Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story

A Refutation of SCJ Lesson 61: “Figurative 3 Types of Heaven and Keys”

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Introduction: The Locked Door and the Counterfeit Key

Imagine you inherit a beautiful house from a beloved grandparent. The house has been in your family for generations, and you’ve been given the key to unlock it and make it your home. You’ve visited this house many times throughout your life—you know its rooms, its history, its warmth. The key your grandparent gave you fits perfectly, and you’re excited to fully explore your inheritance.

But one day, someone approaches you with a concerned expression. “I see you have a key,” he says, “but I’m afraid it’s the wrong one. That key will only open the front door—it won’t give you access to the real treasures inside. You see, this house has secret rooms, hidden passages, and locked chambers that your key can’t reach. Most people who inherit this house never discover its true value because they only have the basic key.”

He pulls out an ornate key from his pocket. “This is the master key,” he explains. “It was given to someone special who explored every corner of the house and discovered all its secrets. With this key, you can access rooms your grandparent never even knew existed. But there’s a catch—you can’t use both keys. If you want the master key, you have to give me your old key. You have to trust that what I’m offering is better than what you were given.”

The offer is tempting. Who wouldn’t want access to hidden treasures? Who wouldn’t want to discover secrets that others have missed? So you hand over your key—the one your grandparent gave you, the one that’s been in your family for generations—and take the ornate master key instead.

But when you try to use this new key, something strange happens. The doors it opens lead to rooms that don’t match the house’s architecture. The “treasures” you find contradict the family history you’ve always known. The “secret passages” take you away from the main house into additions that were built recently by someone else. And when you try to return to the familiar rooms using your new key, you discover it doesn’t fit the original locks at all.

You’ve been given a counterfeit key. It opens doors, certainly—but not the doors of your true inheritance. It leads to rooms, but not the rooms your grandparent intended for you. And now, having surrendered your original key, you’re locked out of the very house that was meant to be yours.

This is what happens in SCJ Lesson 61: “Figurative 3 Types of Heaven and Keys.”

The lesson appears to be an enlightening Bible study about heaven and the wisdom needed to understand God’s secrets. The instructor, Nate, walks students through Scripture, discusses different types of heaven, and promises to reveal the “keys” to understanding mysteries that most Christians miss. Everything seems biblical, profound, and spiritually enriching.

But beneath the surface, something else is happening. This lesson is a critical turning point in SCJ’s indoctrination process. By Lesson 61, students have been studying for months. They’ve learned about parables, symbols, the sun-moon-and-stars, the three types of Israel, and the pattern of God’s work throughout history. They trust their instructor. They’ve invested significant time. They’ve formed relationships within the group. And now they’re being introduced to a concept that will fundamentally reshape how they understand salvation, heaven, and their place in God’s plan.

The “keys” that SCJ offers in this lesson sound like the master key to understanding Scripture. But they’re actually counterfeit keys that will lock students out of the true gospel and lead them into a theological system where salvation depends on recognizing Lee Man-hee as “the one who overcomes,” joining SCJ as the “new spiritual Israel,” and being “sealed” as one of the 144,000.

What makes this lesson particularly dangerous is that students at this point—Lesson 61 of the Introductory Level—still don’t know they’re in Shincheonji. They don’t know about Lee Man-hee. They don’t know where this teaching is ultimately heading. They think they’re simply learning to understand the Bible better, to recognize patterns in Scripture, to gain wisdom that will help them grow spiritually.

As Chapter 12 of Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story explains, SCJ’s teaching method involves “building a theological foundation brick by brick, where each lesson seems reasonable in isolation but collectively constructs a worldview that diverges dramatically from biblical Christianity.” Lesson 61 is one of the most critical bricks. It takes the frameworks students have already accepted (three types of Israel, the pattern of “overcoming,” the symbolic interpretation of Scripture) and adds a new layer: the concept of “three types of heaven” and the “keys” to understanding them.

By the time students finish this lesson, they will have accepted several dangerous premises:

1. That there are three distinct “heavens” corresponding to three eras of God’s work
2. That “the one who overcomes” is a specific individual who forms twelve tribes in each era
3. That Jesus was “the one who overcomes” at the first coming, and there’s another “one who overcomes” at the second coming
4. That understanding these patterns requires special “keys” (wisdom) that most Christians don’t possess
5. That their hope should be to belong to the “recreated sealed 12 tribes”—the new heaven and new earth

None of these premises are biblical. But students won’t realize that yet. They’re following the light, trusting the guide, and surrendering the key they were given (the simple gospel of grace through faith in Christ) for an ornate counterfeit that promises access to deeper mysteries but actually locks them out of their true inheritance.

Let’s examine how this lesson constructs its framework, what it gets wrong, and what the Bible actually teaches about heaven, overcoming, and the keys to understanding God’s truth.

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Part 1: The Setup—Three Types of Heaven

What SCJ Teaches

Lesson 61 begins by introducing “three types of heaven” that correspond to the “three types of Israel” from the previous lesson:

1. Heaven in the Spiritual World

• Also known as “the new Jerusalem, the holy city that comes down from heaven”
• The spiritual realm where God dwells

2. Tabernacle of the First Chosen People

• Referred to as “the first heaven and first earth”
• The church established at Jesus’ first coming

3. The Recreated Sealed 12 Tribes

• Called “the new heaven and new earth”
• The organization established at Jesus’ second coming (which SCJ claims is happening now)

Nate emphasizes: “We should all hope to belong to the twelve tribes of the new spiritual Israel” and explains that “the keys represent the wisdom to know the secrets. There will be both good and bad secrets to learn about.”

The lesson reviews the previous teaching about the three types of Israel and emphasizes the pattern: “The common thread was that someone had to first overcome a challenge or obstacle.”

The Indoctrination Tactic

This section employs several sophisticated manipulation techniques that build on the foundation laid in previous lessons:

First, it creates a three-tier cosmology that parallels the three-tier Israel framework. Students have already accepted (in Lesson 60) that there are three types of Israel: Physical Israel, Spiritual Israel, and New Spiritual Israel. Now they’re being taught that there are three corresponding “heavens.” This parallel structure makes the teaching seem systematic and biblical—if there are three Israels, of course there would be three heavens. But this parallel is entirely fabricated. The Bible doesn’t teach three types of Israel or three types of heaven in the way SCJ presents them.

Second, it redefines “heaven” to mean “God’s people” or “God’s organization.” In biblical usage, “heaven” typically refers to God’s dwelling place, the spiritual realm, or the eternal state of believers with God. But SCJ uses “heaven” to mean “the place where God’s chosen people dwell”—which they interpret as whatever organization God is working through in a particular era. This redefinition allows them to claim that “the new heaven and new earth” isn’t the eternal state described in Revelation 21-22, but rather their organization, SCJ.

Third, it uses biblical terminology to describe non-biblical concepts. Terms like “new Jerusalem,” “first heaven and first earth,” and “new heaven and new earth” all come from Scripture. By using these terms, SCJ makes their teaching sound biblical. But they’ve stripped these terms of their biblical meanings and assigned them new meanings that serve SCJ’s agenda. Students hear familiar biblical language and assume the teaching is biblical, without realizing the terms have been redefined.

Fourth, it introduces the concept of “keys” as special wisdom. The lesson states that “the keys represent the wisdom to know the secrets.” This creates a sense that understanding requires special knowledge—knowledge that SCJ possesses and will share with diligent students. It also creates a two-tier system: those who have the “keys” (SCJ members who understand the symbolic meanings) and those who don’t (mainstream Christians who read the Bible literally).

Fifth, it emphasizes “hope to belong to the twelve tribes.” This phrase is repeated throughout the lesson. Students are being conditioned to see their spiritual hope not as “eternal life through faith in Christ” but as “belonging to the twelve tribes of new spiritual Israel.” This subtle shift in focus will later be used to convince students that salvation requires joining SCJ.

Sixth, it mentions “good and bad secrets.” This creates curiosity and anticipation. What are these secrets? Students want to know, which motivates them to continue studying. It also prepares them for later teachings about “betrayal” and “destruction” that they’ll need to understand to make sense of SCJ’s narrative.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

The Bible does use the term “heaven” in various ways, but not in the way SCJ presents. Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches:

Biblical Uses of “Heaven”

In Scripture, “heaven” (Hebrew: shamayim; Greek: ouranos) is used in several ways:

1. The Physical Sky The atmosphere and space above the earth.

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.”

2. God’s Dwelling Place The spiritual realm where God is present in His fullness.

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.”

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

3. The Eternal State of Believers The place where believers will dwell with God forever.

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.”

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

4. The Renewed Creation The “new heaven and new earth” where God will dwell with His people in the renewed creation.

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. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'”

Notice what Scripture does not teach: that there are three successive “heavens” corresponding to three eras of God’s work, where each “heaven” is an organizational structure that replaces the previous one.

The New Heaven and New Earth

SCJ teaches that “the recreated sealed 12 tribes” is “the new heaven and new earth.” But Revelation 21-22 makes clear what the new heaven and new earth actually are:

Revelation 21:1-5 “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.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'”

The new heaven and new earth described in Revelation 21-22 is:

• A renewed creation where the “first heaven and first earth had passed away”
• A place where there is “no longer any sea” (the sea often symbolizes chaos and evil in biblical imagery)
• The location of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven
• A place where God dwells directly with His people
• A place with no death, mourning, crying, or pain
• A complete renewal: “I am making everything new”

This is clearly describing the eternal state—the final, permanent dwelling place of God with His redeemed people. It’s not describing a church organization in Korea in the 21st century. The new heaven and new earth is a future reality that will come when Christ returns visibly and gloriously to judge the living and the dead and to consummate His kingdom.

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 describes the new heaven and new earth as something that will come after the present heavens and earth are destroyed by fire. This is cosmic renewal, not organizational restructuring. It’s the fulfillment of God’s promise to make all things new, not the establishment of a new religious group.

The First Heaven and First Earth

SCJ teaches that “the tabernacle of the first chosen people” (the church at Jesus’ first coming) is “the first heaven and first earth.” But Revelation 21:1 uses this phrase differently:

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.”

In context, “the first heaven and the first earth” refers to the present created order—the world as we know it, marred by sin and subject to decay. It’s not referring to the church or to a specific era of salvation history. When John says “the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,” he’s describing the end of the current age and the beginning of the eternal state.

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.”

Isaiah prophesies about God creating new heavens and a new earth. The “former things” that won’t be remembered are the sufferings and sorrows of the present age, not a previous organizational structure.

The New Jerusalem

SCJ identifies “heaven in the spiritual world” as “the new Jerusalem, the holy city that comes down from heaven.” But Revelation describes the New Jerusalem as coming down from heaven to earth, not as a separate spiritual realm:

Revelation 21:2, 9-10 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband… One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.”

The New Jerusalem is:

• Coming down from heaven to earth
• Identified as “the bride, the wife of the Lamb”
• The place where God will dwell with His people in the renewed creation

It’s not a separate “spiritual world” distinct from where God’s people dwell. Rather, it’s the dwelling place of God with His people in the new heaven and new earth. The New Jerusalem represents the complete union of heaven and earth—God’s dwelling place coming to be with His people forever.

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.'”

The point of the New Jerusalem is that God’s dwelling place (heaven) comes to be “among the people” (on earth). It’s the union of heaven and earth, not a separate realm.

The Danger of SCJ’s Framework

By creating a “three types of heaven” framework that parallels their “three types of Israel” framework, SCJ accomplishes several things:

1. They make their organizational structure seem cosmically significant. If SCJ is “the new heaven and new earth,” then joining SCJ isn’t just joining a church—it’s entering God’s eternal dwelling place.
2. They rob believers of the true hope of the gospel. The biblical hope is the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the new heaven and new earth where God dwells with His people forever. SCJ replaces this hope with the hope of “belonging to the twelve tribes of new spiritual Israel”—which means joining their organization.
3. They make salvation organizational rather than relational. In the Bible, salvation is about relationship with God through Christ. In SCJ’s system, salvation is about belonging to the right organizational structure in the right era.
4. They create urgency and fear. If we’re living in the time when “the new heaven and new earth” is being established, then students must act now to be part of it. Missing this opportunity would mean missing salvation itself.
5. They prepare students to accept Lee Man-hee’s role. By establishing that there’s “the one who overcomes” in each era who forms the twelve tribes and establishes the “heaven” for that era, SCJ is preparing students to accept that Lee Man-hee is this figure for the current era.

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Part 2: The Pattern of Overcoming

What SCJ Teaches

The lesson emphasizes a pattern that supposedly repeats throughout Scripture:

ONE: The Meaning of “Israel” “The word ‘Israel,’ based on Genesis 32:28, represents one who overcomes, one who struggles with God and overcomes. This people, the original people, became the chosen people. So, in general, the term ‘Israel’ refers to the one who overcomes and the chosen people.”

TWO: The Pattern “The one who overcomes forms twelve tribes. This is the pattern for the one who overcomes.”

THREE: Examples

• Jacob was given the name “Israel” when he struggled with God and overcame (Genesis 32:28), and his twelve sons became the twelve tribes
• Jesus gained the title of Israel at the first coming because He overcame (John 16:33)
• The one who overcomes in Revelation will form the twelve tribes of new spiritual Israel

The lesson states: “Jesus gained the title of Israel at the time of the first coming because He too overcame. For example, in John 16:33, Jesus says, ‘In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.'”

The Indoctrination Tactic

This section is strategically critical because it establishes the theological framework for introducing Lee Man-hee as “the one who overcomes” at the second coming. Here’s how the manipulation works:

First, it creates a repeating pattern. By showing that Jacob overcame and formed twelve tribes, and Jesus overcame and formed twelve tribes (the apostles/church), SCJ establishes a pattern that can be extended: there must be another “one who overcomes” at the second coming who forms twelve tribes. This pattern isn’t biblical—it’s constructed by SCJ to justify their organization’s existence.

Second, it redefines “Israel” to mean “one who overcomes.” While Genesis 32:28 does connect Jacob’s new name “Israel” with his struggle with God, the Bible doesn’t use “Israel” as a general title for “anyone who overcomes.” Israel is the specific name given to Jacob and his descendants. By making “Israel” a generic term for “one who overcomes,” SCJ can apply it to anyone they choose—including Lee Man-hee.

Third, it elevates the role of “the one who overcomes.” In SCJ’s framework, “the one who overcomes” isn’t just a faithful believer—it’s a unique individual who forms the chosen people for an entire era. This creates a category of super-spiritual leader whose role is essential for salvation. Students are being prepared to accept that recognizing and following this leader is necessary for being part of God’s people.

Fourth, it uses Jesus’ statement about overcoming to justify the pattern. Jesus did say “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), but He wasn’t claiming the title “Israel” or establishing a pattern that would repeat. He was encouraging His disciples that despite tribulation, they could have peace because He had conquered sin, death, and the powers of darkness. SCJ takes this statement out of context to support their fabricated pattern.

Fifth, it prepares students for the revelation of Lee Man-hee. Students at this point don’t yet know about Lee Man-hee, but they’re learning the theological framework that will be used to elevate him. Later, they’ll be taught that Lee Man-hee is “the one who overcomes” mentioned in Revelation 2-3, that he has formed the twelve tribes of new spiritual Israel (SCJ’s organizational structure), and that recognizing him is essential for salvation.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually says about overcoming, about Israel, and about the pattern SCJ claims to see.

The Meaning of “Israel”

The name “Israel” is given to Jacob in Genesis 32:28:

Genesis 32:28 “Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'”

This is a specific event in Jacob’s life where he wrestles with a mysterious figure (often understood to be the Angel of the Lord or a theophany—an appearance of God). After this struggle, Jacob receives a new name: Israel, which means “he struggles with God” or “God struggles/prevails.”

But notice what the Bible does not say:

• It doesn’t say “Israel” is a title that will be given to multiple people throughout history
• It doesn’t say this establishes a pattern where “the one who overcomes” in each era will be called “Israel”
• It doesn’t say Jacob’s experience is a template for future “overcomers”

“Israel” becomes the name of Jacob’s descendants—the twelve tribes that come from his twelve sons. It’s an ethnic and national designation, not a generic term for “one who overcomes.”

Jesus and the Title “Israel”

SCJ claims that “Jesus gained the title of Israel at the time of the first coming because He too overcame.” But the New Testament never calls Jesus “Israel.”

What the New Testament does say is that Jesus fulfills what Israel was meant to be. Israel was called to be God’s son (Exodus 4:22-23), to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6), and to bring God’s salvation to the world. But Israel failed in this calling. Jesus, as the true and faithful Israelite, accomplishes what Israel could not.

Matthew 2:15 “And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.'”

Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1, which originally referred to the nation of Israel coming out of Egypt. But Matthew applies it to Jesus, showing that Jesus recapitulates Israel’s history and fulfills Israel’s calling. Jesus is the true Israel—not because He’s given the title “Israel,” but because He perfectly obeys God where Israel disobeyed, and He accomplishes God’s purposes where Israel failed.

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

Israel was often depicted as God’s vine (Psalm 80:8-16, Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21). But Israel was an unfaithful vine. Jesus declares Himself to be “the true vine”—the faithful Israel who produces the fruit God desires.

So yes, Jesus fulfills what Israel was meant to be. But this doesn’t mean He’s given the title “Israel” or that He establishes a pattern where another “Israel” will come at the second coming. Jesus is the final and complete fulfillment of Israel’s calling. There’s no need for another “Israel” because Jesus has perfectly and permanently accomplished what Israel was meant to do.

The Biblical Meaning of “Overcoming”

The New Testament does speak about believers “overcoming,” but not in the way SCJ presents it.

1 John 5:4-5 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

John teaches that everyone born of God overcomes the world. Overcoming isn’t the unique achievement of one special individual in each era; it’s the common experience of all believers. And the means of overcoming is faith—believing that Jesus is the Son of God.

Revelation 2-3 contains seven letters to seven churches, and each letter ends with a promise “to the one who overcomes” (or “to the one who is victorious”). For example:

Revelation 2:7 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:11 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

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

These promises are given to believers who remain faithful despite persecution, false teaching, and spiritual compromise. “The one who overcomes” isn’t a single unique individual; it’s anyone who perseveres in faith.

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

Believers overcome the accuser (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Christ’s sacrifice) and by their testimony (faithful witness). Overcoming is about trusting in Christ’s finished work and remaining faithful to Him, not about being a unique individual who forms a new organizational structure.

Revelation 21:7 “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

In the context of the new heaven and new earth, “those who are victorious” (plural) will inherit God’s promises. This is about all believers who persevere in faith, not about one special individual.

Jesus’ Statement About Overcoming

SCJ uses John 16:33 to support their claim that Jesus “gained the title of Israel” by overcoming. Let’s look at this verse in context:

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is speaking to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. He’s preparing them for the trials they’ll face and assuring them that despite trouble in the world, they can have peace in Him because He has overcome the world.

What does it mean that Jesus has “overcome the world”? It means:

• He has conquered sin through His perfect obedience
• He will conquer death through His resurrection
• He has defeated Satan and the powers of darkness
• He has accomplished salvation for His people

Jesus’ overcoming is complete and final. He doesn’t establish a pattern where someone else will need to “overcome” in the same way at a later time. His victory is sufficient for all time and for all believers.

Colossians 2:15 “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Jesus’ triumph is accomplished through the cross. It’s a finished work, not the first installment in a series of “overcomings” by different individuals in different eras.

The Twelve Tribes Pattern

SCJ teaches that “the one who overcomes forms twelve tribes” and that this pattern repeats. Let’s examine this claim:

Jacob’s twelve sons did become the twelve tribes of Israel. This is historical fact recorded in Genesis and developed throughout the Old Testament.

Jesus’ twelve apostles are sometimes seen as corresponding to the twelve tribes, representing the reconstituted people of God. Jesus says to them:

Matthew 19:28 “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'”

This verse does connect the twelve apostles with the twelve tribes. But notice:

• This is about judgment at “the renewal of all things” (the final consummation)
• The apostles will judge the twelve tribes of Israel, not replace them
• This is a unique role for the twelve apostles, not a pattern that repeats

Revelation 7:4-8 mentions 144,000 sealed from the twelve tribes of Israel. SCJ claims this is “the recreated sealed 12 tribes” formed by “the one who overcomes” at the second coming. But as we’ll examine in more detail later, Revelation 7 is either:

1. Describing Jewish believers (either literally 144,000 or symbolically representing all Jewish believers)
2. Symbolically describing the complete church (12 tribes x 12 apostles x 1000 = completeness)

It’s not describing a new organizational structure formed by a Korean religious leader in the 21st century.

The supposed “pattern” of “the one who overcomes forms twelve tribes” is not a biblical pattern. It’s a pattern constructed by SCJ to justify their organizational structure and to elevate Lee Man-hee’s role.

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Part 3: The Keys of Wisdom

What SCJ Teaches

The lesson introduces the concept of “keys” as representing “the wisdom to know the secrets”:

“The keys represent the wisdom to know the secrets. There will be both good and bad secrets to learn about.”

This concept of “keys” is central to SCJ’s teaching. Throughout their curriculum, they emphasize that understanding the Bible requires special “keys”—symbolic meanings that unlock the true message of Scripture. Without these keys, the Bible remains “sealed” and incomprehensible.

The lesson doesn’t fully explain what these “keys” are at this point, but it creates anticipation and positions SCJ as the source of this special wisdom.

The Indoctrination Tactic

The “keys” concept is one of SCJ’s most powerful indoctrination tools. Here’s how it works:

First, it creates a sense of privileged access. By suggesting that there are “secrets” that require special “keys” to understand, SCJ makes students feel they’re receiving privileged information. They’re not just reading the Bible like everyone else; they’re being given the keys to unlock its mysteries.

Second, it positions SCJ as the gatekeeper. If understanding requires special keys, and SCJ possesses these keys, then students become dependent on SCJ for biblical understanding. They can’t interpret Scripture for themselves; they need SCJ’s keys.

Third, it validates the complex symbolic system students have been learning. All the symbolic interpretations they’ve been taught (sun = pastor, moon = evangelists, stars = congregation, etc.) are framed as “keys” that unlock Scripture’s meaning. This makes the complex system seem necessary and valuable.

Fourth, it creates curiosity and anticipation. The mention of “good and bad secrets” makes students want to continue studying. What are these secrets? They need to keep attending lessons to find out.

Fifth, it prepares students for increasingly bizarre interpretations. Once students accept that they need special “keys” to understand Scripture, they’re primed to accept interpretations that contradict the plain meaning of the text. After all, without the “keys,” you can’t understand the true meaning.

Sixth, it makes questioning seem like ignorance. If someone challenges SCJ’s interpretation, the response is: “You don’t have the keys to understand. You’re reading it literally/physically instead of spiritually. You need the wisdom to unlock the meaning.” This dismisses objections without addressing them.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

The Bible does use the metaphor of “keys,” but not in the way SCJ applies it. Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches:

The Keys of the Kingdom

The most famous reference to “keys” in the New Testament is in Matthew 16:

Matthew 16:18-19 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus gives Peter “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” What does this mean?

In the ancient world, keys represented authority. The person who held the keys to a city or building had the authority to grant or deny access. When Jesus gives Peter the keys, He’s giving him authority to proclaim the gospel and to declare who is included in the kingdom.

We see Peter using these “keys” in the book of Acts:

• In Acts 2, Peter preaches at Pentecost, and 3,000 Jews believe and are baptized—the door of the kingdom is opened to Jews
• In Acts 10, Peter preaches to Cornelius and his household, and Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit—the door of the kingdom is opened to Gentiles

The “keys” aren’t secret knowledge or symbolic interpretations. They’re the authority to proclaim the gospel and to declare that all who believe in Christ—Jew or Gentile—are welcomed into God’s kingdom.

Isaiah 22:22 provides background for this imagery:

“I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

This verse is about Eliakim, who was given authority in King Hezekiah’s administration. The “key” represents his authority to make decisions on behalf of the king.

Revelation 3:7 applies this imagery to Christ:

“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

Christ holds the ultimate authority. He determines who enters the kingdom. And He has delegated to His apostles (and by extension, to all who proclaim the gospel) the authority to declare this good news.

But notice: the “keys” are about authority to proclaim the gospel, not about secret knowledge to interpret symbols. Peter didn’t need special symbolic interpretations to open the door of the kingdom; he needed to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that salvation comes through faith in Him.

The Keys of Death and Hades

Revelation 1:18 “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Christ holds the keys of death and Hades, meaning He has authority over death and the realm of the dead. Because He died and rose again, He has conquered death and has the power to give eternal life.

These “keys” aren’t about understanding symbols; they’re about Christ’s authority and victory. He alone can grant eternal life because He alone has conquered death.

The Key of Knowledge

Luke 11:52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

Jesus rebukes the experts in the law for taking away “the key to knowledge.” What does this mean?

The religious leaders had made the Law so complicated with their traditions and interpretations that ordinary people couldn’t understand it. They had “taken away the key”—they had made it impossible for people to know God’s truth.

Ironically, this is exactly what SCJ does. They take the straightforward message of Scripture and make it so complicated with symbolic interpretations that people can’t understand it without SCJ’s teaching. They’ve “taken away the key to knowledge” by replacing the simple gospel with a complex system of symbols and secrets.

The true “key to knowledge” is Jesus Christ Himself:

Colossians 2:2-3 “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. We don’t need SCJ’s symbolic system; we need to know Christ. He is the key that unlocks understanding.

The Sufficiency of Scripture

SCJ’s claim that the Bible requires special “keys” (their symbolic interpretations) to be understood contradicts Scripture’s teaching about its own clarity and sufficiency.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 “and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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.”

Timothy had known the Scriptures from infancy, and they were able to make him “wise for salvation.” He didn’t need special “keys” or symbolic interpretations. The Scriptures themselves, read and understood in their plain meaning, were sufficient to lead him to faith in Christ and to equip him for every good work.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

God’s Word itself is the lamp and light. We don’t need additional “keys” from a human organization to illuminate it.

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

God’s Word gives understanding to “the simple”—to ordinary people who read it with humble hearts. It’s not locked away behind complex symbolic systems that only elite interpreters can understand.

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 examined the Scriptures themselves to verify Paul’s teaching. They didn’t need special “keys” from Paul; they could read and understand Scripture well enough to test his message against it. This is the model for all believers: receive teaching eagerly, but test it against Scripture.

The Danger of Secret Knowledge

The claim that understanding Scripture requires secret knowledge that only a select group possesses is characteristic of Gnosticism—an early heresy that the apostles strongly opposed.

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

Paul warns against “hollow and deceptive philosophy” that takes people captive. SCJ’s system of symbolic interpretation is exactly this kind of philosophy—it sounds profound, but it’s based on human tradition (SCJ’s invented meanings for symbols) rather than on Christ.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have departed from the faith.”

Paul warns against “what is falsely called knowledge” (Greek: gnosis). Some people were claiming to have special knowledge that went beyond the apostolic gospel, and this false knowledge was leading people away from faith. This is exactly what SCJ does—they claim to have special knowledge (the “keys” to understanding Scripture) that goes beyond what the church has historically taught, and this knowledge leads people away from the simple gospel.

1 John 2:20, 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

John tells believers they have an anointing from the Holy Spirit and “all of you know the truth.” They don’t need special teachers claiming to have secret knowledge. The Holy Spirit teaches believers as they read Scripture and remain in Christ.

This doesn’t mean teaching is unnecessary (John himself is teaching through this letter). It means believers aren’t dependent on a human organization claiming to possess secret “keys.” The Holy Spirit enables all believers to understand God’s truth as they humbly read Scripture.

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What SCJ Teaches

The lesson includes a section titled “Yeast of Heaven” that uses spiritual warfare language to motivate students:

“When Jesus was sent to this earth, Jesus fought by putting his life at risk. Then, the disciples also fought by putting their lives on the line, which is how the spirits of martyrs came about. Those spirits all overcame. Therefore, don’t we also have to overcome in the spiritual war for God’s will and with the same hearts as those spirits? We must not have weak mindset.”

This section emphasizes:

• Jesus and the disciples “fought” by risking their lives
• The “spirits of martyrs” overcame
• Students must also overcome in “the spiritual war”
• Having a “weak mindset” is unacceptable

The Indoctrination Tactic

This section employs several psychological manipulation techniques:

First, it creates a sense of spiritual warfare. By framing the situation as a “spiritual war,” SCJ elevates the stakes. Students aren’t just learning Bible study; they’re engaged in cosmic battle. This creates intensity, urgency, and commitment.

Second, it invokes the example of martyrs. By mentioning “spirits of martyrs” who “overcame,” the lesson connects students’ commitment to SCJ with the ultimate sacrifice of Christian martyrs throughout history. This is emotionally manipulative—it equates studying with SCJ with dying for Christ.

Third, it shames doubt or hesitation. The statement “We must not have weak mindset” creates pressure to suppress doubts or questions. If you’re hesitant about the teaching, it’s because you have a “weak mindset,” not because the teaching might be problematic. This prevents critical thinking.

Fourth, it creates peer pressure. The rhetorical question “don’t we also have to overcome… with the same hearts as those spirits?” assumes agreement. Students feel pressure to match the commitment level being described, even if they have reservations.

Fifth, it prepares students for sacrifice. By emphasizing that Jesus and the disciples “put their lives on the line,” the lesson prepares students to make significant sacrifices for SCJ—time, relationships, money, reputation. If Jesus gave His life, surely students can give their time and energy to SCJ’s cause.

Sixth, it uses the term “yeast of heaven” without clear explanation. The title “Yeast of Heaven” is intriguing but unexplained. In biblical usage, yeast usually represents sin or false teaching (Matthew 16:6, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8), though Jesus also uses it positively in the parable of the kingdom (Matthew 13:33). By using this ambiguous term, SCJ creates mystery and positions themselves as having special understanding.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about spiritual warfare, overcoming, and the proper Christian response.

The Nature of Spiritual Warfare

The Bible does teach that Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare, but not in the way SCJ presents it.

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.”

Paul teaches that our struggle is against spiritual forces of evil, not against other people. The spiritual warfare Christians face is against Satan and demonic powers who oppose God’s kingdom.

Ephesians 6:13-18 describes the armor of God: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Notice the elements of spiritual warfare:

• Truth (not deception or secret knowledge)
• Righteousness (holy living)
• The gospel of peace (not aggressive recruitment tactics)
• Faith (trust in Christ)
• Salvation (assurance in Christ)
• The word of God (Scripture, not SCJ’s interpretations)
• Prayer (dependence on God)

Spiritual warfare is about standing firm in truth, living righteously, trusting Christ, and using Scripture properly. It’s not about recruiting people into a specific organization or accepting complex symbolic interpretations.

The Victory Is Already Won

Crucially, the New Testament teaches that the decisive victory in spiritual warfare has already been won by Christ.

Colossians 2:15 “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Christ has already triumphed over the spiritual powers through His death and resurrection. The battle is won. Our role is to stand firm in His victory, not to fight as though the outcome is still in doubt.

1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Believers have already overcome because Christ in them is greater than Satan in the world. Overcoming isn’t something we must achieve through our own effort; it’s something we possess through Christ’s victory.

Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

We are “more than conquerors” through Christ. The victory is secure. We don’t need to “fight” in the sense of striving to achieve victory; we need to rest in the victory Christ has already accomplished.

The Example of Martyrs

SCJ invokes “the spirits of martyrs” to motivate students. But what does the Bible actually teach about martyrdom?

Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.”

The martyrs in Revelation were killed “because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” They died for refusing to deny Christ, not for promoting a specific organization’s teachings.

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

Martyrs overcome by:

1. The blood of the Lamb (Christ’s sacrifice, not their own)
2. The word of their testimony (witness to Christ)
3. Not loving their lives (willingness to die rather than deny Christ)

Christian martyrdom is about faithfulness to Christ in the face of persecution, not about commitment to a religious organization’s agenda. Using martyrs’ example to pressure students into deeper commitment to SCJ is a misuse of their sacrifice.

The Danger of False Spiritual Warfare

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Paul describes spiritual warfare as demolishing false arguments and pretensions that oppose the knowledge of God. Ironically, this is exactly what we should do with SCJ’s teaching—demolish the false arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the true knowledge of God revealed in Christ and Scripture.

The “spiritual war” Christians should be fighting is against false teaching, not for the promotion of a specific organization. And the weapons are truth, sound doctrine, and faithful proclamation of the gospel—not manipulation, deception, or pressure tactics.

The Biblical Attitude Toward Suffering

While SCJ uses martyrdom rhetoric to create intensity, the New Testament presents a balanced view of suffering and persecution:

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus blesses those persecuted “because of righteousness” and “because of me.” Persecution for following Christ is blessed. But this doesn’t mean Christians should seek persecution or create unnecessary conflict. And it certainly doesn’t mean that criticism of a religious organization equals persecution of Christians.

1 Peter 4:14-16 “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, praise God that you bear that name.”

Peter distinguishes between suffering for Christ and suffering for wrongdoing. If SCJ members face criticism, they should ask: Is this because we’re faithfully following Christ, or because we’re engaging in deceptive practices (hiding our identity, using manipulation tactics, teaching false doctrine)?

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Part 5: The Home Blessing and the 144,000

What SCJ Teaches

The lesson begins with a “Home Blessing” that quotes Revelation 7:4:

“Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”

The lesson repeatedly emphasizes: “Our hope is to belong to the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel today!”

This connection between the 144,000 and SCJ’s organizational structure is central to their theology. Students are being taught that their spiritual hope should be to become one of the 144,000 sealed individuals who belong to SCJ’s twelve tribes.

The Indoctrination Tactic

This section employs several critical manipulation techniques:

First, it redefines “hope.” In biblical Christianity, our hope is eternal life through faith in Christ, the resurrection of the body, and dwelling with God forever in the new heaven and new earth. SCJ replaces this with “hope to belong to the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel”—which means joining their organization.

Second, it creates exclusivity. By teaching that only 144,000 will be sealed, SCJ creates a sense of limited opportunity. Students feel they must act quickly and commit fully to secure their place among this exclusive group.

Third, it makes salvation organizational. Instead of salvation being about relationship with Christ through faith, it becomes about membership in a specific organization (SCJ) and being counted among a specific number (144,000).

Fourth, it uses biblical language to describe non-biblical concepts. “Sealed,” “twelve tribes,” “Israel”—these are all biblical terms. But SCJ has redefined them to mean something Scripture never intended. Students hear familiar biblical language and assume the teaching is biblical.

Fifth, it creates urgency. If there are only 144,000 spots available, and if we’re living in the time when these spots are being filled, students must commit now or risk missing out on salvation.

Sixth, it prepares students for SCJ’s organizational structure. Later in their training, students will learn that SCJ has literally organized itself into twelve tribes, with specific tribal leaders and membership. This organizational structure is presented as the fulfillment of Revelation 7.

What the Bible Actually Teaches

The 144,000 in Revelation 7 is one of the most debated passages in Scripture. Let’s examine what it actually says and how it should be understood.

Revelation 7 in Context

Revelation 7:1-8 “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”

The passage then lists 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Immediately after this, John sees:

Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'”

Interpretive Approaches to the 144,000

There are three main interpretive approaches to the 144,000:

1. Literal Jewish Believers

Some interpreters understand the 144,000 as literal Jewish believers—12,000 from each of the twelve tribes—who will be sealed for protection during the tribulation period. This view takes the number and tribal designations literally.

Arguments for this view:

• The passage specifically mentions “the tribes of Israel” and lists them by name
• The number 144,000 is stated precisely
• It fits with other biblical teaching about a future salvation of Israel (Romans 11:25-26)

Arguments against this view:

• The tribal listings in Revelation 7 don’t match the standard Old Testament tribal listings (Dan is omitted, Manasseh is included separately from Joseph)
• It’s difficult to identify tribal membership today after centuries of dispersion
• The immediate context shows a countless multitude from all nations, suggesting the 144,000 might also be symbolic

2. Symbolic of All Believers

Many interpreters understand the 144,000 as a symbolic number representing the complete people of God—all believers from both Old and New Testament eras. The number 144,000 is 12 x 12 x 1,000:

• 12 (tribes of Israel) x 12 (apostles of the Lamb) x 1,000 (completeness)
• This represents the fullness of God’s people throughout history

Arguments for this view:

• Revelation is highly symbolic, and numbers often have symbolic meaning
• The immediate context (the countless multitude from all nations) suggests the 144,000 is another way of describing the same group
• The sealing is for protection, and all believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)
• The tribal listings are modified from the Old Testament, suggesting symbolic rather than literal meaning

Arguments against this view:

• It requires taking the number symbolically when it’s stated precisely
• It may blur the distinction between Jewish and Gentile believers that Paul maintains in Romans 9-11

3. Symbolic of Jewish Believers

Some interpreters see the 144,000 as symbolically representing all Jewish believers throughout history or during a particular period. The number is symbolic (representing completeness), but the Jewish identity is maintained.

Arguments for this view:

• It maintains the Jewish identity indicated by “tribes of Israel”
• It allows for symbolic interpretation of the number while respecting the text’s specificity
• It fits with the pattern in Revelation of showing both Jewish believers (144,000) and Gentile believers (countless multitude) before God’s throne

What the 144,000 Is NOT

Regardless of which interpretive approach is correct, we can be certain of what the 144,000 is not:

It’s not a literal membership roster for a 21st-century Korean religious organization.

Here’s why:

First, the passage says “from all the tribes of Israel.” Even if we take this symbolically to mean “God’s people,” it doesn’t mean “members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.” The passage is describing those who belong to God through faith, not those who belong to a specific organization.

Second, the sealing happens before the tribulation judgments. Revelation 7:1-3 makes clear that the sealing occurs before the angels harm the land and sea. This is about protection during a specific period of judgment, not about joining an organization in the 21st century.

Third, the passage emphasizes God’s action, not human organization. An angel with “the seal of the living God” does the sealing. This is God’s work, not a human organization’s membership process.

Fourth, the immediate context shows a countless multitude. Right after the 144,000, John sees “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). These are described as those “who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

If the 144,000 represents a limited number of people who can be saved, how do we explain the countless multitude? The most natural reading is that these are two different ways of describing the same reality—God’s redeemed people. The 144,000 emphasizes completeness and order (12 x 12 x 1,000); the countless multitude emphasizes the vast number and universal scope (from every nation).

Fifth, salvation is by grace through faith, not by organizational membership. The New Testament is crystal clear that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not through joining a particular organization:

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.”

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 alone, not in Christ plus membership in SCJ.

The Biblical Concept of Sealing

The Bible does speak about believers being “sealed,” but not in the way SCJ teaches:

Ephesians 1:13-14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit when they believe the gospel. This sealing:

• Happens at the moment of faith
• Is the work of God, not a human organization
• Is the Holy Spirit Himself, not membership in a group
• Guarantees our inheritance
• Marks us as God’s possession

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Again, the sealing is:

• God’s work (“God… set his seal of ownership on us”)
• The Holy Spirit (“put his Spirit in our hearts”)
• A guarantee of future salvation

SCJ’s teaching that being “sealed” means joining their organization and being counted among their 144,000 members contradicts this clear biblical teaching. The seal is the Holy Spirit, given to all who believe in Christ, not membership in a specific organization.

The Danger of SCJ’s Teaching

By teaching that “our hope is to belong to the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel” and connecting this to the 144,000 in Revelation 7, SCJ:

1. Replaces the true gospel with a false gospel. Instead of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, they teach salvation by understanding symbols and joining their organization.
2. Creates false assurance. SCJ members believe they’re saved because they’re part of the 144,000 (SCJ members), not because they trust in Christ’s finished work.
3. Creates false anxiety. Those outside SCJ are made to feel they’re missing out on salvation because they’re not part of the 144,000.
4. Distorts the book of Revelation. Revelation’s message is about Christ’s victory, the vindication of martyrs, the judgment of evil, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. SCJ turns it into a coded message about their organization.
5. Elevates human organization above Christ. The focus shifts from Christ and His work to SCJ and its structure. Instead of looking to Christ for salvation, people are looking to SCJ membership.

As SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 explains, “Shincheonji claims that Revelation’s prophecies are being fulfilled through their organization, with Lee Man-hee as the one who overcomes and SCJ members as the 144,000. This interpretation requires ignoring the historical context of Revelation, the symbolic nature of apocalyptic literature, and the clear teaching of the New Testament that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone.”

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Part 6: The Progression of Indoctrination

Understanding Where Students Are at Lesson 61

By Lesson 61, students have been studying with SCJ for several months. They’re well into the Introductory Level (Parables), having completed approximately 60 lessons. Let’s examine what they’ve learned so far and how this lesson builds on previous indoctrination:

Lessons 1-20: Foundation

• The Bible is “sealed” and requires special interpretation
• Parables hide truth from outsiders but reveal it to insiders
• Symbols must be understood “spiritually” not “physically”
• The sun, moon, and stars represent pastors, evangelists, and congregation members
• Biblical terms have hidden meanings that most Christians don’t understand

Lessons 21-40: Building the Framework

• The Tabernacle’s structure represents spiritual realities
• God’s work follows patterns that repeat throughout history
• Understanding these patterns is essential for recognizing God’s work today
• There are “physical” and “spiritual” ways of understanding everything
• The “spiritual” understanding is always superior and requires special teaching

Lessons 41-60: Introducing the System

• There are three types of Israel: Physical, Spiritual, and New Spiritual
• Each era has “the one who overcomes” who forms twelve tribes
• The sun, moon, and stars “go dark and fall” when God’s people betray
• We’re living in a time of transition from one era to another
• Students should hope to belong to the “new spiritual Israel”

Lesson 61: Solidifying the Framework

• There are three types of heaven corresponding to three types of Israel
• Understanding requires special “keys” (wisdom)
• Students must overcome in “spiritual warfare”
• The goal is to belong to the 144,000 sealed in the twelve tribes
• This is urgent—students must not have a “weak mindset”

The Psychological State of Students

By this point in their training, students typically exhibit several psychological characteristics:

1. Significant Time Investment

Students have attended 60+ lessons, typically meeting 2-3 times per week for 1-2 hours each session. This represents 120-180+ hours of study over 5-8 months. The sunk cost fallacy makes it psychologically difficult to walk away—they’ve invested too much to quit now.

2. Relationship Formation

Students have formed friendships with their instructors and fellow students. These relationships create emotional bonds that make it harder to question the teaching. Leaving would mean losing these relationships.

3. Intellectual Pride

Students feel they understand the Bible in ways that other Christians don’t. They’ve learned to interpret symbols, recognize patterns, and see connections that “most people” miss. This creates a sense of intellectual superiority that’s gratifying and hard to surrender.

4. Gradual Acceptance

Each lesson has built on previous lessons. Students have gradually accepted premises that they might have rejected if presented all at once. By Lesson 61, the framework seems natural and obvious because they’ve been conditioned to think this way.

5. Isolation from Alternative Perspectives

Students have been subtly discouraged from discussing what they’re learning with pastors, Christian friends, or family members. They’ve been taught that mainstream Christianity doesn’t understand these things, so consulting with other Christians would be pointless or even harmful.

6. Fear of Missing Out

Students believe they’re learning something precious and rare. They fear that if they leave or question, they’ll miss out on understanding God’s truth and participating in His work.

7. Suppression of Doubts

When doubts arise, students have been conditioned to interpret them as spiritual weakness, “physical” thinking, or lack of understanding. The lesson’s warning against “weak mindset” reinforces this suppression of critical thinking.

The Strategic Purpose of Lesson 61

Lesson 61 serves several strategic purposes in SCJ’s indoctrination process:

1. Consolidating Previous Teaching

The lesson reviews and reinforces the “three types of Israel” framework from Lesson 60, ensuring students have fully internalized this concept before moving forward.

2. Adding a New Layer

The “three types of heaven” framework adds another dimension to the system. Students now have a more complete picture of SCJ’s theology, making it harder to disentangle from the web of interconnected concepts.

3. Introducing “Keys” Concept

The idea that understanding requires special “keys” prepares students for increasingly bizarre interpretations. Once they accept that they need SCJ’s “keys,” they’ll accept whatever meanings SCJ assigns to biblical terms.

4. Creating Urgency

The emphasis on “spiritual warfare,” overcoming, and not having a “weak mindset” creates pressure to commit more deeply. Students feel they must push through any doubts or hesitations.

5. Redefining Hope

By repeatedly emphasizing “our hope is to belong to the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel,” the lesson shifts students’ spiritual focus from Christ to SCJ membership.

6. Preparing for Later Revelations

Students still don’t know they’re in Shincheonji or about Lee Man-hee, but they’ve now accepted the theological framework that will be used to introduce these realities. When they later learn about Lee Man-hee as “the one who overcomes,” it will seem like the natural conclusion of what they’ve been learning.

The Path Forward

After Lesson 61, students will continue through the remaining Introductory Level lessons, then move to the Intermediate Level (Bible Logic) and finally the Advanced Level (Revelation). At each stage, more will be revealed:

Intermediate Level:

• More detailed teaching about betrayal and destruction
• Introduction to the events in Korea that allegedly fulfill prophecy
• Deeper symbolic interpretations that distance students further from orthodox Christianity

Advanced Level:

• Revelation of SCJ’s identity
• Introduction of Lee Man-hee as “the promised pastor”
• Detailed teaching about how SCJ fulfills Revelation’s prophecies
• Pressure to join SCJ officially and be “sealed”

By the time students reach the Advanced Level, they’ve been so thoroughly conditioned that most accept SCJ’s claims without significant resistance. The foundation laid in lessons like Lesson 61 makes the later revelations seem reasonable and biblical.

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Part 7: Biblical Refutation—The True Gospel vs. SCJ’s System

The Core Issue: What Is the Gospel?

At its heart, the problem with SCJ Lesson 61 (and SCJ’s entire system) is that it presents a different gospel than the one found in the New Testament. Let’s compare:

The Biblical Gospel

The Problem: All people are sinners, separated from God and unable to save themselves.

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

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Solution: God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and rise from the dead, accomplishing salvation for us.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

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.”

The Response: We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, not by our works or understanding.

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.”

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

The Result: Those who believe are justified, adopted as God’s children, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and given eternal life.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 4:5-6 “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.'”

The Assurance: Our salvation is secure because it depends on Christ’s finished work, not on our performance.

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Community: All believers are united in Christ as one body, the church, which is His bride.

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 Mission: We proclaim Christ and make disciples, calling people to repentance and faith.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

SCJ’s Gospel

The Problem: People don’t understand the Bible’s symbolic meanings and don’t recognize which era they’re living in.

The Solution: Lee Man-hee has received the revelation of Revelation and can explain what the Bible means. He is “the one who overcomes” who has established the “new spiritual Israel.”

The Response: We must complete SCJ’s study program, understand the symbolic interpretations, recognize that we’re living in the time of the second coming, and join SCJ.

The Result: Those who join SCJ become part of the 144,000 “new spiritual Israel” and receive salvation. They are “sealed” through SCJ’s process.

The Assurance: We must remain in SCJ, continue to accept their teaching, and not question or have a “weak mindset.”

The Community: Only SCJ members are truly God’s people. Mainstream Christianity has “gone dark and fallen” and is now “Babylon” that must be fled.

The Mission: We recruit others into SCJ’s study program, using deceptive tactics if necessary, to help them become part of the 144,000.

These are fundamentally different messages. One is about what Christ has done; the other is about what we must understand and which organization we must join. One offers assurance based on Christ’s finished work; the other creates anxiety about whether we have the right knowledge and organizational membership.

The Test of a True Gospel

The Apostle Paul provides a clear test for evaluating any gospel message:

Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”

Paul’s language is strong because the issue is serious. A “different gospel” isn’t just a minor theological disagreement—it’s a perversion that leads people away from Christ and places them under God’s curse.

What was the “different gospel” in Galatia? It was the teaching that Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law to be saved (Acts 15:1, Galatians 5:2-6). In other words, it was the teaching that faith in Christ alone is not sufficient—something else is required.

This is exactly what SCJ teaches. They would affirm that Jesus is important, but they add requirements:

• You must understand the symbolic meanings (as interpreted by SCJ)
• You must recognize that we’re in a new era (the second coming)
• You must join the new spiritual Israel (SCJ)
• You must be sealed as one of the 144,000 (through SCJ’s process)
• You must have the “keys” (wisdom) that SCJ provides

These additions fundamentally change the gospel. It’s no longer salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone; it’s salvation by knowledge and organizational membership.

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

We’re justified by faith in Christ, not by works. And completing SCJ’s study program, understanding their symbolic interpretations, and joining their organization are all works—human efforts added to faith.

Galatians 3:1-3 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”

Paul’s question to the Galatians applies to SCJ’s students: Did you receive the Spirit by completing a study program and joining an organization, or by believing the gospel? If you began by faith, why are you now trying to finish by human effort (understanding symbols, joining the right group)?

The Sufficiency of Christ

As Chapter 18 of Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story explains, “The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to return to Old Covenant practices. The author repeatedly emphasizes that Christ is sufficient—nothing needs to be added to what He has accomplished.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

God’s final and complete revelation is in His Son. There’s no “new revelation” coming through Lee Man-hee or anyone else. Jesus is “the exact representation” of God’s being—you can’t get more complete than that.

Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Jesus saves completely. Not partially, not temporarily, not incompletely. Completely. There’s no need for a “new spiritual Israel” or special “keys” to complete what Jesus began.

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

By one sacrifice, Jesus has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified. Not “until the next era,” not “until a new organization is established.” Forever.

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

In Christ, we have been brought to fullness. We’re not lacking anything that needs to be supplied by SCJ or any other organization.

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How SCJ Manipulates Language

One of SCJ’s most effective indoctrination techniques is the systematic redefinition of biblical terms. By Lesson 61, students have been conditioned to accept that familiar biblical words don’t mean what they appear to mean. Let’s examine how this works:

Terms Redefined by SCJ

“Heaven”

• Biblical meaning: God’s dwelling place; the spiritual realm; the eternal state of believers with God
• SCJ’s meaning: Whatever organization God is working through in a particular era

“Israel”

• Biblical meaning: The descendants of Jacob; God’s chosen people; those who belong to God through faith in Christ
• SCJ’s meaning: “One who overcomes”; any group that SCJ designates as God’s chosen people in a particular era

“New Heaven and New Earth”

• Biblical meaning: The renewed creation after Christ’s return where God dwells with His people forever (Revelation 21-22)
• SCJ’s meaning: Shincheonji Church of Jesus organization

“Sealed”

• Biblical meaning: Marked by the Holy Spirit as belonging to God (Ephesians 1:13-14)
• SCJ’s meaning: Becoming an official member of SCJ and being counted among their 144,000

“The One Who Overcomes”

• Biblical meaning: Any believer who perseveres in faith (1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 2-3)
• SCJ’s meaning: A unique individual in each era who forms the twelve tribes (ultimately referring to Lee Man-hee)

“Keys”

• Biblical meaning: Authority to proclaim the gospel (Matthew 16:19); Christ’s authority over death (Revelation 1:18)
• SCJ’s meaning: Special symbolic interpretations that SCJ possesses

“Spiritual”

• Biblical meaning: Pertaining to the Holy Spirit; pertaining to spiritual realities as opposed to earthly/fleshly realities
• SCJ’s meaning: Symbolic/allegorical interpretation as opposed to literal meaning

“The Twelve Tribes”

• Biblical meaning: The descendants of Jacob’s twelve sons; symbolically, the complete people of God
• SCJ’s meaning: SCJ’s organizational structure divided into twelve groups

The Danger of This Technique

This systematic redefinition of biblical terms is extraordinarily dangerous for several reasons:

First, it makes Scripture say what SCJ wants it to say. Once biblical terms are redefined, any passage can be made to support SCJ’s theology. The Bible becomes a blank canvas on which SCJ can paint whatever picture they choose.

Second, it makes it nearly impossible to use Scripture to correct SCJ’s teaching. When someone quotes a verse that contradicts SCJ’s doctrine, SCJ can respond: “You’re reading that physically/literally. You need to understand the spiritual meaning.” The redefined terms create an interpretive shield that deflects biblical correction.

Third, it isolates students from orthodox Christianity. When students read the Bible or hear preaching in a church, they’re now reading/hearing through SCJ’s interpretive lens. They think they understand things that others miss, when in reality they’re missing the plain meaning that others understand.

Fourth, it creates dependence on SCJ. Since biblical terms don’t mean what they appear to mean, students need SCJ to tell them what the Bible actually says. They can’t read Scripture for themselves and understand it; they need SCJ’s “keys.”

Fifth, it makes dialogue nearly impossible. When Christians try to discuss Scripture with SCJ members, they’re using the same words but with completely different meanings. It’s like trying to have a conversation where every word means something different to each person.

Sixth, it violates the principle of biblical interpretation. Sound biblical interpretation requires understanding words in their historical and literary context. SCJ’s method ignores context and assigns meanings based on their theological system rather than on how the biblical authors used the terms.

Biblical Principles of Interpretation

The Bible itself teaches us how to read and understand Scripture properly:

1. Scripture Interprets Scripture

The best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself. Difficult passages should be understood in light of clearer passages on the same topic.

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

Since Scripture comes from the Holy Spirit, we should let Scripture interpret itself rather than imposing our own interpretations.

2. Context Is Crucial

Words and passages must be understood in their immediate context (the surrounding verses), their book context (the purpose and message of the book), and their canonical context (how the passage fits with the rest of Scripture).

2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

“Correctly handling” the word of truth requires careful attention to context, not arbitrary assignment of symbolic meanings.

3. The Plain Meaning Is Usually the Right Meaning

While Scripture does contain figures of speech, poetry, parables, and apocalyptic imagery, the general principle is that we should understand passages according to their plain, natural meaning unless there’s good reason to take them otherwise.

Nehemiah 8:8 “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”

When Ezra and the Levites taught Scripture, they made it clear and gave the meaning so people could understand. They didn’t hide meanings behind complex symbolic systems.

4. The New Testament Interprets the Old Testament

When we want to understand how Old Testament passages should be applied to Christians, we should look at how the New Testament authors—inspired by the Holy Spirit—interpreted and applied those passages.

Luke 24:44-45 “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

Jesus taught His disciples how to understand the Old Testament in light of His life, death, and resurrection. We should follow the interpretive approach demonstrated by Jesus and the apostles, not invent new symbolic meanings.

5. Difficult Passages Should Not Override Clear Passages

When a passage is difficult to understand or has multiple possible interpretations, we should not build major doctrines on it or use it to contradict clear teaching elsewhere in Scripture.

2 Peter 3:15-16 “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

Peter acknowledges that some of Paul’s teaching is “hard to understand,” and he warns against distorting these difficult passages. We should be humble about difficult passages and not use them to overturn clear teaching.

SCJ does the opposite: they take difficult symbolic passages (especially from Revelation) and use their interpretations of these passages to redefine clear passages throughout Scripture.

How to Recognize Interpretive Manipulation

Here are warning signs that an interpretation is manipulative rather than sound:

1. It requires redefining common biblical terms without clear biblical warrant for the new definitions.

2. It claims most Christians throughout history have misunderstood the passage, and only this group has the true interpretation.

3. It makes the passage about the interpreting organization rather than about Christ and His work.

4. It ignores the historical and literary context of the passage in favor of symbolic meanings.

5. It creates dependence on the organization for understanding, rather than encouraging believers to read Scripture for themselves.

6. It adds requirements to the gospel beyond faith in Christ alone.

7. It uses difficult passages to contradict clear passages rather than letting clear passages illuminate difficult ones.

8. It discourages testing the interpretation against Scripture or consulting other Christian sources.

All of these warning signs are present in SCJ’s interpretation of Scripture, including in Lesson 61.

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Part 9: The Psychological Manipulation—Creating Dependency and Suppressing Doubt

The “Weak Mindset” Accusation

One of the most insidious elements of Lesson 61 is the statement: “We must not have weak mindset.”

This simple phrase accomplishes several psychological manipulations:

First, it preemptively labels doubt as weakness. If students have questions or hesitations about the teaching, they’re told this is a “weak mindset.” This creates shame around critical thinking and encourages students to suppress doubts rather than examine them.

Second, it creates peer pressure. No one wants to be seen as weak. Students feel pressure to appear strong and committed, even if they have internal reservations.

Third, it frames commitment as strength. The more fully students commit to SCJ’s teaching—without questioning or hesitating—the “stronger” they are. This rewards blind acceptance and punishes critical thinking.

Fourth, it invokes the example of martyrs. The lesson connects “not having a weak mindset” with the example of Jesus and the disciples who “put their lives on the line.” This creates an emotional association between questioning SCJ and betraying Christ.

Fifth, it prepares students for future sacrifices. If students internalize that they “must not have weak mindset,” they’ll be more likely to make significant sacrifices for SCJ later—time, money, relationships, reputation—because backing away would seem like weakness.

Thought-Stopping Techniques

SCJ employs several thought-stopping techniques that prevent students from critically evaluating what they’re learning:

1. “You’re thinking physically, not spiritually.”

When students express confusion or disagreement with an interpretation, they’re told they’re “thinking physically” (literally) instead of “spiritually” (symbolically). This dismisses their objection without addressing it and makes them feel spiritually immature.

2. “You need the keys to understand.”

When students don’t understand how SCJ reaches a particular interpretation, they’re told they need the “keys” (special wisdom). This makes the interpretation seem profound rather than arbitrary, and it creates dependence on SCJ for understanding.

3. “Most people don’t understand this.”

When students feel uncomfortable with teaching that contradicts what they’ve learned in church or from other Christians, they’re told that “most people” don’t understand these things. This makes students feel privileged to receive this teaching and discourages them from consulting other sources.

4. “Don’t have a weak mindset.”

When students have doubts or want to slow down, they’re told not to have a “weak mindset.” This shames doubt and creates pressure to continue despite reservations.

5. “You’ll understand more as we continue.”

When students are confused or concerned about where the teaching is heading, they’re told they’ll understand more later. This encourages them to suspend judgment and continue studying, even though they’re uncomfortable.

6. “This is spiritual warfare.”

When students face opposition from family, friends, or church leaders, they’re told this is “spiritual warfare”—evidence that they’re on the right path. This reframes legitimate concerns as satanic opposition, making students less likely to listen to warnings.

The Frog in the Pot

There’s a well-known analogy about a frog in a pot of water: If you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out immediately. But if you put a frog in cool water and gradually heat it, the frog won’t notice the danger until it’s too late.

This is exactly how SCJ’s indoctrination works. If they presented their full theology in Lesson 1—”Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor who fulfills Jesus’ role at the second coming, and you must join our organization to be saved”—most people would reject it immediately.

But by introducing ideas gradually, each one building on the previous ones, students don’t notice how far they’ve moved from biblical Christianity. By Lesson 61:

• They’ve accepted that the Bible requires special interpretation
• They’ve accepted that symbols have hidden meanings
• They’ve accepted that there are three types of Israel
• They’ve accepted that there are three types of heaven
• They’ve accepted that “the one who overcomes” forms twelve tribes in each era
• They’ve accepted that their hope should be to belong to the “new spiritual Israel”
• They’ve accepted that understanding requires special “keys”

Each of these ideas seemed reasonable when introduced because it built on what they’d already accepted. But collectively, these ideas have moved students far from the gospel and prepared them to accept SCJ’s full claims when they’re eventually revealed.

The Contrast with Biblical Teaching

The Bible presents a very different approach to truth, doubt, and spiritual growth:

Truth Welcomes 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.”

The Bereans are commended for examining Scripture to verify Paul’s teaching. They didn’t accept his message blindly; they tested it. This is the model for all believers—receive teaching eagerly, but test it against Scripture.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

Believers are commanded to test all teaching. Testing isn’t a sign of weakness or spiritual immaturity; it’s a sign of wisdom and obedience.

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.”

We should test teaching to see if it’s from God. The test John provides is christological: “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God” (1 John 4:2-3).

While SCJ would claim to acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh, their teaching that Lee Man-hee fulfills Jesus’ role at the second coming and that salvation requires joining their organization effectively diminishes Christ’s sufficiency and adds human requirements to the gospel.

Doubt Is Not Always Weakness

The Bible presents several examples of people who doubted and were not condemned for it:

John the Baptist sent messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus didn’t rebuke him for weakness; He affirmed John’s greatness and provided evidence to answer his question.

Thomas doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus personally (John 20:24-25). Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to examine the evidence. While Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29), He didn’t condemn Thomas for wanting evidence.

The father of the demon-possessed boy cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Jesus didn’t rebuke him for mixed faith and doubt; He healed his son.

The Bible shows that God is patient with honest doubt and provides evidence to strengthen faith. SCJ, by contrast, shames doubt and discourages examination of their claims.

True Strength Comes from Christ

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul teaches that true spiritual strength comes from acknowledging our weakness and depending on Christ’s power, not from projecting an image of unwavering commitment to a human organization.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Our strength is in Christ, not in our own determination to avoid a “weak mindset.”

The Holy Spirit Guides Believers

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

Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will guide believers into truth. We’re not dependent on a human organization’s “keys”; we have the Spirit of truth dwelling in us.

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.”

John tells believers they have an anointing from the Holy Spirit and don’t need anyone to teach them. This doesn’t mean teaching is unnecessary (John is teaching through this letter), but it means believers have direct access to truth through the Spirit. They’re not dependent on a human organization claiming to possess exclusive understanding.

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Part 10: The Real Keys to Understanding Scripture

What Are the True “Keys”?

If SCJ’s “keys” (their symbolic interpretations) are counterfeit, what are the real keys to understanding Scripture? The Bible itself provides the answer:

Key #1: Jesus Christ

Luke 24:25-27 “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Jesus is the key to understanding Scripture. All of Scripture points to Him—His person, His work, His kingdom. When we read the Bible, we should be asking: “How does this passage reveal Christ? How does it point to His work of salvation?”

John 5:39-40 “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

The Scriptures testify about Jesus. If our interpretation doesn’t lead us to Christ, we’ve missed the point.

Colossians 2:2-3 “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. He is the key that unlocks understanding.

Key #2: The Holy Spirit

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

The Holy Spirit teaches believers and enables them to understand spiritual truth. We don’t need SCJ’s “keys”; we need the Spirit’s illumination.

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

The Holy Spirit teaches believers. He brings to mind what Jesus taught and helps us understand and apply it.

Key #3: Faith

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Faith is essential for understanding spiritual truth. We must come to Scripture believing that God exists, that He has revealed Himself, and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Faith gives us confidence in God’s promises and assurance about spiritual realities we can’t see with physical eyes.

Key #4: Humility

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

God reveals truth to the humble, not to the proud who think they have special understanding that others lack.

Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.'”

God reveals truth to those who come to Him with childlike humility, not to those who pride themselves on their sophisticated interpretive systems.

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.”

True knowledge is accompanied by humility and love, not by pride in possessing understanding that others lack.

Key #5: Love for God and His Word

Psalm 119:97 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”

Love for God’s Word motivates us to read, study, and meditate on it. This love leads to understanding.

Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

We should pray for God to open our eyes to understand His Word, not depend on a human organization to give us “keys.”

Key #6: The Community of Faith

Ephesians 3:18-19 “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Understanding comes “together with all the Lord’s holy people”—in community with other believers. We don’t need an exclusive organization claiming special knowledge; we need the broader body of Christ.

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 each other for encouragement and growth. Isolating from the broader Christian community (as SCJ does) hinders rather than helps spiritual understanding.

Key #7: Sound Doctrine

2 Timothy 1:13 “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.”

Sound doctrine—the apostolic teaching preserved in the New Testament—is essential for understanding Scripture correctly.

Titus 2:1 “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.”

We should test all teaching against sound doctrine, not accept novel interpretations that contradict what the church has historically believed.

The Simplicity of the Gospel

One of the most striking contrasts between SCJ’s system and biblical Christianity is the difference in complexity:

SCJ’s System:

• Requires months of study to understand
• Depends on complex symbolic interpretations
• Needs special “keys” that only SCJ possesses
• Creates a two-tier system of understanding (those with keys vs. those without)
• Makes salvation dependent on understanding the system and joining the organization

The Biblical Gospel:

• Can be understood and believed immediately
• Is simple enough for a child to grasp
• Is accessible to all who read Scripture with humble faith
• Is the same for all believers—there’s no secret knowledge for an elite group
• Makes salvation dependent on faith in Christ alone

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

God saves people through “the foolishness of what was preached”—the simple message of Christ crucified. He doesn’t save through complex symbolic systems that require months of study to understand.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Paul’s message was simple: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He didn’t come with elaborate symbolic interpretations or secret knowledge. He preached Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Paul fears that believers might be led astray from “sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” SCJ’s complex system does exactly this—it leads people away from simple devotion to Christ into a complicated system of symbolic interpretations and organizational requirements.

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Part 11: Practical Application—How to Respond

For Those Currently in SCJ’s Study Program

If you’re currently taking SCJ’s Bible study and you’re at or near Lesson 61, here are critical questions to consider:

About Transparency

1. Do you know the full identity of the organization you’re studying with?

By Lesson 61, you’ve invested 5-8 months and 120-180+ hours. Have they told you this is Shincheonji Church of Jesus? Have they told you about Lee Man-hee and his claims? If not, why are they hiding this information?

A legitimate Bible study would be transparent about its identity and beliefs from the beginning. The fact that SCJ hides this information for months should be a major red flag.

2. Have you been told where this teaching is ultimately heading?

Do you know that you’ll eventually be taught that Lee Man-hee is “the one who overcomes” who fulfills Jesus’ role at the second coming? That salvation requires joining SCJ and being “sealed” as one of their 144,000 members? That mainstream Christianity has “fallen” and is now “Babylon”?

If you don’t know these things yet, it’s because SCJ is deliberately withholding information until you’re more deeply invested. Ask yourself: Why would a legitimate Bible study hide its core beliefs for months?

About the Teaching

3. Does the teaching focus on Christ or on an interpretive system?

Biblical teaching should lead you to Christ—to worship Him, trust Him, and grow in relationship with Him. Does SCJ’s teaching do this, or does it focus more on understanding symbols, recognizing patterns, and learning their interpretive system?

4. Does the teaching add requirements to the gospel?

The biblical gospel is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Has SCJ added requirements—understanding symbols, recognizing which era we’re in, joining their organization, being sealed as one of the 144,000?

If so, this is a different gospel than the one found in the New Testament.

5. Are you encouraged to test the teaching against Scripture?

When you have questions or concerns, are you encouraged to examine Scripture for yourself and consult other Christian sources? Or are you told that you’re “thinking physically,” that you need their “keys” to understand, or that you shouldn’t have a “weak mindset”?

Legitimate biblical teaching welcomes examination. False teaching discourages it.

About the Process

6. Are you being isolated from other Christians?

Have you been discouraged from discussing what you’re learning with your pastor, Christian friends, or family members? Have you been taught that mainstream Christianity doesn’t understand these things?

Isolation is a classic cult tactic. Healthy Christian teaching encourages connection with the broader body of Christ.

7. Are you feeling pressure to suppress doubts?

When you have questions or concerns, do you feel pressure to push them aside? Are doubts framed as “weak mindset” or spiritual immaturity?

The Bible encourages believers to test teaching and to have their questions answered. Pressure to suppress doubts is a warning sign of manipulation.

8. Are you experiencing anxiety or fear?

Do you feel anxious about missing lessons? Fearful about being “swept away” if you don’t fully commit? Worried that questioning the teaching means you’re spiritually blind?

The gospel produces peace and assurance, not anxiety and fear. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).

What to Do

If you’re recognizing warning signs, here are steps you can take:

1. Stop attending lessons temporarily. Give yourself space to think clearly without the constant reinforcement of SCJ’s teaching.

2. Talk to a trusted Christian. Share what you’ve been learning with a pastor, mature Christian friend, or family member. Get an outside perspective.

3. Read Scripture for yourself. Read books like Galatians, Ephesians, or Hebrews straight through, without SCJ’s interpretive framework. Let Scripture speak for itself.

4. Research SCJ. Visit closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for detailed information about SCJ’s teachings, tactics, and the experiences of former members.

5. Ask direct questions. If you continue contact with your instructor, ask directly: “Is this Shincheonji? Who is Lee Man-hee? What are his claims? Where is this teaching ultimately heading?” Their response will be revealing.

6. Trust your concerns. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Don’t let anyone shame you for having doubts or questions.

7. Remember the gospel. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. You don’t need to understand complex symbols or join a specific organization. You need only to trust in Jesus.

For Friends and Family of Those in SCJ

If someone you care about is involved in SCJ’s study program and is at or near Lesson 61, here’s how you can help:

Understanding Where They Are

By Lesson 61, your loved one has:

• Invested significant time (5-8 months, 120-180+ hours)
• Formed relationships within the group
• Internalized SCJ’s interpretive framework
• Likely distanced from Christians who might challenge the teaching
• Begun to see their spiritual hope as “belonging to the new spiritual Israel”

They’re deeply invested but still don’t know the full extent of SCJ’s claims. This is actually an opportunity—they haven’t yet been told about Lee Man-hee or been pressured to join SCJ officially.

How to Help

1. Don’t panic or attack. Aggressive confrontation often pushes people deeper into the group. Approach with love and genuine concern.

2. Ask questions rather than making accusations. Instead of saying “You’re in a cult,” ask:

• “What’s the name of the organization you’re studying with?”
• “Who founded it? What are the leader’s claims?”
• “Where is this teaching heading? What will you be taught in later lessons?”
• “Why do you think they haven’t told you this information yet?”

3. Focus on the gospel. Remind them of the simple gospel: salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Ask how SCJ’s teaching compares to this.

4. Share resources. Provide information about SCJ from reliable sources like closerlookinitiative.com. Let them read testimonies from former members and biblical refutations of SCJ’s teaching.

5. Encourage Scripture reading. Suggest reading books of the Bible together without SCJ’s interpretive framework. Galatians is particularly relevant because it addresses the issue of adding requirements to the gospel.

6. Maintain relationship. Even if they continue in SCJ for a time, keep the relationship open. Many people eventually leave, and they need to know they have somewhere to return to.

7. Pray consistently. Pray for:

• God to open their eyes to the truth
• The Holy Spirit to convict them of error
• Wisdom for you in how to help
• Opportunities to speak truth in love
• Their protection from further deception

8. Be patient. Leaving SCJ is a process. Your loved one has invested significant time and has been conditioned to dismiss criticism. Change may not happen immediately, but your consistent love and truth-speaking can plant seeds that bear fruit later.

What Not to Do

1. Don’t cut off relationship. Isolation makes people more vulnerable to cult control. Maintain connection even if they continue in SCJ.

2. Don’t mock or ridicule. This will make them defensive and less likely to listen to your concerns.

3. Don’t give ultimatums. “It’s SCJ or me” often backfires. They may choose SCJ, and then you’ve lost all influence.

4. Don’t assume they’re stupid or weak. Many intelligent, sincere people have been deceived by SCJ. The deception is sophisticated, not obvious.

5. Don’t give up. Even if they seem completely committed to SCJ, continue to love them and pray for them. Many former members say that the consistent love and concern of family and friends eventually helped them leave.

For Church Leaders

If you’re a pastor or church leader, here’s how you can protect your congregation from SCJ and help those affected by it:

Prevention

1. Teach sound doctrine regularly. The best defense against false teaching is a solid foundation in biblical truth. Regularly teach about:

• The sufficiency of Christ
• Salvation by grace through faith alone
• The nature of the church as Christ’s body
• How to interpret Scripture in context
• The warning signs of false teaching and cults

2. Warn about deceptive tactics. Help your congregation recognize common cult tactics:

• Lack of transparency about identity
• Gradual revelation of beliefs
• Symbolic interpretation that assigns new meanings to biblical terms
• Creating fear and urgency
• Isolating members from other Christians
• Adding requirements to the gospel
• Shaming doubt and discouraging questions

3. Create a welcoming environment for questions. Make sure people feel free to ask questions and express doubts without fear of judgment. SCJ targets people who feel they can’t ask questions in their churches.

4. Build genuine community. SCJ attracts people who are lonely or looking for meaningful relationships. If your church provides genuine biblical community, people will be less vulnerable to SCJ’s recruitment.

5. Be available. When someone comes to you with concerns about a “Bible study” they or a friend is attending, take it seriously. Don’t dismiss it as “just a Bible study.” Investigate and provide guidance.

Intervention

6. Know the signs. Be alert for members who:

• Suddenly become very interested in symbolic interpretation of Scripture
• Start using unusual terminology (“physical vs. spiritual,” “the one who overcomes,” “new spiritual Israel”)
• Become evasive about a “Bible study” they’re attending
• Distance themselves from church activities and relationships
• Show signs of anxiety or pressure

7. Reach out proactively. If you notice these signs, reach out with concern and care. Ask about what they’re learning and where. Offer to study Scripture with them.

8. Provide resources. Have materials ready to share:

• Information about SCJ from closerlookinitiative.com
• Biblical refutations of SCJ’s teaching
• Testimonies from former members
• Contact information for organizations that help people leave cults

9. Offer support for those leaving. People who leave SCJ often experience:

• Confusion about what they believed and why
• Guilt about time invested or people they recruited
• Anger at being deceived
• Difficulty trusting Christian teaching
• Isolation from the community they were part of

Provide counseling, support groups, and patient discipleship to help them heal and rebuild their faith on a solid foundation.

Education

10. Host information sessions. Consider hosting a seminar or class about SCJ and other cults active in your area. Education is protection.

11. Equip your leaders. Make sure your small group leaders, youth workers, and other ministry leaders know about SCJ and can recognize the warning signs.

12. Partner with other churches. SCJ is a widespread problem. Partner with other churches in your area to share information and resources.

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Part 12: The True Hope—What the Bible Actually Promises

The Contrast in Hope

SCJ Lesson 61 repeatedly emphasizes: “Our hope is to belong to the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel today!”

But what does the Bible say our hope should be? Let’s examine the true Christian hope:

Our Hope Is in Christ

1 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.”

Christ Himself is our hope, not membership in an organization.

Colossians 1:27 “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Our hope of glory is “Christ in you”—His presence in believers by the Holy Spirit, not organizational membership.

Our Hope Is Eternal Life

Titus 1:2 “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”

Our hope is eternal life, promised by God before time began and secured by Christ’s death and resurrection.

Titus 3:7 “so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

We’re justified by grace and become heirs with the hope of eternal life. This hope is based on what Christ has done, not on what organization we join.

Our Hope Is Christ’s Return

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

Our blessed hope is the appearing of Jesus Christ—His visible, glorious return. Not an invisible “spiritual” return in 1967, not the establishment of a Korean religious organization, but the personal, visible return of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Our hope is:

• The Lord Himself coming down from heaven
• The resurrection of believers who have died
• Being caught up to meet the Lord
• Being with the Lord forever

This is the hope that should encourage believers, not the hope of joining SCJ’s organizational structure.

Our Hope Is the Resurrection

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Our living hope is based on Christ’s resurrection and looks forward to our own resurrection and the inheritance kept in heaven for us. This inheritance:

• Can never perish, spoil, or fade
• Is kept in heaven
• Is for those who have faith
• Is shielded by God’s power

Our hope is secure because it’s based on God’s power and promise, not on our organizational membership or understanding of symbols.

Our Hope Is the New Heaven and New Earth

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.'”

Our hope is the new heaven and new earth—the renewed creation where:

• God dwells directly with His people
• There is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain
• God makes everything new

This is not a metaphor for a Korean religious organization. This is the literal, future, physical reality that awaits all who trust in Christ.

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.”

We look forward to the new heaven and new earth “in keeping with his promise.” This is God’s promise to all believers, not a privilege reserved for SCJ members.

The Security of Our Hope

One of the most beautiful aspects of the biblical hope is its security. Our hope is not based on our performance, our understanding, or our organizational membership. It’s based on Christ’s finished work and God’s faithful promise.

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Our hope:

• Is based on justification through faith
• Gives us peace with God
• Is the hope of the glory of God
• Does not put us to shame
• Is confirmed by God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 6:18-20 “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Our hope is:

• Based on God’s unchangeable promise
• An anchor for the soul
• Firm and secure
• Centered on Jesus, who has entered heaven on our behalf

This is radically different from SCJ’s hope, which is based on:

• Understanding complex symbolic interpretations
• Recognizing which era we’re in
• Joining the right organization
• Being counted among a limited number (144,000)
• Maintaining good standing with the organization

The biblical hope is secure because it rests on Christ. SCJ’s hope is insecure because it rests on human understanding and organizational membership.

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Conclusion: Two Keys, Two Hopes, Two Gospels

The Choice Before Students

By Lesson 61, SCJ students face a choice, though they may not realize it yet:

SCJ’s Counterfeit Key:

• Complex symbolic interpretations
• Dependence on SCJ for understanding
• Hope based on organizational membership
• Salvation by knowledge and joining the right group
• Anxiety about missing lessons or having a “weak mindset”
• Isolation from the broader body of Christ

The True Key:

• Jesus Christ Himself
• The Holy Spirit’s illumination
• Hope based on Christ’s finished work
• Salvation by grace through faith alone
• Peace and assurance in God’s promises
• Unity with all believers in Christ

SCJ’s False Hope:

• Belonging to the 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel (SCJ)
• Being counted among the 144,000
• Understanding the secrets that others miss
• Participating in God’s work at the second coming

The True Hope:

• Eternal life through faith in Christ
• The resurrection of the body
• Christ’s visible, glorious return
• The new heaven and new earth where God dwells with His people forever

SCJ’s False Gospel:

• Salvation requires understanding symbols, recognizing the era, and joining SCJ
• Jesus’ work is insufficient; Lee Man-hee must complete it
• Only 144,000 SCJ members will be saved
• Mainstream Christianity has fallen and is now Babylon

The True Gospel:

• Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone
• Jesus’ work is complete and sufficient
• All who believe in Christ are saved—a countless multitude from every nation
• The church is Christ’s body and bride, which He loves and will never abandon

The Urgency of Truth

For those in SCJ’s study program, the urgency is real—but not in the way SCJ presents it. The urgency is not about securing one of 144,000 spots or avoiding being “swept away” in a transition of eras. The urgency is about recognizing deception and returning to the true gospel before investing more time, relationships, and life in a false system.

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Now is the day of salvation—not by joining SCJ, but by trusting in Christ.

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 found in Christ alone. Not in Christ plus SCJ. Not in Christ plus understanding symbols. Not in Christ plus organizational membership. In Christ alone.

The Invitation

If you’re reading this as someone involved in SCJ’s study program, please hear this invitation:

You don’t need SCJ’s “keys.” You need Jesus, who is Himself the key to understanding God and His truth.

You don’t need to belong to the “12 tribes of new spiritual Israel.” You need to belong to Christ, who welcomes all who come to Him in faith.

You don’t need to understand complex symbolic systems. You need to understand the simple gospel: Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead, and all who believe in Him are saved.

You don’t need to fear being “swept away.” You need to rest in the promise that nothing can separate you from God’s love in Christ.

You don’t need to suppress your doubts. You need to bring them to God and to trusted Christians who can help you examine SCJ’s claims against Scripture.

You don’t need to prove your strength by pushing through reservations. You need to exercise wisdom by testing all teaching against God’s Word.

The true gospel is simpler, more beautiful, and more secure than anything SCJ offers. It’s the gospel of grace—unearned, undeserved, freely given to all who believe.

Romans 10:9-13 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”

This is the gospel. This is the hope. This is the truth that sets people free.

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For More Information and Resources

• Visit closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive analysis of SCJ’s teachings, tactics, and the experiences of former members
• Read the full series Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story for detailed refutation of SCJ’s theology across all 30 chapters
• Consult these additional resources for biblical and historical context:
  • Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation – A Christian Response
  • How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon
  • Prophecy and Fulfillment
  • SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Parts 1 & 2
  • The Real Reasons Behind the Tabernacle Temple’s Destruction and Sale
  • Wedding Banquet of the Lamb and the First Resurrection
• If you or someone you know needs help leaving SCJ or recovering from involvement with the group, reach out to:
  • Your local church pastor
  • Christian counselors experienced in cult recovery
  • Organizations specializing in helping people leave cults
  • The resources and contacts available at closerlookinitiative.com

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Final Word: The Sufficiency of Christ

The entire issue with SCJ Lesson 61—and with SCJ’s entire system—can be summarized in one question: Is Christ sufficient?

The Bible’s answer is an resounding yes:

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

In Christ, we have been brought to fullness. We don’t need:

• SCJ’s “keys” to unlock understanding
• Membership in their “12 tribes” to secure salvation
• Complex symbolic interpretations to know God’s truth
• Lee Man-hee to complete what Jesus began

We need only Christ, who is Himself the fullness of God and in whom we have been brought to fullness.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Christ doesn’t change. He doesn’t need to be replaced by a new “overcomer” in each era. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—eternally sufficient, eternally glorious, eternally worthy of our trust and worship.

This is the truth. This is the gospel. This is the hope that will never disappoint.

May all who read this be drawn to Christ alone, rest in His finished work alone, and find their hope in Him alone.

Soli Deo Gloria—To God Alone Be Glory