The physical world was created according to the Kingdom of Heaven in the spiritual world. God desires to dwell with His people in His creation. He was separated from them during the time of Adam. For the last 6,000 years, He has been fighting to come back. He established a temporary dwelling place with Moses and the physical Israelites. However, that was not His permanent dwelling place. He established the reality of His dwelling place when Jesus Christ came as the embodiment of heaven on earth. After fulfilling His mission, Jesus ascended to heaven to prepare a permanent place for believers, which is the New Jerusalem that will come down from heaven. In the end times, this holy city will descend to the new earth as God’s everlasting dwelling with redeemed humanity, restoring what was lost in Eden. The apostle John witnessed this vision of the future reality, which someone must build on earth as the ultimate fulfillment, just as Moses and Jesus did in their times. The main theme is God’s desire to re-establish His kingdom and dwelling with mankind by creating heaven on earth according to the heavenly pattern.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
The Kingdom of Heaven in the Physical world Created According to the Kingdom of Heaven in the Spiritual World
Exodus 25, Matthew 6:10, Revelation 4 and Revelation 21
Today, we’re going to explore examples of this happening throughout the Bible and what it means for our time. As discussed previously, instead of interpreting each parable directly, we’ll focus on the main reference chapters.
Exodus chapter 25 is related to the time of Moses. Matthew 6:10 is part of the Lord’s prayer, which states, “May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
In Revelation 4, we are introduced to God’s throne and structure. Revelation 21 describes the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down to the physical world.
Our hope is to find and participate in the kingdom of heaven in the physical world and attain the promised eternal life.
Main Content
Matthew 6:10
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
1.- Have you realized that this part of the Lord’s Prayer is actually a prophecy? Yes, Jesus dropped an important message here. We’ll study the entire Lord’s Prayer in a separate lesson.
But in this verse, Jesus conveyed that God’s will, which is already complete in heaven, must also be completed on earth. This has been God’s desire since Adam’s fall. Throughout the Bible, God has been preparing places on earth periodically for His will to be fulfilled. He has been visiting earth multiple times in various ways to help this process along.
However, for God to come down, He needs a place that feels like home, a tangible place that reflects what His home is already like in the spiritual world.
2. Each time God makes a kingdom of heaven on the physical world, it always reflects what is above. Let’s look at how God executes all His plans.
Amos 3:7
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
God always reveals His plan before executing or completing it. He first appoints a servant whose job is to see and hear God’s plan. Often, what they see and hear is heaven in the spiritual world. However, they don’t just witness it for the sake of witnessing; they see it so they can act according to what they saw.
For some, their job was to record what they saw. For others, their job was to speak and tell God’s people what they saw. And for some, their job was to build on earth what they saw in heaven.
Some servants see and record like the prophets. Some speak what they saw, often recording it as well. And some build what they see in heaven, but why? Why does God have to do it this way?
What put us in the state where all we can have access to is a copy of what is in heaven? Why can’t we have heaven directly already? What happened to put us in the state we’re in today?
Reminder:
God always reveals His plan before He completes (Amos 3:7)
3.- What happened? Because we’re sinners.
When did it first happen? When did we first become sinners? During Adam and Eve’s time.
Right. Because of the fall of man during the time of Adam, we’ve lost our access to heaven here on earth. Because you better believe, the Garden of Eden and heaven were together. God was there, walking in the cool of the garden, very close, as mentioned in Genesis 3:8.
It’s the reason why when Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden, unable to eat from the tree of life. Really sad. And, of course, this broke God’s heart to pieces, right? Because now his creation, which was once something beautiful, is now being corrupted.
But the reason why God has to recreate heaven in this physical world is because the original one was corrupted. The Garden of Eden was once God’s dwelling place. And in Genesis 6:3, it says that God’s spirit could no longer contend with man forever, for he has become mortal, which means he has become a sinner.
So God’s spirit left, and when God’s spirit left, it left a vacuum. That vacuum was quickly filled by someone pretty unsavory: Satan. And what did Satan bring with him? He brought a lot of awful things with him. He brought death, mourning, crying, and pain. As well as sin, right? Sin encompasses all of these things.
All of these things entered and corrupted the place that was once pure. So now, what is God’s mission? Since what was created perfect has now become corrupt, God wants to recreate and reestablish what was lost, or recover what was lost. That’s his mission: to recover what was lost. So why does God want to create heaven in the physical world? To recover what was lost.
Now that we have our foundation, let’s look at the different times when God established heaven in the physical world. Of course, we’ll start with the time of Moses because it was such an important time that set the foundation for how God would do this later on.
Reminder:
Why does God want to create on Heave in the Physical World? Is to recover what was lost!
1. Exodus: Heaven in the Physcal World
Exodus 25:8-9
8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
ONE – God gave Moses very important instructions. Make a sanctuary for me so that I can dwell among them.
God desired to dwell on earth. As God is in heaven, he showed heaven to Moses and instructed him to build the tabernacle according to the heavenly pattern he had seen. The physical tabernacle was to be constructed to represent the spiritual world of heaven, so they could be the same, a home for God’s dwelling.
In Exodus, Moses built the tabernacle, a physical representation of heaven on earth, according to the spiritual pattern God had shown him.
The people of Israel were in the desert at that time, so they could not build a permanent structure because they had to move around a lot as nomads. The tabernacle they built was a tent with a fence around it, creating the outer court, where the altar of sacrifice and the bronze basin were located.
Before anyone, meaning the priests of the Levite tribe, could enter the holy place, they had to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people on the altar. Then, they would wash their hands in the bronze basin, which was made of a mirror-like material. As they washed their hands, they could see their own reflection in the bronze basin, an incredible shadow.
Just like the sea of glass in heaven in the spiritual world, it was as clear as crystal. The Word, like James 1:21 and on, talks about how the Bible is like a mirror for ourselves. A physical mirror helps us clean the outer, but the Word, which is even brighter, cleanses our inner being. That’s why the bronze basin was made of mirrors, so as they washed their hands, they saw the reflection of themselves also needing to be clean.
After washing and being cleansed, they could enter the holy place, where they saw the lampstand, the table of consecrated bread with 12 loaves representing the 12 tribes, and the altar of incense. There was a curtain, and only at a specific time could they enter the most holy place, or the holiest of holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was located. Inside the Ark were the golden jar of manna, the tablets of the covenant (the Ten Commandments), and Aaron’s staff that had budded.
When looking at the tabernacle, we should see heaven. Moses built it based on what he saw 3,500 years ago in the spiritual world. These things were symbolic representations of what he saw. For example, the seven golden lampstands were a reflection of the seven spirits, also called the seven lamps in Revelation 4.
Moses built this place so that God could come and dwell temporarily with his people. Whenever God wanted to show his presence, a cloud would descend, and people would know God was there and should not play any games, or they might die.
Hebrews 8:5
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
TWO – The sanctuary they served at was a copy and shadow of heaven in the spiritual world. The heaven, tabernacle, temple, or church that was built was a copy and a shadow of what existed in heaven. When God’s spirit descended to dwell, it was like home.
Hebrews 9:9-10
9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
What was mentioned here is very important. The tabernacle was just an illustration or a representation, a model.
As architecture students in school, one of the practices they would often do when designing buildings was to build scaled or small models of the building that could be built in the future. Of course, they were students, so the models rarely became a reality, sometimes depending on the studio. However, those models were not the buildings themselves. You can’t live in the model, but they represent all the characteristics of the real building that would be constructed in the future. The tabernacle was just like that, a model or an illustration. But the point of that model or illustration was to point to the reality that is to come, the new order that is to come.
Everything we saw was pointing to something that would come in the future. For example, I love this example and give it all the time: What was the Ark of the Covenant about? What was inside that Ark of the Covenant?
We have the manna, the bread from heaven. We have the law and the word from heaven. And we have a staff that was dead but sprouted to life.
Who was the bread from heaven? Jesus. Who was the fulfillment of the law given in the time of Moses? Jesus. Who died and came to life again? Jesus. Right?
So the most holy place in the Ark of the Covenant pointed to Jesus. We can understand this: The tabernacle was a shadow, and Jesus was the reality. Like that, that’s how you can understand it.
Everything in the Ark of the Covenant was pointing to Jesus. Jesus established a new covenant. Jesus was the bread from heaven (John 6). Jesus was the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5). And Jesus died and came to life again (Matthew 27 and 28). It was pointing to him.
Now, let’s look at the time of the first coming and go through heaven in the physical world that appeared at the time of the first coming. Then, we’ll look at heaven in the spiritual world that appears or comes down to heaven in the physical world at the second coming.
2. First Coming: Hevean in the Physical World
ONE – Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
How close was the kingdom of heaven when Jesus said this? It was very near, standing right in front of them. However, people did not perceive it. That’s why Jesus stated in John 3 that unless someone is born again, they will not be able to see the kingdom of heaven.
The reason is that they will not be born of the word, and they will not comprehend that heaven was actually present before them in the form of Jesus. All they would perceive is merely a person who performs kind acts towards people and performs miracles. That’s what they would see.
However, someone who understood and was born again would perceive heaven in that very form. The same person, yet two different perceptions, two different understandings. And in John 1:51, Jesus declared, “You will see heaven open and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
So heaven was truly with Jesus. Wherever Jesus went, heaven was right there with him.
Therefore, if someone desired to understand, they needed to come and listen to his words. Let’s examine the parallel between what Moses witnessed and what Jesus witnessed, for Jesus, too, ascended to heaven and descended.
John 3:13
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
No one has gone into heaven except the one who comes from heaven, the Son of Man. Jesus is the one who went up to heaven and came down from heaven, from the spiritual world.
Of course, Jesus saw what heaven in the spiritual world looked like. He was intimately familiar with it. So, what did he do when he came?
His job was to build a people who would be with and follow God, based on what he saw. This took work to accomplish.
It was not something that happened instantly. But he had to slowly build up the hearts of men, including the disciples. When Jesus said, “Come and follow me,” at that point, they were not ready to take on the responsibilities of those who understood the full truth.
They had to be trained. They had to grow themselves. It took them time, and they struggled a lot with it. But it was a worthy fight, a worthy growth, because after Jesus ascended, he entrusted the entire gospel to these 12 men, 11 at the exact time he ascended, of course. And Judas was replaced by Matthias. But he trusted these men with the responsibility of spreading the gospel after he left, which took three and a half years of training.
Some might think, “Eight months? Nine months? That’s a long time.” It took the disciples three years. Eight months is actually a short time, a very short time. But you’re growing so quickly. I don’t know if you’ve taken a step back and really noticed how much you’ve grown.
Go read through your original notes at the beginning of the class. It’s a racket. I used to love doing that. Like, “Man, wow. This is what I used to think. Oh, wow. I didn’t understand.” But you’ve come so far. You’ve grown so much.
You didn’t come this far to only come this far, right? Let’s finish. You’re on the way.
Let’s go to John 5:17-19 to see how Jesus describes this, the work that he had to do.
John 5:17-19
17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
So, what did Jesus say? “My Father is at His work, and I too am working to this very day.” If you think about it, the way God wanted to do things was He created for 6 days, and He got to rest on the seventh day, right? When everything was good and in order.
But then, Adam and Eve happened, and the fall of man occurred. So, has God been able to rest since that time? No. For the last 6,000 years, God has been working. And God would like to rest very soon because, as stated in 2 Peter 3:8, “a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” And it’s been 6,000 years. I’ll leave it there.
So, what did Jesus say in John 5:17? “My Father is always at His work.” And what does the son do? What he sees his Father doing. So, he’ll see God do something, and then Jesus will do it. He’ll hear God say something, and then Jesus will speak it like that. It was like a funnel.
That’s why in John 14, Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” because the Father is in me, and we work together as one. But Jesus didn’t, although he was a carpenter like his Father, build a temple for God to dwell, did he? No.
What was the reality of the temple at the first coming? God’s dwelling place? Jesus was the reality. Jesus himself.
TWO – God’s Dwelling
John 2:19-20
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
The figurative meaning of what was said here is that the temple Jesus referred to, which would be raised in three days after being destroyed, represents his body. God’s dwelling place was the body of Jesus Christ, rather than a physical location built by human hands. He was dwelling in the body of his son.
We see this fulfilment of prophecy in Matthew 3:16, where John the Baptist baptizes Jesus. When Jesus comes out of the water, heaven opens, and God descended upon him like a dove, signifying that Jesus was God’s dwelling place. However, for those who did not believe, they merely saw a man, failing to perceive the true significance of this event.
THREE – Jews didn’t recognize (Heaven left them)
As stated in John 1:11, he came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. However, to all who received him and believed in his name, believing that he was the one sent by God, they gained the right to become children of God, born not of human decision or a human’s will, but born of God.
Since the people at that time did not recognize Jesus and did not recognize the fact that the Lord they had been waiting for had come, and that the redemption they were waiting for had arrived, unfortunately, God said, “The kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to another,” as Jesus stated.
Matthew 21:43
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
The kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to those who will actually bear its fruit. This represents a really sad prophecy to hear.
Now, we shall endeavor to understand more about the kingdom that came.
FOUR – Why did Jesus go to Heaven in the Spiritual World?
Let’s understand what God is doing in our current era. We know that the time came for Jesus to ascend back to heaven. Why did Jesus go back into the spiritual world?
The first reason is that the prophecy had been fulfilled. Amen.
However, there were some other important things that Jesus had to do as well. What else did he have to do? Certainly, he had to teach God’s word, right? To teach to the spirits in prison, as mentioned in 1 Peter 3:4.
But there was one more promise that Jesus had to fulfill. He had to accomplish something else, a task that required his attention and effort.
John 14:1-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
So, Jesus gave them a clue about what he would do when he ascended. What did Jesus promise that he would be doing?
1. To prepare a place for us.
That was his first mission. So he went up there to build and create something new as he ascended.
So, what was it that he built up there? And who is it for?
Matthew 25:31-34
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Two very important things are mentioned here. When the Son of Man comes, he will be seated on his glorious throne, and all the nations will be gathered before him. He will put the sheep on the right.
2. The place that he is preparing is for the sheep-like believers.
Remember, it says all nations, and we know what nations mean according to Revelation. So, all believers will be gathered, but there are believers who are like sheep and believers who are like goats
The difference between sheep and goats is that sheep are obedient, listening to the shepherd and following wherever the shepherd goes. Goats, on the other hand, are stubborn, doing whatever they want and not listening to anyone.
Which one will we be? Will we do this on our own like a goat, or will we need the Lamb to help us, like a sheep? We must be sheep-like believers because the fate of goats does not end well.
In our society, we celebrate goat-like behavior, valuing self-reliance, trusting no one, and doing whatever one wants. However, God wants us to be united, like fingers intertwined.
We must be sheep-like believers because the place that Jesus is preparing is epic and awesome, and we want to be those who see it.
3. The prepared place is the Holy City, New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).
So, what is it that Jesus went up to prepare? What is this Father’s house with many rooms? What is the reality of that? It is not a bg mansion for everyone.
The place that Jesus prepared is the new earth and new heaven. It is twofold. The place prepared by Jesus in the spiritual world is the Holy City, New Jerusalem. According to Revelation chapter 21, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, will come down to be together with the new heaven and new earth, and they will become one.
Let us look into more detail at this time, the time of the second coming, and examine the Holy City, New Jerusalem, that came according to prophecy, how it must be, and what it must do. But do we understand what Jesus prepared? And he did not do it alone either; he had help.
Reminder:
The heaven in the Spiritual World, Holy City New Jerusalem, comes down to the heaven in the Physical World, The New Heaven and New Earth)
3. Second Coming: Heaven in the Physical World
ONE – God’s Dwelling
Revelation 21:1-6
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. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 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.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
We see that the first heaven and first earth pass away. The first heaven or first earth, figuratively represents the first tabernacle and the first people, right? Do we remember the definition of heaven and earth?
The figurative heaven and earth pass away. And the new heaven and new earth come to be.
The new heaven and new earth become God’s dwelling place, now with men. This has been God’s desire for the last 6,000 years to return.
For this to take place, God needs one person to begin the work and train others to help complete that work. The book of Revelation is talked about through the perspective of one person, Apostle John, who went through a lot of suffering to get to the book of Revelation. This is the same Apostle John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, who had walked with Jesus for three and a half years and had been testified and was even the leader of the church of Ephesus before he was captured and attempted to be martyred.
John was placed in a boiling vat of oil, and he survived because God and Jesus were not done with him yet. Because he survived, he was exiled on the island of Patmos, where he saw the visions of Revelation. He really went through it, but because of that, he was able to record such an important book of prophecy for us, which for 2,000 years has made people scratch their heads, wondering what this book is talking about.
But tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about? Himself or someone else? Though prophets speak in the first-person tense, like, “I saw,” “I heard,” “it was shown to me,” someone must live out their words they saw in a vision, in reality. Just like what Ezekiel saw was a reflection of what Jesus saw, and what Isaiah saw was a reflection of what Jesus saw, what those men did in the vision, Jesus did in reality.
So the same thing must happen in Revelation. The logic must be consistent throughout the Bible because the Bible is one, and the author is one.
In Revelation 22, we see the evidence that one person sees these things and must do according to what he saw.
TWO – Someone must live out their words they saw in a vision, but in reality.
Revelation 22:8, 16
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
So, these are two really important passages here.
Revelation 22:8 states, “I, John, am the one who saw and heard these things.” Meaning, John witnessed the events of Revelation.
And not just seen, but also heard. Revelation 22:16 mentions that he also has to be sent. What’s amazing about Greek is that the word for “angel” and the word for “messenger,” particularly how it’s used in Revelation, can either mean “angel” or “messenger.”
The word is actually the same. So, if you look at Revelation 1:20 and the little footnote at the bottom, you’ll see where it says “angel,” it also says “or messengers.” So, they mean the same thing, “angel” and “messengers.”
John, when he sees the events of Revelation, must then be sent out to the churches to testify about what he saw. And one of the amazing things that he saw, which we’ve read in the past but unfortunately don’t have time to read it all today, is Revelation 4:1-8. However, we will read verse 1 because it is important.
THREE – John has to build what he saw in heaven, but on earth
Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
So, what do we see here?
John is called up to heaven in the spiritual world so that he can see, hear, and witness God’s throne and structure. He goes up to heaven in the spiritual world to see God’s throne and structure. And everything that he saw in heaven in the spiritual world, he has to do something with it.
He has to build what he saw in heaven, but on earth now. Because heaven in the spiritual world wants to come down to heaven in the physical world. So, the fact that he saw God in the center and Jesus on his right hand, the 24 elders, the seven spirits, the sea of glass, which is the word that cleanses our inner beings, the four living creatures surrounded by many eyes.
And in Revelation 21, he saw the 12 gates: one, two, three in the north, one, two, three in the east, one, two, three in the south, one, two, three in the west. He sees these things.
And then, what must he do? Build what he saw on earth as it is in heaven. So, the one who is tasked with being the new John has to build an equivalence to what he saw in heaven, just like Moses and just like Jesus.
According to Revelation 21:14, heaven has 12 gates, and on those gates are the names of the disciples. This suggests that heaven in the physical world must also have 12 gates bearing the names of the disciples. The names of the disciples are significant not only in the spiritual world but also in what needs to be built on earth.
FOUR
Revelation 21:2, 10-14
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
10 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. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
So, John was taken and went to a large mountain. What did he see? The holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It was gorgeous and beautiful. It had 12 gates with the names of the 12 tribes written on them.
On the foundations of the city wall were the names of the 12 apostles. Because they are the foundation stones, the 12 disciples. When the disciples died and were martyred, they got to work too. They were helping Jesus build. Do you know how sometimes builders like to mark their name on one of their buildings? Like etch their name in a brick or leave their mark or put, “This is constructed by this company.” Yes, the disciples are having fun with that too. Their names are right there on the foundations.
John. Peter. Like that. So, the disciples’ names are very important to the holy city, New Jerusalem.
So some quick things about this:
1. The holy city, New Jerusalem, is new. It is not exactly like what Moses saw in heaven in the spiritual world because this is the place that Jesus prepared.
2. This means that it is new and was reconstructed by Jesus and the 12 disciples whose names are on the foundation.
3. The 12 disciples are the 12 foundation stones of the gates.
The word “foundation” means pivotal or important. We will learn a lot about the disciples’ names very soon as we continue to study the intermediate level. Keep in mind that their names are very important.
God’s desire is for everyone to end up in Mount Zion, so that when heaven in the spiritual world comes down, we are all together waiting for heaven to be there.
However, we must consider one thing. If I am in a place now that does not talk at all about Mount Zion in terms of the fulfillment of Revelations, then that is not the place that God and Jesus are returning to. If that place does not talk about the sea, the ship or the basket, and does not talk about the barn and the harvest, and if the people there are not saying, “Have you been harvested? I have been harvested. I have been sealed,” then that place is not Mount Zion because those things must happen at that place. So keep searching and be diligent. You will find it.
We are on our way.
Memorization
Matthew 6:10
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Instructor Review
SUMMARY
The physical world was created according to the Kingdom of Heaven in the spiritual world.
In summary, God desires to dwell with His people in His creation. He was separated from them during the time of Adam. For the last 6,000 years, He has been fighting to come back.
He established a temporary dwelling place with Moses and the physical Israelites. However, that was not His permanent dwelling place. He established the body of His son, Jesus, to be His dwelling place at the first coming.
Through Jesus and the 12 disciples, He worked to build something new. When Jesus and the 12 disciples died, they began building the holy city, New Jerusalem, in the spiritual world. This New Jerusalem will come down to those who are waiting for Him.
Jesus and the 12 disciples were on the field, spreading the seed. Then they left. They died, and the field grew for 2,000 years.
Now, there are 2 billion believers, some are true believers (wheat), and some are false believers (weeds).
This is the time for Jesus and the 12 disciples to come back and harvest. They will gather people together, and there will be a separation. The spiritual world, heaven, will come down to those who are true believers, like sheep.
Let us have the determination to be among those true believers, to be part of that fulfilment.
Let’s Us Discern
Analyzing Shincheonji Lesson 68: “The Kingdom of Heaven in the Physical World”
A Critical Examination Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”
Introduction: The Architecture of a False Kingdom
Lesson 68 represents one of the most sophisticated theological maneuvers in Shincheonji’s curriculum. Having established their interpretive framework and connected it to Abraham’s covenant, the instructor now constructs the theological architecture that will make SCJ’s physical organization appear as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy about God’s kingdom.
This lesson is essentially building the case that SCJ is the “New Jerusalem”—the physical manifestation of God’s kingdom on earth. By the end of this teaching, students will be primed to believe that joining SCJ’s organization is equivalent to entering God’s kingdom.
As Chapter 3 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, the lens through which we view Scripture determines everything we see. This lesson installs a lens that makes SCJ appear as the inevitable, prophesied fulfillment of God’s eternal plan.
The instructor’s stated goal is to help students “find and participate in the Kingdom of Heaven in the Physical World.” But what’s actually happening is the conflation of God’s spiritual kingdom with SCJ’s physical organization—a substitution that has profound theological and practical implications.
Let’s examine this lesson carefully, distinguishing genuine biblical teaching from SCJ’s organizational claims.
Part 1: The Foundation – “As in Heaven, So on Earth”
The Core Teaching
What the Lesson Says:
The instructor uses Matthew 6:10 as the foundation:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
He explains:
- “Have you realized that this part of the Lord’s Prayer is actually a prophecy?”
- “God’s will, which is already complete in heaven, must also be completed on earth”
- “God needs a place that feels like home, a tangible place that reflects what His home is already like in the spiritual world”
- “Each time God makes a kingdom of heaven on the physical world, it always reflects what is above”
What’s Biblical:
Jesus did teach us to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This is a genuine prayer for God’s kingdom to be established.
What’s Distorted:
The instructor is establishing a pattern of physical replication:
- Heaven exists in the spiritual world
- God creates physical copies on earth (tabernacle, temple, Jesus, SCJ)
- These physical copies are where God “dwells”
- You must be in the physical copy to be in God’s kingdom
This sets up the claim that SCJ is the current physical copy of heaven, and therefore you must join SCJ to be in God’s kingdom.
Chapter 20 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Danger of Creative Fulfillment”) warns about this exact pattern: taking spiritual realities and reinterpreting them as requiring physical, organizational fulfillment.
The Biblical Understanding of God’s Kingdom
What is the Kingdom of God/Heaven?
Jesus taught extensively about God’s kingdom, and His teaching reveals it’s primarily spiritual, not organizational:
1. The Kingdom is Within/Among Believers:
Luke 17:20-21: “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'”
The kingdom isn’t a physical location you can point to and say “There it is!” It’s a spiritual reality.
2. The Kingdom is Entered Through Faith:
John 3:3-5: “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again… no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.'”
Entry into God’s kingdom is through spiritual rebirth, not organizational membership.
3. The Kingdom is Present and Future:
Already: The kingdom has come in Christ’s first coming
- Matthew 12:28: “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you”
- Colossians 1:13: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves”
Not Yet: The kingdom will be consummated at Christ’s return
- Matthew 25:31-34: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory… Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world'”
- Revelation 11:15: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever”
4. The Kingdom is Universal, Not Organizational:
Matthew 8:11: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
Revelation 5:9-10: “You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God.”
The kingdom includes believers from all nations, not just one organization.
Chapter 21 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Heart of God”) explains that God’s kingdom is wherever His rule is acknowledged and His will is done—in the hearts of believers worldwide, not confined to one organization.
The “Physical Copy” Problem
The Lesson’s Logic:
- Heaven exists in the spiritual world
- God showed Moses heaven and told him to build a physical copy (tabernacle)
- This pattern repeats: tabernacle → temple → Jesus → SCJ
- Therefore, SCJ is the current physical manifestation of heaven
The Biblical Reality:
The Tabernacle/Temple Were Shadows Pointing to Christ:
Hebrews 8:5: “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.”
Hebrews 9:11-12: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 10:1: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”
The tabernacle and temple were temporary shadows pointing to the permanent reality: Christ.
Christ is the Final “Physical Copy”:
John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
The Greek word for “dwelling” (σκηνόω, skēnoō) literally means “to tabernacle.” Jesus is God’s tabernacle—God dwelling with humanity.
John 2:19-21: “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ But the temple he had spoken of was his body.”
Jesus is the temple. He’s the meeting place between God and humanity.
Believers Are Now God’s Temple:
1 Corinthians 3:16: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
1 Corinthians 6:19: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
2 Corinthians 6:16: “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'”
Ephesians 2:19-22: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
The pattern is:
- Shadow: Tabernacle/Temple (physical building)
- Reality: Christ (God incarnate)
- Application: Believers (indwelt by the Holy Spirit)
There’s no need for another physical organization like SCJ. The pattern was fulfilled in Christ and continues in all believers.
Part 2: The Tabernacle Teaching
What the Lesson Gets Right
The instructor accurately describes the tabernacle’s structure:
- Outer court (altar of sacrifice, bronze basin)
- Holy place (lampstand, table of bread, altar of incense)
- Most Holy Place (Ark of the Covenant)
He correctly identifies that:
- The tabernacle was built according to a heavenly pattern (Exodus 25:8-9)
- It was a “copy and shadow” (Hebrews 8:5)
- The Ark pointed to Jesus (manna = bread of life, law = fulfillment, staff = resurrection)
These are accurate biblical observations.
The Subtle Redirection
What the Lesson Says:
“Moses built this place so that God could come and dwell temporarily with his people. Whenever God wanted to show his presence, a cloud would descend, and people would know God was there.”
Then later:
“The tabernacle was just an illustration… pointing to the reality that is to come, the new order that is to come.”
Analysis:
The instructor correctly identifies that the tabernacle was temporary and pointed to something future. But he’s preparing students to accept that:
- The tabernacle was temporary → Jesus was temporary → The church is temporary → SCJ is the permanent reality
The Biblical Reality:
Christ is the Permanent Reality:
Hebrews 7:24-25: “But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Christ is not temporary. He’s the eternal, permanent reality. There’s no need for another “new order” after Christ.
The New Covenant is Permanent:
Hebrews 13:20: “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep…”
The New Covenant is eternal, not temporary.
Chapter 22 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“When Satan Tried to Hijack God’s Plan”) addresses this directly: Any teaching that requires something beyond Christ contradicts the gospel.
The Bronze Basin Illustration
What the Lesson Says:
The instructor describes the bronze basin (made of mirrors) and explains:
“As they washed their hands, they could see their own reflection in the bronze basin… The Word, like James 1:21 and on, talks about how the Bible is like a mirror for ourselves. A physical mirror helps us clean the outer, but the Word, which is even brighter, cleanses our inner being.”
What’s Biblical:
James 1:23-25: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
The Bible is indeed like a mirror that reveals our true condition.
What’s Manipulative:
The “Yeast of Heaven” at the beginning of the lesson states:
“As a believer, you must reflect yourself through the Bible as if you were looking at yourself in a mirror and correct what needs to be corrected.”
This sounds biblical, but in SCJ’s context, it means:
- Compare yourself to SCJ’s teachings
- “Correct” anything that doesn’t align with SCJ
- Conform to SCJ’s interpretations
The Biblical Balance:
2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
The Bible reveals Christ, and we’re transformed into His image, not into conformity with an organization’s teachings.
Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Transformation comes through renewing our minds according to Scripture, not through organizational indoctrination.
Part 3: The First Coming Teaching
Jesus as “Heaven in the Physical World”
What the Lesson Says:
The instructor teaches:
- “The kingdom of heaven was very near, standing right in front of them” (referring to Jesus)
- “Heaven was truly with Jesus. Wherever Jesus went, heaven was right there with him”
- “Jesus and his 12 disciples became the representation of heaven in the physical world”
- “His 12 disciples were like an organization, like a tree, or even a mountain. Together, they made up heaven, heaven in the physical world”
What’s Biblical:
Jesus did proclaim that the kingdom of God had come in His person:
Matthew 12:28: “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Luke 17:21: “The kingdom of God is in your midst” (or “within you”).
What’s Distorted:
The instructor is creating a template:
- Jesus + 12 disciples = heaven in physical world at first coming
- Lee Man-hee + 144,000 = heaven in physical world at second coming
This makes SCJ’s organization appear as the natural parallel to Jesus and His disciples.
Chapter 7 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Hidden Savior: New John”) exposes this exact strategy.
The Biblical Reality:
1. Jesus is Unique:
Colossians 1:15-20: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Jesus is God incarnate. No human or organization can parallel Him.
2. The Disciples Were Not an “Organization”:
The twelve disciples were:
- Witnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (Acts 1:21-22)
- Apostles with unique authority to establish the church (Ephesians 2:20)
- Learners being trained by Jesus Himself
They were not an organizational structure that needed to be replicated. They were unique historical figures with a specific role in redemptive history.
3. The Church is Universal, Not Organizational:
Ephesians 4:4-6: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
The church is all believers everywhere, not a specific organization.
Acts 2:47: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
God adds people to the church (universal body of believers), not to a specific organization.
The “Jews Didn’t Recognize” Teaching
What the Lesson Says:
The instructor emphasizes:
- “The people at that time could not recognize Jesus because they were not born again of the water and the spirit, born again of the word”
- “All they had was their own understanding, traditions, and men’s teachings, which prevented them from truly seeing the reality in front of them”
- “Let’s not make the same mistake in our time”
- “Tradition is one of the most powerful blinding techniques that Satan has”
Analysis:
This is inoculation against criticism. The instructor is preparing students to dismiss concerns from:
- Family (“they’re blinded by tradition”)
- Pastors (“they have men’s teachings”)
- Traditional Christians (“they can’t see what God is doing today”)
Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“The Wisdom of Hiding: Deceive, Deny, Revise”) documents this exact tactic.
What’s Biblical:
It’s true that many Jewish leaders rejected Jesus:
John 1:11: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
Matthew 23:13: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
What’s Missing:
1. Many Jews Did Recognize Jesus:
- The disciples (all Jewish)
- The early church (predominantly Jewish at first)
- Thousands who believed at Pentecost (Acts 2:41 – 3,000; Acts 4:4 – 5,000)
- Paul and other Jewish believers
Acts 21:20: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.”
2. Recognition Was Based on Scripture, Not Organizational Affiliation:
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 recognized truth by testing it against Scripture, not by joining an organization.
3. Jesus Warned About False Christs:
Matthew 24:23-26: “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.”
Jesus warned that people would claim to know where the Messiah is. We’re to test such claims carefully, not accept them blindly.
The Irony:
The lesson warns against “tradition” and “men’s teachings” while simultaneously:
- Establishing SCJ’s traditions (classes, tests, organizational structure)
- Teaching men’s interpretations (Lee Man-hee’s teachings)
- Requiring conformity to organizational doctrine
2 Corinthians 11:13-15: “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
Part 4: The Second Coming Teaching
The “New Jerusalem” Claim
What the Lesson Says:
The instructor teaches:
- Jesus went to heaven to “prepare a place” (John 14:1-4)
- This place is “the Holy City, New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21)
- “The Holy City, New Jerusalem, will come down to be together with the new heaven and new earth, and they will become one”
- “The heaven in the Spiritual World, Holy City New Jerusalem, comes down to the heaven in the Physical World, The New Heaven and New Earth”
Analysis:
This is the culmination of the lesson’s argument:
- Pattern established: spiritual heaven → physical copy
- Historical examples: tabernacle, temple, Jesus
- Current fulfillment: SCJ is the New Jerusalem
By the end of the course, students will be taught that SCJ’s organization is the New Jerusalem that has come down from heaven.
Chapter 20 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” warns about this: taking eschatological (end-times) prophecies and claiming they’re fulfilled in a current organization.
The Biblical Understanding of the New Jerusalem
What is the New Jerusalem?
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.'”
Key Characteristics of the New Jerusalem:
1. It Comes After the Old Heaven and Earth Pass Away:
Revelation 21:1: “For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
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… 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.”
The New Jerusalem comes after cosmic renewal, not during current history.
2. There is No More Death, Mourning, Crying, or Pain:
Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Do SCJ members experience death? Yes. Mourning? Yes. Crying? Yes. Pain? Yes.
Therefore, SCJ cannot be the New Jerusalem.
3. God’s Presence is Unmediated:
Revelation 21:3: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”
Revelation 21:22-23: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
In the New Jerusalem, there’s no temple because God’s presence is direct and unmediated. There’s no need for organizational structures or human mediators.
4. Only the Redeemed Enter:
Revelation 21:27: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Entry is based on the Lamb’s book of life, not organizational membership.
5. It’s the Bride of Christ:
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… 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 the bride of Christ—the church in its glorified state.
Ephesians 5:25-27: “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
The New Jerusalem is all believers, purified and glorified, not one organization.
The “Sheep and Goats” Teaching
What the Lesson Says:
The instructor uses Matthew 25:31-34:
- “The place that he is preparing is for the sheep-like believers”
- “The difference between sheep and goats is that sheep are obedient, listening to the shepherd and following wherever the shepherd goes. Goats, on the other hand, are stubborn, doing whatever they want and not listening to anyone”
- “Which one will we be?”
Analysis:
This creates behavioral conformity pressure:
- Sheep = obedient to SCJ’s teachings
- Goats = stubborn, questioning, independent
Students are being conditioned to view obedience to SCJ as equivalent to following Christ.
The Biblical Context:
Matthew 25:31-46 is about the final judgment. The criteria for separation is:
Matthew 25:35-40: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
The distinction is based on how people treated others (especially the vulnerable), not on organizational obedience.
Jesus as the Good Shepherd:
John 10:11, 14-15: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
John 10:27-28: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Sheep follow Jesus’ voice, not an organization’s directives.
The Test:
1 John 4:1-3: “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. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.”
True sheep test teachings against Scripture. They don’t follow blindly.
Part 5: Psychological Manipulation Techniques
Technique #1: Pattern Recognition
How It Works:
The lesson establishes a pattern:
- Tabernacle (physical copy of heaven)
- Temple (physical copy of heaven)
- Jesus + disciples (physical copy of heaven)
- SCJ (physical copy of heaven)
Analysis:
Once this pattern is accepted, SCJ appears as the inevitable next step. Students feel they’ve “discovered” this through Bible study, not realizing the pattern was constructed to lead to this conclusion.
Chapter 4 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” explains how interpretive frameworks shape what we see.
The Problem:
This pattern breaks down biblically:
- Tabernacle/Temple were shadows pointing to Christ (Hebrews 10:1)
- Christ is the reality (Hebrews 9:11-12)
- Believers are now God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)
- There’s no biblical basis for another physical organization
Technique #2: False Equivalencies
Examples:
- Moses saw heaven and built tabernacle = Lee Man-hee saw heaven and built SCJ
- Jesus + 12 disciples = Lee Man-hee + 144,000
- Jews rejected Jesus = Traditional Christians reject SCJ
- Following Jesus = Following SCJ’s teachings
Analysis:
These equivalencies make SCJ appear biblical, but they’re false parallels.
Chapter 7 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” identifies this as a key manipulation tactic.
Technique #3: Inoculation Against Criticism
Examples:
- “Tradition is one of the most powerful blinding techniques that Satan has”
- “Let’s not make the same mistake in our time”
- “Let’s be those who have eyes that can see and ears that can hear what God is doing today”
- “In our society, we celebrate goat-like behavior… However, God wants us to be united”
Analysis:
This prepares students to dismiss:
- Family concerns (“they’re blinded by tradition”)
- Pastor warnings (“they can’t see what God is doing”)
- Personal doubts (“I’m being stubborn like a goat”)
Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” documents this pattern.
Technique #4: Urgency and Exclusivity
Examples:
- “You didn’t come this far to only come this far, right? Let’s finish. You’re on the way”
- “The place that Jesus is preparing is epic and awesome, and we want to be those who see it”
- “Will we do this on our own like a goat, or will we need the Lamb to help us, like a sheep?”
Analysis:
This creates:
- Sunk cost fallacy (“You’ve come so far, don’t stop now”)
- Fear of missing out (“This place is epic, don’t miss it”)
- Binary thinking (“Sheep or goat, obedient or stubborn”)
Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” warns about urgency tactics.
Technique #5: Controlled Revelation
The Pattern:
- “We’ll study the entire Lord’s Prayer in a separate lesson”
- “Let us look into more detail at this time”
- “We’ll examine the Holy City, New Jerusalem, that came according to prophecy”
Analysis:
Information is parceled out gradually, keeping students dependent on the organization for “more revelation.”
Chapter 10 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” addresses this: Truth doesn’t need to be revealed gradually through controlled channels.
Part 6: What the Lesson Gets Right (And How to Respond)
Legitimate Biblical Truths:
The lesson does present some genuine biblical truths:
- The tabernacle was built according to a heavenly pattern (Exodus 25:8-9) ✓
- The tabernacle was a copy and shadow (Hebrews 8:5) ✓
- Jesus is God’s dwelling place (John 2:19-21) ✓
- We should pray for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10) ✓
- The New Jerusalem will come down from heaven (Revelation 21:2) ✓
The Proper Response:
Use these same biblical truths to evaluate SCJ:
1. The tabernacle pointed to Christ—and Christ has come:
Hebrews 9:11-12: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands.”
The pattern was fulfilled in Christ. There’s no need for another physical organization.
2. Believers are now God’s temple:
1 Corinthians 3:16: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
God dwells in all believers, not just one organization.
3. Jesus is God’s dwelling place—and He’s with all believers:
Matthew 28:20: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus is with all His followers, not just SCJ members.
4. God’s kingdom has come in Christ:
Colossians 1:13: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”
If you’re in Christ, you’re already in God’s kingdom.
5. The New Jerusalem is future and cosmic:
Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
The New Jerusalem comes after cosmic renewal, not during current history through an organization.
Part 7: Red Flags in This Lesson
🚩 Red Flag #1: Claiming to Be the New Jerusalem
What to Watch For:
- Teaching that a physical organization is the New Jerusalem
- Claiming organizational membership equals entering God’s kingdom
- Identifying a specific location as “heaven on earth”
Why It Matters:
Revelation 21:4 describes the New Jerusalem as a place with “no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
If SCJ members still experience these things, SCJ cannot be the New Jerusalem.
🚩 Red Flag #2: Creating False Patterns
What to Watch For:
- Establishing patterns that make the organization appear inevitable
- Using biblical examples to justify organizational claims
- Creating parallels between biblical figures and current leaders
Why It Matters:
Christ is the fulfillment of Old Testament patterns, not any human organization.
🚩 Red Flag #3: Dismissing Tradition and Outside Voices
What to Watch For:
- Labeling all tradition as “satanic blinding”
- Discrediting pastors and family as “unable to see”
- Creating an us-vs-them mentality
Why It Matters:
Proverbs 11:14: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
Wisdom seeks multiple perspectives, not just one organization’s view.
🚩 Red Flag #4: Behavioral Conformity Pressure
What to Watch For:
- “Sheep vs. goat” language to pressure obedience
- Equating questioning with stubbornness
- Creating fear of being “left out”
Why It Matters:
Acts 17:11: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character… for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
Biblical faith involves testing, not blind obedience.
🚩 Red Flag #5: Gradual Information Control
What to Watch For:
- Information revealed gradually over many lessons
- Dependence on the organization for understanding
- Inability to see the full picture until deeply invested
Why It Matters:
2 Corinthians 4:2: “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Truth doesn’t need to be hidden or revealed gradually.
Part 8: Questions for Reflection
If you’re studying with Shincheonji or considering their teaching, ask yourself:
About the New Jerusalem:
- Does SCJ match the biblical description of the New Jerusalem (no death, mourning, crying, or pain)?
- Does the New Jerusalem come before or after the old heaven and earth pass away (Revelation 21:1)?
- Can the New Jerusalem exist while people still die, suffer, and sin?
About God’s Kingdom:
- Did Jesus say the kingdom is observable and locatable (“Here it is” or “There it is”), or did He say it’s “within/among you” (Luke 17:20-21)?
- Is God’s kingdom entered through organizational membership or through faith in Christ (John 3:3-5)?
- Does the Bible teach that God’s kingdom is one organization, or all believers worldwide (Ephesians 4:4-6)?
About the Pattern:
- Does the Bible teach that the tabernacle/temple pattern continues after Christ, or that Christ is the fulfillment (Hebrews 9:11-12)?
- Are believers now God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16), or do we need a physical organization?
- Is there any biblical basis for another “physical copy of heaven” after Christ?
About Testing:
- Am I encouraged to test these teachings against Scripture with outside help, or only within SCJ’s framework?
- Can I talk to pastors, former members, and Christian scholars about these claims?
- Am I being given time to carefully consider, or am I being pressured to continue?
Part 9: A Biblical Alternative
What the Bible Actually Teaches:
1. Christ is the Temple:
John 2:21: “But the temple he had spoken of was his body.”
Hebrews 9:11: “But when Christ came as high priest… he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands.”
2. Believers Are God’s Temple:
1 Corinthians 3:16: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
Ephesians 2:21-22: “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
3. God’s Kingdom is Spiritual:
Luke 17:21: “The kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
4. The New Jerusalem is Future:
Revelation 21:1-4: Comes after the old heaven and earth pass away, with no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.
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.”
5. Entry is Through Christ Alone:
John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
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.”
Part 10: For Those Who Are Concerned
If You’re Studying with SCJ:
Take Time:
- Don’t let pattern recognition pressure you
- The pattern breaks down biblically after Christ
- God is patient (2 Peter 3:9)
Seek Multiple Perspectives:
- Talk to trusted Christians outside SCJ
- Ask pastors about the New Jerusalem
- Read about eschatology (end-times theology) from multiple sources
- Research independently
Test the Claims:
- Does SCJ match the biblical description of the New Jerusalem?
- Do SCJ members experience death, mourning, crying, and pain?
- Is there biblical basis for another “physical copy of heaven” after Christ?
Ask Questions:
- Why does the New Jerusalem need to be a physical organization?
- If believers are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16), why do I need SCJ?
- Can I verify these interpretations with Christian scholars outside SCJ?
Resources:
- Chapter 27 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” (“Your Investigation Begins”)
- Chapter 28 (“Hope and Help”)
- CloserLookInitiative.com
If Someone You Love is Involved:
Stay Connected:
- Don’t cut off relationship
- Express love and concern
- Ask questions about the New Jerusalem claims
Educate Yourself:
- Study Revelation 21 in context
- Understand biblical eschatology
- Learn about the New Jerusalem’s characteristics
Pray:
- For wisdom in conversations
- For the Holy Spirit to reveal truth
- For protection from deception
Seek Support:
- Connect with other families
- Consider consulting with a pastor or Christian counselor
- Don’t handle this alone
Resources:
- Chapter 28 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”
- CloserLookInitiative.com
- Local cult awareness resources
Conclusion: The Real Temple
Lesson 68 presents SCJ as the “New Jerusalem”—the physical manifestation of God’s kingdom on earth. But the Bible teaches something far more beautiful:
You Are God’s Temple:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
2 Corinthians 6:16: “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'”
You don’t need to join SCJ to be God’s temple. If you have the Holy Spirit, you already are.
The Real Kingdom:
The lesson asks you to find and participate in “the Kingdom of Heaven in the Physical World” by joining SCJ. But Jesus taught:
Luke 17:20-21: “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'”
The kingdom is not a physical organization you can point to. It’s the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers worldwide.
Colossians 1:13: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”
If you’re in Christ, you’re already in God’s kingdom.
The Real New Jerusalem:
The lesson teaches that SCJ is the New Jerusalem. But the Bible describes the New Jerusalem as:
- Coming after the old heaven and earth pass away (Revelation 21:1)
- Having no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4)
- Being the bride of Christ—all believers glorified (Revelation 21:2, 9-10)
- Having no temple because God’s presence is direct (Revelation 21:22)
- Being eternal and cosmic, not temporal and organizational
SCJ cannot be the New Jerusalem because:
- The old heaven and earth haven’t passed away
- SCJ members still experience death, mourning, crying, and pain
- SCJ is one organization, not all believers
- SCJ has organizational structures and human mediators
- SCJ exists in current history, not after cosmic renewal
A Final Word:
If you’re studying this lesson, you’re being told that you must join SCJ to enter God’s kingdom. But the Bible presents a simpler, more beautiful truth:
God’s dwelling place is with all who believe in Christ:
John 14:23: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'”
Revelation 3:20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
You don’t need:
- A specific organization
- A physical location
- Organizational membership
- Human mediators (besides Christ)
You need Jesus.
Romans 10:9: “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.”
That’s it. Believe in Christ, and you’re in God’s kingdom. You’re part of His temple. You’re awaiting the true New Jerusalem.
John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
True freedom is found in Christ alone.
May God grant you wisdom, discernment, and courage as you seek truth.
This analysis is provided in the spirit of Jude 22-23: “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
For more resources, see “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” (Chapters 1-30) and CloserLookInitiative.com.
Outline
Unveiling Heaven: A Blueprint for God’s Dwelling
Introduction:
- The Prophecy of Matthew 6:10: Explores the verse’s significance as a prophecy of God’s will being fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven.
- God’s Plan for Re-establishment: Explains God’s desire to recreate heaven on earth due to the corruption caused by sin, highlighting the need for a tangible reflection of His spiritual home.
Part 1: God’s Pattern of Revelation
- God’s Communication through Prophets (Amos 3:7): Examines how God reveals His plans to His servants, the prophets, who then act upon these revelations by recording, speaking, or building.
- The Consequence of Sin: Discusses how the fall of man led to the loss of access to heaven on earth and the corruption of the Garden of Eden, emphasizing God’s mission to recover what was lost.
Part 2: Exodus: Heaven in the Physical World
- The Tabernacle as a Blueprint (Exodus 25:8-9): Analyzes the instructions given to Moses to build the tabernacle according to the heavenly pattern, serving as a physical representation of heaven on earth.
- Symbolic Representations within the Tabernacle: Delves into the symbolic meaning of the tabernacle’s elements, highlighting the connection between the physical and spiritual realms.
- The Tabernacle as a Shadow (Hebrews 8:5, 9:9-10): Explains the tabernacle as a temporary model pointing to the reality of the new order and the coming of Jesus Christ.
- The Ark of the Covenant and its Foreshadowing: Focuses on the contents of the Ark of the Covenant and their symbolic representation of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the law, the bread from heaven, and the one who died and came back to life.
Part 3: The First Coming: Heaven in the Physical World
- The Nearness of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:17, John 1:51): Emphasizes the presence of the kingdom of heaven through Jesus Christ, yet unrecognized by those who were not born again.
- Jesus as the Dwelling Place of God (John 3:13, 5:17-19): Explores how Jesus, having descended from heaven, witnessed and mirrored God’s actions, becoming the embodiment of heaven on earth, rather than a physical temple.
- The Rejection by the Jews (John 2:19-20, Matthew 3:16, John 1:11, Matthew 21:43): Describes the failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and the consequences of their rejection, leading to the kingdom of heaven being taken from them.
- The Training of the Disciples: Explains how Jesus prepared His disciples to continue spreading the gospel after His ascension, emphasizing the importance of growth and understanding.
- The Power of Tradition: Warns against the blinding effects of tradition, urging believers to be discerning and receptive to God’s actions in their time.
Part 4: Jesus’ Ascent and the Preparation for the Second Coming
- The Purpose of Jesus’ Return to Heaven (John 14:1-4): Outlines the reasons for Jesus’ ascension, including fulfilling prophecy, teaching the spirits in prison, and preparing a place for believers.
- The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-34): Differentiates between sheep-like and goat-like believers, emphasizing the importance of obedience and following God’s guidance.
- The Holy City, New Jerusalem (Revelation 21): Reveals the place Jesus prepared – the New Jerusalem in the spiritual realm, which will descend to the new heaven and new earth at the second coming.
Part 5: Second Coming: Heaven in the Physical World
- The New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-6): Describes the passing away of the old order and the establishment of the new heaven and new earth as God’s dwelling place with mankind.
- John’s Role as the Messenger (Revelation 22:8, 16): Highlights John’s experience of witnessing the events of Revelation and his responsibility to testify about them to the churches.
- Building Heaven on Earth (Revelation 4:1): Explains John’s call to witness God’s throne in heaven and the imperative to replicate that structure on earth.
- The Significance of the 12 Disciples (Revelation 21:2, 10-14): Emphasizes the importance of the 12 disciples, whose names are inscribed on the foundations of the New Jerusalem, highlighting their role as foundational stones.
- Discerning True Belief: Encourages believers to seek out a community that aligns with the fulfillment of Revelation, urging them to find Mount Zion where the true harvest will occur.
Conclusion:
- God’s Persistent Desire for Unity: Re-emphasizes God’s longing to dwell with His people and His consistent effort to restore their relationship after the fall.
- The Progression of God’s Dwelling: Traces the journey of God’s dwelling place from the temporary tabernacle to the embodiment of Jesus and ultimately to the New Jerusalem, signifying a progression toward a permanent and unified dwelling.
- The Call to True Belief: Urges believers to become sheep-like followers, actively seeking the truth and participating in the fulfillment of prophecy, ensuring their place in the New Jerusalem.
A Study Guide
God’s Heavenly Blueprint: A Study Guide
Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- Why does God recreate heaven in the physical world? What event necessitated this recreation?
- According to Amos 3:7, what is God’s process for enacting his plans? What roles do his servants play in this process?
- What is the significance of the bronze basin in the tabernacle’s outer court? What spiritual parallel does it draw?
- Explain the symbolism of the Ark of the Covenant and its contents. How do these elements foreshadow Jesus?
- Why did many Jews fail to recognize Jesus as the embodiment of the Kingdom of Heaven? What blinded their understanding?
- What does John 3:13 reveal about Jesus’ unique connection to heaven?
- According to John 5:17-19, how does Jesus describe his work? What motivates this ongoing work?
- What is the primary mission Jesus undertakes upon ascending to heaven?
- What distinguishes sheep-like believers from goat-like believers? Why is it important to cultivate sheep-like qualities?
- What is the ultimate destination of the Holy City, New Jerusalem? What does this symbolize about God’s desire for humanity?
Quiz Answer Key
- God recreates heaven in the physical world to recover what was lost due to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Sin corrupted the original dwelling place of God, necessitating a new, purified heaven on earth.
- God reveals his plans to his prophets before enacting them. These servants play various roles, including recording and speaking God’s word, and building physical representations of heaven on earth based on spiritual visions.
- The bronze basin, made of a mirror-like material, symbolized the need for inner cleansing. It mirrored the sea of glass in heaven and represented the word of God, which acts as a mirror to reveal and cleanse our inner selves.
- The Ark of the Covenant contained manna, the Ten Commandments, and Aaron’s staff, all foreshadowing Jesus. Manna represents Jesus as the bread of life, the law finds its fulfillment in him, and the staff symbolizes his death and resurrection.
- Many Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Kingdom of Heaven because they were not born again through the word and spirit. Their understanding was clouded by tradition and human teachings, hindering their ability to perceive spiritual realities.
- John 3:13 reveals that Jesus is the only one who has ascended to and descended from heaven. This emphasizes his unique divine origin and his intimate knowledge of the heavenly realm.
- Jesus describes his work as a reflection of God’s ongoing work, stating that “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing.” This work is driven by God’s desire to restore his creation and reunite with humanity.
- Upon ascending to heaven, Jesus’ primary mission is to prepare a place for his followers, a dwelling place where they can eternally reside with him.
- Sheep-like believers are obedient to God’s word and follow his guidance, while goat-like believers are stubborn and self-reliant. Cultivating sheep-like qualities is essential to inheriting the kingdom prepared by Jesus, as it demonstrates a willingness to submit to God’s will.
- The Holy City, New Jerusalem, descends to the new heaven and new earth, uniting the spiritual and physical realms. This symbolizes God’s ultimate desire to dwell with his people in a restored and purified creation.
Additional Questions
1. Who are the promised pastor that were called to see the Spiritual World in Old Testament, First Coming and Second Coming?
– Old Testament = Moises (Ex 25:8-9)
– First Coming = (John 3:13, John 5:17-19)
– Second Coming = New John (Revelation 4:1-8)
2. Why there were shown the Spiritual World?
– To create exactly what was seen in heaven on earth
3. What is God’s purpose why there is a need to create heaven on earth?
– For the Holy City New Jerusalem will come down and God’s dwelling is with men. (Revelation 21:1-6)
Glossary of Key Terms
- Tabernacle: A portable sanctuary built by the Israelites under Moses’ direction, serving as a physical representation of heaven on earth.
- Ark of the Covenant: A sacred chest housed within the tabernacle’s most holy place, containing the Ten Commandments, manna, and Aaron’s staff. It symbolizes God’s presence and foreshadows Jesus Christ.
- Born Again: A spiritual transformation marked by a new understanding of God and a commitment to following Jesus. It is essential for perceiving and entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Holy City, New Jerusalem: A heavenly city prepared by Jesus, described in Revelation 21. It descends to the new earth, signifying the unification of the spiritual and physical realms in God’s restored creation.
- Sheep-like Believers: Individuals characterized by obedience to God’s word and willingness to follow his guidance. They are promised inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Goat-like Believers: Individuals characterized by stubbornness, self-reliance, and a rejection of God’s authority. They are separated from God’s presence and face eternal judgment.
- Mount Zion: A symbolic representation of God’s dwelling place and the gathering of his people in the end times. It represents the culmination of God’s plan for humanity.
- Harvest: A metaphor for the gathering and separation of believers at the end times, as described in Matthew 25. Sheep-like believers are gathered into God’s kingdom, while goat-like believers are separated for judgment.
- Sea of Glass: A feature of the heavenly throne room, described in Revelation 4. It symbolizes the purity and cleansing power of God’s word.
- Seven Spirits: Mentioned in Revelation 4, representing the fullness of God’s Spirit and his perfect work in creation. They symbolize the complete and multifaceted nature of God’s presence.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This timeline follows the biblical narrative presented in the lesson, focusing on God’s desire to dwell with humanity and the establishment of “heaven on earth.”
Pre-History:
- Creation: God creates the heavens and the earth, including the Garden of Eden as a perfect dwelling place where He walks with Adam and Eve.
- The Fall: Adam and Eve sin, corrupting the original harmony and causing God’s spirit to withdraw. Sin, death, and suffering enter the world.
Old Testament Era:
- Time of Moses (c. 1446 BC): God instructs Moses to build the Tabernacle according to a heavenly pattern. This portable sanctuary serves as a temporary dwelling place for God among the Israelites and prefigures the reality to come in Jesus.
New Testament Era:
- First Coming of Jesus (c. 30 AD): Jesus, the Son of God, comes to earth as the embodiment of “heaven on earth.” He preaches the kingdom of heaven, performs miracles, and through his death and resurrection, establishes a new covenant.
- John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus: The heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus, confirming him as God’s dwelling place.
- Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple and Resurrection: Jesus prophesies that he will rebuild the temple in three days, referring to his own body as the true temple of God.
- Jesus Ascends to Heaven: After his resurrection, Jesus returns to the spiritual realm to prepare a place for his followers.
End Times:
- Second Coming of Jesus: Jesus will return in glory to judge all nations, separating the faithful (“sheep”) from the unfaithful (“goats”).
- Descent of the New Jerusalem: The Holy City, New Jerusalem, prepared by Jesus in the spiritual realm, will descend to the new heaven and new earth, uniting the divine and human realms.
Cast of Characters
God: The creator and sustainer of all things, who desires to dwell with His people.
Jesus: The Son of God, who comes to earth as the embodiment of “heaven on earth.” He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and establishes a new covenant through his death and resurrection. He is the one who prepares the New Jerusalem in the spiritual realm.
Moses: The prophet who receives instructions from God to build the Tabernacle, a temporary dwelling place for God among the Israelites.
John the Baptist: The prophet who baptizes Jesus and testifies to his identity as the Son of God.
The 12 Disciples: Jesus’ chosen followers who are trained to spread the gospel and who, after their deaths, become the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.
John (Apostle): The disciple who receives the visions of Revelation on the island of Patmos. He is instructed to “build” what he sees in heaven on earth, signifying the establishment of God’s kingdom in the physical world.
The “New John”: A future figure prophesied to fulfill the role of John the Apostle in the end times, establishing a physical structure that reflects the heavenly New Jerusalem.
Sheep-like Believers: Faithful followers of Jesus who are obedient and will inherit the kingdom of God.
Goat-like Believers: Unfaithful people who are stubborn and will face judgment.
Overview
Briefing Doc: The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
Main Themes:
- God’s desire to dwell with humanity: This theme is central to the source, highlighting God’s consistent effort to re-establish a dwelling place on earth following the fall of man.
- The spiritual world as a blueprint for the physical: The source emphasizes the pattern of God revealing the spiritual reality of heaven as a model for the physical creation of His dwelling place on earth. This is seen in the tabernacle of Moses, Jesus Christ himself, and the New Jerusalem.
- The importance of the 12 disciples: The source places great significance on the role of the 12 disciples, not just in spreading the gospel during Jesus’s time but also as foundational figures in the heavenly Jerusalem.
- The necessity of spiritual rebirth: Understanding the spiritual reality of the Kingdom of Heaven requires being “born again” through the word and spirit of God, as opposed to relying on human understanding or tradition.
- The second coming and the harvest: The source points to the second coming of Christ as a time of judgment and separation, where true believers (sheep) will be gathered and the spiritual realm of the New Jerusalem will descend upon them.
Key Ideas and Facts:
- Exodus 25: Moses builds the tabernacle based on the heavenly pattern revealed to him, creating a physical representation of God’s dwelling place on earth. This served as a “copy and shadow” (Hebrews 8:5) of the true heavenly reality.
- Matthew 6:10: This verse from the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” is interpreted as a prophecy of God’s ongoing work to establish His kingdom on earth.
- Jesus Christ as the embodiment of Heaven: The source presents Jesus as the true dwelling place of God during his time on earth (“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” – John 2:19). Jesus, through his life and teachings, established the foundation for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
- The work of Jesus in the spiritual realm: After his ascension, Jesus went to prepare a place for his followers, identified as the Holy City, New Jerusalem (John 14:1-4).
- Revelation 4 and 21: John’s vision of the throne of God and the New Jerusalem in Revelation emphasizes the connection between the spiritual and physical realms. The New Jerusalem, built by Jesus and the 12 disciples, is destined to descend upon the new earth.
- The role of the “New John”: The source proposes that a figure analogous to John the Apostle will appear in the end times, who will witness the heavenly realities and guide the building of a physical structure mirroring the New Jerusalem.
- The importance of recognizing the true Kingdom: The source warns against being misled by tradition and encourages seeking the true dwelling place of God, characterized by specific signs and teachings related to the harvest, the sea, the ship, the barn, etc.
Important Quotes:
- “Jesus conveyed that God’s will, which is already complete in heaven, must also be completed on earth. This has been God’s desire since Adam’s fall.”
- “The sanctuary they served at was a copy and shadow of heaven in the spiritual world. The heaven, tabernacle, temple, or church that was built was a copy and a shadow of what existed in heaven. When God’s spirit descended to dwell, it was like home.”
- “The tabernacle was just an illustration or a representation, a model… But the point of that model or illustration was to point to the reality that is to come, the new order that is to come.”
- “The place that Jesus prepared is the new earth and new heaven… The place prepared by Jesus in the spiritual world is the Holy City, New Jerusalem. According to Revelation chapter 21, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, will come down to be together with the new heaven and new earth, and they will become one.”
- “John, when he sees the events of Revelation, must then be sent out to the churches to testify about what he saw… He has to build what he saw in heaven, but on earth now.”
- “God’s desire is for everyone to end up in Mount Zion, so that when heaven in the spiritual world comes down, we are all together waiting for heaven to be there.”
Overall Impression:
The lesson presents a complex theological interpretation of the Kingdom of Heaven, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the spiritual and physical realms and God’s persistent desire to dwell with humanity. It places significant emphasis on biblical prophecy, typology, and the idea of a future “New John” who will play a pivotal role in ushering in the new era.
Q&A
Q&A
1. What is the significance of Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”?
This verse is a prophecy indicating God’s desire to establish His kingdom on earth, reflecting His heavenly kingdom. Since the fall of man, God has been working to recreate a dwelling place on earth where His will can be fully realized. This process involves revealing His plan to chosen servants who then build physical representations of what they see in the spiritual realm.
2. Why does God need to recreate heaven in the physical world?
The original heaven on earth, the Garden of Eden, was corrupted by sin during the fall of man. God’s spirit departed, leaving a void filled by Satan, who introduced death, suffering, and sin. God’s mission is to recover what was lost by re-establishing His pure dwelling place.
3. How does the Tabernacle built by Moses exemplify heaven in the physical world?
God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle based on a pattern shown to him on Mount Sinai, representing the heavenly realm. This structure served as a temporary dwelling place for God among the Israelites. Every element within the Tabernacle, from the Ark of the Covenant to the seven golden lampstands, symbolized aspects of the spiritual heaven.
4. How was Jesus the embodiment of heaven in the physical world at His first coming?
Jesus, being both divine and human, represented heaven itself. He came to earth to build a people who would follow God’s will. John 3:13 emphasizes that Jesus is the only one who has ascended to and descended from heaven, making Him uniquely qualified to establish God’s kingdom on earth.
5. What happened when the Jewish people failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah?
Because they clung to their traditions and did not recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, the Kingdom of Heaven was taken from them and given to a people who would bear its fruit. This signifies the importance of recognizing and embracing God’s work in our time, avoiding the trap of tradition and closed-mindedness.
6. Why did Jesus ascend to heaven after His resurrection?
Jesus ascended for multiple reasons: to fulfill prophecy, to minister to the spirits in prison, and to prepare a place for His followers. This prepared place is the Holy City, New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21.
7. What is the role of the New John in relation to the second coming of Christ?
Just as Moses built the Tabernacle and Jesus embodied heaven, the New John, a figure prophesied in Revelation, is tasked with building a physical representation of the New Jerusalem on earth. This structure will serve as a focal point for the faithful as they await the descent of the Holy City from heaven.
8. What is the ultimate outcome of God’s plan to recreate heaven in the physical world?
The New Jerusalem will descend from heaven and unite with the new heaven and new earth, creating a perfect dwelling place for God and His people. This represents the culmination of God’s plan to restore His creation and dwell eternally with those who have faithfully followed Him.