SCJ Intermediate Level – Lesson 56: “Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Heaven and Earth”

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Introduction: The Map That Leads Nowhere

Imagine you’re planning a road trip across the country. You’ve never made this journey before, so you’re grateful when a friend offers you a detailed map. “This will help you understand the route,” he says confidently. “Most people get lost because they don’t understand how to read maps properly.”

The map looks impressive—full of symbols, legends, and detailed markings. Your friend explains each symbol: “This mark means ‘rest area,’ this one means ‘scenic viewpoint,’ and this one means ‘dangerous road ahead.'” You’re impressed by his knowledge and grateful for the guidance.

As you begin your journey, you follow the map carefully. But gradually, something feels wrong. The landmarks don’t match what you’re seeing. When you mention this, your friend reassures you: “That’s because you’re reading it literally. These aren’t actual landmarks—they’re figurative. The ‘mountain’ on the map doesn’t mean a real mountain; it represents an obstacle. The ‘river’ doesn’t mean water; it represents a transition. You have to understand the figurative meaning, or you’ll miss the real destination.”

So you keep following the map, trusting your friend’s interpretation of the symbols. Days later, you realize you’re nowhere near your intended destination. The “figurative meanings” your friend taught you weren’t standard map conventions—they were his personal interpretations. The map itself was legitimate, but his method of reading it led you completely astray.

When you finally consult a standard atlas, you discover something disturbing: the route you abandoned at the beginning—the one your friend said was “too literal”—would have taken you exactly where you needed to go.

This is what happens in SCJ Intermediate Level – Lesson 56: “Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Heaven and Earth.”

The lesson appears to be a thoughtful Bible study about heaven and earth—concepts mentioned throughout Scripture. The instructor, Nate, acknowledges that heaven and earth have both literal and figurative meanings in the Bible. He uses legitimate Scripture passages and sounds knowledgeable about biblical symbolism. Everything seems educational and spiritually enriching.

But beneath the surface, something else is happening. This lesson is teaching students a method of biblical interpretation that will eventually lead them far from orthodox Christianity. By the time students realize where this method leads, they’ve already accepted the framework: that “heaven” in prophecy doesn’t mean heaven but means “the tabernacle of the chosen people” (which will later be identified as Shincheonji), and that “earth” doesn’t mean earth but means “flesh or saints” (which will later mean SCJ members).

The lesson is particularly strategic because it sits at Lesson 56 of the Intermediate Level—deep enough that students are heavily invested (nearly five months of study, as the instructor notes), but not yet at the Advanced Level where SCJ’s explicit claims about fulfilling Revelation will be revealed. Students are learning the interpretive framework that will make SCJ’s later claims seem logical.

By teaching that “heaven” figuratively means “the tabernacle of the chosen people,” SCJ is preparing students to accept that Shincheonji is this “heaven”—the new heaven that replaces the first heaven (which they’ll claim was a previous church that betrayed God). By teaching that “earth” means “saints” or “people,” SCJ is preparing students to see themselves as the “new earth”—the people of this new heaven.

The brilliance of this deception is that it uses a legitimate biblical principle (the Bible does use figurative language) and applies it so systematically and exclusively that students lose the ability to read Scripture plainly. They’re taught to automatically interpret “heaven” and “earth” figuratively in prophetic passages, which allows SCJ to claim that Revelation 21’s promise of “a new heaven and a new earth” has already been fulfilled in their organization.

But is this how the Bible actually uses these terms? Does Scripture teach that “heaven” in prophecy always means “a tabernacle” and “earth” always means “people”? And most importantly, what happens to the genuine biblical hope of God’s coming kingdom when it’s reduced to organizational membership?

Let’s examine Lesson 56 through the Two Lenses framework from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”—using both the Reflectional Lens (understanding how this teaching affects students psychologically and spiritually) and the Discernment Lens (testing whether this teaching aligns with Scripture and sound doctrine). We’ll see how SCJ takes the legitimate observation that the Bible uses figurative language and transforms it into a rigid interpretive system that serves their organizational claims while obscuring the Bible’s actual message.

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Part 1: The Reflectional Lens—Understanding the Psychological Framework

The Investment Reminder: “Almost Five Months Now”

Notice how the lesson begins with a reminder of students’ investment:

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been here for as long as you have, which is almost five months now. By God’s grace, you’ve been attending for about four and a half months. And if you really think about it, it’s not easy what you’ve been doing – studying three times a week, two hours each time, participating in small groups, one-on-one meetings with your evangelist, and studying for tests on the Bible. I highly doubt that’s something you ever imagined would happen in your life.”

This opening serves multiple psychological purposes:

Purpose 1: Validate the Investment

By acknowledging how much time and effort students have invested, the instructor validates their commitment. Students feel recognized and appreciated. This creates positive feelings toward the organization and the instructor.

Purpose 2: Create Cognitive Dissonance

The reminder of investment creates what psychologists call the “sunk cost fallacy”—the tendency to continue investing in something because you’ve already invested so much, even when it’s not beneficial. Students think, “I’ve already spent five months on this. I can’t quit now.” The more they’ve invested, the harder it becomes to walk away.

Purpose 3: Reframe the Experience

The instructor reframes the demanding schedule (three times a week, two hours each, plus small groups, one-on-one meetings, and test preparation) as evidence of God’s work: “In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. And the steps that the Lord determined led you here to this class.”

This reframing is crucial. If students feel overwhelmed or question whether this demanding schedule is healthy, they’re taught to see it as God’s plan rather than organizational control. Any discomfort becomes evidence of God’s leading rather than a warning sign.

Purpose 4: Create Exclusivity

“Tonight, in the whole world, how many people do you think are studying the secrets of heaven? Not many, actually. We’re so blessed by God, to be honest, that’s all we can say. We’re so blessed because He is revealing these secrets to us.”

By emphasizing that “not many” people are studying these “secrets,” the instructor creates a sense of exclusivity and privilege. Students feel they’re part of a special group receiving special revelation. This creates in-group/out-group dynamics—those who understand the “secrets” versus those who don’t.

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Deception Tactics—How Shincheonji Gradually Leads People Astray,” explains how SCJ uses investment and exclusivity to create psychological bonds that make it difficult for students to leave even when they have doubts.

The Hope Manipulation: “To Become the People of Heaven by Being Changed”

The lesson repeatedly emphasizes hope and change:

“You know the verse, ‘I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future’ (Jeremiah 29:11). So, there must be a plan that God has for all of us, as He’s teaching us the secrets of the kingdom of heaven – for our hope, to become the people of heaven by being changed.”

“By a show of hands, how many of us want to be those who can enter the kingdom of heaven? I didn’t even finish the question, and some of you were already raising your hands. Yes, all of us want to enter the kingdom of heaven. So then, what should we do? We should be those who are changed.”

Notice the psychological progression:

Step 1: Identify the Universal Desire

Everyone wants to enter heaven. By asking for a show of hands, the instructor creates public commitment and group consensus. Students see that everyone around them shares this desire, creating social pressure and unity.

Step 2: Link Heaven to Change

The instructor links entering heaven with “being changed.” This sounds biblical—after all, Scripture does teach that believers are transformed (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:2). But notice what’s happening: the instructor is preparing to define what “change” means in SCJ’s framework.

Step 3: Link Change to Understanding SCJ’s Teaching

The “change” required to enter heaven will gradually be defined as accepting SCJ’s interpretations, understanding their “secrets,” and eventually joining their organization. By the time students complete the curriculum, “being changed” will mean becoming an SCJ member.

Step 4: Create Urgency

The instructor quotes Revelation 21:1-4 about the new heaven and new earth, then says: “Let this promise be fulfilled soon. Do you all hope for this promise to appear?”

By creating urgency around this promise’s fulfillment, the instructor prepares students to believe that something is happening now—specifically, that SCJ is the fulfillment of this promise. The urgency prevents careful, patient study and creates pressure to accept SCJ’s claims.

The Question Technique: “Who Am I According to the Bible?”

The instructor poses what seems like a profound spiritual question:

“One question we always have to ask ourselves is, ‘Who am I according to the Bible? What relationship does this word have with me?’ These are questions we should always, always, always ask ourselves.”

“So today, we’ll also examine who we are according to the Bible and who we are according to the promises in the book of Revelation. And what do these promises have to do with our lives of faith?”

This technique is psychologically powerful:

Effect 1: Creates Personal Investment

By framing the study as being about “who you are,” the instructor makes it personally relevant. Students aren’t just learning abstract theology—they’re discovering their identity. This creates deep emotional investment.

Effect 2: Prepares for Identity Shift

The question “Who am I according to the Bible?” will eventually be answered with: “You are the new earth, part of the new heaven (Shincheonji).” By repeatedly asking this question, the instructor prepares students to accept an organizational identity as their biblical identity.

Effect 3: Links Identity to Revelation’s Promises

By connecting personal identity to Revelation’s promises, the instructor sets up SCJ’s later claim: “Revelation’s promises are about you—specifically, about you joining Shincheonji.” Students’ sense of destiny and purpose becomes tied to accepting SCJ’s claims.

Effect 4: Creates Dependency

If students need SCJ’s teaching to understand “who they are according to the Bible,” they become dependent on the organization for their very identity. This is one of the most powerful forms of control—when your sense of self is tied to an organization, leaving feels like losing yourself.

Chapter 16 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” “The Testimony Vault—Collecting Stories of Those Who Left,” includes accounts from former members who describe the identity crisis they experienced when leaving SCJ. They had been taught that their identity was tied to being part of the “new heaven and new earth,” so leaving felt like losing their purpose and place in God’s plan.

The Parable Framework: Building on Previous Indoctrination

The lesson states:

“Revelation is a book of prophecy, which means it is recorded in parables. We always have to remind ourselves of that figurative language. And it was recorded in this figurative language, not just to make it fun or interesting to read, but actually, God’s purpose was to hide His plan from the enemy. That’s why it was recorded in parables.”

This builds on the foundational indoctrination from the Introductory Level (Parables). Let’s trace the progression:

Stage 1 (Introductory Level – Early Lessons):

• The Bible was “sealed” and incomprehensible (Daniel 12:4, 9)
• Jesus spoke in parables to hide truth from outsiders (Matthew 13:10-11)
• Special interpretation is needed to understand Scripture

Stage 2 (Introductory Level – Middle Lessons):

• Everything is figurative (OPAGH framework)
• Objects, People, Animals, Geographic locations, Historic events all require interpretation
• Plain meanings are usually wrong; figurative meanings are deeper and truer

Stage 3 (Intermediate Level – Lesson 56):

• Even fundamental concepts like “heaven” and “earth” are figurative in prophecy
• God’s purpose in using figurative language was to hide His plan from the enemy
• Understanding these figurative meanings is necessary to understand God’s plan

Notice the progression: students started by learning that some things are figurative, then learned that many things are figurative, and now learn that even the most basic concepts are figurative. By this point, students have lost confidence in their ability to understand anything plainly. They’re completely dependent on SCJ’s interpretations.

The claim that “God’s purpose was to hide His plan from the enemy” is particularly problematic. While it’s true that Revelation uses symbolic language, the purpose wasn’t to make it incomprehensible but to communicate truth in a way that would be meaningful to its original audience while remaining relevant across time. As the resource “How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon” explains, Revelation’s symbolism would have been recognizable to first-century Christians familiar with Old Testament imagery and Roman imperial propaganda.

SCJ’s claim that God intended to hide His plan creates dependency on their “special revelation” to unlock the hidden meanings. This is classic cult epistemology—truth is hidden and only accessible through the group’s teaching.

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Part 2: The Discernment Lens—Testing the Biblical Claims

Claim 1: “Heaven figuratively represents the tabernacle of the chosen people”

This is the central claim of Lesson 56, and it’s crucial to SCJ’s entire system. Let’s test it carefully against Scripture.

What the Lesson Claims:

“Heaven figuratively represents the tabernacle of the chosen people. And earth figuratively represents flesh or saints, meaning people.”

“So the secrets of the figurative heaven and earth are: heaven represents the tabernacle of the chosen people, and earth represents the flesh or saints.”

What the Bible Actually Teaches:

Let’s examine how Scripture uses the term “heaven” to see if this claim is valid.

1. Heaven as God’s Dwelling Place:

Deuteronomy 26:15: “Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

1 Kings 8:30: “Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.”

Psalm 2:4: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”

Matthew 6:9: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'”

Throughout Scripture, heaven is consistently presented as God’s dwelling place—the realm where God is enthroned, where He dwells in fullness, distinct from the earthly realm.

2. Heaven as the Spiritual Realm:

Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Hebrews 9:24: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

Heaven is the spiritual realm where spiritual realities exist—where Christ is seated at God’s right hand, where spiritual warfare takes place, where the true sanctuary exists.

3. Heaven in Eschatological Promises:

Matthew 5:12: “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:5: “The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.”

Heaven is where believers’ reward is stored, where our citizenship is, where Christ will return from. It’s the ultimate destination and hope of believers.

4. The New Heaven in Revelation:

Revelation 21:1-2: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

The “new heaven” in Revelation 21 is part of God’s cosmic renewal—the recreation of all things. It’s paired with “new earth” to indicate the totality of God’s renewal. The New Jerusalem comes down “from heaven” (from God’s presence) to the new earth, uniting heaven and earth in God’s eternal kingdom.

The Biblical Pattern:

When Scripture uses “heaven,” it refers to:

1. God’s dwelling place
2. The spiritual realm
3. The destination/hope of believers
4. The source of God’s blessings and Christ’s return
5. In Revelation 21, the renewed cosmos where God dwells with His people

Never does Scripture use “heaven” to mean “the tabernacle of the chosen people” in the sense SCJ teaches—as a human organization or church building.

The Fundamental Error:

SCJ’s interpretation confuses the symbol with what it symbolizes. Yes, the earthly tabernacle was a symbol—but it symbolized heaven (God’s dwelling place), not the other way around:

Hebrews 8:5: “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'”

Hebrews 9:23-24: “It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

The earthly tabernacle was a copy of heavenly realities. Heaven is the original; the tabernacle was the copy. SCJ inverts this relationship, claiming that “heaven” in prophecy means “tabernacle.” This inversion allows them to later claim that their organization is the “new heaven”—but it’s based on a complete misunderstanding of biblical symbolism.

Claim 2: “Earth figuratively represents flesh or saints, meaning people”

Let’s test this claim as well.

What the Lesson Claims:

“Earth figuratively represents flesh or saints, meaning people. For example, people are referred to as soil. Remember, your heart can be one of the four fields. So we’re like soil. Our heart is like soil where the seed is sown. So earth refers to people, specifically though flesh, like people or saints, people that belong to God.”

What the Bible Actually Teaches:

1. Earth as the Physical Creation:

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Isaiah 45:18: “For this is what the LORD says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other.'”

Earth is God’s physical creation—the planet, the material world, the realm where humans live.

2. Earth as Humanity’s Domain:

Psalm 115:16: “The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.”

Genesis 1:28: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.'”

Earth is the realm God gave to humanity to inhabit and steward.

3. Earth in Contrast to Heaven:

Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Earth is contrasted with heaven as the earthly realm versus the heavenly realm, the material versus the spiritual, the temporal versus the eternal.

4. The New Earth in Revelation:

Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”

Isaiah 65:17: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

2 Peter 3:13: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

The “new earth” is God’s renewal of the physical creation—a restored, perfected material realm where righteousness dwells and where God’s people will live in resurrected bodies.

The Parable of the Sower—Properly Understood:

SCJ references the parable of the sower to support their claim that “earth” means “people.” Let’s look at this parable carefully:

Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23: Jesus tells the parable of a farmer sowing seed on different types of soil—the path, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. He then explains that the seed is “the message about the kingdom” and the different soils represent different responses to this message.

What the parable teaches:

• The seed (God’s word) is sown in human hearts
• Different people respond differently based on the condition of their hearts
• Hearts can be like different types of soil—hard, shallow, thorny, or receptive

What the parable does NOT teach:

• That “earth” in all biblical prophecy means “people”
• That the “new earth” in Revelation 21 means “new people” rather than renewed creation
• That we should interpret every mention of “earth” in Scripture as referring to people

SCJ takes a specific metaphor from one parable (hearts are like soil) and universalizes it into an interpretive principle (earth always means people in prophecy). This is a fundamental hermeneutical error.

The Biblical Pattern:

When Scripture uses “earth,” it refers to:

1. The physical creation (the planet)
2. The realm of human habitation
3. The material world in contrast to the spiritual realm
4. In Revelation 21, the renewed physical creation

While Scripture does use “soil” as a metaphor for human hearts in the parable of the sower, this doesn’t mean “earth” universally means “people” in prophecy. The new earth is the renewed creation, not merely new people.

Why This Matters:

SCJ’s redefinition of “earth” as “people” allows them to claim that the “new earth” in Revelation 21 has already been fulfilled in their members. Instead of the biblical hope of a renewed creation where resurrected believers will live with God forever, SCJ offers organizational membership. This is a devastating reduction of biblical hope.

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Part 3: The Isaiah 55 Manipulation

The lesson uses Isaiah 55:8-9 to support its framework:

Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'”

The lesson then asks: “Was everyone also reading along in the Bible together? I hope so. Sometimes it could be a little difficult, but it’s better to do that because the Bereans examined the Scriptures to see if what was being said was true. So we should all have a diligent habit of checking with the Scriptures. That way, we know the answer is coming from the Word, not from a person’s words, right?”

This is deeply ironic. The instructor encourages students to check Scripture like the Bereans, but then immediately misuses Scripture to support SCJ’s framework. Let’s examine what’s happening:

The Actual Meaning of Isaiah 55:8-9

Context of Isaiah 55:

Isaiah 55 is a beautiful invitation to God’s grace:

Isaiah 55:1-3: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.”

Isaiah 55:6-7: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

The chapter is about God’s gracious invitation to salvation, His willingness to forgive, and His faithful covenant love.

The Point of Verses 8-9:

In context, verses 8-9 are explaining why people should trust God’s promise of forgiveness and return to Him:

• God’s thoughts are higher: He thinks differently than we do—He’s willing to forgive abundantly even when we think forgiveness is impossible
• God’s ways are higher: He acts differently than we do—He shows mercy when we expect judgment

The comparison “as the heavens are higher than the earth” is illustrating the vast difference between God’s perspective and ours. It’s about God’s transcendence, His superior wisdom, and His gracious character.

What the passage is NOT saying:

The passage is not providing a hermeneutical principle about how to interpret “heaven” and “earth” in prophecy. It’s not teaching that “heaven” means “tabernacle” and “earth” means “people.” It’s using a physical comparison (the height difference between heaven and earth) to illustrate a spiritual truth (the difference between God’s thoughts and ours).

The Manipulation Technique

Notice how SCJ uses this passage:

Step 1: Read a passage that mentions “heaven” and “earth”

Step 2: Note that it’s comparing heaven and earth

Step 3: Claim this supports their framework about heaven and earth being figurative

Step 4: Apply their predetermined definitions (heaven = tabernacle, earth = people)

This is circular reasoning. SCJ starts with their conclusion (heaven and earth are figurative in specific ways) and then reads passages through that lens, claiming they support the conclusion. But the passages themselves don’t teach what SCJ claims.

The Berean Irony

The instructor’s reference to the Bereans is particularly ironic:

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 testing Paul’s teaching against Scripture. They didn’t just accept what he said because he spoke with authority—they verified it.

But SCJ’s method prevents genuine Berean-style examination:

1. They redefine terms: If “heaven” doesn’t mean heaven and “earth” doesn’t mean earth, how can students verify claims against Scripture? The text no longer means what it plainly says.
2. They claim special knowledge: Students are taught that understanding requires SCJ’s interpretive framework. Without it, they’ll misunderstand Scripture.
3. They create dependency: Instead of empowering students to read and understand Scripture independently, SCJ makes them dependent on the organization’s interpretations.

True Berean examination would involve:

• Reading passages in context
• Comparing Scripture with Scripture
• Checking whether interpretations align with how the Bible itself uses terms
• Maintaining humility about uncertain matters
• Being willing to reject teaching that doesn’t align with Scripture

SCJ’s method prevents all of this by teaching students that plain meanings are wrong and that they need SCJ’s framework to understand anything correctly.

Chapter 5 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Verification Process—How to Test What You’re Being Taught,” provides practical tools for genuine biblical examination. The chapter emphasizes reading Scripture in context, comparing interpretations with how the Bible uses terms, and maintaining the authority of Scripture over human interpretations.

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SCJ’s Three Heavens Claim

The lesson makes a specific claim about Revelation 21:1-2:

“So in this verse, why was it chosen as the main reference in verse one? How many heavens do you see mentioned in verses one and two? You see three heavens mentioned in verses one and two. Why three? It says, ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.’ So there’s one, a new heaven. Why is there a new heaven? It says because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. So there’s a first heaven that passes away, and then there’s a new heaven. And then what about the third? It says in verse two that the holy city, New Jerusalem, comes down. But that holy city is heaven in the spiritual realm, heaven in the spiritual world. That’s why there are three mentioned: the first heaven, the new heaven, and heaven in the spiritual world.”

This interpretation appears logical at first glance, but it contains several serious errors. Let’s examine it carefully.

The Biblical Text in Context

Revelation 21:1-4: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'”

What the Text Actually Says:

The passage mentions:

1. The first heaven and first earth – the current created order that passes away
2. A new heaven and a new earth – the renewed created order that replaces the first
3. The New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven – the holy city descending from God’s presence

The Critical Question: Are These Three Different Heavens?

No. Here’s why:

Understanding “Heaven” in Revelation 21:

When Revelation 21:2 says the New Jerusalem comes “down out of heaven from God,” it’s using “heaven” in its normal biblical sense—God’s dwelling place, the spiritual realm where God’s presence is fully manifested. This is the same “heaven” that has existed throughout biblical history. It’s not a third, different heaven.

The passage is describing a sequence:

1. The current heaven and earth (the present created order) pass away
2. God creates a new heaven and new earth (a renewed created order)
3. The New Jerusalem, which has been in God’s presence (heaven), descends to the new earth

The New Jerusalem’s Origin:

The New Jerusalem comes “from heaven” (from God’s presence), but this doesn’t make it a separate “third heaven.” Rather, it’s the holy city that has been prepared in God’s presence and now descends to unite heaven and earth.

Hebrews 11:10, 16: “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God… Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

Hebrews 12:22: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.”

The New Jerusalem is the “heavenly city” that God has prepared. When it descends in Revelation 21, it’s bringing heaven to earth—uniting the two realms that have been separated by sin.

The Biblical Pattern: Two Heavens, Not Three

Scripture does distinguish between different aspects or uses of “heaven,” but not in the way SCJ claims. The most common biblical distinction is:

1. The Physical Heavens (Sky/Space):

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

This refers to the physical sky, atmosphere, and space—the created realm above the earth.

2. The Spiritual Heaven (God’s Dwelling):

1 Kings 8:30: “Hear from heaven, your dwelling place.”

Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven.”

Hebrews 9:24: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

This refers to God’s dwelling place, the spiritual realm where God’s presence is fully manifested.

Paul’s “Third Heaven”:

Some point to 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, where Paul mentions being “caught up to the third heaven.” In ancient Jewish cosmology, there were typically three levels:

• First heaven: the atmosphere (where birds fly)
• Second heaven: outer space (where stars are)
• Third heaven: God’s dwelling place (the spiritual realm)

Paul was using this common framework to describe being caught up into God’s presence. This doesn’t support SCJ’s claim about three different heavens in Revelation 21.

Why SCJ’s “Three Heavens” Framework Matters

SCJ’s interpretation isn’t just an academic disagreement about how to count heavens. It serves a specific purpose in their system:

Purpose 1: Create Complexity

By claiming there are three heavens in Revelation 21, SCJ creates complexity that requires their explanation. Students think, “I never noticed there were three heavens! I need SCJ to help me understand this.”

Purpose 2: Prepare for Organizational Claims

SCJ will later claim:

• The “first heaven” was a previous church (often identified as a Korean church that SCJ’s founder left)
• This first heaven “passed away” (was judged/destroyed)
• The “new heaven” is Shincheonji (replacing the first heaven)
• The “heaven in the spiritual realm” is where God dwells

By establishing this framework now, SCJ prepares students to accept these later claims. When students eventually hear that Shincheonji is the “new heaven,” the framework is already in place.

Purpose 3: Reduce Biblical Hope

By teaching that the “new heaven” is an earthly organization (Shincheonji) rather than God’s cosmic renewal, SCJ reduces the magnificent biblical hope to organizational membership. Instead of looking forward to God’s complete renewal of creation, students are taught to look for fulfillment in joining SCJ.

The Actual Meaning of Revelation 21:1-4

Let’s understand what this passage actually teaches:

The Promise: Complete Renewal

“A new heaven and a new earth” represents the complete renewal of God’s creation. This is the fulfillment of God’s plan to restore what was broken by sin.

Old Testament Background:

Isaiah 65:17-19: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.”

Isaiah 66:22: “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the LORD, “so will your name and descendants endure.”

God promised through Isaiah that He would create new heavens and a new earth—a complete renewal where sorrow is gone and joy is permanent.

New Testament Confirmation:

2 Peter 3:10-13: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

Peter confirms that God will renew creation. The current heaven and earth will be purified and renewed, resulting in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.

The Nature of the Renewal:

The renewal is:

1. Physical and Spiritual: Not just spiritual realities, but actual renewed creation where resurrected believers will live in glorified bodies
2. Complete: Both heaven (the spiritual realm) and earth (the physical realm) are renewed—nothing is left unredeemed
3. Permanent: The new creation will never pass away or be corrupted by sin
4. God-Centered: God’s dwelling will be with His people—the ultimate fulfillment of His covenant promise “I will be their God, and they will be my people”

The Result: No More Curse

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

Revelation 22:3: “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.”

The new heaven and new earth represent the complete removal of sin’s curse. Everything that resulted from the Fall—death, suffering, pain, separation from God—will be gone forever.

The Devastating Reduction

Compare the biblical promise with SCJ’s claim:

Biblical Promise:

• God will renew all creation
• Heaven and earth will be united
• Death, suffering, and pain will be eliminated
• God will dwell with His people forever
• The curse of sin will be completely removed
• Believers will live in glorified bodies in a renewed creation

SCJ’s Claim:

• The “new heaven” is their organization (Shincheonji)
• The “new earth” is their members
• This has already been fulfilled
• Joining SCJ is how you participate in this promise

Can you see the devastating reduction? SCJ takes the magnificent biblical hope of cosmic renewal and reduces it to organizational membership. They take the promise of eternal life in a renewed creation and reduce it to joining their group.

This is not just a different interpretation—it’s a complete gutting of biblical hope. And it’s based on a misreading of Revelation 21 that claims there are three different heavens when the text is actually describing the renewal of creation and the descent of the New Jerusalem from God’s presence.

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Part 5: The Physical Characteristics Argument—A Flawed Analogy

SCJ’s Argument from Physical Characteristics

The lesson continues with what appears to be a logical argument:

“1. Physical Characteristics of Heaven and Earth

Isaiah 55:8-9: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’

So in Isaiah 55:8-9, it talks about God’s thoughts versus our own, and God’s ways versus our own. Whose ways and thoughts are higher? God’s thoughts are higher, and His ways are higher. It says as…”

The lesson then presumably continues to argue that just as heaven is physically higher than earth, so the “tabernacle” (heaven) is spiritually higher than “people” (earth). This is based on the physical characteristic that heaven is above and earth is below.

Why This Argument Fails

This argument commits several logical and hermeneutical errors:

Error 1: Confusing Metaphor with Definition

Isaiah 55:8-9 uses the physical relationship between heaven and earth (one is higher than the other) as a metaphor to illustrate the difference between God’s thoughts and human thoughts. The passage is not providing a definition of what heaven and earth mean in prophecy.

Analogy: If I say “My love for you is as deep as the ocean,” I’m using the ocean’s depth as a metaphor for love’s intensity. I’m not saying that “ocean” in all contexts means “love.” Similarly, Isaiah using heaven’s height as a metaphor doesn’t mean “heaven” in all prophecies means “tabernacle.”

Error 2: Ignoring Context

As we discussed earlier, Isaiah 55 is about God’s gracious invitation to salvation and His willingness to forgive. The comparison in verses 8-9 is explaining why people should trust God’s promise of forgiveness—because God thinks and acts differently (higher, better) than we do.

Taking this metaphorical comparison and turning it into a hermeneutical principle (heaven always means tabernacle, earth always means people) completely ignores the passage’s actual purpose and context.

Error 3: Illegitimate Totality Transfer

Linguists call this error “illegitimate totality transfer”—taking one specific use of a word or concept and claiming it applies to all uses. Just because Isaiah uses heaven and earth in a metaphorical comparison doesn’t mean every mention of heaven and earth in Scripture is metaphorical in the same way.

Error 4: Circular Reasoning

SCJ’s argument is circular:

1. They claim heaven means tabernacle and earth means people
2. They find passages that mention heaven and earth
3. They interpret these passages through their predetermined framework
4. They claim these passages support their framework

But the passages themselves don’t teach what SCJ claims. SCJ is reading their conclusions into the text rather than deriving conclusions from the text.

How the Bible Actually Uses Physical Characteristics

When the Bible uses physical characteristics of heaven and earth, it’s typically for these purposes:

Purpose 1: Illustrating God’s Transcendence

Psalm 103:11: “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”

Isaiah 55:9: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

The physical height of heaven above earth illustrates how much greater God is than humanity—His love is greater, His thoughts are higher, His ways are superior.

Purpose 2: Describing God’s Sovereignty

Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

Heaven as God’s dwelling place (above earth) illustrates His sovereignty and authority. He is the King enthroned above all creation.

Purpose 3: Expressing the Scope of God’s Creation

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 146:6: “He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.”

“Heaven and earth” together express the totality of God’s creation—everything that exists, both the spiritual and physical realms.

Purpose 4: Indicating Cosmic Renewal

Isaiah 65:17: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”

“New heaven and new earth” indicates complete renewal—God will renew all of creation, both spiritual and physical realms.

The Pattern:

Physical characteristics of heaven and earth (height, scope, etc.) are used to illustrate spiritual truths (God’s transcendence, sovereignty, creative power), but this doesn’t mean “heaven” and “earth” are redefined to mean something other than heaven and earth.

The Danger of Allegorizing Everything

SCJ’s method represents an extreme form of allegorical interpretation—taking everything as symbolic and denying plain meanings. This approach has been rejected throughout church history for good reasons:

Historical Context:

In the early church, there was a school of interpretation in Alexandria (Egypt) that emphasized allegorical readings of Scripture. They would find symbolic meanings in every detail, often ignoring the plain sense of the text. In contrast, the school in Antioch (Syria) emphasized the literal-historical meaning of Scripture while recognizing appropriate symbolism.

The church generally affirmed the Antiochene approach as more faithful to Scripture. While recognizing that the Bible uses symbolism, figures of speech, and types, the church maintained that Scripture has a plain sense that should be respected.

The Reformers’ Principle:

The Protestant Reformers emphasized the “literal sense” of Scripture—not meaning wooden literalism that ignores figures of speech, but meaning the sense the author intended to communicate. They rejected the medieval practice of finding multiple hidden meanings in every text.

Martin Luther wrote: “The Holy Spirit is the plainest writer and speaker in heaven and earth, and therefore His words cannot have more than one, and that the very simplest, sense, which we call the literal, ordinary, natural, sense.”

John Calvin emphasized reading Scripture in context and according to the author’s intent, warning against “twisting” Scripture to fit preconceived ideas.

The Danger:

When everything becomes symbolic and nothing means what it plainly says, interpretation becomes arbitrary. The text means whatever the interpreter wants it to mean. This gives enormous power to those who claim to have the “correct” interpretation (in this case, SCJ) and makes genuine biblical examination impossible.

As Chapter 8 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains in “The Redefinition Strategy,” SCJ systematically redefines biblical terms to serve their organizational claims. By teaching that “heaven” doesn’t mean heaven and “earth” doesn’t mean earth, SCJ makes it impossible for students to verify their claims against Scripture.

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Part 6: The Progression of Indoctrination—How Lesson 56 Fits the Pattern

Where Students Are in the Journey

By Lesson 56, students have been in SCJ’s study program for approximately five months (as the instructor notes). Let’s trace their journey to understand how this lesson builds on previous indoctrination:

Stage 1: Introductory Level – Early Lessons (Months 1-2)

What Students Learned:

The Sealed Book Framework:

• The Bible was “sealed” and incomprehensible (Daniel 12:4, 9; Revelation 5:1-5)
• Jesus spoke in parables to hide truth from outsiders (Matthew 13:10-11)
• Most Christians don’t understand Scripture because they read it “literally”
• Special revelation is needed to “unseal” the Bible

The Parable Principle:

• Jesus taught in parables, which are figurative language
• Parables require interpretation by someone who has the “key”
• Understanding parables is necessary for salvation (SCJ’s misuse of Mark 4:10-12)

Psychological Effect:

• Students lose confidence in their ability to understand Scripture plainly
• They become dependent on SCJ’s interpretations
• They begin to see themselves as privileged recipients of special knowledge

Stage 2: Introductory Level – Middle Lessons (Months 2-3)

What Students Learned:

The OPAGH Framework:

• Objects, People, Animals, Geographic locations, Historic events are all figurative
• Plain meanings are usually wrong; figurative meanings are deeper
• Every detail in Scripture has hidden symbolic meaning

The Harvest Theme:

• We’re living in the “time of harvest” (end times)
• God is doing something special right now
• Students are being prepared to be “harvesters”

Psychological Effect:

• Students’ interpretive framework is completely reshaped
• They automatically look for symbolic meanings and dismiss plain readings
• They feel urgency about the present time and their role in God’s plan

Stage 3: Introductory Level – Late Lessons (Months 3-4)

What Students Learned:

Spiritual Genealogy:

• Believers are “born again” through receiving the “seed” (word) from a spiritual “father”
• Pastors are spiritual fathers who give birth to spiritual children
• If a pastor betrays God, his congregation becomes “orphans” without the Holy Spirit

The Betrayal Narrative:

• Throughout history, God’s people have betrayed Him
• This pattern continues today
• Most churches have betrayed God and lost the Holy Spirit

Psychological Effect:

• Students begin to distrust their home churches and pastors
• They see SCJ as the faithful remnant
• They’re emotionally prepared to leave their churches

Stage 4: Intermediate Level – Early Lessons (Month 4-5)

What Students Learned:

The Jerusalem vs. Babylon Framework (Lesson 55):

• Jerusalem represents “the church of the chosen people”
• Babylon represents “churches where demons dwell”
• There’s a spiritual war between these two
• Detailed testimony about fulfillment is the weapon that wins this war

The Heaven and Earth Framework (Lesson 56):

• Heaven figuratively represents “the tabernacle of the chosen people”
• Earth figuratively represents “saints” or “people”
• The “new heaven and new earth” doesn’t mean cosmic renewal
• Understanding these figurative meanings is necessary to understand God’s plan

Psychological Effect:

• Students now have a complete interpretive framework
• Everything is understood through organizational categories
• Biblical hope is reduced to organizational membership
• Students are prepared for the revelation that SCJ is “Jerusalem” and the “new heaven”

The Cumulative Effect

Notice how each stage builds on the previous:

Month 1-2: “The Bible is sealed; you need special interpretation” Month 2-3: “Everything is figurative; plain meanings are wrong” Month 3-4: “Your church has betrayed God; you need to find the true church” Month 4-5: “The true church is ‘Jerusalem’ / ‘new heaven’; the false churches are ‘Babylon'” Month 6+ (Advanced Level): “Shincheonji is Jerusalem / new heaven; all other churches are Babylon; you must join us”

Each lesson makes the next seem logical. By the time students hear SCJ’s explicit claims, they’ve already accepted the framework that makes those claims seem reasonable.

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Deception Tactics—How Shincheonji Gradually Leads People Astray,” explains this progression in detail. The chapter describes how SCJ uses “incremental indoctrination”—teaching concepts gradually so that each step seems small and reasonable, even though the cumulative effect is dramatic.

The Investment Trap

By Lesson 56, students have invested:

• Time: Approximately 5 months, 3 classes per week, 2 hours per class = about 120 hours of class time
• Additional Study: Small groups, one-on-one meetings, test preparation = perhaps another 60-80 hours
• Total Investment: Roughly 180-200 hours over 5 months

This massive investment creates powerful psychological pressure to continue:

Sunk Cost Fallacy: “I’ve already invested so much; I can’t quit now”

Cognitive Dissonance: “If I leave, it means I wasted all this time; that’s too painful to accept”

Identity Investment: “I’ve told people I’m studying the Bible; I’ve changed my schedule; I’ve made this a central part of my life”

Social Investment: “I’ve made friends here; I’ve bonded with my evangelist; leaving means losing these relationships”

The instructor’s reminder of this investment (“almost five months now… I highly doubt that’s something you ever imagined would happen in your life”) isn’t just acknowledging students’ commitment—it’s reinforcing the psychological trap. The more students are reminded of their investment, the harder it becomes to walk away.

The Frog in the Pot

There’s an old (though scientifically inaccurate) illustration about boiling a frog: if you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out immediately. But if you put it in cool water and gradually heat it, the frog won’t notice the danger until it’s too late.

Whether or not this is true of actual frogs, it’s an apt metaphor for SCJ’s indoctrination process. If SCJ told students on Day 1, “We believe our founder is the promised pastor of Revelation, our organization is the fulfillment of all biblical prophecy, and all other churches are Babylon where demons dwell,” most students would leave immediately.

But SCJ doesn’t do this. They start with seemingly reasonable teachings:

• “The Bible uses figurative language” (true)
• “Parables require interpretation” (true)
• “We should study Scripture carefully” (true)

Then they gradually introduce distortions:

• “Everything is figurative” (distortion)
• “Only we have the correct interpretation” (false)
• “Your church has betrayed God” (false)
• “We are the fulfillment of prophecy” (false)

By the time students hear the false claims, they’ve been conditioned to accept them through months of gradual indoctrination.

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Part 7: The Hope Reduction—From Cosmic Renewal to Organizational Membership

The Magnificent Biblical Hope

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the full scope of biblical hope regarding the new heaven and new earth:

The Promise of Complete Restoration:

When God created the world, it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was harmony between God and humanity, between humans and each other, between humanity and creation, and within creation itself. The Garden of Eden represented God’s intention for creation—a place where God walked with His people, where there was no death or suffering, where everything functioned as God designed.

Sin shattered this harmony. The Fall brought:

• Separation from God (Genesis 3:23-24)
• Conflict between humans (Genesis 4:8)
• Corruption of creation (Genesis 3:17-19)
• Death and decay (Romans 8:20-21)

But God immediately promised restoration (Genesis 3:15). Throughout Scripture, God reveals His plan to restore what was lost and even to bring creation to something greater than Eden.

The Prophetic Vision:

The Old Testament prophets saw glimpses of this restoration:

Isaiah 11:6-9: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 25:8: “He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.”

Isaiah 65:17-25: A vision of new heavens and new earth where:

• People build houses and live in them
• They plant vineyards and eat their fruit
• They don’t labor in vain
• The wolf and lamb feed together
• No one is hurt or destroyed

Ezekiel 37:26-28: “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.”

The New Testament Fulfillment:

The New Testament reveals that this restoration comes through Christ and will be consummated at His return:

Romans 8:19-23: “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”

Creation itself will be liberated from decay. Believers will receive glorified, resurrected bodies. This is physical, material restoration, not merely spiritual.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54: Paul describes the resurrection body—imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual (meaning animated by the Spirit, not immaterial). Death will be swallowed up in victory.

Philippians 3:20-21: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

2 Peter 3:13: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

The Revelation Vision:

Revelation 21-22 provides the fullest picture of this hope:

Revelation 21:1-5: New heaven and new earth; New Jerusalem descending; God dwelling with His people; no more death, mourning, crying, or pain; God making everything new

Revelation 21:22-27: No temple needed (God Himself is the temple); no sun or moon needed (God’s glory gives light); nations walking by its light; kings bringing their splendor; gates never shut; nothing impure entering

Revelation 22:1-5: River of life; tree of life yielding fruit every month; leaves for healing of nations; no more curse; God’s servants serving Him; seeing His face; reigning forever

The Scope of This Hope:

This hope includes:

1. Physical Resurrection: Believers will receive glorified bodies like Christ’s resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:42-49, Philippians 3:21)
2. Renewed Creation: The physical universe will be renewed, freed from decay and corruption (Romans 8:19-21, 2 Peter 3:13)
3. God’s Presence: God will dwell with His people directly, without mediation (Revelation 21:3, 22:4)
4. End of Suffering: No more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4)
5. Perfect Community: People from every nation, tribe, and language worshiping together (Revelation 7:9)
6. Meaningful Work: God’s servants will serve Him and reign forever (Revelation 22:3, 5)
7. Complete Knowledge: We will see God face to face and know fully (1 Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 22:4)
8. Eternal Joy: Inexpressible and glorious joy in God’s presence (1 Peter 1:8, Psalm 16:11)

This is the biblical hope—vast, cosmic, physical, spiritual, eternal, glorious.

SCJ’s Devastating Reduction

Now compare this magnificent hope with what SCJ offers:

SCJ’s Claim:

• “Heaven” = Shincheonji’s organization (the tabernacle)
• “Earth” = Shincheonji’s members (the people)
• “New heaven and new earth” = Shincheonji replacing a previous church
• This has already been fulfilled
• Joining SCJ is how you participate in this promise

Can you see the devastating reduction?

What’s Lost:

1. Physical Resurrection: Reduced to spiritual “rebirth” through SCJ’s teaching
2. Renewed Creation: Eliminated entirely—the physical universe remains unchanged
3. God’s Presence: Reduced to God’s presence in SCJ’s organization
4. End of Suffering: Postponed indefinitely—SCJ members still experience death, pain, and suffering
5. Perfect Community: Reduced to SCJ membership—exclusive rather than inclusive
6. Meaningful Work: Reduced to recruiting for SCJ
7. Complete Knowledge: Reduced to understanding SCJ’s interpretations
8. Eternal Joy: Reduced to excitement about being in the “right” organization

The Tragic Exchange:

SCJ asks students to exchange:

• The hope of resurrection for organizational membership
• The hope of cosmic renewal for institutional affiliation
• The hope of seeing God face to face for understanding SCJ’s teachings
• The hope of eternal life in a renewed creation for temporal life in a human organization

This is not just a different interpretation—it’s a complete gutting of biblical hope. And it’s based on the false premise that “heaven” means “tabernacle” and “earth” means “people.”

Why This Matters Existentially

The hope of resurrection and new creation isn’t just abstract theology—it addresses our deepest human longings and fears:

It Addresses Death:

Every human faces death—our own and that of loved ones. The biblical hope is that death is not the end. God will raise the dead, reunite believers with loved ones, and eliminate death forever. This hope sustains believers through grief and gives meaning to suffering.

SCJ’s teaching offers no real answer to death. Yes, they talk about spiritual life, but physical death remains. The promise of resurrection is reduced to metaphor.

It Addresses Suffering:

We live in a world of pain—disease, disaster, injustice, heartbreak. The biblical hope is that God will make all things new, wipe away every tear, and end all suffering. This hope doesn’t minimize present suffering but promises that it’s temporary and will be redeemed.

SCJ’s teaching offers no real answer to suffering. Joining their organization doesn’t end pain or injustice. The promise of “no more crying or pain” is postponed indefinitely or spiritualized beyond recognition.

It Addresses Meaning:

Humans long for purpose and significance. The biblical hope is that we’re being prepared for eternal service in God’s kingdom, that our faithfulness now has eternal significance, that we’ll reign with Christ forever in meaningful work.

SCJ’s teaching reduces meaning to organizational success—recruiting members, advancing SCJ’s mission, proving their claims. This is a shallow substitute for the eternal purpose God offers.

It Addresses Beauty:

Humans long for beauty, wholeness, and perfection. The biblical hope is that we’ll experience perfect beauty in the new creation—the glory of God, the splendor of the New Jerusalem, the harmony of renewed creation.

SCJ’s teaching offers no vision of ultimate beauty. The focus is on organizational structure, doctrinal correctness, and recruitment success—functional concerns rather than aesthetic fulfillment.

The Existential Poverty:

When SCJ reduces “new heaven and new earth” to their organization, they leave students existentially impoverished. The deep human longings for resurrection, renewed creation, perfect community, and eternal joy remain unaddressed. Students are offered organizational membership as a substitute for cosmic hope.

This is why former SCJ members often describe feeling empty and hopeless when they leave. They’ve been taught that SCJ is the fulfillment of all biblical promises, so leaving feels like losing everything. But what they’ve actually lost is a false substitute. The real hope—the biblical hope of resurrection and new creation—remains available through faith in Christ.

Chapter 28 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “Hope and Help—Guidance for Those Affected by Shincheonji,” addresses this existential crisis and points former members back to the true biblical hope that cannot be shaken.

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The Pattern of Misuse

While we’ve focused primarily on Revelation 21:1-4 and Isaiah 55:8-9, SCJ’s framework of “heaven = tabernacle” and “earth = people” requires them to reinterpret numerous other biblical passages. Let’s examine some key passages that SCJ distorts to support their framework, and understand what these passages actually teach.

Genesis 1:1 – “In the Beginning”

The Biblical Text:

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

How SCJ Interprets It:

According to SCJ’s framework, this verse isn’t about God creating the physical universe. Instead:

• “Heavens” = the spiritual tabernacle or church structure God established
• “Earth” = the people God created to be His people
• The verse is about God establishing His spiritual kingdom, not physical creation

Why This Is Wrong:

Context of Genesis 1:

Genesis 1 is clearly about physical creation. The chapter describes:

• Light and darkness (vv. 3-5)
• Sky and water (vv. 6-8)
• Land, seas, and vegetation (vv. 9-13)
• Sun, moon, and stars (vv. 14-19)
• Sea creatures and birds (vv. 20-23)
• Land animals and humans (vv. 24-31)

Each day of creation describes physical realities. The text emphasizes the material nature of creation: “Let there be light, and there was light” (v. 3), “Let the water teem with living creatures” (v. 20), etc.

The Hebrew Words:

• Shamayim (heavens): Refers to the sky, atmosphere, and celestial realm
• Erets (earth): Refers to the land, ground, and planet

These are the standard Hebrew words for physical heaven and earth, used throughout the Old Testament to describe the physical cosmos.

The Theological Significance:

Genesis 1:1 establishes foundational truths:

1. God exists before creation (He’s not part of creation)
2. God created everything that exists (nothing exists independently of Him)
3. Creation is good (God declares it “good” repeatedly)
4. Humans are part of creation but have a unique role (made in God’s image)

By reinterpreting “heavens and earth” as “tabernacle and people,” SCJ undermines these foundational truths. They make creation about organizational structure rather than about God’s creative power and the goodness of the physical world.

Why It Matters:

If Genesis 1:1 isn’t about physical creation, then:

• The doctrine of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing) is lost
• God’s sovereignty over the physical universe is diminished
• The goodness of the material world is questioned
• The foundation for biblical theology is removed

Christianity has always affirmed that God created the physical universe and that this creation is good. Gnostic heresies denied the goodness of matter and spiritualized everything. SCJ’s interpretation moves in a Gnostic direction by making “heavens and earth” about spiritual/organizational realities rather than physical creation.

Matthew 24:29-31 – The Coming of the Son of Man

The Biblical Text:

Matthew 24:29-31: “Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

How SCJ Interprets It:

According to SCJ’s framework:

• “Sun, moon, and stars” = leaders in the church (not celestial bodies)
• “Heavenly bodies shaken” = church leadership being judged/removed
• “Peoples of the earth” = church members (not humanity generally)
• “Coming on clouds of heaven” = spiritual coming to the church (not physical return)
• “Heavens” = the church structure (not the sky)

This allows SCJ to claim that Matthew 24 was fulfilled in events within their organization—specifically, when their founder supposedly witnessed the “betrayal” of a previous church and established Shincheonji.

Why This Is Wrong:

Context of Matthew 24:

Jesus is answering the disciples’ question: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (v. 3). The entire chapter is about future events leading to Christ’s return.

Old Testament Background:

Jesus is using language from Old Testament prophecies about the Day of the Lord:

Isaiah 13:9-10: “See, the day of the LORD is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.”

Joel 2:30-31: “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”

These passages use cosmic imagery to describe God’s judgment and intervention in history. Sometimes this language is used for historical judgments (like Babylon’s fall), and sometimes for the final Day of the Lord. The language is apocalyptic—vivid, dramatic imagery describing God’s powerful intervention.

Jesus’ Clear Teaching:

Jesus explicitly says His return will be visible and unmistakable:

Matthew 24:27: “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Matthew 24:30: “Then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”

The emphasis is on visibility (“see”), universality (“all the peoples”), and glory (unmistakable divine manifestation). This doesn’t describe secret fulfillment in one organization that most people don’t know about.

Apostolic Confirmation:

The apostles understood Christ’s return as a future, visible, physical event:

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

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

Revelation 1:7: “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him.”

The consistent apostolic teaching is that Christ’s return will be:

• Physical (the same Jesus who ascended will return)
• Visible (every eye will see Him)
• Audible (loud command, trumpet call)
• Unmistakable (like lightning across the sky)
• Universal (all peoples will see)

The Hermeneutical Error:

SCJ’s interpretation requires:

1. Ignoring the plain sense of the text
2. Dismissing Jesus’ explicit statements about visibility
3. Contradicting apostolic teaching
4. Applying prophecy to events that don’t match the description
5. Claiming fulfillment that’s invisible to most people

This is not legitimate biblical interpretation—it’s eisegesis (reading meaning into the text) rather than exegesis (drawing meaning from the text).

2 Peter 3:10-13 – The Day of the Lord

The Biblical Text:

2 Peter 3:10-13: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

How SCJ Interprets It:

According to SCJ’s framework:

• “Heavens” = the church structure that will be judged
• “Earth” = church members
• “Elements destroyed by fire” = false teachings being eliminated
• “New heaven and new earth” = new church structure (SCJ) and new members
• This has already been fulfilled in SCJ’s establishment

Why This Is Wrong:

The Context:

Peter is addressing scoffers who doubt Christ’s return (vv. 3-4). He reminds them that God judged the world before (the flood, vv. 5-6) and will judge it again (v. 7). The coming judgment will be by fire rather than water.

The Language:

Peter uses unmistakably physical language:

• “Heavens will disappear with a roar” (v. 10)
• “Elements will be destroyed by fire” (v. 10)
• “Earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” (v. 10)
• “Elements will melt in the heat” (v. 12)

The word “elements” (Greek: stoicheia) refers to the basic components of the physical world. Peter is describing cosmic dissolution and renewal, not organizational change.

The Parallel with the Flood:

Peter explicitly compares the coming judgment with the flood:

2 Peter 3:5-7: “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

Just as the flood was a real, physical judgment on the physical world, so the coming judgment will be real and physical. The flood didn’t just destroy a “church structure”—it destroyed the physical world (except for Noah and his family). Similarly, the coming judgment will affect the physical cosmos.

The Purpose:

Peter’s point is ethical: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (vv. 11-12).

If Peter is just talking about organizational change (one church replacing another), why would this motivate holy living? But if he’s talking about cosmic judgment and renewal, the motivation is clear: we’re living in light of eternity, so we should live holy lives now.

The Hope:

Peter concludes with hope: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (v. 13).

This hope is grounded in God’s promise (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22) and looks forward to a future reality “where righteousness dwells.” This isn’t describing a human organization (which will always have imperfect people) but a renewed creation where sin is eliminated and righteousness reigns perfectly.

The Theological Importance:

This passage teaches:

1. Christ will return (v. 10)
2. The physical universe will be renewed (vv. 10-13)
3. God will judge sin (v. 7)
4. Believers should live holy lives in light of this hope (vv. 11-12, 14)
5. God is patient, giving time for repentance (v. 9)

SCJ’s interpretation eliminates all of these truths. By making it about organizational change, they:

• Remove the hope of Christ’s return
• Eliminate the promise of cosmic renewal
• Reduce judgment to institutional change
• Undermine the motivation for holy living
• Make God’s patience irrelevant

Hebrews 12:25-29 – The Shaking of Heaven and Earth

The Biblical Text:

Hebrews 12:25-29: “See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.'”

How SCJ Interprets It:

According to SCJ’s framework:

• “Shaking of earth” = judgment on church members
• “Shaking of heavens” = judgment on church structure
• “Removing what can be shaken” = removing false churches
• “Kingdom that cannot be shaken” = Shincheonji
• This has been fulfilled in SCJ’s establishment

Why This Is Wrong:

The Context:

Hebrews 12 contrasts Mount Sinai (the old covenant) with Mount Zion (the new covenant). Believers have come to “the heavenly Jerusalem” (v. 22) through Christ. The warning is to not refuse God’s voice, which will shake heaven and earth.

The Old Testament Reference:

The author quotes Haggai 2:6: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.'”

Haggai was prophesying about God’s future intervention to establish His kingdom. The “shaking” represents God’s judgment and the removal of everything opposed to Him.

The Author’s Interpretation:

The author of Hebrews interprets this shaking as “the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (v. 27).

This isn’t about removing false churches—it’s about removing “created things” that are temporary and imperfect. Everything that belongs to the old, fallen order will be shaken and removed. Only what belongs to God’s eternal kingdom will remain.

The Application:

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (v. 28).

The application is worship and reverence, not organizational affiliation. Believers are already “receiving” this unshakeable kingdom through Christ. We don’t need to wait for a future organization to be established—we’re already part of God’s eternal kingdom through faith in Christ.

The Warning:

“For our ‘God is a consuming fire'” (v. 29).

This echoes Deuteronomy 4:24 and emphasizes God’s holiness and the seriousness of refusing Him. The warning is about relationship with God, not about choosing the right organization.

The Theological Point:

The passage teaches:

1. God will shake heaven and earth (future judgment)
2. Everything temporary will be removed
3. God’s eternal kingdom cannot be shaken
4. Believers are already receiving this kingdom through Christ
5. We should respond with worship and reverence

SCJ’s interpretation misses all of this by making it about organizational competition. The passage isn’t about one church replacing another—it’s about God’s eternal kingdom superseding all temporary, created realities.

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Part 9: The Hermeneutical Errors—Systematic Analysis

Understanding Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics is the science and art of biblical interpretation—the principles and methods we use to understand what Scripture means. Sound hermeneutics leads to accurate understanding; flawed hermeneutics leads to distortion and error.

Let’s systematically analyze the hermeneutical errors in SCJ’s “heaven = tabernacle, earth = people” framework.

Error 1: Illegitimate Totality Transfer

What It Is:

This error involves taking one specific use or meaning of a word and claiming it applies to all uses. Linguists call this “illegitimate totality transfer”—transferring the total range of a word’s meanings to every individual use.

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ observes that:

1. The Bible sometimes uses “soil” as a metaphor for human hearts (parable of the sower)
2. Therefore, “earth” always means “people” in prophecy

But this doesn’t follow logically. Just because “soil” can metaphorically represent hearts in one parable doesn’t mean “earth” always means “people” everywhere.

Analogy:

Consider the word “light” in Scripture:

• “God is light” (1 John 1:5) – metaphorical, meaning God is holy and true
• “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) – metaphorical, meaning believers reflect God’s truth
• “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) – literal, meaning physical light
• “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light” (Revelation 21:23) – both literal (illumination) and metaphorical (God’s glory)

If we used SCJ’s method, we’d claim that “light” always means “truth” or “holiness” and never means physical light. But this would be wrong. The meaning depends on context.

The Correct Approach:

Determine meaning based on:

1. Context: What is the passage about? What comes before and after?
2. Genre: Is this poetry, prophecy, narrative, teaching?
3. Usage: How does the author typically use this word?
4. Clarity: Does the text indicate whether it’s literal or figurative?

Error 2: Ignoring Context

What It Is:

Context is crucial for understanding any communication. Words and phrases derive meaning from their context—the surrounding text, the historical situation, the author’s purpose, and the broader biblical narrative.

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ isolates verses that mention “heaven” and “earth,” applies their predetermined framework, and ignores the actual context of these passages.

Example: Isaiah 55:8-9

As we discussed earlier, SCJ uses this passage to support their framework. But the context is about God’s gracious invitation to salvation and His willingness to forgive abundantly. The comparison between heaven and earth is illustrating God’s superior ways and thoughts, not providing a definition of what heaven and earth mean in prophecy.

Example: Revelation 21:1-2

SCJ claims there are three different heavens in these verses. But the context is about cosmic renewal—God making all things new. The “first heaven and first earth” are the current created order; the “new heaven and new earth” are the renewed created order; and “heaven” in verse 2 (where the New Jerusalem comes from) is God’s dwelling place. These aren’t three different heavens—they’re different aspects of God’s renewal plan.

The Correct Approach:

Always read passages in context:

1. Immediate context: What do the surrounding verses say?
2. Book context: How does this fit in the book’s overall message?
3. Biblical context: How does this relate to the rest of Scripture?
4. Historical context: What was happening when this was written?

Error 3: Eisegesis Rather Than Exegesis

What It Is:

• Exegesis: Drawing meaning out of the text (what does the text say?)
• Eisegesis: Reading meaning into the text (what do I want the text to say?)

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ starts with their conclusion (heaven = tabernacle, earth = people, Shincheonji = new heaven) and then reads Scripture through this lens. They’re not discovering what Scripture teaches—they’re imposing their predetermined framework onto Scripture.

The Process:

1. SCJ decides what they want to prove (their organization is the fulfillment of prophecy)
2. They develop an interpretive framework that supports this conclusion
3. They teach this framework to students as “how to interpret Scripture”
4. They read all passages through this framework
5. They claim Scripture supports their conclusions

This is circular reasoning and eisegesis. The “evidence” for their claims is actually just their framework being applied to Scripture.

Example:

When SCJ reads Revelation 21:1 (“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth”), they don’t ask, “What does this passage mean in its context?” Instead, they apply their framework: “Heaven means tabernacle, earth means people, so this means a new church organization and new members.”

But the passage itself doesn’t say this. SCJ is reading their meaning into the text.

The Correct Approach:

Practice exegesis:

1. Observe: What does the text actually say?
2. Interpret: What did this mean to the original audience?
3. Apply: How does this truth apply to us today?

Avoid eisegesis:

1. Don’t start with conclusions and look for proof texts
2. Don’t impose external frameworks onto Scripture
3. Don’t ignore what the text plainly says
4. Don’t make Scripture say what you want it to say

Error 4: Denying the Plain Sense

What It Is:

The “plain sense” or “literal sense” of Scripture is what the author intended to communicate. This doesn’t mean wooden literalism that ignores figures of speech, but it means respecting what the text is actually saying.

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ systematically denies the plain sense of Scripture by claiming that:

• “Heaven” doesn’t mean heaven; it means tabernacle
• “Earth” doesn’t mean earth; it means people
• “New heaven and new earth” doesn’t mean cosmic renewal; it means organizational change
• Physical descriptions are always figurative
• Geographic locations are always symbolic

This makes it impossible to read Scripture plainly. Every text requires SCJ’s special interpretation to unlock its “real” meaning.

The Historical Problem:

Throughout church history, the church has affirmed that Scripture has a plain sense that can be understood by ordinary believers. The Reformers especially emphasized this against the Roman Catholic claim that only the church hierarchy could interpret Scripture.

Martin Luther: “The Holy Spirit is the plainest writer and speaker in heaven and earth.”

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646): “All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.”

The Reformers didn’t deny that Scripture contains difficult passages or uses figurative language. But they affirmed that Scripture’s main message is clear and can be understood by ordinary believers who read carefully.

How SCJ’s Method Destroys This:

If “heaven” never means heaven and “earth” never means earth in prophecy, then:

1. Ordinary believers can’t understand Scripture
2. Special interpretation is always required
3. Only those with the “key” (SCJ) can unlock meaning
4. The text doesn’t mean what it plainly says

This creates total dependence on SCJ and makes genuine biblical examination impossible.

The Correct Approach:

Respect the plain sense:

1. Start with what the text plainly says
2. Look for indicators of figurative language (metaphors are usually marked)
3. Don’t assume everything is symbolic
4. Trust that God communicated clearly
5. Recognize that some passages are difficult, but most are clear

Error 5: Selective Literalism

What It Is:

Selective literalism is when someone interprets some things literally and other things figuratively based on convenience rather than consistent principles.

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ claims that “heaven” and “earth” in prophecy are always figurative, but they interpret other elements literally when it suits their purposes. For example:

• They interpret “144,000” in Revelation 7 and 14 as a literal number (claiming to have exactly 144,000 members at one point)
• They interpret “twelve tribes” literally (claiming to have twelve tribes in their organization)
• They interpret “sealed” literally (claiming their members are the sealed ones)
• But they interpret “heaven” and “earth” figuratively

The selective application reveals that their method isn’t based on consistent principles but on what supports their organizational claims.

The Correct Approach:

Use consistent hermeneutical principles:

1. Determine whether something is literal or figurative based on context and genre, not convenience
2. Apply the same interpretive principles consistently
3. Don’t switch between literal and figurative based on what supports your conclusions
4. Be transparent about your interpretive method

Error 6: Ignoring Genre

What It Is:

Different literary genres require different reading strategies. We read poetry differently than history, prophecy differently than letters, apocalyptic literature differently than narrative.

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ treats all mentions of “heaven” and “earth” the same way, regardless of genre. They apply their “heaven = tabernacle, earth = people” framework to:

• Creation narratives (Genesis 1)
• Historical books (1 Kings)
• Poetry (Psalms)
• Prophecy (Isaiah)
• Gospels (Matthew 24)
• Epistles (2 Peter)
• Apocalyptic literature (Revelation)

But these genres use language differently. Genesis 1 is describing creation. Psalms use poetic language. Revelation uses apocalyptic symbolism. Each genre has its own conventions.

Understanding Apocalyptic Literature:

Revelation belongs to the genre of apocalyptic literature, which includes books like Daniel and Ezekiel. This genre has specific characteristics:

1. Vivid Symbolism: Uses dramatic images to convey truth
2. Cosmic Scope: Describes spiritual realities and God’s ultimate victory
3. Encouragement: Written to encourage believers facing persecution
4. Old Testament Imagery: Draws heavily on OT symbols and prophecies

Apocalyptic literature uses symbolism, but this doesn’t mean everything is symbolic or that symbols can mean anything. The symbols have meaning rooted in Old Testament usage and would have been recognizable to the original audience.

As the resource “How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon” explains, Revelation’s original audience would have understood its symbolism because they were familiar with:

• Old Testament imagery (beasts, horns, lampstands, etc.)
• Roman imperial propaganda (beast from the sea = Rome)
• Jewish worship (temple imagery, priestly language)

The symbolism wasn’t meant to hide meaning but to communicate truth in a way that would encourage believers and remain relevant across time.

The Correct Approach:

Respect genre:

1. Identify what genre you’re reading
2. Understand the conventions of that genre
3. Read accordingly (poetry poetically, narrative historically, apocalyptic symbolically)
4. Don’t impose one genre’s conventions on another

Error 7: Claiming Exclusive Understanding

What It Is:

Claiming that only your group has the correct interpretation and that all other Christians are wrong.

How SCJ Commits This Error:

SCJ teaches that:

• The Bible was “sealed” until their founder received revelation
• Only those who learn from SCJ can understand Scripture correctly
• All other Christians are reading “literally” and missing the “figurative” meanings
• SCJ has the “testimony” that ends all arguments

This claim to exclusive understanding is a hallmark of cultic groups. It creates:

1. Dependence on the group
2. Dismissal of all other Christian teaching
3. Inability to verify claims independently
4. Arrogance rather than humility

The Biblical Pattern:

Scripture presents a different pattern:

Acts 17:11: The Bereans examined Scripture to test Paul’s teaching

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

1 John 4:1: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God”

Believers are called to test teaching, not to blindly accept claims of exclusive understanding.

Church History:

Throughout church history, faithful Christians have disagreed on some interpretive matters while agreeing on core truths. This diversity within unity is healthy—it reflects humility about uncertain matters while maintaining conviction about clear truths.

SCJ’s claim to exclusive understanding rejects this pattern. They claim certainty about everything and dismiss all other perspectives.

The Correct Approach:

Maintain humility:

1. Recognize that faithful Christians disagree on some matters
2. Hold core truths firmly while remaining humble about uncertain matters
3. Be willing to learn from other Christians
4. Test all teaching against Scripture
5. Avoid claiming exclusive understanding

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Part 10: Biblical Alternatives—What Christians Should Actually Believe

Having examined SCJ’s errors in detail, let’s articulate what Christians should actually believe about heaven, earth, and the new creation.

About Heaven

What Christians Should Believe:

1. Heaven is God’s Dwelling Place

Heaven is the realm where God dwells in fullness, where His presence is fully manifested, where He is enthroned as King.

Psalm 11:4: “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.”

Isaiah 66:1: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.'”

Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Heaven is not a human organization or church building—it’s God’s dwelling place, the spiritual realm where He reigns.

2. Heaven is Where Christ Is Now

After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus is in heaven at the Father’s right hand.

Acts 1:9-11: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'”

Hebrews 1:3: “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Hebrews 9:24: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

Christ is in heaven now, interceding for believers, reigning as King, and preparing a place for His people.

3. Heaven is the Believer’s Ultimate Destination

Believers’ ultimate hope is to be with Christ in heaven and then in the new heaven and new earth.

Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:1: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

John 14:2-3: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Heaven is where believers will dwell with God forever—not as a metaphor for organizational membership, but as a real place where we’ll experience God’s presence fully.

4. The Heavenly Jerusalem

Believers have already come to the heavenly Jerusalem through Christ.

Hebrews 12:22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

Through faith in Christ, believers are already part of the heavenly Jerusalem—the community of all God’s people across time. This isn’t a human organization but the spiritual reality of all believers united in Christ.

About Earth

What Christians Should Believe:

1. Earth is God’s Creation

Earth is the physical planet God created, part of His good creation.

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Isaiah 45:18: “For this is what the LORD says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited.”

Earth is not a metaphor for people—it’s the physical creation God made and declared good.

2. Earth is Affected by Sin

The Fall brought a curse on the earth, subjecting creation to frustration and decay.

Genesis 3:17-19: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.”

Romans 8:20-22: “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

The physical earth suffers under sin’s curse, experiencing decay, disaster, and death.

3. Earth Will Be Renewed

God’s plan includes renewing the earth, not destroying it and starting over.

Psalm 102:25-26: “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.”

Isaiah 65:17: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

2 Peter 3:13: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

The earth will be renewed—purified, perfected, freed from sin’s curse. This is restoration and transformation, not annihilation and replacement.

4. Believers Will Live on the New Earth

The biblical hope is not escaping earth to live in a disembodied heaven, but living in resurrected bodies on a renewed earth where God dwells with His people.

Revelation 21:1-3: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.'”

Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

The promise is that believers will inherit the earth—not as a metaphor but as a real, physical, renewed creation where we’ll live with God forever.

About the New Heaven and New Earth

What Christians Should Believe:

1. It’s a Future Reality

The new heaven and new earth are future—not yet fulfilled, still to come.

Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth'”

John saw this in vision as a future reality. It hasn’t happened yet. We’re still living in the “first heaven and first earth” that will pass away.

2 Peter 3:13: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth”

Peter says believers are “looking forward to” this reality—it’s future, not present.

2. It’s a Physical Reality

The new heaven and new earth are physical—a renewed material creation, not merely spiritual realities.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44: “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”

Believers will have resurrection bodies—physical bodies transformed and glorified, like Christ’s resurrection body.

Philippians 3:21: “Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Luke 24:39-43: After His resurrection, Jesus had a physical body—He could be touched, He ate food, He was recognizable. Our resurrection bodies will be like His.

3. It’s a Complete Renewal

The new heaven and new earth represent complete renewal—everything made new.

Revelation 21:5: “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'”

Not just some things, but everything. The entire creation will be renewed.

4. It’s Where God Dwells with His People

The ultimate fulfillment is God dwelling with His people in the renewed creation.

Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'”

This is the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise throughout Scripture: “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God will dwell with us directly, without mediation, in perfect communion forever.

5. It’s a Place of Perfect Joy

In the new heaven and new earth, all suffering will end.

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

Revelation 22:3: “No longer will there be any curse.”

Death, suffering, pain, sin, curse—all will be eliminated. Only joy, peace, righteousness, and life will remain.

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How to Identify SCJ’s Interpretive Framework

By Lesson 56, students have been thoroughly trained in SCJ’s interpretive method. Let’s identify the specific warning signs that indicate someone is being taught SCJ’s framework rather than sound biblical interpretation.

Warning Sign 1: Systematic Redefinition of Basic Terms

What to Watch For:

If you’re being taught that fundamental biblical terms don’t mean what they plainly say, be very cautious:

• “Heaven” doesn’t mean heaven; it means “tabernacle” or “church”
• “Earth” doesn’t mean earth; it means “people” or “saints”
• “Jerusalem” doesn’t mean Jerusalem; it means “God’s true church”
• “Babylon” doesn’t mean Babylon; it means “false churches”
• “Stars” don’t mean stars; they mean “church leaders”
• “Mountains” don’t mean mountains; they mean “churches” or “kingdoms”

Why This Is Dangerous:

When basic terms are systematically redefined, you lose the ability to verify claims against Scripture. The text no longer means what it says—it means what the instructor tells you it means. This creates total dependence on the organization’s interpretation.

The Biblical Pattern:

While Scripture does use figurative language, it typically signals when it’s doing so. Jesus would say, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” (Matthew 13:31, 33, 44, 45, 47), indicating He’s using a comparison. Revelation explicitly identifies some symbols: “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20).

When Scripture uses terms plainly, we should read them plainly. When it uses figures, it usually indicates this. We shouldn’t assume everything is figurative and requires special interpretation.

Warning Sign 2: Claims of Exclusive Understanding

What to Watch For:

If you’re being taught that only this group has the correct interpretation and all other Christians are wrong, this is a major red flag:

• “The Bible was sealed until our founder received revelation”
• “Other Christians read literally and miss the deeper meanings”
• “We have the testimony that ends all arguments”
• “Only those who learn from us can understand correctly”
• “If you study elsewhere, you’ll be confused”

Why This Is Dangerous:

This claim creates isolation from other Christians and makes it impossible to get outside perspective. It also contradicts Scripture’s teaching that the Holy Spirit guides all believers into truth (John 16:13) and that believers should test teaching (Acts 17:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:21).

The Biblical Pattern:

Scripture encourages testing and examination:

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.”

Even Paul, an apostle, commended people for testing his teaching against Scripture. No teacher should claim their interpretation is beyond examination.

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.”

Believers are commanded to test teaching, not to blindly accept claims of exclusive understanding.

Warning Sign 3: Organizational Focus

What to Watch For:

If the teaching increasingly focuses on a specific organization’s claims about itself rather than on Christ, be concerned:

• Emphasis on finding “the true church” or “Jerusalem”
• Teaching that salvation depends on being in the right organization
• Claims that prophecy is being fulfilled in this specific group
• Pressure to identify which organization is “heaven” or “the new Jerusalem”
• Teaching that you must “come out of Babylon” (leave your church) and join this group

Why This Is Dangerous:

This shifts focus from Christ to an organization. Salvation becomes about organizational membership rather than faith in Christ. Hope becomes about joining the right group rather than trusting in Christ’s finished work.

The Biblical Pattern:

Scripture focuses on Christ, not organizations:

Colossians 1:18: “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

Christ has supremacy, not any human organization.

Ephesians 1:22-23: “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

The church is Christ’s body—all believers united in Him, not one specific organization.

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

Salvation is in Christ’s name, not in organizational membership.

Warning Sign 4: Pressure and Urgency

What to Watch For:

If you feel pressured to make decisions quickly or to act with urgency based on claims you can’t verify:

• “This is the time of harvest—you must act now”
• “God is doing something special right now—don’t miss it”
• “This is not a time of waiting but a time of fleeing”
• “You need to decide which side you’re on”
• “If you delay, you might miss your opportunity”

Why This Is Dangerous:

Urgency prevents careful examination. When you feel pressured to decide quickly, you can’t take time to verify claims, consult with trusted advisors, or think through implications. This urgency is a manipulation tactic.

The Biblical Pattern:

God doesn’t pressure people into decisions they’re not ready to make:

Proverbs 19:2: “Desire without knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way!”

Hasty decisions often lead to error. Wisdom involves careful consideration.

Proverbs 14:15: “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”

Prudence means thinking carefully, not rushing into decisions.

Acts 17:11: The Bereans “examined the Scriptures every day” to verify Paul’s teaching. This takes time—they didn’t rush to judgment.

Warning Sign 5: Isolation from Other Christians

What to Watch For:

If the teaching increasingly criticizes other churches and pastors, creating distance between you and your Christian community:

• “Most churches have betrayed God”
• “Your pastor doesn’t understand Scripture correctly”
• “Other Christians are in Babylon”
• “You shouldn’t discuss this study with your church friends—they won’t understand”
• “If people oppose this teaching, it proves they’re in darkness”

Why This Is Dangerous:

This isolation prevents you from getting outside perspective and makes you dependent on the group. It also contradicts Scripture’s teaching about the body of Christ and the importance of Christian community.

The Biblical Pattern:

Scripture emphasizes unity among believers:

Ephesians 4:3-6: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

While there are differences among Christians, we’re called to unity in essential matters. Teaching that creates division from all other Christians is suspect.

Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Believers need Christian community. Teaching that isolates you from other Christians is dangerous.

Warning Sign 6: Dependency on the Instructor

What to Watch For:

If you’re being taught that you can’t understand Scripture without the instructor’s explanation:

• “You need the key to unlock the parables”
• “Without this teaching, you’ll misunderstand Scripture”
• “Your own reading might lead you astray”
• “You should always check your understanding with your evangelist”
• “If you have questions, don’t study on your own—ask us”

Why This Is Dangerous:

This creates dependency and prevents independent verification. It also contradicts Scripture’s teaching about the Holy Spirit’s role in guiding believers.

The Biblical Pattern:

Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit guides believers:

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

The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth. While we benefit from teachers and community, we’re not dependent on one group’s interpretation.

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

Believers have the Holy Spirit’s anointing. We can understand Scripture with the Spirit’s help, though we benefit from teaching and community.

Warning Sign 7: Secrecy

What to Watch For:

If you’re told not to tell others about the study, or if the organization’s identity is hidden:

• “Don’t tell your family/friends about this yet—they won’t understand”
• “We’ll reveal the organization’s name later”
• “This teaching is for those who are ready”
• “If you share this too soon, people will misunderstand”
• “There are reasons we don’t advertise our name publicly”

Why This Is Dangerous:

Truth doesn’t require secrecy. If teaching is biblical and sound, it can be shared openly. Secrecy prevents outside examination and isolates students from people who might raise concerns.

The Biblical Pattern:

Jesus taught openly:

John 18:20: “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.”

While Jesus did teach His disciples privately at times, His public teaching was open and His identity was clear. He didn’t hide who He was or teach in secret to avoid examination.

Acts 26:26: “The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.”

Paul emphasized that the gospel events happened publicly, not secretly. Truth can withstand public scrutiny.

Warning Sign 8: Testing Through Investment

What to Watch For:

If advancement requires passing tests that measure acceptance of the teaching rather than understanding:

• Tests with specific “correct” answers that match the organization’s interpretation
• Requirement to memorize answers verbatim
• Inability to progress without accepting the teaching
• Tests used to identify who is “ready” for the next level
• Emphasis on getting the “right” answer rather than understanding principles

Why This Is Dangerous:

This creates a gatekeeping system where only those who fully accept the teaching progress. It also measures compliance rather than genuine understanding. Students learn to give the “right” answers to advance, even if they have doubts.

The Biblical Pattern:

Scripture encourages genuine understanding and questioning:

Proverbs 2:3-5: “Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”

True understanding comes from seeking wisdom, not from memorizing predetermined answers.

Acts 17:11: The Bereans examined Scripture to verify teaching. They weren’t just accepting and memorizing—they were testing and verifying.

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Part 12: Responding to SCJ’s Teaching

For Those Currently in SCJ Studies

If you’re currently taking SCJ’s Bible studies and recognizing these warning signs, here’s how to respond:

Step 1: Pause and Reflect

You don’t need to make any immediate decisions. Despite what you may have been told about urgency, you can take time to think, pray, and seek counsel.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. Am I being pressured? Do I feel rushed to make decisions or accept teaching before I’m ready?
2. Can I verify claims independently? Can I check what I’m being taught against Scripture without being told I’ll misunderstand?
3. Is this creating distance from other Christians? Am I being taught to distrust my church, pastor, and Christian friends?
4. What’s the focus? Is the teaching primarily about Christ and His work, or about an organization’s claims about itself?
5. Am I free to question? Can I raise doubts or concerns without being told I’m spiritually immature or resistant?
6. How do I feel? Do I feel peace and freedom, or anxiety and pressure?

Take Time to Process:

• You can always resume studies later if you decide to
• Taking a break to think and pray is wisdom, not weakness
• God doesn’t pressure people into decisions they’re not ready to make
• If the teaching is true, it will withstand examination

Step 2: Seek Outside Perspective

One of SCJ’s most effective tactics is isolation. Breaking this isolation is crucial.

Talk to Someone You Trust:

• A pastor or mature Christian you respect
• A family member who knows you well
• A Christian friend outside the study
• A counselor familiar with spiritual manipulation

What to Share:

• What you’re learning and how it’s being taught
• The time commitment and pressure you’re experiencing
• Any concerns or doubts you have
• The warning signs you’ve noticed

Be Prepared:

SCJ has likely taught you that opposition proves the teaching is true, that people who don’t understand will try to stop you, that Satan uses family and friends to create doubt. Recognize these as manipulation tactics designed to prevent you from getting outside perspective.

If people you trust express concern, listen carefully. They may see things you can’t see because you’re immersed in the study.

Step 3: Research Shincheonji

If you haven’t been told you’re studying with Shincheonji, ask directly: “Is this Shincheonji?” or “What organization is teaching this?”

If you have been told (or discover) it’s Shincheonji, research the organization:

Online Resources:

• closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination: Comprehensive examination of SCJ’s claims and teaching methods
• Former member testimonies
• News articles about SCJ
• Christian apologetics resources addressing SCJ

What to Look For:

• How do former members describe their experience?
• What do Christian leaders and scholars say about SCJ’s teaching?
• Are there patterns of deception, manipulation, or harm?
• How does SCJ respond to criticism?

Evaluate Honestly:

• Does the organization’s behavior match biblical standards?
• Is there transparency or secrecy?
• Is there humility or claims of exclusive truth?
• Is there freedom or control?

Step 4: Test the Teaching

Use the verification framework from Chapter 5 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”:

The Scripture Test:

• Does the teaching align with Scripture interpreted in context?
• Are passages being used according to their actual meaning?
• Is the interpretation consistent with how the Bible uses terms?

The Christ Test:

• Does the teaching exalt Christ or an organization?
• Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ, or by understanding and organizational membership?
• Is Christ central, or are organizational claims central?

The Fruit Test:

• Does the teaching produce Christlike character (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)?
• Or does it produce anxiety, pressure, isolation, and conflict?

The Authority Test:

• Does the teaching point to Scripture’s authority?
• Or does it make you dependent on human interpreters?

The Gospel Test:

• Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone?
• Or are conditions added (understanding parables, accepting testimony, joining an organization)?

The Love Test:

• Does the teaching produce love for God and others?
• Or does it create division from family, friends, and other Christians?

The Humility Test:

• Does the teaching display appropriate humility?
• Or does it claim exclusive understanding and dismiss all other perspectives?

Step 5: Make a Decision

After pausing, seeking counsel, researching, and testing, you need to make a decision:

If You Decide to Leave:

1. Don’t feel obligated to explain extensively: You can simply say you’ve decided this isn’t right for you
2. Expect pressure: Your evangelist may try to convince you to stay, may question your reasons, may suggest you’re being deceived
3. Be firm: “I’ve made my decision and I’m not going to change my mind”
4. Reconnect with your church: Talk to your pastor, explain what happened, seek support
5. Process the experience: Consider talking to a counselor about what you experienced
6. Don’t feel guilty: You were deceived through sophisticated manipulation tactics. This isn’t your fault.

If You Decide to Continue:

If after careful examination you decide to continue, at least:

1. Maintain outside relationships: Don’t isolate from family, friends, and your church
2. Keep testing: Continue to verify what you’re taught against Scripture
3. Stay alert: Watch for increasing pressure, demands, or manipulation
4. Know you can leave: You’re not obligated to continue if things become concerning
5. Seek balance: Don’t let the study consume all your time and energy

Step 6: Learn and Grow

Whether you leave or stay, use this experience to grow:

Develop Discernment:

• Learn to recognize manipulation tactics
• Understand sound biblical interpretation
• Know how to test teaching against Scripture

Strengthen Your Foundation:

• Study Scripture systematically
• Learn basic Christian doctrine
• Understand church history and theology

Help Others:

• Share your experience to help others avoid deception
• Support others who are questioning or leaving
• Pray for those still involved

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Part 13: For Family and Friends of Those in SCJ

If someone you care about is involved in SCJ studies, you want to help but may not know how. Here’s guidance based on what has proven effective:

Understand What You’re Dealing With

This Is Not Just a Bible Study:

Your loved one isn’t just attending a Bible study—they’re being systematically indoctrinated through sophisticated psychological manipulation. Understanding this helps you respond effectively.

The Indoctrination Process:

By Lesson 56 (approximately 5 months in), your loved one has:

• Invested 180-200+ hours in classes, small groups, and study
• Been taught that the Bible was sealed and incomprehensible without SCJ
• Learned to automatically interpret everything figuratively
• Been conditioned to distrust other churches and pastors
• Developed relationships within SCJ
• Been taught that opposition proves the teaching is true

This isn’t something they can just “snap out of.” The indoctrination is deep and the psychological bonds are strong.

They Believe They’re Growing Spiritually:

Your loved one likely feels they’re experiencing genuine spiritual growth. They’re learning “secrets” others don’t know, understanding “deep” meanings in Scripture, and being part of something special. This makes it hard for them to see the manipulation.

What NOT to Do

Don’t Attack Their Faith:

Avoid saying things like:

• “You’re in a cult”
• “You’re being brainwashed”
• “How can you believe this nonsense?”
• “You’re abandoning your faith”

These attacks will push them away and confirm what SCJ has taught them—that people who don’t understand will oppose them.

Don’t Issue Ultimatums:

Avoid saying:

• “It’s SCJ or me”
• “If you continue this, I’m done”
• “You have to choose between this and your family”

Ultimatums rarely work and often backfire. Your loved one may choose SCJ, at least temporarily, because they believe it’s God’s will.

Don’t Argue Doctrine:

Avoid getting into detailed doctrinal debates:

• SCJ has trained them to defend their interpretations
• They have answers prepared for common objections
• Doctrinal arguments often strengthen their commitment
• You’re unlikely to win a debate about interpretation

Don’t Give Up:

Many people leave SCJ eventually, often after months or even years. Your consistent love and presence matter, even if you don’t see immediate results.

What TO Do

Maintain Relationship:

The most important thing is to maintain your relationship:

• Stay connected and loving
• Don’t cut off contact
• Show interest in their life (not just the study)
• Demonstrate unconditional love

SCJ teaches that opposition proves they’re right and that Satan uses family to create doubt. By remaining loving and supportive, you contradict this narrative.

Ask Questions:

Use gentle questions to encourage critical thinking:

About the Organization:

• “What’s the name of the organization teaching this?”
• “Who founded it and when?”
• “What do they believe about their founder?”
• “Why don’t they advertise their name publicly?”

About the Teaching:

• “How do you know this interpretation is correct?”
• “What would it look like if this claim were false?”
• “Have you checked this against what other Christians believe?”
• “Does this interpretation match how the passage has been understood historically?”

About the Process:

• “How much time are you spending on this?”
• “Do you feel pressured?”
• “Can you take a break if you want to?”
• “What happens if you disagree with something?”

About the Impact:

• “How is this affecting your other relationships?”
• “How do you feel about your church now?”
• “Are you feeling more peace or more anxiety?”
• “What are your friends and family saying?”

Questions are more effective than statements because they encourage your loved one to think rather than defend.

Express Concern Without Attacking:

Share your concerns using “I” statements:

• “I’m concerned because I see you spending so much time on this”
• “I worry that you’re becoming distant from your church”
• “I feel like we’re losing connection”
• “I’m afraid you’re being pressured”

This expresses your feelings without attacking their choices.

Provide Resources:

Make information available without forcing it:

• Share links to resources about SCJ (like closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination)
• Offer to read former member testimonies together
• Suggest talking to a pastor or counselor together
• Provide books on biblical interpretation or cults

Don’t force them to read or watch anything, but make resources available when they’re ready.

Pray:

Pray consistently for:

• Spiritual discernment and wisdom
• Protection from deception
• Truth to be revealed
• Your relationship to remain strong
• Opportunities to have meaningful conversations

Be Patient:

Change takes time. Your loved one has invested months and has been psychologically conditioned. Even when they start having doubts, it may take time for them to act on those doubts.

Celebrate small steps:

• They take a break from studies
• They express a doubt or concern
• They reconnect with old friends
• They attend church
• They ask questions

Understand the Barriers

Why It’s Hard to Leave:

Understanding why it’s difficult for your loved one to leave helps you be patient:

Investment: They’ve invested 5+ months and 200+ hours. Walking away feels like admitting they wasted all that time.

Relationships: They’ve formed friendships within SCJ. Leaving means losing these relationships.

Identity: They’ve been taught that their identity is tied to understanding these “secrets” and being part of God’s work. Leaving feels like losing their purpose.

Fear: They’ve been taught that leaving means rejecting God’s revelation, missing their opportunity, or returning to “Babylon.” This creates fear.

Cognitive Dissonance: They’ve recruited others, defended the teaching, and changed their life for this. Admitting they were wrong creates painful cognitive dissonance.

Hope: They’ve been offered hope—understanding God’s plan, being part of something special, entering the kingdom. Leaving feels like losing hope.

Understanding these barriers helps you be compassionate rather than frustrated.

When to Seek Additional Help

Consider seeking professional help if:

• Your loved one is showing signs of psychological distress
• They’re cutting off all outside relationships
• They’re making major life decisions (quitting job, ending relationships, moving)
• They’re experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns
• The situation is affecting your own mental health

Resources:

• Counselors familiar with spiritual abuse and cult recovery
• Cult awareness organizations
• Support groups for families affected by cults
• Church leaders experienced in helping people leave cultic groups

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Part 14: For Former SCJ Members

If you’ve left SCJ, you may be experiencing a range of difficult emotions and challenges. Here’s guidance for recovery:

Understand What You Experienced

You Were Systematically Deceived:

What you experienced wasn’t just “a Bible study that turned out to be wrong.” You were subjected to sophisticated psychological manipulation designed to:

• Undermine your confidence in understanding Scripture
• Create dependency on SCJ’s interpretations
• Isolate you from other Christians
• Shift your identity to organizational membership
• Make you feel special and privileged
• Create fear of leaving

This wasn’t your fault. SCJ’s methods are designed to deceive sincere people seeking to grow spiritually.

The Manipulation Was Real:

Even if you now see the errors in SCJ’s teaching, the psychological manipulation was real and has real effects:

• You may struggle to trust your own judgment
• You may have difficulty reading Scripture without SCJ’s framework
• You may feel guilty about the time invested
• You may struggle with relationships you damaged
• You may question your faith altogether

These are normal responses to what you experienced. Be patient with yourself.

Common Challenges in Recovery

Challenge 1: Identity Crisis

SCJ taught you that your identity was tied to being part of the “new heaven and new earth,” understanding the “secrets,” and being among the “chosen.” Leaving feels like losing your identity and purpose.

Response:

Your true identity is in Christ, not in any organization:

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Galatians 3:26-28: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Your identity as God’s child through faith in Christ cannot be taken away by leaving an organization. You haven’t lost your purpose—you’ve been freed to pursue your true purpose in Christ.

Challenge 2: Difficulty Reading Scripture

After months of being taught that everything is figurative and requires special interpretation, you may struggle to read Scripture plainly. SCJ’s framework may automatically activate when you read certain passages.

Response:

This will take time to overcome. Suggestions:

1. Start with the Gospels: Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, focusing on Jesus’ life, teaching, death, and resurrection
2. Read devotionally: Don’t try to interpret everything—just read to know Jesus better
3. Use a study Bible: Good study Bibles provide historical context and explain difficult passages
4. Read with others: Join a Bible study at a healthy church where you can learn sound interpretation
5. Be patient: Your ability to read Scripture without SCJ’s framework will return with time

Challenge 3: Broken Relationships

You may have damaged relationships with family, friends, or your church during your time in SCJ. You may have recruited others who are still involved. You may have said hurtful things to people who tried to warn you.

Response:

Make amends where possible:

• Apologize to those you hurt: “I’m sorry for how I treated you. I was deceived and I was wrong.”
• Explain what happened: “I was involved in a group that manipulated me. I see that now.”
• Ask for forgiveness: “Will you forgive me?”
• Don’t expect immediate restoration: Relationships take time to rebuild

Warn those you recruited:

• Contact people you brought into SCJ
• Explain what you’ve learned
• Share resources about SCJ’s deception
• Offer to help them leave
• Don’t feel guilty if they’re not ready to hear it—you’ve done what you can

Rebuild trust:

• Be consistent and reliable
• Follow through on commitments
• Be honest about what you experienced
• Give people time to trust you again

Challenge 4: Guilt and Shame

You may feel intense guilt about:

• The time you “wasted”
• The people you recruited
• The relationships you damaged
• The things you believed
• The fact that you were deceived

Response:

Remember God’s grace:

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

Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

God forgives you. The guilt and shame are not from Him.

Reframe the experience:

Instead of seeing it as wasted time, see it as:

• A learning experience that deepened your discernment
• An opportunity to help others avoid deception
• A testimony to God’s faithfulness in bringing you out
• A reminder of your need for God’s wisdom

Be compassionate with yourself:

You were sincere in seeking God. You were deceived by sophisticated manipulation. This doesn’t make you foolish—it makes you human. Be as compassionate with yourself as you would be with a friend in the same situation.

Challenge 5: Anger

You may feel intense anger at:

• SCJ for deceiving you
• Your evangelist for manipulating you
• Yourself for being deceived
• God for allowing this to happen

Response:

Anger is a natural response to being deceived and manipulated. Allow yourself to feel it, but don’t let it consume you.

Process the anger healthily:

• Talk to a counselor or trusted friend
• Write about your experience
• Exercise or engage in physical activity
• Pray honestly about your feelings

Work toward forgiveness:

This doesn’t mean excusing what was done or reconciling with those who hurt you. It means releasing the anger so it doesn’t poison you.

Ephesians 4:26-27: “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Forgiveness is a process, not an event. It may take time.

Challenge 6: Faith Struggles

Some former members struggle with faith in God altogether. If SCJ’s claims were false, how can you trust anything? If you were so wrong about this, how can you be sure about anything?

Response:

Distinguish between SCJ’s false claims and God’s truth:

SCJ’s claims being false doesn’t mean Christianity is false. SCJ distorted Christianity—they don’t represent it.

Return to the basics:

• Jesus lived, died, and rose again (historical facts)
• The gospel is simple: salvation by grace through faith in Christ
• God’s character is revealed in Jesus, not in SCJ’s claims

Seek help:

• Talk to a pastor or counselor about your doubts
• Read books on Christian apologetics
• Connect with Christians who have solid faith
• Be honest with God about your struggles

Be patient:

Faith recovery takes time. Don’t expect to immediately have everything figured out. God is patient with your process.

Steps Toward Recovery

Step 1: Find a Healthy Church

Look for a church that:

• Teaches Scripture faithfully in context
• Focuses on Christ and the gospel
• Provides genuine community
• Doesn’t manipulate or control
• Welcomes questions and doubts

Take your time finding the right fit. Visit several churches. Talk to pastors. Ask questions about their teaching and approach.

Step 2: Consider Counseling

A counselor familiar with spiritual abuse and cult recovery can help you:

• Process what you experienced
• Work through guilt and shame
• Rebuild trust in yourself and others
• Develop healthy boundaries
• Heal from manipulation

Step 3: Connect with Other Former Members

You’re not alone. Many others have left SCJ and understand what you’re experiencing. Connecting with them provides:

• Validation of your experience
• Understanding from those who’ve been there
• Practical advice for recovery
• Hope that healing is possible

Step 4: Educate Yourself

Learn about:

• Sound biblical interpretation
• How to recognize manipulation tactics
• Cult dynamics and recovery
• Christian doctrine and theology

This education helps you understand what happened and prevents future deception.

Step 5: Help Others

When you’re ready, consider:

• Sharing your testimony
• Warning others about SCJ
• Helping current members leave
• Supporting other former members

Helping others can be part of your healing and can redeem your experience by preventing others from being deceived.

Resources for Recovery

Online Resources:

• closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
• Former member testimonies and support groups
• Articles on cult recovery

Books:

• Books on spiritual abuse recovery
• Books on sound biblical interpretation
• Books on Christian doctrine

Professional Help:

• Counselors specializing in spiritual abuse
• Cult awareness organizations
• Church leaders experienced in helping people recover

Support:

• Former member support groups
• Healthy church community
• Trusted friends and family

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Part 15: The Theological Significance—What’s Really at Stake

More Than Just Interpretation

SCJ’s teaching about heaven and earth might seem like just a different way of interpreting Scripture. But what’s at stake is much more significant than interpretive method. Let’s examine the core theological truths that SCJ’s framework undermines.

The Doctrine of Creation

What’s at Stake:

When SCJ teaches that “heaven and earth” in Genesis 1:1 doesn’t refer to God’s creation of the physical universe but to establishing a spiritual tabernacle and people, they undermine the doctrine of creation.

Why It Matters:

The doctrine of creation establishes:

1. God’s Sovereignty: God created everything that exists; nothing exists independently of Him
2. God’s Transcendence: God exists before and beyond creation; He’s not part of the created order
3. Creation’s Goodness: The physical world is good because God made it and declared it good
4. Human Dignity: Humans are made in God’s image, giving inherent dignity and worth
5. Stewardship: Humans are called to care for God’s creation
6. Hope for Renewal: If God created the physical world and declared it good, He will renew it, not discard it

What SCJ’s Teaching Does:

By spiritualizing “heaven and earth” to mean “tabernacle and people,” SCJ:

• Diminishes God’s creative power
• Questions the goodness of the physical world
• Moves toward Gnostic dualism (spirit good, matter bad)
• Undermines hope for physical resurrection and renewed creation

The Doctrine of Resurrection

What’s at Stake:

When SCJ teaches that “new earth” means “new people” (their members) rather than renewed creation, they undermine the doctrine of bodily resurrection.

Why It Matters:

Bodily resurrection is central to Christianity:

1 Corinthians 15:12-19: “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

Paul says that if there’s no resurrection, Christianity is false. The resurrection is that central.

What Resurrection Means:

• Believers will be raised with glorified physical bodies like Christ’s
• Death is defeated—it’s not the end
• The whole person (body and soul) is redeemed
• We’ll live in a physical, renewed creation
• God’s redemption includes the material world, not just spiritual realities

What SCJ’s Teaching Does:

By reducing “new earth” to “new people” and making it about organizational membership, SCJ:

• Eliminates the hope of bodily resurrection
• Makes salvation merely spiritual, not physical
• Offers no real answer to death
• Reduces biblical hope to organizational affiliation

The Doctrine of Christ’s Return

What’s at Stake:

When SCJ teaches that Christ’s return and the fulfillment of Revelation have already happened spiritually in their organization, they undermine the doctrine of the Second Coming.

Why It Matters:

Christ’s return is the Christian hope:

Titus 2:13: “While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

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

The Second Coming will be:

• Physical and visible (every eye will see Him)
• Unmistakable (like lightning across the sky)
• Universal (all peoples will see)
• Glorious (with power and great glory)
• Final (establishing God’s kingdom forever)

What SCJ’s Teaching Does:

By claiming that Christ has already returned spiritually and that Revelation is being fulfilled in their organization, SCJ:

• Removes the hope of Christ’s visible return
• Makes prophecy about their organization rather than God’s cosmic plan
• Reduces Christ’s glorious appearing to organizational events
• Creates false hope in human achievement rather than divine intervention

The Doctrine of the Church

What’s at Stake:

When SCJ teaches that they are “Jerusalem” and “the new heaven” while all other churches are “Babylon,” they undermine the biblical doctrine of the church.

Why It Matters:

The church is the body of Christ—all believers united in Him:

Ephesians 1:22-23: “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

The church is:

• Universal (all believers across time and place)
• United in Christ (one body with Christ as head)
• Diverse (many members with different gifts)
• Defined by faith in Christ, not organizational membership

What SCJ’s Teaching Does:

By claiming to be the only true church, SCJ:

• Divides the body of Christ
• Creates false boundaries (SCJ vs. everyone else)
• Makes salvation dependent on organizational membership
• Denies the unity of all believers in Christ
• Promotes sectarianism and division

The Doctrine of Scripture

What’s at Stake:

When SCJ teaches that Scripture was “sealed” and incomprehensible until their founder received revelation, they undermine the doctrine of Scripture’s clarity (perspicuity).

Why It Matters:

Scripture is God’s revelation to humanity—His way of making Himself known:

2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Psalm 19:7-8: “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

Scripture is:

• Clear in its main message (the gospel)
• Sufficient for salvation and godly living
• Accessible to ordinary believers
• Self-interpreting (Scripture interprets Scripture)
• Authoritative over human interpretation

What SCJ’s Teaching Does:

By claiming Scripture was sealed and requires their special interpretation, SCJ:

• Makes Scripture dependent on human interpreters
• Creates a new authority above Scripture (their founder’s revelation)
• Makes salvation dependent on special knowledge
• Removes Scripture’s accessibility to ordinary believers
• Shifts authority from God’s Word to human teaching

The Doctrine of Salvation

What’s at Stake:

When SCJ teaches that understanding parables, accepting their testimony, and joining their organization are necessary for salvation, they undermine the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.

Why It Matters:

Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone is the heart of the gospel:

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

Romans 3:23-24: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

John 3:16: “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.”

Salvation is:

• By grace (God’s unmerited favor)
• Through faith (trusting in Christ)
• In Christ alone (not in ourselves or any organization)
• A gift (not earned by works or understanding)
• Available to all who believe (not limited to one group)

What SCJ’s Teaching Does:

By adding conditions to salvation (understanding parables, accepting testimony, joining SCJ), they:

• Replace grace with works
• Make salvation dependent on intellectual understanding
• Limit salvation to those in their organization
• Shift focus from Christ to human achievement
• Create false assurance based on organizational membership

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Conclusion: The Path Forward

The Core Issue

Lesson 56, like all of SCJ’s teaching, presents a fundamental choice: Will we trust Scripture’s plain teaching about God’s plan for creation, or will we accept a reinterpretation that serves an organization’s claims about itself?

SCJ’s framework—”heaven = tabernacle, earth = people”—appears to be just an interpretive method. But as we’ve seen, it’s much more. It’s a systematic redefinition of biblical truth that:

• Replaces cosmic hope with organizational membership
• Reduces physical resurrection to spiritual rebirth
• Substitutes Christ’s glorious return with organizational events
• Exchanges God’s renewal of creation for institutional change
• Shifts focus from Christ to human claims

By the time students reach Lesson 56, they’ve been conditioned to accept this framework through months of gradual indoctrination. They’ve learned to automatically interpret “heaven” and “earth” figuratively, to distrust their own understanding, to depend on SCJ’s interpretations, and to see themselves as privileged recipients of special knowledge.

But the framework is built on errors:

• Hermeneutical errors: Ignoring context, denying plain sense, illegitimate totality transfer, selective literalism
• Theological errors: Undermining creation, resurrection, Christ’s return, the church, Scripture’s clarity, and salvation by grace
• Logical errors: Circular reasoning, eisegesis, false premises

The True Hope

The biblical hope that SCJ obscures is far greater than anything they offer:

God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)—the physical universe is His good creation, not merely a metaphor.

Sin corrupted creation (Romans 8:20-21)—the physical world suffers under the curse, groaning for redemption.

Christ died and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)—His physical resurrection guarantees ours and demonstrates God’s plan to redeem the material world.

Christ will return visibly and gloriously (Revelation 1:7)—every eye will see Him; it won’t be a secret fulfillment in one organization.

God will create a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1)—He will renew all creation, not just establish a new organization.

Believers will be resurrected with glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)—we’ll live physically in a renewed creation, not merely spiritually in an organization.

God will dwell with His people forever (Revelation 21:3)—we’ll see His face, experience His presence directly, and live in perfect communion with Him.

There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4)—all suffering will end, all tears will be wiped away, all brokenness will be healed.

This is the hope—vast, cosmic, physical, spiritual, eternal, glorious. This is what God promises. This is what Christ died to secure. This is what the Holy Spirit guarantees. This is what Scripture reveals.

And this hope is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ—not to those who join a specific organization, not to those who understand special interpretations, not to those who accept detailed testimony, but to all who trust in Christ for salvation.

The Invitation

If you’re in SCJ studies, you were drawn there because you wanted to know God better, understand His Word more deeply, and grow spiritually. These are good desires. But SCJ cannot fulfill them because their teaching leads away from Christ and biblical truth.

The good news is that you can know God, understand His Word, and grow spiritually without SCJ—and in fact, you can do these things better without their distorted framework.

You don’t need SCJ’s framework to understand Scripture. The Holy Spirit guides all believers into truth (John 16:13). While we benefit from teachers and community, we’re not dependent on one group’s interpretation.

You don’t need to be part of “the new heaven” (SCJ) to have hope. Your hope is in Christ’s finished work and God’s promise to renew all creation. This hope cannot be shaken because it’s anchored in God’s character and Christ’s resurrection.

You don’t need special knowledge to be saved. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. The gospel is simple enough for a child to understand: Jesus died for our sins and rose again; whoever believes in Him has eternal life.

You don’t need to fear missing your opportunity. God is patient and gracious. He doesn’t pressure people into decisions they’re not ready to make. If you need time to think, pray, and seek counsel, take it. Truth can withstand examination.

For Those Who Have Left

If you’ve left SCJ, you may be struggling with guilt, shame, confusion, or anger. Remember:

You were deceived by sophisticated manipulation. This doesn’t make you foolish—it makes you human. Be compassionate with yourself.

God’s grace is sufficient. He forgives you for anything you did while deceived. He’s faithful to complete the work He began in you.

Your experience can help others. By sharing your story and warning others, you can redeem your experience and prevent others from being deceived.

Recovery is possible. Many former members have found healing, rebuilt their faith, and moved forward. You can too.

The true hope remains. SCJ’s false claims don’t invalidate Christianity. The biblical hope of resurrection and new creation is still true, still available, still glorious.

For Family and Friends

If someone you love is in SCJ, don’t give up. Your consistent love and presence matter. Many people leave eventually, often because someone who loved them never stopped reaching out.

Maintain relationship. Ask questions. Express concern. Provide resources. Pray. Be patient. Trust that God is at work even when you don’t see results.

The Final Word

Chapter 22 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Scarlet Thread—Tracing God’s Redemptive Plan,” emphasizes that the Bible’s central message is Christ—His person, work, and glory. Every part of Scripture points to Him.

When teaching shifts focus from Christ to an organization’s claims about itself, it has departed from biblical Christianity, regardless of how much biblical language it uses.

SCJ’s teaching about heaven and earth shifts focus from God’s cosmic plan of redemption to their organizational claims. It reduces the magnificent biblical hope to institutional membership. It replaces Christ-centered faith with organization-centered faith.

But the true hope remains: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. God will renew all creation. Believers will be resurrected. God will dwell with His people forever. Death will be defeated. Suffering will end. Joy will be complete.

This hope is not based on understanding special interpretations or joining the right organization. It’s based on Christ’s finished work and God’s unchanging promises. And it’s available to all who believe.

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

The invitation is open. The water of life is free. You don’t need to belong to “the new heaven” (SCJ) to receive it. You need only to come to Christ in faith.

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Resources for Further Study

For comprehensive examination of SCJ’s claims and teaching methods, visit:

closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination

This resource provides:

• Detailed analysis of SCJ’s theology and practices
• Former member testimonies
• Biblical refutations of SCJ’s teaching
• Guidance for those questioning or leaving
• Support for families affected by SCJ
• Educational materials on sound biblical interpretation