: All Believers Have the Spirit and Can Understand
The New Testament teaches that all believers—not just those with special knowledge—have the Holy Spirit and can understand God's Word:
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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."
Notice: "We" (all believers) have received the Spirit "so that we may understand." Understanding is not limited to one person or organization.
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. 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."
John writes to ordinary believers, affirming that they have the Spirit's anointing and can know truth. They don't need exclusive human mediators.
John 16:13 - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth."
Jesus promised the Spirit would guide His followers (plural, all believers) into truth—not just one person who then mediates truth to others.
Biblical Truth #4: Growth in Understanding Is Normal and Communal
The biblical pattern is that believers grow in understanding over time, within the community of faith, through study, teaching, and the Spirit's work. This is very different from SCJ's model where understanding comes through accepting one person's exclusive revelation:
Ephesians 4:11-16 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Notice the pattern:
- Christ gives multiple teachers (not one exclusive interpreter)
- The goal is that "we all" reach maturity (not just those with special knowledge)
- Growth happens in community ("the whole body")
- Maturity means not being "blown here and there by every wind of teaching"—including SCJ's teaching
Chapter 20 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Community of Faith: How the Church Actually Works," contrasts SCJ's hierarchical, exclusive model with Scripture's teaching about communal growth in understanding.
Part 2: The Revelation 13 Application—Preparing for Exclusive Interpretation
What SCJ Teaches:
The lesson focuses on Revelation 13:1-4, describing a beast with seven heads and ten horns, resembling a lion, leopard, and bear, coming out of the sea. The instructor asks:
"Have you ever encountered a beast with seven heads and ten horns, resembling a lion, a leopard, and a bear? These are land animals. Yet, what are they doing? Coming out of the sea. Quite a strange sight for the Apostle John to witness. However, by this point in the course, I hope you understand that this should not be taken literally."
He then states: "We see a lion, a leopard, and a bear coming out of the sea. By understanding this lesson, we will comprehend what this means, what it refers to, and how we can avoid this type of beast. We will also learn how to discern if this beast has already appeared or not."
The implicit message: This prophecy has been fulfilled (or is being fulfilled now), and SCJ can explain the reality behind the symbols.
The Reflective Lens: The Interpretive Trap
This section sets up several psychological traps:
1. The Obvious Non-Literal Reading
The instructor points out that a seven-headed, ten-horned beast combining lion, leopard, and bear features is obviously not literal. Students agree—of course it's symbolic. This agreement creates openness to SCJ's interpretation.
2. The Exclusive Knowledge Claim
The instructor promises that "by understanding this lesson, we will comprehend what this means." The implication: Without this lesson (and SCJ's teaching), you cannot comprehend Revelation's meaning. This reinforces dependency on SCJ's interpretive framework.
3. The "Already Appeared" Suggestion
The phrase "how to discern if this beast has already appeared or not" plants the idea that this prophecy might already be fulfilled. In later lessons, students will learn that SCJ teaches Revelation was fulfilled in 1984 within their own organization. This is being set up here.
4. The Self-Application Misdirection
The instructor says, "how we can avoid this type of beast." This makes it sound like personal moral instruction—how to avoid being beast-like. But in SCJ's full teaching, the "beast" represents specific pastors and churches that opposed Chairman Lee Man-hee. Students are being prepared to see their own pastors and churches as the "beast."
Chapter 13 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Verification Problem: Evaluating Claims, Evidence, and Witnesses," addresses this issue. The chapter explains how SCJ creates a closed verification system where their interpretations can only be verified within their own framework.
The Discernment Lens: How Should We Understand Revelation 13?
Let's examine Revelation 13 in its proper context:
Revelation 13:1-10 - "The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, 'Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?' The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. Whoever has ears, let them hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God's people."
Understanding the Beast in Context:
1. The Beast Represents Political/Imperial Power Opposed to God
Throughout Scripture, beasts represent kingdoms and empires that oppose God's people:
Daniel 7:1-8, 15-27 - Daniel sees four beasts representing four kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome). The beasts symbolize earthly powers that persecute God's people.
Revelation 13's beast draws directly from Daniel 7, combining features of all four beasts (lion = Babylon, bear = Medo-Persia, leopard = Greece, ten horns = Rome). This suggests the beast represents the totality of earthly power opposed to God.
2. The Historical Context: Roman Empire
John wrote Revelation to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) under Roman persecution. The beast's description fits the Roman Empire:
- Seven heads: Seven hills of Rome, or seven emperors
- Ten horns: Vassal kingdoms or provinces
- Blasphemous names: Roman emperors claimed divine titles ("Lord," "Savior," "Son of God")
- Authority for 42 months: A limited time of persecution
- War against the saints: Rome's persecution of Christians
- Worship of the beast: Imperial cult worship required of Roman citizens
3. The Theological Meaning: All Anti-God Power
While Revelation had immediate relevance to first-century churches facing Roman persecution, it also carries timeless theological meaning: Throughout history, earthly powers will oppose God and His people, but God's people will ultimately be victorious through faithful endurance.
Revelation 13:10 - "This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God's people."
The point is not to decode which specific modern organization the beast represents, but to remain faithful to Christ regardless of persecution from worldly powers.
4. The Beast Is NOT Individual Pastors or Churches
Notice what the beast does in Revelation 13:
- Receives authority from the dragon (Satan)
- Exercises authority over "every tribe, people, language and nation"
- Requires worship from "all inhabitants of the earth"
- Wages war against God's holy people
- Has power to "conquer them" (through persecution and martyrdom)
This describes imperial/political power, not individual pastors or churches. SCJ's interpretation that the beast represents specific Korean pastors who opposed Chairman Lee Man-hee in 1984 completely misses the scope and scale of Revelation's imagery.
Chapter 7 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Revelation Rewrite: How SCJ Transforms the Final Book," addresses this extensively. The chapter explains how SCJ's interpretation requires shrinking Revelation's cosmic scope to events within one small organization in Korea.
Biblical Interpretation Principles:
Revelation 1:1-3 - "The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 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."
Notice:
- Revelation was given to "show his servants" (plural, all believers)
- It concerns "what must soon take place" (relevant to first-century audience)
- A blessing is pronounced on "the one who reads" (implying it's meant to be understood by ordinary readers, not just one exclusive interpreter)
- "The time is near" (not 2,000 years in the future)
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 explicitly told NOT to seal Revelation. It was meant to be read and understood by the churches to whom it was written. While some details remain mysterious, the core message—remain faithful to Christ through persecution, for He is victorious—has always been clear.
Part 3: The "Cannot Reason" Accusation—Setting Up the Outsider Category
What SCJ Teaches:
The lesson emphasizes that beasts "cannot reason. They can only act on instinct." The instructor applies this spiritually:
"Because of this, when something happens, instead of taking a step back, observing, processing, and analyzing, they act immediately. Everything is about survival for them. If they're scared, they run. If they're scared, they fight. If they're hungry, they eat. They act solely on instinct."
He then asks students: "Do we act on instinct and feeling instead of logic, reasoning, and the Word? This is something very important for us to understand because people who only act on feeling—'I feel like this' or 'I feel like that'—they are often misled. And they often go away from what God intends them to do."
The Reflective Lens: The Psychological Weapon
This teaching will become a weapon against anyone who questions SCJ:
1. Dismissing Emotional Responses
The lesson teaches that acting on "feeling" rather than "logic and reasoning" is beast-like. This sets up a dynamic where any emotional discomfort with SCJ's teachings can be dismissed as "acting on instinct" rather than "reasoning."
Consider what happens when students feel:
- Uncomfortable with SCJ's interpretation: "You're acting on feeling, not reason"
- Concerned about distancing from family: "You're acting on instinct, not logic"
- Uneasy about SCJ's exclusive claims: "You're being beast-like, not understanding"
- Worried about leaving their church: "You're focused on survival/comfort, not truth"
This is a sophisticated form of gaslighting—teaching people to distrust their own instincts and emotions, which are often God-given warning signals.
2. The Irony: SCJ's Appeal Is Largely Emotional
Notice the irony: SCJ accuses others of acting on feeling rather than reason, yet SCJ's own appeal is largely emotional:
- Fear: "The word has been sealed; you might miss salvation"
- Urgency: "We're living in the time of the end"
- Exclusivity: "Only we have the opened word"
- Belonging: "You're part of something special"
- Purpose: "You're among the 144,000"
Chapter 15 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "What Pastors and Counselors Discover," includes testimonies from former members who describe how emotional manipulation—not logical reasoning—drove their involvement with SCJ.
3. Redefining "Reasoning"
In SCJ's framework, "reasoning" means accepting their interpretive method and conclusions. "Acting on instinct" means questioning or resisting. This is circular logic:
- If you accept SCJ's teaching → You're reasoning properly
- If you question SCJ's teaching → You're acting on instinct
There's no way to critically evaluate SCJ's claims within this framework because the framework itself defines critical evaluation as "beast-like."
The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Say About Reason and Emotion?
The Bible values both reason and emotion, both logic and feeling. God created us as whole persons, and He speaks to our whole being:
Biblical Truth #1: God Values Reason and Logic
Isaiah 1:18 - "'Come now, let us settle the matter,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"
God invites reasoning and discussion.
Acts 17:2 - "As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures."
Paul "reasoned" from Scripture—he engaged in logical argumentation.
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 and testing Paul's teaching logically.
Biblical Truth #2: God Also Values Emotion and Spiritual Discernment
1 Corinthians 2:14-15 - "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. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments."
Spiritual discernment involves more than cold logic—it involves the Spirit's work in our hearts and minds.
Philippians 1:9-10 - "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."
Discernment involves both knowledge (reason) and love (emotion/relationship).
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Sometimes God's leading transcends human logic. We're called to trust Him, not just to reason independently.
Biblical Truth #3: Emotions Can Be God-Given Warning Signals
The Bible recognizes that emotions—including discomfort, fear, and unease—can be God's way of warning us:
Acts 16:6-7 - "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."
The Spirit "kept" them and "would not allow" them—this likely involved inner conviction and discomfort with certain directions.
Galatians 1:6-9 - "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 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!"
Paul's "astonishment" is an emotional response to false teaching. Emotions can signal spiritual danger.
1 John 4:1 - "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Testing spirits involves both logical examination and spiritual discernment—both head and heart.
The Biblical Balance:
Scripture calls us to use both reason and spiritual discernment, both logic and emotion. When SCJ teaches that emotions are "beast-like" and only their version of "reasoning" is valid, they're creating a false dichotomy that serves to silence internal warning signals.
Chapter 12 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story" addresses this false dichotomy, explaining how high-control groups often teach members to distrust their own judgment and emotions, making them dependent on the group's interpretation of reality.
Part 4: The "No Hope" and "Cannot Speak" Characteristics—Preparing for Isolation
What SCJ Teaches:
The lesson lists two more beast characteristics:
2. No hope: "Beasts are not beings that hope. Beasts are only concerned about the current and present situation... They cannot think about the future."
3. Cannot speak: "They have no words. They can communicate with each other in a language that only they can understand. But they cannot speak to other organisms, and they cannot speak language like we speak."
The instructor applies this: "How often do we focus only on today? How often do we focus only on survival and routine? How much of the Word do we understand?"
The Reflective Lens: Setting Up the Judgment
These characteristics are being established so they can later be applied to Christians outside SCJ:
1. "No Hope" Will Mean "Wrong Hope"
In SCJ's full teaching, Christians outside their organization have "no hope" because they don't understand Revelation's true meaning. They think they're saved through faith in Jesus, but according to SCJ, salvation requires accepting Chairman Lee Man-hee's revelation. Therefore, mainstream Christians have "false hope" or "no real hope."
This is being set up here with the seemingly innocent observation that beasts "cannot think about the future."
2. "Cannot Speak" Will Mean "Cannot Understand the Word"
In SCJ's framework, "speaking" means understanding and teaching God's Word correctly. Those who "cannot speak" are those who don't have the "opened word"—i.e., everyone outside SCJ.
This will be used to dismiss anything your pastor, family, or Christian friends say about SCJ: "They cannot speak because they don't understand the opened word. They're communicating in a language only they understand (traditional Christianity), but they cannot speak the true language of God's revealed Word."
3. The Isolation Mechanism
By establishing that those outside SCJ "cannot speak" (don't truly understand), SCJ creates justification for isolation. Why listen to your pastor's concerns about SCJ? He "cannot speak"—he doesn't understand. Why consider your family's worries? They "cannot speak"—they don't have the opened word.
Chapter 11 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Isolation Strategy: When Progressive Revelation Becomes Progressive Control," explains how this isolation mechanism works. The chapter documents how SCJ systematically separates members from outside influences by teaching them that outsiders lack true understanding.
The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Say About Hope and Communication?
Biblical Truth #1: All Believers Have Hope
The New Testament is emphatic that all believers—not just those with special knowledge—have hope:
1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
Our hope is based on Jesus' resurrection and God's promise, not on one person's interpretation of Revelation.
Romans 5:1-5 - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Hope comes through faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit's presence—not through exclusive revelation.
Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Our hope is "Christ in you"—not Chairman Lee Man-hee's revelation.
Biblical Truth #2: All Believers Can Speak and Understand
The New Testament teaches that all believers have the Spirit and can understand and communicate God's truth:
Acts 2:4, 17-18 - "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them... 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.'"
The Spirit enables all believers to speak God's truth—not just one exclusive interpreter.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good... All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
The Spirit distributes gifts to "each one"—all believers have spiritual gifts and can contribute to the body's understanding.
Hebrews 8:10-11 - "This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest."
Under the new covenant, all believers—"from the least to the greatest"—know the Lord. There's no exclusive mediator of knowledge.
Chapter 18 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "When One Voice Claims to Speak for God," contrasts SCJ's exclusive model with Scripture's teaching that all believers have access to God and can understand His Word through the Spirit.
Part 5: The Progression of Indoctrination—Where Lesson 37 Fits
By Lesson 37, students have been systematically prepared through a carefully designed progression:
Introductory Level (Parables):
- 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
Intermediate Level (Bible Logic) - Including Lessons 37-39:
Lesson 37 (Beast):
- Goal: Establish categories of "understanding" vs. "beast-like"
- Method: Teaching that those who don't understand the Word are spiritually deficient
- Effect: Students begin to see themselves and others through SCJ's binary framework
Lesson 38 (Sealed/Opened Word):
- Goal: Establish that Scripture has been inaccessible until now
- Method: Teaching the "sealed and opened word" theology
- Effect: Students believe they need SCJ to access the "opened" meaning
Lesson 39 (No Room for God's Word):
- Goal: Undermine confidence in previous faith and outside authorities
- Method: Comparing mainstream Christians to Jesus' opponents who had "no room for God's word"
- Effect: Students doubt their previous beliefs and isolate from outside input
Advanced Level (Revelation) - Coming Next:
- Goal: Reveal Chairman Lee Man-hee's exclusive claims
- Method: Teaching that Lee is the "one who overcomes," the "Promised Pastor," the only one who received Revelation's meaning
- Effect: Students accept SCJ's complete authority and Lee's unique position
The Strategic Placement of Lesson 37:
Lesson 37 is strategically placed to prepare students for the next phase. By teaching them to categorize people as "understanding" or "beast-like," SCJ is preparing them to:
- Judge their own pastors and churches as "beast-like" (don't understand the Word)
- Dismiss concerns from family and friends as coming from those who "cannot speak" (lack understanding)
- Accept SCJ's interpretation as the only "understanding" perspective
- Feel superior to other Christians (we understand; they're beast-like)
- Justify leaving their churches (why stay with "beasts" when you can be with those who understand?)
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.
Part 6: The Subtext—What Lesson 37 Is Really Teaching
Let's identify the hidden messages beneath the surface teaching:
Surface Message:
"Don't be beast-like—acting on instinct, lacking understanding, focused only on survival. Instead, be understanding—reasoning from God's Word, having hope, speaking truth."
Hidden Subtext:
1. Most Christians Are Spiritually "Beasts" They act on feeling rather than "reasoning" (SCJ's reasoning). They have "no hope" (wrong hope based on traditional gospel). They "cannot speak" (don't understand the opened word). Therefore, most Christians are spiritually deficient.
2. Your Pastor and Church Are "Beasts" If they don't accept SCJ's interpretation, they're "false pastors" who "do not understand the word." They're wielding the sword (God's Word) without understanding it, causing damage. You need to separate from them.
3. You're Becoming "Understanding" Through SCJ By learning SCJ's interpretations, you're moving from "beast-like" to "understanding." This creates a sense of progress and superiority that makes it psychologically difficult to leave.
4. Questioning SCJ Is "Beast-Like" If you question SCJ's teaching, you're "acting on instinct and feeling" rather than "logic and reasoning." Your doubts are evidence of spiritual immaturity, not legitimate concerns.
5. Emotional Discomfort Should Be Ignored If you feel uncomfortable distancing from family, leaving your church, or accepting SCJ's exclusive claims, that's just "beast-like" focus on survival and comfort. Ignore those feelings and follow SCJ's "logic."
6. Only SCJ Has True Understanding The implicit message: We (SCJ) are the "understanding" ones. Everyone else is "beast-like." Therefore, you must stay with us to remain "understanding."
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 this "beast" teaching was used to dismiss any concerns they raised. One former member stated: "Whenever I questioned something, I was told I was being 'beast-like'—acting on feeling rather than understanding. It shut down all critical thinking."
Part 7: Biblical Warnings That Apply to This Lesson
Scripture provides clear warnings about the very tactics employed in Lesson 37:
Warning Against Spiritual Elitism:
Romans 12:3 - "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
SCJ's teaching creates spiritual elitism—"we understand; they're beasts." This contradicts Paul's instruction.
1 Corinthians 8:1-2 - "Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know."
The attitude "we possess knowledge (and others don't)" is precisely what Paul warns against. True knowledge produces love, not superiority.
Warning Against Judging Others:
Matthew 7:1-5 - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
SCJ teaches students to judge others as "beast-like" while seeing themselves as "understanding." This is the very attitude Jesus condemns.
Romans 14:10-13 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat... Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
Warning Against Exclusive Claims:
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 - "So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."
Paul warns against dividing into factions based on human leaders. All believers belong to Christ, not to one exclusive organization.
Colossians 2:16-19 - "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."
Paul warns against those who "disqualify" others based on exclusive knowledge or visions. The reality is found in Christ alone.
Chapter 21 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "The Heart of God: What God Really Wants," contrasts SCJ's exclusive, elitist system with the biblical gospel of grace freely offered to all who believe in Jesus.
Part 8: Critical Questions for Discernment
If you're studying with SCJ or considering their teachings, here are essential questions to ask:
About the "Beast" Teaching:
- Does SCJ's teaching produce humility or superiority? Do you find yourself looking down on other Christians as "beast-like"?
- Does categorizing people as "understanding" or "beast-like" align with Jesus' teaching to "love your neighbor" and "not judge"?
- If understanding God's Word requires SCJ's teaching, what about the millions of Christians throughout history who loved and served God faithfully? Were they all "beasts"?
- Does the Bible teach that most Christians are spiritually deficient "beasts," or that all believers have the Holy Spirit and can understand God's Word?
About Reason and Emotion:
- When you feel uncomfortable with SCJ's teachings, is that "beast-like instinct" or potentially the Holy Spirit's warning? How do you discern the difference?
- Does SCJ welcome your questions and concerns, or do they dismiss them as "acting on feeling rather than reasoning"?
- Is SCJ's own appeal based purely on logic and reason, or do they use emotional tactics like fear, urgency, and exclusivity?
About Isolation:
- Has SCJ's teaching led you to see your pastor, family, and Christian friends as spiritually deficient? Is this biblical?
- Are you becoming more connected to the broader Christian community, or more isolated?
- Does SCJ encourage you to discuss their teachings with outside sources, or do they discourage it by suggesting outsiders "cannot speak" (don't understand)?
About Authority:
- Who determines whether someone is "understanding" or "beast-like" in SCJ's system? Is it ultimately Chairman Lee Man-hee and the organization?
- Does the Bible teach that one person or organization has exclusive understanding, or that all believers have the Spirit and can grow in understanding together?
Chapter 27 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "Your Investigation Begins: The Detective's Assignment," provides a comprehensive framework for investigating spiritual claims through careful questioning and multiple sources.
Part 9: The Way Forward—Responding to SCJ's "Beast" Teaching
For Those Currently Studying with SCJ:
1. Examine the Fruit
Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:16). What fruit is SCJ's "beast" teaching producing in your life?
- Humility or superiority? Do you see yourself as more spiritual than other Christians?
- Love or judgment? Do you look at your pastor and church with compassion or contempt?
- Unity or division? Are you growing closer to or more distant from the body of Christ?
- Peace or anxiety? Do you have assurance in Christ or fear that you might be "beast-like"?
2. Test Against Scripture
Read the passages SCJ cites in their full context:
- Psalm 49 - Is this about lacking special knowledge, or about trusting in wealth rather than God?
- Jude 1:10 - Is this about sincere believers who lack revelation, or about false teachers living in moral rebellion?
- 2 Peter 2:12 - Same question—is this about knowledge or about character and behavior?
3. Seek Outside Perspectives
Talk to your pastor about SCJ's "beast" teaching. Read what biblical scholars say about Revelation 13. If SCJ's interpretation is true, it should withstand scrutiny. If they discourage outside research, ask yourself why.
4. Remember the Gospel
The biblical gospel is simple: We're saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation doesn't depend on having special knowledge or being part of one exclusive organization. If SCJ's teaching contradicts this, it's a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
For Those Who Have Left SCJ:
1. Unlearn the Categories
You may have internalized SCJ's binary thinking—"understanding" vs. "beast-like." Recognize that this is not biblical. All believers are on a journey of growth. No one has perfect understanding. We're all learning together in the body of Christ.
2. Reconnect with Humility
SCJ may have taught you to see yourself as spiritually superior. Reconnecting with the Christian community requires humility—recognizing that you don't have all the answers, and neither does anyone else. We're all dependent on God's grace.
3. Rebuild Trust in Your Discernment
SCJ taught you to distrust your emotions and instincts, dismissing them as "beast-like." Rebuild trust in your God-given capacity for discernment. Your discomfort with SCJ's teachings may have been the Holy Spirit's warning.
4. Seek Healing
Being categorized as "beast-like" (or categorizing others that way) can be spiritually damaging. Seek counseling if needed. Connect with others who have left high-control groups. Healing takes time.
Chapter 28 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "Hope and Help: Guidance for Recovery," provides detailed guidance for those recovering from involvement in SCJ.
For Pastors and Christian Leaders:
1. Teach Biblical Anthropology
Help your congregation understand what the Bible actually teaches about human nature, spiritual growth, and the work of the Holy Spirit. This provides a foundation for recognizing SCJ's distorted teaching.
2. Create a Culture of Humility
SCJ appeals partly because they offer certainty and superiority. Create a church culture where it's okay to have questions, where humility is valued over certainty, and where we recognize we're all learning together.
3. Address Spiritual Elitism
If someone in your congregation is involved with SCJ, they may begin exhibiting spiritual elitism—looking down on others as "beast-like." Address this gently but firmly, pointing them back to Scripture's teaching on humility and unity.
4. Maintain Relationship
Don't give up on someone studying with SCJ. Maintain relationship, express concern lovingly, and keep pointing them to Jesus and Scripture. Your consistent presence may be what eventually helps them see through SCJ's deception.
Chapter 29 of "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story," titled "How Do We Know Which Voice to Trust?" provides guidance for church leaders in helping members discern truth from deception.
Conclusion: The True Distinction
Lesson 37 teaches a distinction between "understanding" (human) and "beast-like" (ignorant). But this is not the distinction Scripture makes.
The biblical distinction is not between those who have special knowledge and those who don't. The biblical distinction is between:
Those who trust in Jesus Christ:
- Saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9)
- Growing in understanding together (Ephesians 4:11-16)
- Part of Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
- Secure in God's love (Romans 8:38-39)
And those who reject Jesus Christ:
- Trusting in their own works or wisdom (Romans 10:3)
- Living according to the flesh (Romans 8:5-8)
- Separated from God (Ephesians 2:12)
The question is not "Do you have special knowledge?" The question is "Do you trust in Jesus Christ?"
John 3:16-18 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
The distinction is belief in Jesus—not acceptance of Chairman Lee Man-hee's interpretation of Revelation.
1 John 5:11-13 - "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life. You can know this with certainty—not because you have special knowledge, but because God has promised it.
You are not a "beast" in need of SCJ's revelation. You are a beloved child of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, part of Christ's body, growing in understanding along with all believers throughout history.
"Test everything; hold fast what is good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:21
For comprehensive refutation of Shincheonji teachings and support for those investigating or leaving the group, please visit the Shincheonji Examination page at closerlookinitiative.com.
A Final Encouragement:
If you're studying with SCJ and feeling increasingly uncomfortable, that discomfort is not "beast-like instinct." It may be the Holy Spirit's warning. Don't dismiss your God-given capacity for discernment.
If you've left SCJ and are recovering from being taught you were "beast-like," know this: You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). You are not deficient. You are loved.
And if you're a pastor or Christian leader concerned about SCJ's influence, don't give up. Keep teaching truth, keep loving people, keep pointing them to Jesus. The truth will set them free (John 8:32).
As "Testing Shincheonji's Claims: Two Lenses, One Story" demonstrates throughout its 30 chapters, the key to freedom is seeing both the psychological tactics and the biblical truth. Use both lenses. Test everything. Hold fast to what is good.
And above all, hold fast to Jesus Christ—the true Word of God, the true source of life, the true hope of glory.
Outline
Secrets of Heaven: Understanding Figurative Beasts and Animals in Prophecy
I. Introduction
- This section provides context for the lesson, emphasizing the importance of understanding difficult biblical concepts for self-reflection and avoiding pitfalls.
- The lesson focuses on understanding the figurative beast and the symbolism of different animals in prophecy.
II. Understanding Biblical Symbolism
- This section reviews previously learned symbolism, including the ship as the Church, the sea captain as the pastor, the sailors as evangelists and staff, and the passengers as the congregation.
- This foundational understanding of symbolism is crucial for interpreting the upcoming content on beasts and animals.
III. Figurative Beast: A Misinterpretation of the Word
- A. The Beast of Revelation 13: This section introduces the beast of Revelation 13, characterized by its unusual physical features and its emergence from the sea. It emphasizes the need for symbolic interpretation.
- B. Beasts as Symbols of Misunderstanding: This section explores biblical passages (Jude 1:10, Proverbs 30:2-4, Psalm 49:20) to define the spiritual meaning of a beast. It highlights the connection between beasts and individuals who lack understanding of God’s word and prioritize worldly values.
- C. Characteristics of Beasts: This section lists the physical characteristics of beasts – inability to reason, lack of hope, inability to speak, and focus on mere survival – drawing parallels to human behaviors that can be considered beastly.
IV. Figurative Animals in Prophecy: Betrayal, Destruction, and Salvation
- A. The Order of Fulfillment of Prophecy: This section uses 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 to establish the sequential flow of events in prophecy: rebellion/betrayal, destruction, and then salvation.
- B. Identifying Prophetic Actors Through Their Actions: This section emphasizes that prophetic figures are identified by their actions, aligning with prophetic scriptures.
- C. Animals of Betrayal: This section examines biblical passages (Matthew 7:6, 2 Peter 2:20-22, Matthew 15:24) to identify animals representing betrayal: dogs, pigs, and lost sheep. These animals symbolize individuals who have turned away from God's word and righteous ways.
- D. Animals of Destruction: This section uses Isaiah 56:9-11, Matthew 7:15, and Revelation 13 to identify animals representing destruction: wolves, snakes, lions, leopards, bears, and locusts. These animals symbolize false pastors and those who devour and destroy others through lies and falsehood.
- E. Animals of Salvation: This section explores John 1:29, Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Corinthians 9:9-10, Revelation 19:11, and Isaiah 31:3 to identify animals representing salvation: lambs/sheep, oxen, and horses. These animals symbolize obedient followers of God, diligent workers, and those who fight alongside Jesus in spiritual battles.
V. Conclusion
- This section reiterates the importance of understanding the symbolic meaning of beasts and animals in prophecy, urging believers to strive for the qualities represented by animals of salvation: obedience, hard work, and unwavering commitment to God's cause.
- It emphasizes the power of the open word as a weapon against spiritual enemies and a guide for living a righteous life.
A Study Guide
The Beast, the Betrayer, and the Saved: Understanding Figurative Animals in Prophecy
Study Guide
I. Key Concepts
- Figurative Language in Prophecy: The Bible, particularly prophetic books like Revelation, employs figurative language. Animals, in this context, represent different types of people or spiritual states.
- The Beast: In moral teachings, "beast" symbolizes individuals, often false pastors, who lack understanding of God's Word and act solely on instinct and worldly desires.
- Three Categories of Animals: Animals in prophecy fall into three categories:
- Betrayal: Dogs, pigs, lost sheep.
- Destruction: Lions, leopards, bears, wolves, snakes, locusts.
- Salvation: Lambs/sheep, oxen, horses.
- The Flow of Second Coming Fulfillment: The Second Coming unfolds in a specific order:
- Rebellion/Betrayal: A falling away from faith and truth.
- Destruction: The rise of a destructive figure and subsequent judgment.
- Salvation: The ultimate triumph of good and the establishment of God’s kingdom.
- Discernment: True understanding requires recognizing the actions and characteristics of individuals in light of prophecy. World events should not be solely relied upon as proof of prophecy fulfillment.
II. Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.
- Why is the beast in Revelation 13 described as having features of land animals yet emerging from the sea?
- How does the verse in Proverbs 30:2-4 connect the concept of a beast with a lack of understanding?
- According to Psalm 49:20, what is the fate of those who possess worldly wealth but lack understanding?
- In Matthew 7:6, what does Jesus warn against doing with dogs and pigs? What does this represent symbolically?
- Explain the concept of "returning to vomit" as described in 2 Peter 2:20-22. What does it signify in terms of spiritual betrayal?
- In Isaiah 56:9-11, what is the role of the “watchmen,” and how do they fail in their duties? What animal are they likened to?
- What animals of destruction are mentioned in Revelation 13 and Nahum 3:16-17? What characteristics do these animals share?
- Why is Jesus called the "Lamb of God" in John 1:29? What symbolic significance does the lamb hold?
- What two groups of people are described in the parable in Matthew 25:31-34? What animals represent them, and what is their ultimate fate?
- According to 1 Corinthians 9:9-10, what animal is used as a metaphor for evangelists and instructors, and why?
III. Answer Key
- The beast's incongruous features symbolize the illogical nature of false teaching and the perversion of truth. Emerging from the sea, which represents the world or chaos, suggests the worldly origin of such teachings.
- Agur, the author, compares himself to a beast because he acknowledges his lack of human understanding, particularly regarding the knowledge of the Holy One. This connects bestiality with spiritual ignorance.
- Those who prioritize worldly riches over understanding God's word are likened to beasts that perish. Their focus on material wealth leads to spiritual death.
- Jesus cautions against giving sacred things, representing spiritual truths, to dogs and pigs, symbolizing those who would trample and disregard these truths. This signifies the futility of sharing spiritual insights with those who are unwilling or unable to receive them.
- "Returning to vomit" signifies backsliding into former sinful behaviors after experiencing spiritual cleansing and receiving truth. It represents a betrayal of the grace and knowledge received, leading to a worse spiritual state than before.
- The "watchmen" are spiritual leaders responsible for guiding the people. They fail by lacking understanding, being blind to truth, and seeking personal gain instead of serving the flock. Their inaction and self-serving nature are likened to mute dogs unable to bark or protect the sheep.
- Revelation 13 mentions lions, leopards, and bears, while Nahum 3:16-17 mentions locusts. These animals are all predatory and destructive, symbolizing those who devour and destroy others through falsehood and corrupt actions.
- Jesus is called the "Lamb of God" because He, like a sacrificial lamb, took away the sins of the world through His innocent sacrifice. The lamb symbolizes purity, innocence, and atonement for sin.
- Sheep and goats represent two types of people: the righteous who inherit God's kingdom and the unrighteous who face judgment. Sheep symbolize obedience and those who care for others, while goats represent stubbornness and selfishness.
- Oxen are used as a metaphor for evangelists and instructors because, like unmuzzled oxen who labor to thresh grain, they work tirelessly to share God's Word and hope to share in the harvest of souls.
IV. Glossary of Key Terms
- Beast: In a moral context, it symbolizes an individual who lacks understanding of God's Word, acts on instinct, and prioritizes worldly desires. In Revelation, it often refers to false pastors or destructive figures.
- Betrayal: Spiritual unfaithfulness, turning away from God and truth, often represented by dogs, pigs, and lost sheep.
- Destruction: The process of spiritual or physical ruin often brought about by false teachings and corrupt actions, symbolized by predatory animals like lions, leopards, wolves, and locusts.
- Salvation: Deliverance from sin and spiritual death, represented by the Lamb (Jesus) and animals like sheep, oxen, and horses, symbolizing obedience, service, and spiritual warfare.
- Open Word: Refers to the revealed and understood Word of God, particularly as it applies to current times and the fulfillment of prophecy.
- Flow of Second Coming Fulfillment: The specific order of events leading to the Second Coming: rebellion/betrayal, followed by destruction, culminating in salvation.
- Discernment: The ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil, through careful observation, understanding of scripture, and spiritual guidance.
- Prophecy: A divine message or revelation concerning future events, often using symbolic language and requiring interpretation.
- Figurative Language: Non-literal language used to create imagery and convey deeper meaning, commonly employed in prophecy.
- Watchmen: Spiritual leaders responsible for guiding and protecting the people, often prophets or pastors.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This instructor does not provide a timeline of specific historical events. It primarily focuses on interpreting symbolic language in biblical prophecy, specifically animal imagery. It emphasizes the flow of events leading to the Second Coming of Christ as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3:
- Rebellion/Betrayal: A period characterized by people turning away from God and true faith.
- Destruction: The rise of a figure described as "the man of lawlessness" who will bring destruction and deceive many.
- Salvation: The Second Coming of Christ, bringing salvation and judgment.
Cast of Characters
Biblical Figures:
- Jesus Christ: The central figure of Christianity, described as the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world. He is the ultimate savior and will return in glory for the Second Coming.
- Apostle Paul: Author of several New Testament letters, including the letter to the Thessalonians. He warned against being deceived about the timing of the Second Coming and outlined the sequence of events leading to it.
- John the Baptist: A prophet who baptized Jesus and identified him as the "Lamb of God."
- Agur: The author of Proverbs 30, who humbly reflects on his own lack of understanding compared to God.
- Prophets (General): The source repeatedly references the role of prophets in delivering God's messages through visions and parables, including the symbolic use of animals.
- Pharisees: A Jewish religious group often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy and focus on outward appearances rather than true faith.
Symbolic Figures (Representing Types of People):
- Beast (with seven heads and ten horns): From Revelation 13, interpreted as a symbol of false pastors who lack understanding of God's word and lead their congregations astray. The seven heads and ten horns potentially represent a specific number of individuals or a collective group.
- Betrayers: Those who turn away from God after having known the truth. They are symbolized by:
- Dogs: Returning to their "vomit" (falsehoods).
- Pigs: Trampling on what is sacred.
- Lost Sheep: Without a shepherd, vulnerable to destruction.
- Destroyers: Those who lead people astray and cause destruction. Symbolized by:
- Lions, Leopards, Bears: Predatory animals, representing those who devour their followers.
- Snakes (Brood of Vipers): Deceptive and dangerous.
- Wolves (in Sheep's Clothing): False prophets who disguise their true nature.
- Locusts: Those who consume everything and leave nothing behind.
- Saviors/Those who bring salvation: Those who are obedient to God and actively participate in His work. Represented by:
- Lamb: Representing Jesus Christ's sacrifice for sin.
- Sheep: Those who follow the Good Shepherd (Jesus).
- Oxen: Hard workers who labor in God's service.
- Horses: Carrying the faithful into battle against evil.
The instructor:
- This instructor from the lesson interprets scripture, particularly focusing on understanding symbolic language in prophecy. The instructor emphasizes the importance of having the "open word" (correct understanding of scripture) to navigate the events leading to the Second Coming.
Note: This cast of characters is based on interpretation and symbolism presented in the lesson. It is important to remember that different religious traditions and individuals may interpret these figures and their significance differently.
Overview
Overview: Figurative Beasts and Animals in Prophecy
Overall Theme: The lesson explores the symbolic meaning of beasts and animals in biblical prophecy, particularly focusing on the Book of Revelation and how these figures represent different types of people in relation to God and the Second Coming of Christ.
Key Ideas and Facts:
1. Figurative Beast:
- Definition: In moral teachings, a beast symbolizes a false pastor or someone who doesn't understand God's word. They are characterized by an inability to reason, lack of hope, reliance on instinct, and an inability to speak the truth.
- "Beasts (in moral teachings) are False Pastors and people who do not understand the word."
- "One who lacks a man's understanding, one who is ignorant and has no knowledge of the Holy One – from God's perspective, that man is like the beast."
- Characteristics: Beasts act instinctively, prioritize survival, lack foresight, and cannot communicate the truth. They are driven by worldly desires and lack understanding of spiritual values.
- "Beasts cannot reason. They can only act on instinct."
- "People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish." - Psalm 49:20
- Revelation 13: The Beast with seven heads and ten horns in Revelation 13 represents seven false pastors who misunderstand the word and devour their congregation.
- "So the Beast with seven heads and ten horns represents seven pastors who lack understanding of the word and who devour their congregation."
2. Three Types of Animals in Prophecy:
- Animals of Betrayal:
- Symbols: Dogs, pigs, lost sheep.
- Characteristics: They turn away from God's truth and righteousness after having received it. They are vulnerable to destruction due to their lack of protection from God.
- "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." - Matthew 7:6
- "It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." - 2 Peter 2:20
- Animals of Destruction:
- Symbols: Wolves, snakes, lions, leopards, bears, locusts.
- Characteristics: They devour and destroy others through falsehood and lies. They target those who have betrayed God and are vulnerable.
- "They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain." - Isaiah 56:11
- “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." - Matthew 7:15
- Animals of Salvation:
- Symbols: Lamb (sheep), oxen, horses.
- Characteristics: They are obedient to God, work diligently in His service, and fight for righteousness alongside Jesus.
- “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" - John 1:29
- "He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left." - Matthew 25:33
- "Whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest." - 1 Corinthians 9:10
3. Order of Fulfillment of Prophecy:
- The Second Coming follows a specific order:
- Rebellion/Betrayal: People turn away from God.
- Destruction: The man of lawlessness emerges and brings destruction.
- Salvation: The Day of the Lord arrives, bringing salvation to the faithful.
Important Quotes:
- "God is very logical and uses words intentionally for a reason. He does not speak carelessly or accidentally."
- "We cannot look at world events or the media as evidence for the fulfillment of prophecies, because a world event might look or feel similar to one prophecy in the Bible, but it cannot explain all the others."
- "Studying His Word is the most valuable use of your time because it will lead to many blessings."
- "Let us strive to be like them at the time of the Second Coming. Sheep are obedient; they listen to the shepherd. Oxen are hard workers, and they perform the work of God. Horses ride into battle."
Call to Action:
The lesson encourages students to:
- Reflect on their own understanding of God's Word and their actions to avoid becoming like beasts.
- Be discerning of false teachings and recognize the characteristics of those who betray, destroy, and bring salvation.
- Strive to be like the animals of salvation: obedient, hardworking, and ready to fight for righteousness alongside Jesus.
Q&A
Spiritual Beasts and Animals in Prophecy: Q&A
1. What does the term "beast" symbolize in moral teachings, particularly in the context of Revelation?
A beast in moral teachings, especially in Revelation, symbolizes a false pastor or someone who misinterprets and misuses the Word of God. This individual, due to their lack of understanding, can cause significant harm within the church. They wield the Word as a weapon without comprehending its true power and purpose.
2. Why is a person who misunderstands the Word likened to a beast?
Beasts are driven by instinct and lack the capacity for reasoning, hope, and meaningful communication. Similarly, individuals who fail to grasp the Word act impulsively based on their feelings rather than logic and biblical principles. They prioritize immediate gratification and survival over God's plan for their lives.
3. Does wealth or social status exempt someone from being considered a beast in God's eyes?
No, even individuals with material wealth and worldly recognition can be considered beasts if they lack understanding of God's Word. From God's perspective, true value lies in spiritual wealth, which is found in understanding and living according to His Word.
4. What is the significance of the order of events in biblical prophecy, particularly concerning the Second Coming?
Understanding the sequence of events in prophecy is crucial to avoid misinterpretations and deceptions. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that the Second Coming will be preceded by a rebellion (betrayal) and the emergence of a destructive figure, the man of lawlessness. Only after these events will the day of the Lord, a time of salvation, arrive.
5. Which animals in prophecy represent betrayal, and how do they illustrate this concept?
Dogs, pigs, and lost sheep symbolize betrayal in prophecy. They represent individuals who have turned away from God's Word and righteousness after receiving it. These animals highlight the vulnerability and spiritual danger associated with abandoning God's guidance.
6. Which animals in prophecy represent destruction, and who are their primary targets?
Wolves, snakes, lions, leopards, bears, and locusts represent destruction in prophecy. They depict individuals who spread falsehood and prey on those who have betrayed God, taking advantage of their vulnerability and lack of spiritual protection.
7. Which animals in prophecy represent salvation, and what qualities do they embody?
Lambs (sheep), oxen, and horses represent salvation in prophecy. Sheep exemplify obedience to the shepherd (Jesus), oxen symbolize diligent work in service to God, and horses embody those who faithfully follow Jesus into spiritual battle.
8. What is the key to becoming a person who embodies salvation and avoids the characteristics of a beast?
The key is to embrace and live according to the "open word," which refers to the revealed and understood Word of God. This understanding equips believers with the necessary tools to discern truth from falsehood, serve God faithfully, and resist the destructive forces at work in the world.