The main focus was on understanding the “place” that Jesus promised to prepare for his disciples in John 14:1-4, which is revealed to be the Holy City, New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21 that will come down from heaven. Jesus has been working with his 12 disciples, whose names are the 12 foundations of the city walls, to prepare this place. The Holy City will descend to Mount Zion, where Jesus and the redeemed 144,000 firstfruits will be gathered (Rev 14:1). To be among those who can enter the New Jerusalem when it comes, believers must meet the qualifications outlined in Revelation – being sealed, part of the 12 tribes, keeping the words without adding/subtracting, having their name in the book of life, etc. The lesson emphasized the need to rightly understand the spiritual realities depicted in Revelation’s parables and prophecies through the “open scroll” of their fulfillment happening now. This will allow believers to escape deception, follow the Lamb, and be prepared as wise virgins to gather at Mount Zion and enter the Holy City when heaven comes down. The main thrust was explaining what the “place” is that Jesus went to prepare, revealed through Revelation to be the New Jerusalem, and what is required of believers to be ready to enter it when it arrives.
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.
Today, we’re going to delve into something profound. In fact, this will be part one of a two-part lesson focusing on deep concepts detailed in the Gospel of John. Keep that in mind.
We explored truly deep topics during today’s Q&A session for those who attended. I pray that next week, you’ll be able to set aside time. The questions you’re asking are truly great. It’s exciting to hear them because it lets me know that you’re genuinely wrestling with the Word of God, desiring to understand it deeply, even to the extent of helping others comprehend it too.
You truly master the Word when it flows freely from your mouth, without struggling to recall a verse or its location. When you can effortlessly say, “Let’s turn together to John chapter one, verse one. It’s really cool.” And the Word just flows from you, it means the Word resides within you. If you want to know if the Word dwells within, speak it. Speak it even with your evangelists too.
They will help you practice speaking the Word because it truly reveals that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. If you cannot speak it yet, it’s time to continue filling your heart. The heart still needs filling.
So let’s fill our hearts abundantly, until they overflow.
The Place Prepared by Jesus
Jn 14
Our main reference chapter is John chapter 14. Let’s go over the details of John chapter 14 together.
And again, as I mentioned, this is a two-part lesson. There’s another part that we’ll be covering in the next lesson related to this topic today. But this is part one.
Our hope is to find and gather at the place prepared by Jesus at the second coming.
It doesn’t make sense to find and not gather. So let us be those who find and gather at the place prepared by Jesus at the second coming.
John chapter 14 Introduction
The passage from John chapter 14 contains something important that you should understand. There is crucial context needed to truly grasp what is happening in this particular chapter of John’s gospel account.
Jn 12-16 Same conversation between Jesus and the 12
John chapter 14 is part of the same conversation and event as the previous chapter, John 13, all the way up to John 16. All these chapters are part of the same conversation between Jesus and his disciples. Keeping this in mind helps us understand that everything that happened in these four chapters is deeply connected, and we need to grasp them as one.
A summary of what occurred in these chapters: In John chapter 13, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. We often view this through a moral teachings lens only because we did not comprehend the significance before.
Yes, we are supposed to serve others. Yes, please do so. Please take care of others. Please clean others. Yes. But there is so much more behind why Jesus washed his disciples’ feet than just teaching about service.
It’s a distinguishing factor, really, if a place has the open word. Just ask them, “Why did Jesus wash his disciples’ feet?” And based on the answer to that question, you can truly know, oh, this place doesn’t have the open word.
If they say Jesus was only teaching us to be servants, then these people don’t understand what needs to take place and why Jesus did that. Remember how Jesus liked to do things, actually very similar to the way God liked to do things. Remember Romans 1:20?
“For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and his divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse.” So when I look at this plant I just pulled up here, I should be able to understand God more just from this plant.
When I look at a tree, I should be able to understand God more just from that tree. When I look at water, fire, rocks, soil, seed, all of these things point to God. So God used physical things to help us then understand him more, the things that we cannot see with our naked eyes. Jesus did the same, but with his actions. Jesus would heal the blind and then prophesy about those who will be spiritually blind in the future when night comes, in the same conversation, minutes of each other, both. He would do something physical and then he would speak about it. He would do something physical and then he would teach about it.
Are we understanding? Are we thinking of the times when Jesus did this? He did it every time. He would feed the 5,000 physical food and then preach spiritual food so that they made the connection. Oh, Jesus fed us so that he could teach us and help us understand about how he’s spiritually feeding us too. That’s what Jesus was hoping that people would come to their conclusion, but the people were quite stubborn. Some did, of course, like his disciples.
So what should we then take away as the spiritual significance for Jesus washing his disciples’ feet? What should we then be thinking about? What does Jesus want to do with them? What does he want to clean? To clean our heart. And what did Jesus say in John 15:3? “You are already clean through the word.” Exactly. Same conversation. They’re all connected. So keep that in mind.
John 13, 14, 15, and 16, same conversation. Then after speaking to his disciples in John 14, which we’ll get to, he then tells them how he’s the tree and how they are his branches and how they need to bear much fruit, meaning bring others who can be attached to me. And then he promises to send a counselor. Amazing. So cool.
John 14:29 Told Before → When it happens → Believe
In John 14, Jesus describes the place that he will prepare for his disciples. Jesus makes the connection between himself and God so that people can clearly understand that connection. He says, “If you have seen me, you have seen the father.”
Why then are you asking to see the father when I am here with you? And then Jesus promises to send the spirit of truth, the counselor. We’ll talk about that in the next lesson.
That’s the content for the next lesson. In John 14:29, it says, “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.” This is such a great verse to basically summarize how the whole Bible works. That’s the whole Bible.
God tells beforehand, so that when it happens, we will believe.
1.- The Place Prepared by Jesus
Let’s discuss the place that Jesus prepared. That will be our main focus for today. We will really concentrate on understanding that place well.
“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.”
John 14:1-4
You know the way to the place where I am going. Then his disciples asked him, “What is the way?”
In verse 6, we get the answer: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Let’s talk about the things Jesus mentioned here.
He said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to my Father’s house to prepare a place for you.”
But then he promised two more things. Jesus makes two big promises to his disciples here in these chapters. Number one, he is going away, which his disciples did not fully realize until this point. This is when Jesus really starts letting his disciples know about the deep things that are going to happen in the future.
So, one, he tells them that he is going to prepare a place. And two, he is leaving to do so. But there is a third promise.
What is the third promise?
That he is coming back. So, one, he is going to prepare a place, and he has to leave. But he also promises that he is coming back, and he will take us to the place that he is preparing.
Reminder:
Promises:
1.- Prepare a place
2.- Leaving to do so
3.- Coming back
These words are being spoken to the 12 disciples. If you really look at it with the logic of the time of the Old Testament, the descendants of the original people who accepted the covenant also have to keep the covenant. Though they were not alive to verbally confirm it when it was made, it is their job to keep the covenant and the promises confirmed by their ancestors.
Well, the 12 disciples are our spiritual ancestors. It is because of their work that we know about Jesus, God, and all of these things even today. So this is very important.
They heard the promises of Jesus and said, “Amen.” They said amen for all of us. And they also accepted Jesus’s covenant, did they not?
In Luke 22, when they partook of the bread and the wine, he said, “Amen.” So what did the disciples do after they received these promises from Jesus?
They believed and then spread the gospel. And by God’s grace, they were able to make many saints – people who are waiting for Christ’s return as they had heard. But these people would not exist if it were not for the work that the disciples did.
You would not be here today if it were not for the sacrifice of the disciples and the early Christians. And they went through great suffering for this gospel to reach us.
They hid in tunnels and caves, scurrying from town to town as people banished them away for their belief in Christ. They were torn to pieces in Colosseums and games. In Rome, they had their churches and temples burned. They went through it all.
This is the reason why they are rewarded with coming back with Jesus, because they became martyrs. The 12 disciples and early Christians became martyrs. And their promise is great, and their reward is great for their sacrifice.
So, as those who received the gospel, the words that came from the disciples, what is our job to do when we hear the gospel?
Essentially the same thing. But there’s one more thing to consider. Think about the promise itself. What should we do according to that promise?
Keep it? Essentially, yes. But before we keep it, before it’s possible to keep, we have to wait. There’s a time of waiting.
So how long has the time of waiting been?
A long time. 2,000 years. A long time. 6,000 years. So long we’ve been waiting. And God knows how hard it is to wait, as we are impatient beings bound by time, getting older, wrinkly, and slower.
But we were told to wait, as Habakkuk 2:2-3 says, “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
So though we have to wait for a long time, when things start to be fulfilled, they will be fulfilled quickly when they start, and things will begin to happen. But until that time, there’s a long time of waiting. So that’s what’s been happening for a long time.
But as we were waiting, unfortunately, many added and subtracted during that time too. We don’t want to be those that add and subtract today.
Right, we don’t want this to be us. But unfortunately, many people did such things, which is why people are waiting for different things to happen. Some people are waiting for this event, while others are waiting for that event. And they don’t agree with each other. That’s pretty sad.
But we know that when the events take place, the truth is then made known.
New City New Jerusalem
So let’s get back to Jesus, right? So we followed the trail, the path of people on earth, right?
But what’s Jesus been up to? He promised that he would go preparing a place. But what has he been preparing? The Holy City, New Jerusalem.
This is the place that Jesus has been preparing. He told us about it in Revelation. Yet it was as if these verses were invisible to us.
And we did not make the connection between John 14 and Revelation 21. We just thought that the house would be a big mansion that everybody gets when they go to heaven. I’m working for my big mansion with many rooms.
Ah, no. Jesus explained the place that would happen, the place that would come. And he told these things to John.
And John recorded them in the book of Revelation. But Jesus told us about the things that will happen at this place and what this place will be like.
So let’s explore the place in more detail.
What will this place be like? What will be in this place? So let’s turn to the book of Revelation chapter 21.
Revelation chapter 21. We’re going to read a few things about this Holy City, New Jerusalem, because it’s beautiful. It’s so beautiful.
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.”
Revelation 21:1-4
Class, please hold on to this promise.
Everything that God says He will do, He does. He has never broken a promise, not even once, and He never will. If He promises that death, mourning, crying, and pain will end, then death, mourning, crying, and pain will indeed end.
So, let us be the ones determined to witness this and even help God in bringing this about. Be a part of the work that God has been doing. As we discussed in the Q&A session, God has not been at rest but has been working.
Just as Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working,” Jesus has been working to prepare the place, and God too has been working to prepare the place ever since Adam’s fall. So, let us learn more about this Holy City, New Jerusalem.
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 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.
Revelation 21:9-14
Let’s break down the things we have read so far. Many beautiful promises are mentioned, and are we seeing the parallels, everyone? John saw the bride, and the bride was represented as a huge mountain.
Accidents? I think not. Coincidence? No way. A huge mountain, and the Holy City, New Jerusalem, comes down to this huge mountain. This huge mountain has 12 gates, and the 12 gates equal what? The 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel.
The 12 tribes are talked about in Revelation, Chapter 7. So, if someone wants to enter the Holy City, if someone wants to enter the new heaven and new earth, where do they have to go through? One of the gates of the 12 tribes.
Everyone has the hope of entering the Holy City. It’s not just for specific people, but everyone needs to enter through the gates of the 12 tribes. No one is exempt. All of us have to do this.
Now, on those 12 gates are 12 foundations. Who are the 12 foundations? The 12 foundations are the 12 disciples, the 12 apostles. Amazing. The 12 apostles of the lamb. So why are the 12 tribes called after the disciples? Because of Revelation 21:14 and other verses, which we will go over now.
The 12 Gates of the Holy City New Jerusalem
We must all enter through one of the gates mentioned. Let us discuss these gates in more detail. To understand them, we need to revisit the promise Jesus made to his disciples.
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:27-28
Jesus made a huge promise, didn’t he? The disciples said to Jesus, “We’ve given up everything. What will there be for us?” Basically, in modern language, they were asking, “What’s in it for us? Right? We’ve given up everything.” And what did Jesus say? “You will sit with me on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” Which Israel? The spiritual Israel. The new spiritual Israel of Revelation 7.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4
So, what do we see here? We are focusing on the first part of verse 4. “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.”
Who were seated on the thrones? The 12 disciples. Just like who promised them? Jesus.
So, you can really think about it like this: the 12 disciples are the heads of the 12 tribes of the new spiritual Israel.
But what form are they in? They are in spirit form. Keep that in mind.
Colors of the 12 Tribes
Let’s continue our discussion. You are likely noticing the various colors displayed here and wondering about their significance. Where do these colors originate from? Is it a random source? Of course not. The colors must also derive from the Bible, just like the other elements we have covered.
19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
Revelation 21:19-21
The colors of each tribe come from the 12 precious stones, with each stone matching one of these colors.
We’ll learn more about this as we gain further understanding of the fulfilment. That is where the colors originate from, as mentioned in Revelation 21:19-21.
We’ll discuss the people who will gather at Mount Zion, in the New Heaven and New Earth, to welcome this beautiful Holy City that is coming down.
2.- The Holy City, New Jerusalem comes to
One important thing I want to discuss is Matthew 25. However, before we delve into the chapter, it’s crucial to understand its relationship with the neighboring chapters, Matthew 23 and 24. These three chapters, Matthew 23, 24, and 25, have a very special connection. A few key points about Matthew 25 will be highlighted.
Matthew 23 – Judgement on those of First Coming
In Matthew 23, what are some of the things that happen?
Jesus passes judgment on those who were present during his first coming. He judges them with his words.
“Woe to you, Pharisees and teachers of the law. How will you escape being condemned to hell?” So, Matthew 23 is actually about the past.
It is about the people of the time when Jesus was speaking. That’s who it is referring to.
Matthew 24 – Signs of End Times
And who are the ones that flee and get to the mountain? They are talked about in Matthew 25.
So, if Matthew 24 is about the signs, Matthew 25 is about the people. The people who keep the covenant and the people who do not keep the covenant. But how are they described in Matthew 25?
They are described as the wise and foolish virgins. The ones with the five and two talents versus the one with the one talent.
Matthew 25 – People
And who are the ones that flee and get to the mountain? They are talked about in Matthew 25.
So, if Matthew 24 is about the signs, Matthew 25 is about the people. The people who keep the covenant and the people who do not keep the covenant. But how are they described in Matthew 25?
They are described as the wise and foolish virgins. The ones with the five and two talents versus the one with the one talent.
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.
Matthew 25:31-32
So who are the ones who will inherit the kingdom that Jesus promised? The sheep-like believers. They are the ones who will flee. They are the ones who will come out. They are the ones who will be harvested. The sheep-like believers.
Let’s draw the picture that Jesus described here in verse 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. Then something will take place. We know that Jesus, of course, is at the right hand of God, as seen by people like Stephen, for example, in Acts 7:60, and a few other places in the New Testament.
At this place, Jesus is sitting on his throne, and of course, so is God. And all nations are gathered. How many times in this class have we talked about a gathering? A lot. It seems like every class, because it’s all over the revelations’ fulfillment. It’s all over the prophecies. There must be a gathering. Both good fish and bad fish are caught in the net. Both the sheep and goats are gathered together. Both those wearing wedding clothes and those not wearing wedding clothes enter the banquet. But only one group gets to stay. There must be a gathering and then a separation.
Ah, let’s be those that are separated on the right side. So who are the ones that gather and enter? The sheep-like believers, who we should definitely be. They are the ones that enter. They are the reality of Revelation 7:14. That’s them. That’s who Jesus was referencing. But there are those on the left who instead are like goats. And they will be the goat-like believers.
What is the difference between the sheep-like believers and the goat-like believers? The goats are stubborn. Goats do whatever they feel like. Whatever the wind is blowing, that’s what they want to do. They don’t listen to anybody, and they’re quick to use their horns, avoid, and fight. Yeah, right, anyone in their way, the horns are coming. Sheep are the opposite. Sheep are humble. Sheep are meek. Sheep follow the shepherd.
And isn’t it funny how in this world being a sheep has a negative connotation? Oh yeah, those over there, those are sheeple. Not me though. I’m my own man. Satan has literally made the opposite of what God has made the preferable thing. It’s in our media, TV, and music, pumping out hyper-individualism. That’s goat-like behavior. Don’t gather with those people over there. They’re strange. Think only for yourself. Follow your heart, your gut, your thoughts, your ideas. Now, in many cases, it’s important for us to be able to think and reason for ourselves. When it comes to things of the word, things of the spirit, we must be followers. We must be sheep. Because we don’t want to be those who are put on the left, whose end is not good.
So as we’re closing, how do we make sure we are sheep-like believers? How do we ensure that these words are talking about us? That they’re about us for sure? Yes, this is about me. There are two questions that I want us to always keep in mind going forward. We’ve talked about them a little bit, but I want to make sure that we’re understanding these words even more and more as we go forward.
Two important questions:
- Who am I according to the Bible and Revelation?
- Have I been created in accordance with the Bible, especially Revelation?
We truly need to engage in self-reflection during this time. This is not a moment to say, “Oh yeah, I’ve always been this person,” when we were previously unaware of these truths.
According to the Bible, you are present in the book of Revelation. Your existence is recorded in the ink of those pages. You are there, but which words specifically pertain to you is a choice you must make.
I pray that you decide to be among the sheep who gather on the mountain and welcome the Holy City of New Jerusalem. If someone claims, “I am the sheep-like believer of Revelation,” the next question becomes, “Have I been created in accordance with the book of Revelation?” This means, am I embodying the actions that Revelation states I should be undertaking?
To be created is to be the living embodiment of the words of Revelation, for those words to truly represent you. This is especially relevant to Revelation 7 and 14, where the qualifications for entering heaven are outlined.
Let us revisit the seven points we have discussed:
- Be born again of God’s seed.
- Be harvested.
- Be Sealed with God’s word, prophecy, and fulfilment of Revelation, the new song.
- Be part of one of the 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel, for they are the gates, and we need to enter through the gates.
- Do not add or subtract from Revelation. Why? Because this promise will be taken away, and what will you receive instead? The very plagues described in the book.
Do not let that be your fate.
- Your name needs to be in the book of life.
- Prepare the lamp, oil, and wedding clothes, as mentioned in Matthew 22 and Matthew 25.
Now, there are a few things that summarize pretty much everything we’ve talked about here.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23
These words should be seen with fresh eyes every time you read them.
Many perceive the things mentioned in verses 22 and 23 as profound, done by those with whom God and Jesus are present. This is the perception before understanding the open word. However, Jesus will say to those who do not do God’s will but follow their own ways, “Away from me, you evil doers.”
They may argue, “But Jesus, we did this, and this, and this.” Yet, Jesus will respond, “None of those were God’s will or what I asked you to do when Revelation is being fulfilled.”
So, let us do as discussed in Revelation. Let us be born of God’s seed, as Jesus promised in Matthew 13, to be harvested. Let us be those sealed, with the words of Revelation stamped on our hearts and minds, keeping the new covenant of Hebrews 8.
We need to belong to one of the 12 tribes. If we do not know which tribe we belong to, we have not yet entered. We are still on the way. We cannot be those who add or subtract from Revelation, being messy and misleading people by saying, “It may be like this, it may be like this,” causing them to look in different directions than where things are actually happening, just like during the first coming.
Our names should be written in the book of life, as it is mentioned 6 times in Revelation out of 8 times in the whole Bible, making it significant. We need to prepare the lamp, oil, and wedding clothes.
Let us have the word, the testimony, and cleanse our hearts, doctrines, and actions to welcome the Lord when he returns.
Memorization
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.
John 14:2-3
Let’s Us Discern
Analysis of Shincheonji Bible Study Lesson 83: “The Place Prepared by Jesus”
A Critical Examination Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”
Introduction
Shincheonji Church of Jesus (SCJ) Lesson 83 focuses on “The Place Prepared by Jesus,” using John 14 and Revelation 21 to teach about the New Jerusalem. While the lesson contains genuine biblical content about Jesus’ promise to prepare a place for His disciples, it demonstrates SCJ’s pattern of redirecting beautiful biblical promises toward their physical organization and location.
This analysis will examine the lesson through the framework of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” distinguishing biblical truth from SCJ’s organizational claims using biblical, theological, and psychological lenses.
For comprehensive refutation of SCJ teachings and additional resources, please visit closerlookinitiative.com and check their SCJ Examination section.
Part 1: The Opening Framework – Setting Emotional Tone
What the Lesson Says:
“When we read the Bible, we must have the attitude that we are reading God’s heart. We must also have the attitude that we will give our whole hearts to God and empty our bowls. God will fill them.”
Analysis:
This opening creates an emotional, devotional atmosphere that sounds spiritually mature but actually prepares students to accept SCJ’s interpretations without critical examination.
From “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” Chapter 17: SCJ uses emotionally charged language to bypass critical thinking and create receptivity to their teachings.
The Manipulation:
- “Empty our bowls” – Implies students must set aside previous understanding
- “God will fill them” – But who defines what “God filling” looks like? SCJ does
- Emotional appeal – Reading “God’s heart” sounds devotional but discourages analytical thinking
- Preparation for acceptance – Creates mindset of receiving rather than testing
The Problem:
While approaching Scripture with reverence is biblical, “emptying our bowls” can mean abandoning discernment. The Bible never tells us to empty our minds or stop thinking critically.
Biblical Response:
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.”
- Received with eagerness ✓ (positive attitude)
- Examined the Scriptures ✓ (critical thinking)
- Every day ✓ (diligent testing)
- To see if what Paul said was true ✓ (even apostolic teaching was tested)
1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test everything; hold fast what is good.”
- Not “empty yourself and accept everything”
- But “test everything” and keep what’s good
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.”
- Renewing of your mind – Not emptying, but transforming
- Test and approve – Active discernment, not passive reception
Proverbs 14:15: “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
- Wisdom involves thinking, not just receiving
The Balance:
Yes, approach Scripture with:
- Humility – Recognizing our need for God’s wisdom
- Reverence – Honoring God’s Word
- Openness – Willing to be corrected and taught
But also with:
- Discernment – Testing teachings against Scripture
- Critical thinking – Examining claims carefully
- Wisdom – Not believing everything we hear
Part 2: The Tree of Life – Biblical Foundation Redirected
What the Lesson Says:
The lesson presents a progression:
- Genesis: Tree of Life = God
- First Coming: Tree of Life = Jesus and the 12 disciples
- Second Coming: Tree of Life = “New John” (Lee Man-hee) and the 12 tribes (SCJ)
What’s Biblical:
Revelation 22:1-2: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
Biblical Truth:
- The tree of life appears in Revelation’s New Jerusalem ✓
- It bears twelve crops of fruit ✓
- Its leaves heal the nations ✓
Where SCJ Diverges:
What the Lesson Says:
“Tree of Life (Second Coming) = New John, the 12 Tribes… So, if we want to find the tree of life at the second coming, we have things which we can use as evidence to determine whether it has appeared or not. Keep those things in mind. It bears 12 crops of fruit every month. Why 12? We’ll get to that.”
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 11 examines how SCJ creates patterns across Scripture that lead to their organization.
The Pattern Creation:
- Establish biblical symbol (tree of life)
- Show it appearing in different eras (Genesis, First Coming)
- Create expectation (it must appear at Second Coming)
- Apply to SCJ (it has appeared in our organization)
The Problems:
Problem #1: The Tree of Life is Not a Person or Organization
Biblical Understanding:
Genesis 2:9: “And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
- Literal tree in the Garden of Eden
- Represented access to eternal life with God
- Not a person, but a symbol of God’s life-giving presence
Genesis 3:22-24: “And the Lord God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.’ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
- Access was blocked after the fall
- Guarded by cherubim – a real location with real access denied
Revelation 22:1-2: The tree of life in the New Jerusalem is:
- By the river of the water of life flowing from God’s throne
- In the eternal city that comes down from heaven
- Part of the restored paradise where God dwells with humanity
- Not a person or organization, but part of the eternal state
Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”
- Access to the tree = entering eternal life
- Requirement = washed robes (cleansed by Christ’s blood)
- Location = in the New Jerusalem (eternal state)
The Tree of Life Represents:
- God’s presence and provision
- Eternal life with God
- The restoration of what was lost in Eden
- Access through Christ’s redemption
It does NOT represent:
- A human leader
- An organization
- A physical location on earth during this age
Problem #2: Jesus as the “True Vine” ≠ Tree of Life
What the Lesson Says:
“What about the tree of life at the first coming? Did not the tree of life appear again? What form did the tree of life take at the first coming? Jesus as the true vine and his disciples as the branches.”
Biblical Context:
John 15:1-5: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
What Jesus Was Teaching:
- Dependence on Christ – Branches must remain connected to the vine
- Fruit-bearing – Believers produce fruit through connection to Christ
- Pruning – God disciplines and refines believers
- Abiding – Continuous relationship with Christ is essential
The Vine Metaphor ≠ Tree of Life:
- Vine = Jesus as the source of spiritual life for believers
- Tree of Life = Symbol of eternal life and God’s presence
- Different metaphors with different purposes
- Not interchangeable
The Problem:
By equating Jesus as the “true vine” with the “tree of life,” SCJ creates a pattern that doesn’t exist in Scripture. This allows them to then claim their organization is the “tree of life” at the Second Coming.
Problem #3: “12 Crops of Fruit” = 12 Tribes of SCJ
What the Lesson Says:
“It bears 12 crops of fruit every month. So, if we want to find the tree of life at the second coming, we have things which we can use as evidence to determine whether it has appeared or not. Keep those things in mind. It bears 12 crops of fruit every month. Why 12? We’ll get to that.”
The Implication:
The “12 crops” represent SCJ’s 12 tribes, proving they are the tree of life.
Biblical Understanding:
Revelation 22:2: “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.”
Context:
- In the New Jerusalem – The eternal city
- After the new heaven and new earth – The final state
- Where God dwells with humanity – Revelation 21:3
- No more death, mourning, crying, or pain – Revelation 21:4
- No temple needed – Revelation 21:22 (God and the Lamb are the temple)
- No sun or moon needed – Revelation 21:23 (God’s glory gives light)
The Question:
Has this happened yet? Is there:
- No more death? No
- No more mourning, crying, or pain? No
- God dwelling physically with all humanity? No
- No need for sun or moon because God’s glory lights everything? No
The Reality:
The tree of life in Revelation 22 is part of the eternal state, not a present-day organization.
The “12 Crops”:
- 12 is a number of completeness and perfection in Scripture
- 12 tribes of Israel (Old Testament)
- 12 apostles (New Testament)
- 12 gates of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12)
- 12 foundations of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14)
- 12 crops = continuous, complete provision
The number 12 represents:
- God’s perfect provision
- Completeness
- Abundance
It does NOT mean:
- There must be exactly 12 organizational divisions
- An earthly organization with 12 tribes is the fulfillment
Part 3: John 14 – The Place Jesus Prepared
What’s Biblical:
John 14:1-3: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Biblical Truth:
- Jesus promised to prepare a place ✓
- He would come back ✓
- He would take His disciples to be with Him ✓
- They would be where He is ✓
Traditional Christian Understanding:
- Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
- He is preparing a place in His Father’s house
- He will return (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
- He will take believers to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17; John 17:24)
- We will be where He is – in God’s presence eternally
Where SCJ Diverges:
What the Lesson Says:
“What has he been preparing? The Holy City, New Jerusalem. This is the place that Jesus has been preparing. He told us about it in Revelation. Yet it was as if these verses were invisible to us. And we did not make the connection between John 14 and Revelation 21.”
Then later:
“So if we want to be there when God returns and heaven comes down, the biblical place to gather is Mount Zion.”
The Shift:
- Biblical: Jesus prepares a place in heaven; He returns and takes us to be with Him
- SCJ: Jesus prepared the New Jerusalem; it comes down to Mount Zion (SCJ’s location)
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 12 examines how SCJ identifies their physical organization with biblical promises.
The Problems:
Problem #1: The Direction of Movement
Biblical Teaching:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
- The Lord comes down ✓
- Dead in Christ rise ✓
- Living believers are caught up ✓
- We meet the Lord in the air ✓
- We are with the Lord forever ✓
Direction: We go UP to meet the Lord
John 14:3: “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.”
- Jesus comes back ✓
- Takes us to be with Him ✓
- We are where He is ✓
Direction: We go to WHERE JESUS IS (heaven, God’s presence)
SCJ’s Teaching:
- New Jerusalem comes down to Mount Zion (their location)
- Believers must gather at their physical location
- Direction: Believers go to SCJ’s location on earth
The Contradiction:
- Bible: We go up to meet Jesus / We go to where Jesus is (heaven)
- SCJ: Heaven comes down to where we are (SCJ’s location)
Problem #2: When Does the New Jerusalem Come Down?
Biblical Context:
Revelation 21:1-4: “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'”
The Sequence:
- First heaven and first earth pass away (v.1)
- New heaven and new earth appear (v.1)
- THEN the New Jerusalem comes down (v.2)
- God dwells with people (v.3)
- No more death, mourning, crying, or pain (v.4)
The Question:
Has the first heaven and first earth passed away? Has death ended? Is there no more mourning, crying, or pain?
The Answer:
Obviously not. Therefore, the New Jerusalem has not yet come down.
Revelation 21:5: “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.'”
- “I am making everything new” – Cosmic renewal
- Not: “I am making a new organization”
2 Peter 3:10-13: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The Context:
- Cosmic destruction – Heavens disappear, elements destroyed by fire
- Then new heaven and new earth – After the destruction
- This hasn’t happened yet
The Reality:
The New Jerusalem comes down after the cosmic renewal, not during the current age to a physical location in South Korea.
Problem #3: “Mount Zion” as SCJ’s Physical Location
What the Lesson Says:
“So if we want to be there when God returns and heaven comes down, the biblical place to gather is Mount Zion… How do we know? Not by guessing, but in Revelation 14:1 we see God’s throne, Jesus, elders and living creatures on Mount Zion.”
Biblical Understanding:
Revelation 14:1: “Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
What is “Mount Zion” in Revelation?
Hebrews 12:22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
Key Points:
- “You have come” – Present tense, already accomplished
- “To Mount Zion” = “to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”
- Mount Zion = Heavenly Jerusalem (not earthly location)
- Where believers already are positionally in Christ
Galatians 4:26: “But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.”
- Jerusalem above – Heavenly, not earthly
Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Our citizenship is in heaven – Not in an earthly organization
The Reality:
“Mount Zion” in Revelation is spiritual/heavenly, not a physical location in South Korea where SCJ is headquartered.
Historical Mount Zion:
- Physical location in Jerusalem
- Symbolic of God’s presence with Israel
- Type/shadow pointing to the heavenly reality
Heavenly Mount Zion:
- Where Christ is (Hebrews 12:22-24)
- Where believers are positionally in Christ
- The heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26)
SCJ’s Claim:
- Their physical location in South Korea is “Mount Zion”
- Believers must physically gather there
- Unverifiable and contrary to Scripture
Part 4: The 12 Tribes – Organizational Structure as Prophecy
What the Lesson Says:
“This huge mountain has 12 gates, and the 12 gates equal what? The 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel. The 12 tribes are talked about in Revelation, Chapter 7. So, if someone wants to enter the Holy City, if someone wants to enter the new heaven and new earth, where do they have to go through? One of the gates of the 12 tribes.”
Then:
“The 12 foundations are the 12 disciples, the 12 apostles. Amazing. The 12 apostles of the lamb. So why are the 12 tribes called after the disciples? Because of Revelation 21:14.”
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 8 examines how SCJ interprets their organizational structure as fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
The Framework:
- Revelation 21 mentions 12 gates and 12 foundations
- The 12 gates = 12 tribes (Revelation 7)
- The 12 foundations = 12 apostles
- Therefore: SCJ’s 12 tribes are the gates to the New Jerusalem
- Conclusion: You must join one of SCJ’s 12 tribes to enter heaven
The Problems:
Problem #1: The 12 Tribes in Revelation 7
Revelation 7:4-8: “Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.”
The Names:
- Judah
- Reuben
- Gad
- Asher
- Naphtali
- Manasseh
- Simeon
- Levi
- Issachar
- Zebulun
- Joseph
- Benjamin
Questions:
- Are these the names of Jesus’ 12 disciples? No
- Are these the names of SCJ’s 12 tribes? No
- Are these Old Testament tribal names? Yes
The Significance:
- 12 tribes of Israel = God’s covenant people
- 144,000 = 12 x 12 x 1000 (completeness multiplied)
- Sealed = Protected, marked as God’s own
Interpretations:
- Literal: 144,000 ethnic Jews sealed during tribulation
- Symbolic: All of God’s people (12 x 12 x 1000 = complete number)
- Both: Literal Jewish believers representing all God’s people
What it’s NOT:
- SCJ’s organizational structure
- Names of Jesus’ disciples
- Gates you must physically enter
Problem #2: The 12 Foundations
Revelation 21:14: “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
Biblical Understanding:
Ephesians 2:19-20: “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.”
- Foundation of the apostles = Their teaching about Christ
- Chief cornerstone = Christ Himself
- The church is built on apostolic teaching
1 Corinthians 3:11: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
- The foundation = Jesus Christ
- Already laid = Completed work
The 12 Apostles’ Role:
- Witnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection (Acts 1:21-22)
- Foundation of the church through their testimony (Ephesians 2:20)
- Authors of New Testament Scripture (inspired by Holy Spirit)
- Their names on the foundations = The church is built on their testimony
What it Means:
- The New Jerusalem is built on the testimony of the apostles about Jesus
- Their teaching is the foundation
- Not that they literally built it or that their names create organizational divisions
What it’s NOT:
- A pattern for modern organizational structure
- Justification for naming tribes after disciples
- Proof that SCJ’s structure fulfills prophecy
Problem #3: “You Must Enter Through the Gates”
What the Lesson Says:
“So, if someone wants to enter the Holy City, if someone wants to enter the new heaven and new earth, where do they have to go through? One of the gates of the 12 tribes. Everyone has the hope of entering the Holy City. It’s not just for specific people, but everyone needs to enter through the gates of the 12 tribes. No one is exempt. All of us have to do this.”
The Implication:
You must join one of SCJ’s 12 tribes to enter heaven.
Biblical Response:
John 10:9: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
- Jesus is the gate – Not an organization
- Whoever enters through Him – Not through a tribe
- Will be saved – Salvation 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.'”
- Jesus is the way – Not a 12-tribe structure
- No one comes to the Father except through Jesus – Not through organizational membership
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.”
- No other name – Only Jesus
- Not: “No other organization”
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
- Saved by grace through faith – Not by joining a tribe
- Not by works – Not by organizational membership
The Reality:
- The gate to salvation = Jesus Christ
- The way to enter = Faith in Him
- Not: Joining one of SCJ’s 12 tribes
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 requirement = Name in the Lamb’s book of life
- How to get there = Through faith in the Lamb (Jesus)
- Not: Through organizational membership
Part 5: The “Qualifications” List – Adding to the Gospel
What the Lesson Says:
The lesson lists seven qualifications for entering the New Jerusalem:
- Be born again of God’s seed
- Be harvested
- Be sealed with God’s word, prophecy, and fulfillment of Revelation, the new song
- Be part of one of the 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel
- Do not add or subtract from Revelation
- Your name needs to be in the book of life
- Prepare the lamp, oil, and wedding clothes
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 7 examines how SCJ adds requirements to the simple gospel.
What’s Biblical:
- Be born again ✓ (John 3:3)
- Your name in the book of life ✓ (Revelation 21:27)
What’s SCJ’s Addition:
- Be harvested = Join SCJ (their interpretation of harvest)
- Be sealed = Accept SCJ’s interpretation of Revelation
- Be part of 12 tribes = Join one of SCJ’s organizational divisions
- Prepare lamp, oil, wedding clothes = Study SCJ’s teachings
- Do not add or subtract = Accept only SCJ’s interpretation
The Problem:
This list adds requirements to the simple gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
The Biblical Gospel:
Romans 10:9-10: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Requirements:
- Declare Jesus is Lord
- Believe He rose from the dead
- That’s it
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Requirements:
- Grace (God’s gift)
- Faith (trusting in Christ)
- Not works (nothing we do)
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Requirements:
- Believe in Him (Jesus)
- That’s it
1 John 5:11-13: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Requirements:
- Have the Son (relationship with Jesus)
- Believe in His name
- Result: You can KNOW you have eternal life
The Contrast:
Biblical Gospel:
- Simple: Believe in Jesus
- Accessible: Available to all
- Assured: You can know you’re saved
- Complete: Nothing to add
SCJ’s “Gospel”:
- Complex: Seven requirements
- Exclusive: Must join their organization
- Uncertain: Constant self-examination (am I really harvested? sealed? in the right tribe?)
- Incomplete: Always more to understand and do
Galatians 1:6-9: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
Paul’s Warning:
- Different gospel = Not really gospel at all
- Adding requirements = Perverting the gospel
- Even if an angel preached it = Still under God’s curse
- Strong language = This is serious
The Question:
Is SCJ’s seven-point checklist the same as the simple gospel of grace through faith in Christ?
Part 6: Psychological Manipulation Techniques
Technique #1: The “Two Questions” – Inducing Anxiety
What the Lesson Does:
“Two important questions arise:
- Who am I according to the Bible and Revelation?
- Have I been created in accordance with the Bible, especially Revelation?
We truly need to engage in self-reflection during this time.”
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 21 examines how SCJ uses self-examination as a tool for anxiety and control.
The Manipulation:
- Creates uncertainty: “Who am I?” – Identity tied to organizational role
- Demands conformity: “Have I been created according to Revelation?” – Must match SCJ’s pattern
- Induces anxiety: Constant self-questioning
- Prevents assurance: Never quite sure if you measure up
The Effect:
- Students constantly question their spiritual status
- Identity becomes tied to organizational membership
- Fear of not being “created according to Revelation”
- Dependency on SCJ to tell them who they are
Biblical Response:
1 John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
- Purpose: So you may KNOW
- Basis: Believing in Jesus’ name
- Result: Assurance
Romans 8:16: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
- The Holy Spirit testifies
- We are God’s children – Present tense, settled identity
- Not: Constant questioning
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
- If in Christ = New creation
- Settled identity in Christ
- Not: “Am I created according to Revelation’s organizational pattern?”
Ephesians 1:13-14: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
- Sealed with the Holy Spirit when you believed
- Guaranteed inheritance
- God’s possession
- Assurance, not anxiety
The Difference:
Biblical Identity:
- In Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- Child of God (1 John 3:1)
- Sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
- Assured (1 John 5:13)
SCJ’s Identity Questions:
- “Who am I according to Revelation?” (organizational role)
- “Have I been created according to Revelation?” (conformity to pattern)
- Constant uncertainty
- Dependency on organization to define identity
Technique #2: The Emotional Appeal to Martyrs
What the Lesson Does:
“You would not be here today if it were not for the sacrifice of the disciples and the early Christians. And they went through great suffering for this gospel to reach us. They hid in tunnels and caves, scurrying from town to town as people banished them away for their belief in Christ. They were torn to pieces in Colosseums and games. In Rome, they had their churches and temples burned. They went through it all.”
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 18 examines how SCJ uses emotional appeals to create obligation and commitment.
The Manipulation:
- Honors martyrs (appropriate and biblical)
- Creates debt: “You wouldn’t be here without their sacrifice”
- Implies obligation: You must honor their sacrifice by committing to SCJ
- Emotional pressure: Don’t let their suffering be in vain
The Effect:
- Students feel they owe something to the martyrs
- Guilt if they don’t fully commit to SCJ
- Emotional manipulation through respect for martyrs
- Implies leaving SCJ = dishonoring martyrs
Biblical Response:
Yes, honor the martyrs:
Hebrews 11:35-38: “Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.”
Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
But honor them correctly:
What did they die for?
- Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
- The gospel of grace through faith
- Refusing to deny Christ or worship false gods
- Not: For one organization’s interpretation of Revelation
How do we honor them?
- Hold fast to the faith they died for
- Proclaim the gospel they preached
- Remain faithful to Christ as they did
- Not: By joining a specific organization
The Question:
Would the early martyrs recognize SCJ’s seven-point checklist as the gospel they died for?
Technique #3: The “Emptying Your Bowl” Metaphor
What the Lesson Does:
“We must also have the attitude that we will give our whole hearts to God and empty our bowls. God will fill them… If you want to know if the Word dwells within, speak it. Speak it even with your evangelists too.”
Analysis from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims”:
Chapter 17 examines how SCJ uses metaphors to encourage uncritical acceptance.
The Manipulation:
- “Empty your bowl” = Set aside previous understanding
- “God will fill it” = Accept SCJ’s teaching
- “Speak it” = Repeat SCJ’s interpretations
- “With your evangelists” = Practice in controlled environment
The Effect:
- Students abandon critical thinking (“empty your bowl”)
- Accept SCJ’s teaching as “God filling”
- Repetition reinforces SCJ’s interpretations
- Controlled practice environment prevents outside input
Biblical Response:
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.”
- Noble character = Testing teachings
- Great eagerness + Examination = Both/and, not either/or
- Even apostolic teaching was tested
1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test everything; hold fast what is good.”
- Test everything – Not “empty your bowl and accept”
- Hold fast what is good – Discernment, not blanket acceptance
Proverbs 18:17: “In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.”
- Cross-examination reveals truth
- First explanation isn’t always correct
- Need to hear other perspectives
The Healthy Approach:
- Approach Scripture with humility (recognizing our need for God’s wisdom)
- But also with discernment (testing teachings against Scripture)
- Be teachable (willing to learn and grow)
- But not gullible (not believing everything)
- Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance (He teaches all believers)
- But test the spirits (1 John 4:1)
Part 7: The Matthew 25 Application – Sheep and Goats
What the Lesson Says:
“So who are the ones who will inherit the kingdom that Jesus promised? The sheep-like believers. They are the ones who will flee. They are the ones who will come out. They are the ones who will be harvested… Let’s be those that are separated on the right side.”
Biblical Context:
Matthew 25:31-46 – The Sheep and Goats Judgment
Key Points:
Matthew 25:34-40: “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. 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.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
The Criteria:
- Fed the hungry
- Gave drink to the thirsty
- Welcomed strangers
- Clothed the needy
- Cared for the sick
- Visited prisoners
What Jesus Emphasized:
- Practical love for those in need
- Service to “the least of these”
- Actions flowing from genuine faith
What Jesus Did NOT Say:
- “You joined the right organization”
- “You understood Revelation correctly”
- “You were part of the 12 tribes”
- “You were harvested and sealed”
SCJ’s Application:
What the Lesson Says:
“Sheep are humble. Sheep are meek. Sheep follow the shepherd… When it comes to things of the word, things of the spirit, we must be followers. We must be sheep.”
The Implication:
- Sheep = Those who follow SCJ’s teachings without questioning
- Goats = Those who question or don’t accept SCJ
The Problem:
This redefines “sheep” as organizational compliance rather than genuine faith in Christ and love for others.
Biblical Understanding of “Sheep”:
John 10:14-16: “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. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Jesus’ Sheep:
- Know Jesus (personal relationship)
- Jesus knows them (intimate knowledge)
- Listen to His voice (follow Jesus, not an organization)
- One flock, one shepherd (unity in Christ, not organizational division)
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.”
Characteristics:
- Listen to Jesus’ voice (not organizational directives)
- Follow Jesus (not human leaders)
- Receive eternal life (from Jesus)
- Secure (no one can snatch them)
The Difference:
Biblical Sheep:
- Follow Jesus personally
- Know His voice
- Have eternal life from Him
- Secure in His hand
- Show love through actions (Matthew 25)
SCJ’s “Sheep”:
- Follow organizational teachings
- Accept SCJ’s interpretations
- Uncertain about salvation status
- Dependent on organizational membership
- Show compliance through study and recruitment
Part 8: The “Do Not Add or Subtract” Irony
What the Lesson Says:
“We cannot be those who add or subtract from Revelation, being messy and misleading people by saying, ‘It may be like this, it may be like this,’ causing them to look in different directions than where things are actually happening.”
The Irony:
SCJ claims not to add or subtract from Revelation while:
- Adding: Organizational requirements for salvation
- Adding: Their 12 tribes as the gates to heaven
- Adding: Their physical location as “Mount Zion”
- Adding: Lee Man-hee as the “tree of life”
- Adding: Seven qualifications for entering New Jerusalem
Revelation 22:18-19: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”
What Constitutes “Adding”:
Adding to the Gospel:
Galatians 1:6-9: Paul’s strong warning against adding requirements to the gospel
Examples of Adding:
- Salvation requires circumcision (Galatians)
- Salvation requires following Jewish law (Acts 15)
- Salvation requires organizational membership (SCJ)
- Salvation requires understanding specific interpretations (SCJ)
Adding Interpretations as Fact:
2 Peter 1:20-21: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation, for prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The Warning:
- Prophecy didn’t come from human interpretation
- Be careful about claiming your interpretation is the only correct one
- Humility in interpretation
What SCJ Does:
- Claims exclusive interpretation of Revelation
- Adds organizational requirements to salvation
- Identifies their structure as prophetic fulfillment
- Makes unverifiable claims about their history fulfilling Revelation
- Condemns all other interpretations as “adding and subtracting”
The Question:
Who is actually adding to Revelation?
- Those who admit uncertainty about some details?
- Or those who claim their organizational structure is the fulfillment?
Part 9: Key Questions for Reflection
For Those Studying with SCJ:
On the Place Jesus Prepared:
- Does John 14:3 say Jesus will bring the place to us, or take us to where He is?
- Does 1 Thessalonians 4:17 say we go up to meet the Lord, or He comes down to our location?
- Has Revelation 21’s description been fulfilled (no more death, mourning, crying, or pain)?
On the Tree of Life:
- Is the tree of life in Revelation 22 a person/organization, or part of the eternal paradise?
- Can you find any verse that says the tree of life is a human leader or organization?
- Does Jesus say “I am the tree of life” anywhere in Scripture?
On the 12 Tribes:
- Are the 12 tribes in Revelation 7 named after Jesus’ disciples or Old Testament tribes?
- Does the Bible say you must join one of 12 organizational divisions to be saved?
- Does John 10:9 say Jesus is the gate, or that 12 tribes are the gates?
On Salvation:
- Does Ephesians 2:8-9 say salvation is by grace through faith, or by meeting seven qualifications?
- Does Romans 10:9-10 require organizational membership for salvation?
- Can you have assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13), or must you constantly question your status?
On Mount Zion:
- Does Hebrews 12:22-24 say Mount Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem or a physical location in South Korea?
- Does Philippians 3:20 say our citizenship is in heaven or in an earthly organization?
- Can you verify SCJ’s claim that their location is the biblical Mount Zion?
On Adding to Scripture:
- Is claiming your organizational structure fulfills prophecy “adding to Revelation”?
- Is requiring seven qualifications for salvation “adding to the gospel”?
- Who shows more humility: admitting uncertainty about some prophetic details, or claiming to have it all figured out?
Part 10: Red Flags in This Lesson
Warning Signs of Spiritual Manipulation:
- “Empty your bowl” – Discouraging critical thinking
- Exclusive claims: Only SCJ is the tree of life, Mount Zion, the 12 tribes
- Adding requirements: Seven qualifications for salvation beyond faith in Christ
- Organizational identification: SCJ’s structure = prophetic fulfillment
- Unverifiable claims: “Mount Zion” is their physical location
- Redefining terms:
- Tree of life = SCJ
- Mount Zion = SCJ’s location
- 12 tribes = SCJ’s organizational divisions
- Sheep = Those who accept SCJ without questioning
- Creating anxiety: “Who am I according to Revelation?” / “Have I been created according to Revelation?”
- Emotional manipulation: Using martyrs’ sacrifice to create obligation
- False dichotomy: Sheep (SCJ followers) vs. Goats (everyone else)
- Ironic accusation: Accusing others of “adding and subtracting” while doing exactly that
From “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims” Chapter 25 – Healthy vs. Unhealthy Teaching:
Healthy Christian Teaching:
- Points to Christ as the way to the Father
- Affirms salvation by grace through faith alone
- Creates assurance through faith in Christ
- Encourages testing teachings against Scripture
- Admits uncertainty about some prophetic details
- Focuses on Christ, not organizational structure
- Produces freedom and joy
Unhealthy Teaching (SCJ):
- Points to organization as necessary for salvation
- Adds requirements beyond faith in Christ
- Creates anxiety through constant self-examination
- Discourages questioning their interpretation
- Claims certainty about all prophetic details
- Focuses on organizational structure as prophecy fulfillment
- Produces fear and dependency
Conclusion: Where is the Place Jesus Prepared?
The Biblical Answer:
John 14:2-3: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Key Points:
- “My Father’s house” – Heaven, where God dwells
- “I am going there” – Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9)
- “To prepare a place for you” – Jesus is preparing in heaven
- “I will come back” – Jesus will return (Acts 1:11)
- “Take you to be with me” – We will go to where Jesus is
- “That you also may be where I am” – We will be with Jesus in heaven
The Direction:
- Jesus went to heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
- Jesus is in heaven (Hebrews 1:3, 8:1)
- Jesus will return from heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
- We will go to be with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
- We will be where Jesus is (heaven) (John 17:24)
John 17:24: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
- Jesus’ desire: That we be with Him where He is
- Where is Jesus? At the Father’s right hand in heaven
- Therefore: We will be with Jesus in heaven
The New Jerusalem:
Revelation 21:1-4 describes the New Jerusalem coming down after:
- The first heaven and first earth pass away
- The new heaven and new earth are created
- Death is abolished
- All mourning, crying, and pain end
This hasn’t happened yet. Therefore, the New Jerusalem hasn’t come down yet.
When it does come down:
Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'”
- God will dwell with people – Direct, unmediated presence
- On the new earth – After cosmic renewal
- In the eternal state – Forever
The Reality:
The place Jesus prepared is:
- Heaven – Where He is now
- The New Jerusalem – Which will come down in the eternal state
- Not – A physical organization in South Korea
- Not – A location you must travel to in this age
How to “Enter”:
John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
- Through Jesus – Not through an organization
- Faith in Him – Not organizational membership
- That’s it – Nothing to add
Romans 10:9-10: “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.”
- Declare Jesus is Lord
- Believe He rose
- You will be saved
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
- By grace
- Through faith
- Not by works (including organizational membership)
The Simple Truth:
You don’t need to:
- Join SCJ’s 12 tribes
- Travel to their location
- Meet seven qualifications
- Understand complex interpretations of Revelation
You need to:
- Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
- Trust in His finished work on the cross
- Receive Him by faith
John 1:12: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
That’s the place Jesus prepared – being with Him as children of God, forever.
Moving Forward
If You’re Recognizing Concerns:
- Remember the simplicity of the gospel – Faith in Christ alone
- Test SCJ’s claims – Do they match Scripture in context?
- Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance – He leads into truth (John 16:13)
- Find a healthy church – One that preaches Christ, not organizational necessity
- Don’t be pressured – Take time to examine carefully
- Seek wise counsel – Talk to mature Christians outside SCJ
- Remember God’s character – He is love, not manipulation
For More Information:
Visit closerlookinitiative.com and check their SCJ Examination section for:
- Detailed refutations of SCJ doctrines
- Testimonies from former members
- Biblical responses to SCJ teachings
- Support for those leaving
- Community and resources
Final Thoughts
The instructor says:
“We must have the attitude that we will give our whole hearts to God and empty our bowls. God will fill them.”
But the question is: Who defines what “God filling” looks like?
If “God filling your bowl” means accepting SCJ’s interpretation that:
- Their organization is the tree of life
- Their location is Mount Zion
- Their 12 tribes are the gates to heaven
- You must join them to be saved
Then that’s not God filling your bowl. That’s SCJ filling your bowl.
The real filling:
Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
- Be filled with the Spirit – Not with organizational doctrines
Colossians 2:9-10: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”
- In Christ you have been brought to fullness
- Not: “In SCJ you will be brought to fullness”
You are already complete in Christ. You don’t need SCJ to complete you.
John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Jesus gives life to the full. Not an organization. Jesus.
This analysis uses principles from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” to examine SCJ Lesson 83. For comprehensive refutation of SCJ teachings and support resources, visit closerlookinitiative.com and explore their SCJ Examination materials.
Remember: The place Jesus prepared is with Him, accessed through faith in Him alone. Anyone who says you must join their organization to get there is placing themselves between you and Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-22: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”
You have confidence to enter God’s presence through Jesus’ blood. That’s the place He prepared. Come to Him directly, with full assurance.
Outline
Unlocking the Heavenly City: Understanding the Place Prepared by Jesus
I. Introduction & Context
- Embracing the Word: This section emphasizes the importance of internalizing God’s word and letting it flow naturally in our lives. It encourages active engagement with scripture through speaking and teaching.
- The Place Prepared by Jesus: This section introduces the main theme of the lesson: understanding the place prepared by Jesus for his followers.
- Review of God’s Food and Satan’s Food: A recap of the previous lesson, highlighting the distinction between God’s nourishing word and Satan’s deceptive distortions of it.
- John Chapter 14 Introduction: This section sets the context for John 14 within the larger conversation spanning John chapters 13-16, emphasizing their interconnectedness.
- The Significance of Jesus’ Actions: A discussion on how Jesus used physical actions, like washing the disciples’ feet, to teach deeper spiritual truths, urging us to look beyond the surface.
II. Unveiling the Promise: The Place Jesus Prepared
- John 14:1-4: Analyzing the Promises: A close examination of these verses reveals three promises: Jesus will prepare a place, he must leave to do so, and he will return to take his followers there.
- The Disciples’ Legacy: This section emphasizes the disciples’ role as spiritual ancestors, their acceptance of Jesus’ covenant, and their faithful spreading of the gospel, paving the way for future generations.
- Our Responsibility: As recipients of the gospel, our task is to wait patiently for the fulfillment of the promises, resist adding to or subtracting from God’s word, and remain faithful during the long period of waiting.
- The Holy City, New Jerusalem: This section reveals that the place Jesus prepared is not a physical mansion but the Holy City, New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21.
III. Exploring the Holy City: A Glimpse into New Jerusalem
- Revelation 21:1-4: Unveiling the Beauty: A vivid description of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, marking the end of suffering and the beginning of God’s dwelling with His people.
- Revelation 21:9-14: Symbolism and Structure: This section unpacks the symbolism of the Holy City: the 12 gates representing the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel, and the 12 foundations representing the 12 apostles.
- The 12 Gates of the Holy City, New Jerusalem: An in-depth look at the 12 gates, drawing a connection between the gates, the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel, and the promise Jesus made to his disciples in Matthew 19:27-28.
- Revelation 20:4: Authority to Judge: This section highlights the role of the 12 disciples, seated on thrones, in judging the 12 tribes of Israel, emphasizing their spiritual form.
- Colors of the 12 Tribes: This section explains the origin of the colors associated with each tribe, linking them to the precious stones mentioned in Revelation 21:19-21.
IV. Gathering on Mount Zion: Preparing for the Descent
- Review of Key Points: A summary of the lesson thus far, focusing on the interconnectedness of John 13-16, the significance of the Holy City, and the role of waiting and faith.
- Matthew 23-25: The Connected Narrative: This section explains how Matthew 23 focuses on past judgment, Matthew 24 on the signs of the end times, and Matthew 25 on the people who will inherit the kingdom (the sheep) and those who will not (the goats).
- Matthew 25:31-32: Separation of Sheep and Goats: A visual depiction of the final judgment where all nations are gathered and separated, emphasizing the need to be among the sheep-like believers.
- Characteristics of Sheep and Goats: This section contrasts the humble, obedient nature of sheep with the stubborn, self-willed nature of goats, encouraging believers to cultivate sheep-like qualities.
- Two Important Questions: Two crucial questions are posed for self-reflection: “Who am I according to the Bible and Revelation?” and “Have I been created in accordance with the Bible, especially Revelation?”
V. Qualifying for Entry: Aligning with Revelation’s Standards
- Seven Points for Entry: This section outlines seven specific qualifications for entering the Holy City as outlined in Revelation: being born again of God’s seed, being harvested, being sealed, belonging to a tribe, avoiding additions or subtractions from Revelation, having your name in the book of life, and preparing the lamp, oil, and wedding clothes.
- Matthew 7:21-23: Doing God’s Will: This section warns against relying on outward actions and emphasizes the importance of doing God’s will as revealed in Revelation to gain entry into the kingdom.
- Summary and Call to Action: A final recap of the key points and a call to action, urging believers to align their lives with the standards outlined in Revelation to be ready to enter the Holy City when it descends.
VI. Reviews from Evangelist and Emphasis on Key Points:
- Evangelist Review: A brief review of the lesson, highlighting the connection between John 14 and Revelation 21, emphasizing the Holy City as the place prepared by Jesus, and stressing the importance of gathering on Mount Zion.
- Review from Last Lesson: A recap of the previous lesson on the two types of spiritual food, emphasizing God’s food as the hidden manna/food at the proper time and contrasting it with Satan’s food, the wine of adulteries/fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The review reiterates the importance of choosing God’s food to attain eternal life, the ultimate goal of faith.
A Study Guide
The Place Prepared by Jesus: A Study Guide
Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- What is the spiritual significance of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13?
- What are the three promises Jesus makes to his disciples in John 14:1-4?
- According to the lesson, what has Jesus been preparing since his ascension to heaven?
- What is the connection between the 12 disciples and the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel?
- Describe the two types of spiritual food discussed in the lesson and their ultimate outcomes.
- What is the significance of the colors associated with the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel?
- How are Matthew chapters 23, 24, and 25 interconnected?
- What differentiates sheep-like believers from goat-like believers in Matthew 25?
- What are the two essential questions believers should consistently contemplate?
- According to the lesson, what does it mean to be “created in accordance with the book of Revelation”?
Quiz Answer Key
- Jesus washing his disciples’ feet signifies spiritual cleansing. It represents his desire to cleanse their hearts through the Word, as stated in John 15:3, “You are already clean through the word.”
- The three promises are: 1) Jesus will prepare a place for his disciples. 2) He must leave to prepare this place. 3) He will return and take them to this prepared place.
- Jesus has been preparing the Holy City, New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21.
- The 12 disciples will sit on thrones, judging the 12 tribes of New Spiritual Israel, fulfilling Jesus’ promise in Matthew 19:28. They serve as the spiritual foundation and heads of these tribes.
- God’s food is His true teaching, symbolized by the hidden manna and leading to eternal life. Satan’s food represents twisted or corrupted teachings, symbolized by the wine of adulteries and leading to death.
- The colors of the 12 tribes originate from the 12 precious stones described in Revelation 21:19-21, each representing a specific tribe.
- Matthew 23 describes Jesus’ judgment of those during his first coming. Matthew 24 details the signs of the end times. Matthew 25 focuses on the people—those who keep the covenant (sheep) and those who don’t (goats).
- Sheep-like believers are humble, meek, and follow the Shepherd (Jesus), while goat-like believers are stubborn, independent, and resistant to guidance.
- The two questions are: 1) “Who am I according to the Bible and Revelation?” 2) “Have I been created in accordance with the Bible, especially Revelation?”
- It means living out the teachings of Revelation, particularly those in chapters 7 and 14, which detail the qualifications for entering heaven. It implies aligning one’s actions and beliefs with the revealed Word.
Additional Questions
1. How many types of spiritual food are there?
– Two types – God’s Food and Satan’s food (God’s teaching and Satan’s teaching)
2. For the second coming, what is God’s food and what is Satan’s food?
– God’s food = Hidden Manna (Food at the Proper Time)
– Satan’s Food = wine of adulteries (fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil)
3. Why do I need to eat God’s food?
– Only by eating God’s food can I enter the kingdom of heaven and receive eternal life
4. What should I not eat Satan’s food?
– If I eat it, I will surely die. Those who eat Satan’s food are judged (Revelation 18:1-4)
5. How can we eat God’s food today? (according to the promise)
– Matthew 24:45-47, through the faithful and wise servant who Jesus gives the food at the proper time to.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Holy City, New Jerusalem: The heavenly city described in Revelation 21, prepared by Jesus as the dwelling place for believers in the new heaven and new earth.
- 12 Tribes of New Spiritual Israel: The spiritual descendants of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, symbolized by the 12 tribes of Israel.
- Mount Zion: The symbolic mountain where the Holy City descends and where believers gather in the new heaven and new earth.
- Sheep-like Believers: Those who are humble, meek, and follow Jesus, representing those who inherit the kingdom of heaven.
- Goat-like Believers: Those who are stubborn, independent, and resistant to God’s guidance, representing those who are separated from God.
- Hidden Manna: Represents God’s true teaching and spiritual nourishment leading to eternal life.
- Wine of Adulteries: Represents Satan’s corrupted teachings and spiritual food leading to death.
- Firstfruits: The 144,000 redeemed in Revelation, symbolizing those set free by the truth and prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Time of Waiting: The period between Jesus’ ascension and his second coming, where believers are called to remain faithful and prepare for his return.
- Created in Accordance with Revelation: Actively living out the teachings and fulfilling the qualifications for entering heaven as described in the book of Revelation.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This lesson doesn’t provide a chronological timeline of events in the traditional sense. Instead, it focuses on the spiritual journey of believers and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, drawing connections between events in the past, present, and future.
Here’s a breakdown of the key events discussed, categorized by time frame:
Past:
- Creation: God creates the world, including the Tree of Life, symbolizing His covenant and eternal life (Genesis).
- Adam and Eve’s Fall: They disobey God and eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, representing Satan’s corrupted food and leading to death (Genesis).
- Jesus’ First Coming: Jesus appears as the “true vine,” with his disciples as branches, representing the Tree of Life at this time (John 15). Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, symbolizing cleansing their hearts with the Word (John 13). He promises to prepare a place for them and send the Spirit of Truth (John 14).
- Martyrdom of Disciples: The disciples spread the gospel and are martyred for their faith, earning their place in the New Jerusalem.
Present:
- The Waiting Period: Believers await the Second Coming of Christ and the fulfillment of His promises, enduring persecution and resisting false teachings.
- Receiving the True Word: God appoints one to preach the true word at the proper time, leading believers to flee from Babylon and gather on Mount Zion.
Future:
- Second Coming of Christ: Jesus returns in glory with his angels, sitting on his throne to judge the nations (Matthew 25).
- Descent of New Jerusalem: The Holy City, prepared by Jesus, descends from heaven onto Mount Zion (Revelation 21).
- Entry into New Jerusalem: Sheep-like believers, who have kept the new covenant and followed the Lamb, enter the New Jerusalem through the gates representing the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel, led by the 12 disciples.
- Eternal Life: Those who enter the New Jerusalem experience eternal life, free from death, mourning, crying, and pain (Revelation 21).
Cast of Characters
- God: The Creator and ultimate authority, who makes and keeps covenants, provides spiritual food, and judges the nations.
- Jesus Christ: The “true vine” and Lamb of God, who came to earth, died for humanity’s sins, prepares a place for his followers, and returns to establish his kingdom.
- The 12 Disciples: Jesus’ chosen followers who spread the gospel, were martyred for their faith, and serve as the foundation of the New Jerusalem, leading the 12 tribes of spiritual Israel.
- Satan: The deceiver and corrupter, who twists God’s word and offers false food leading to death.
- Sheep-like Believers: Those who follow the Lamb, keep the new covenant, and are granted entry into the New Jerusalem.
- Goat-like Believers: Those who are stubborn, follow their own ways, and are ultimately rejected from the kingdom.
- The 144,000: A symbolic representation of the redeemed firstfruits, who have been set free by the truth and follow the Lamb without fault.
- The One Preaching the True Word: God’s appointed messenger who proclaims the truth at the proper time, leading believers to flee from Babylon.
Overview
Overview: The Place Prepared by Jesus and the Gathering on Mount Zion
Main Themes:
- The Place Prepared by Jesus: The primary focus is on understanding the promise of Jesus in John 14 to prepare a place for his disciples. This place is revealed to be the Holy City, New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21.
- The Gathering on Mount Zion: The New Jerusalem doesn’t just represent heaven in a general sense. It descends upon Mount Zion, where the throne of God and Jesus reside. This highlights the importance of being gathered on Mount Zion to welcome the Holy City and enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Qualifying as Sheep-like Believers: The lesson emphasizes the need to be “sheep-like believers” who are characterized by humility, obedience, and a willingness to follow the shepherd (Jesus). This is contrasted with “goat-like believers” who are stubborn, independent, and resistant to guidance.
Most Important Ideas and Facts:
- The Connected Conversation: John chapters 13-16 are part of a single extended conversation between Jesus and his disciples. Understanding this context is crucial to grasp the interconnectedness of events and teachings.
- “John 13, 14, 15, and 16, same conversation.”
- Spiritual Cleansing: Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John 13 is not just a lesson in service but symbolizes the cleansing of the heart through the Word of God.
- “What should we then take away as the spiritual significance for Jesus washing his disciples’ feet? What should we then be thinking about? What does Jesus want to do with them? What does he want to clean? To clean our heart.”
- Prophecy and Belief: God reveals things beforehand so that when they happen, believers will recognize the fulfillment and have their faith strengthened.
- “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.” This is such a great verse to basically summarize how the whole Bible works. That’s the whole Bible. God tells beforehand, so that when it happens, we will believe.”
- The 12 Tribes and 12 Apostles: The Holy City has 12 gates representing the 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel, and 12 foundations representing the 12 apostles. This emphasizes the role of both the Old and New Testament believers in God’s plan.
- “So why are the 12 tribes called after the disciples? Because of Revelation 21:14 and other verses, which we will go over now.”
- Entering Through the Gates: All who wish to enter the New Jerusalem must pass through one of the gates, signifying that belonging to one of the 12 tribes is essential for salvation.
- “Everyone has the hope of entering the Holy City. It’s not just for specific people, but everyone needs to enter through the gates of the 12 tribes. No one is exempt. All of us have to do this.”
- Sheep vs. Goats: Matthew 25 highlights the distinction between sheep-like believers (humble, obedient) and goat-like believers (stubborn, rebellious). Only the sheep inherit the kingdom.
- “What is the difference between the sheep-like believers and the goat-like believers? The goats are stubborn. Goats do whatever they feel like…Sheep are the opposite. Sheep are humble. Sheep are meek. Sheep follow the shepherd.”
- Qualifications for Entry: Specific actions and qualities are needed to be prepared for the New Jerusalem:
- Be born again of God’s seed (Matthew 13).
- Be harvested as firstfruits (Revelation 14).
- Be sealed with God’s Word (Revelation 7).
- Belong to one of the 12 tribes.
- Not add or subtract from Revelation (Revelation 22:18-19).
- Have your name in the book of life (Revelation 21:27).
- Prepare your lamp, oil, and wedding clothes (Matthew 22, 25).
- “Let us revisit the seven points we have discussed…”
Quotes of Note:
- “The tree of life is God.”
- “You are already clean through the word.”
- “If you want to find the tree of life at the second coming, we have things which we can use as evidence to determine whether it has appeared or not. Keep those things in mind.”
- “This is the place that Jesus has been preparing. He told us about it in Revelation. Yet it was as if these verses were invisible to us.”
- “But we know that when the events take place, the truth is then made known.”
- “There must be a gathering and then a separation. Ah, let’s be those that are separated on the right side.”
- *”They may argue, “But Jesus, we did this, and this, and this.” Yet, Jesus will respond, “None of those were God’s will or what I asked you to do when Revelation is being fulfilled.” *
Overall Summary:
This lesson stresses the importance of understanding and fulfilling the criteria laid out in Revelation to be prepared for the descent of the New Jerusalem upon Mount Zion. It emphasizes the urgency of recognizing God’s prophecies as they unfold, rejecting falsehoods, and actively pursuing the path of a sheep-like believer. The message is clear: be ready, be worthy, and gather on the mountain.
Q&A
Q&A: The Place Prepared by Jesus
1. What is the significance of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13?
While it emphasizes the importance of serving others, there’s a deeper spiritual meaning. Jesus, mirroring God’s use of physical objects to represent spiritual concepts, wanted to cleanse their hearts through his word. This connects to John 15:3 where he states, “You are already clean through the word.”
2. What is the place Jesus is preparing for his disciples?
The place Jesus is preparing is not a mansion in heaven, but the Holy City, New Jerusalem, as described in Revelation 21. This city will descend from heaven onto Mount Zion on the new earth, fulfilling Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
3. Who are the 12 gates and foundations of the Holy City?
The 12 gates of New Jerusalem represent the 12 tribes of the new spiritual Israel, while the 12 foundations symbolize the 12 apostles. This imagery signifies that entry into the Holy City is granted through the spiritual lineage established by the apostles and carried on by those who follow their teachings.
4. Who are the sheep-like believers mentioned in Matthew 25?
The sheep-like believers are those who inherit the kingdom. They are characterized by their humility, meekness, and obedience to the shepherd, Jesus. They embody the opposite of the goat-like believers, who are stubborn, self-serving, and resistant to guidance.
5. What are the two important questions to ask oneself to ensure being a sheep-like believer?
- Who am I according to the Bible and Revelation? This involves identifying with the descriptions and characteristics of the faithful in scripture.
- Have I been created in accordance with the Bible, especially Revelation? This signifies living out the teachings and fulfilling the criteria for entering the kingdom as outlined in Revelation.
6. What are the seven qualifications for entering the Holy City as outlined in Revelation?
- Be born again of God’s seed: This refers to receiving the Holy Spirit and experiencing spiritual rebirth.
- Be harvested: This signifies being gathered as part of God’s chosen people.
- Be sealed with God’s word, prophecy, and the fulfillment of Revelation: This implies understanding and embracing the truths revealed in Revelation.
- Be part of one of the 12 tribes of new spiritual Israel: This indicates belonging to the spiritual lineage of the apostles.
- Do not add or subtract from Revelation: This emphasizes adhering to the teachings and warnings within Revelation.
- Your name needs to be in the book of life: This symbolizes being acknowledged by God as one of his own.
- Prepare the lamp, oil, and wedding clothes: This represents being spiritually prepared for the coming of the Lord.
7. What is the connection between John 14 and Revelation 21?
John 14 records Jesus’ promise to prepare a place for his disciples. Revelation 21 reveals that place to be the Holy City, New Jerusalem. This connection highlights the continuity of God’s plan and the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’ promise.
8. How can we ensure we are on the right path to entering the Holy City?
We can ensure we are on the right path by constantly reflecting on the two important questions, striving to fulfill the seven qualifications outlined in Revelation, and seeking guidance from the teachings of the apostles as they form the foundation of the Holy City. By aligning our lives with these principles, we can have the hope of being among those who welcome the Holy City, New Jerusalem, when it descends.