The lesson focuses on the sound of the last, seventh trumpet in Revelation. This trumpet announces salvation and God’s victory over death, fulfilling the “mystery of God” which is eternal life where the mortal is clothed with immortality and death is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor 15:51-54). When the seventh trumpet sounds, the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of God (Rev 11:15).
There are three groups involved in the first resurrection (Rev 20:4-6) – the martyrs/disciples who died for their faith, those alive who don’t worship the beast/receive its mark, and the “rest of the dead” who must wait until after the 1000 years.
The lesson outlines the three mysteries of Revelation – the mystery of betrayal (the 7 stars/churches), the mystery of destruction (the beast/Babylon), and the mystery of salvation (announced by the 7th trumpet).
When the trumpet sounds, it goes out as a call to gather God’s people (Isaiah 18:3). This gathering represents the harvest, rapture, and wedding banquet.
The lesson warns that like snakes targeting hatchlings, Satan targets new/inexperienced believers through attacks on thoughts, relationships, and actions not aligned with God’s will. Aligning one’s heart and actions with God strengthens against such attacks as the time of gathering draws near.
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.
I’m always glad and grateful to gather with all of you. There are many things we could be doing during this time, yet every week you decide to set aside two hours, three times a week, to study with us.
We’re very grateful for your efforts and sacrifices. We also know that God is grateful because He has many plans for those of us who will inherit the kingdom of heaven when it comes down. What type of believers will be put on the right? Sheep-like believers.
That’s who we want to be – those who are put on the right and not the left. We don’t want to be put on the left, as it doesn’t end well for those placed there. So let’s strive to be those put on the right side of God and Jesus.
We’re going to jump into today’s content because we have a lot to cover. I’m excited for us to come to an even greater realization about the time we are living in and things we should be looking forward to.
The Sound of the Last, Seventh Trumpet
1 Cor 15:51-54 (Rev 10:7, Rev 11:15)
Our hope is to hear the sound of the last seventh trumpet and gather on the mountain.
Do we need to gather on a literal mountain? No. That wouldn’t make much sense. In the past, some people have made such claims.
These people went to specific locations at designated times. They waited and waited until the time passed.
Afterwards, they made excuses to explain why nothing happened. However, that’s not what we’re discussing here.
When we hear the trumpet call, we are all meant to gather. But the mountain where we gather is not a physical one; it’s a spiritual mountain.
Introduction
Let’s delve into today’s content, which is closely related to the point I just made about the trumpets. We’ll now go through this lesson.
Our main reference verse will be in Matthew 24, but before we get to that, there are a few important introductions we need to understand.
The trumpet, particularly the seventh trumpet, announces two significant things:
- God’s victory and the resurrection
- Eternal life
So, the seventh trumpet declares these two crucial aspects.
Firstly, it announces God’s victory and the resurrection. But which resurrection does this trumpet proclaim? It’s the first resurrection, where the spiritual world and the physical world become one. When this occurs, death will be swallowed up in victory, and eternal life will begin.
May this come quickly.
Now that we have some context about what the trumpet call will bring, let’s turn to Matthew 24. We’ll examine how Jesus described it in the mini-revelation.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24:29-31
Some very deep things have been discussed here, but hopefully you were able to get a pretty compelling image of what we had just read. I’m only showing here exactly as it is described in the picture or in the verse. We’re going to see this exact same image again later on, but it will look a little different.
In this passage, we observe the darkening and falling of the sun, moon, and stars. These heavenly bodies, typically associated with the spiritual realm, abdicate their positions of authority by going dark and falling. This is not to be taken literally, but figuratively.
Genesis 37:9-11 introduces the symbolic meaning of the sun, moon, and stars, representing Jacob, his mother, and his 11 brothers – the chosen people. Throughout the Bible, especially in prophetic books like Joel chapter 2, the darkening of these celestial bodies or the moon turning blood red signifies a loss of their usual light-giving function.
If these events were to occur literally, there would be no elect to gather, as we would all perish. Some stars in our universe are hundreds of times larger than our sun, and their proximity to Earth would result in complete destruction. Similarly, if the moon left its orbit and impacted Earth, it would cause worldwide tsunamis and devastation.
Thankfully, this is figurative, representing a chosen people losing their position of authority at the time of the second coming. At this point, Jesus returns to gather the elect from all directions – north, south, east, and west – to take their places in the kingdom of God.
The gathering of the elect is described in various ways throughout scripture:
1: Harvest
2: Fleeing to the mountains
3: Coming out of Babylon
4: Being purchased
5: Being caught in the net and placed in the basket
All these descriptions refer to the same event, just portrayed differently.
The trumpet call mentioned is another way to describe this gathering. It represents the fulfilment of prophecy and serves as a parable for the word of God calling His people. As we see these signs, we must be prepared to flee from what is false and embrace what is true. This gives us hope, like a seed planted in our hearts.
The lesson here is that we are living in a crucial time or era. What was once sealed is now open, and we must be ready to respond to God’s call.
1.- Trumpet
Let’s delve deeper into understanding this trumpet. We need to know if it’s already sounding, how we can be sure we’re hearing it, and where we should gather.
Does anyone recall what a trumpet represents? It represents a person.
How do we know this? You seem quite confident about it. Let’s assume I’m not familiar with the open word.
Can you explain it to me? Alright, it’s a parable. How do we know this? Because we learned about it in parables.
But suppose I haven’t studied parables. So, what does a trumpet signify?
Why do you say it represents a person? The answer lies in Isaiah 58:1.
“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.
Isaiah 58:1
The prophet Isaiah is instructed to shout aloud and raise his voice like a trumpet. He is told to declare two things to God’s people: their rebellion and their sins. This is necessary because people cannot repent for something they are unaware of doing wrong. They cannot apologize if they don’t know what they did.
In relationships, sometimes one spouse is angry, and the other is unsure what they did wrong. They don’t know what to apologize for, wondering, “What did I do this time?” They need to be told what they did before they can repent.
God has always appointed a trumpet to announce to the people what they’ve done wrong so they can change course. The trumpet sound, which represents the word that declares, serves two purposes:
- It declares rebellion.
- It declares sins.
This allows people to repent.
An excellent example of this is found in the book of Jonah. Although Jonah isn’t directly compared to a trumpet, the logic is similar. Jonah was asked to speak to the people of Nineveh, a Gentile people whose sins were well documented in other prophetic books.
Like Sodom and Gomorrah, God heard about the wrongs they had committed and decided a change was necessary. However, people need to know what they’ve done wrong. So Jonah was sent to them, but he initially abdicated his responsibility and fled.
God couldn’t allow the people to remain unaware of their wrongdoings, so He punished Jonah. God told Jonah, “I gave you a job to do. Go back and do what I told you to do.”
Jonah relented and accepted his punishment: three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish. The fish then dropped him off right where he needed to start speaking again. Finally, Jonah fulfilled his duty, and surprisingly, the people repented. It was refreshing to see a people repent for the things they had done wrong.
God needed a trumpet, someone to open their mouth and speak. This is still true today.
Jesus is now in spirit form, as are His angels. Spirits work through flesh, through people like Evangelist Mary, Jon, David, George, Mike, or Instructor Alex. These are just random names, but they represent those who have received the open word and are already on Mount Zion. Our job is to guide as many people there as we can.
The words we speak are not our own. They don’t come from years of studying theology. I was in your position not long ago, so I can’t claim ownership of these words. What a responsibility that would be! My job, like the Evangelists’, is simply to open my mouth and speak.
When Evangelist Ana calls, answer. She has a desperate heart to help you hear and understand these words. When Evangelist David reads from scripture, see it as the word of God entering you. Try to look beyond the person to the spirit behind them. You may not see the spirit directly or tell by someone’s appearance, but you can hear it. When you do, you should be able to say, “Amen” or “No thanks.”
These days, you should be able to recognize a true trumpet call and run towards it.
The word declares or reveals fulfilled events. Sin and rebellion are actions that have occurred, and people need to know about them to repent. Let’s now examine the trumpet sound in the book of Revelation more closely to understand when and where things are happening or may have already happened.
2.- Trumpet Sound at the Time of the Second Coming
Rev 8-9
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
Revelation chapter 8 begins with the opening of the seventh seal. When this seal is opened, what is revealed? The book of Revelation itself. This event did not occur 2,000 years ago.
In fact, it happened quite recently. The reason for this is that someone needed to witness and testify about the events they saw, which means this person must be alive in our time. The testimony had to be based on firsthand observation.
If you examine Revelation, you’ll notice that every chapter is written in the first person, from the perspective of a witness. In verse 2, it states:
“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”
Seven angels receive seven trumpets. When each of these angels sounds their trumpet, specific events unfold. Things happen as a result of these trumpet blasts.
The Last Trumpet Sound of Revelation
Let’s now understand the seven angels and the seven trumpets in more detail.
The sound of the last seven trumpets of Revelation does something very special. We’ll get to that in a moment. We have seven angels who receive seven trumpets.
Of the trumpeter and the trumpet, which ones are the angels? The angels are the trumpeter. The person is the trumpet.
A person sounds the words received from the spirit. The words they are told to speak to God’s people. They must ensure the people hear the sound they need to hear so they can repent for the things they are doing and come out.
When we read Revelation 8, 9, and 11, we should think of the voice of seven people. If we think logically about it, we may have believed in the past that it was a literal trumpet sound heard by everyone in the world at the same time.
A sound that loud would eviscerate everything in its vicinity. If the whole world heard it, there would be nothing left. It would be as powerful as many multiple nuclear explosions all at once. It would end everything. That’s how we used to think.
We didn’t really think of it as seven trumpet sounds. Maybe some of us did, but not all. Some thought it was one sound, and then heaven would crack open, and we would see Jesus coming from the clouds.
People waiting for that are going to be waiting a long time. How long? They’re going to be waiting forever, just like those still waiting for the Messiah to come for the first time. They will wait forever because he already came and is about to come again.
This is why it’s so important to understand the parables and how Revelation has been fulfilled, not how people think it will be fulfilled. People’s thoughts will lead them to waiting a long time. Let’s not wait a long time. Let’s be at the place where it actually happens.
It won’t happen literally. It’ll happen figuratively. But it will happen.
The seven trumpets are divided into two categories.
Category One
Let’s first examine when the trumpets sound, and then we’ll understand the category of their sounding.
The trumpets sound in three chapters of Revelation: Rev 8:1-4, Rev 9:5-6, and Rev 11:15. Actually, it’s four chapters, but they sound in three. This divides the groups of trumpets.
In Revelation chapter 8, four trumpets sound. This means four people sound trumpets in Revelation chapter 8.
In chapter 9, two trumpets sound.
So, we have a total of six trumpets. Four in chapter 8 and two in chapter 9.
These trumpets announce the sin, rebellion, and sacrifice of the chosen people. They announce the destruction or sacrifice of the chosen people by the destroyers.
This was allowed to happen because of their sin and rebellion and their lack of repentance. These six people are saying, “This is what has happened to you. You are in sin. You are in rebellion. Repent. The people standing in your midst are destroying you. Stop listening to their words.”
People’s hearts were trembling. They were thinking, “What? What are they saying? Are they right?”
There were many earthquakes. These are the first six trumpets. However, the seventh trumpet is different.
Category 2
The seventh trumpet announces something awesome. This last trumpet, the seventh trumpet, sounds in Revelation 11:15.
The trumpet is introduced in Revelation 10:7 but is actually sounded in Revelation 11:15. It is called the last seventh trumpet. It’s referred to as “last” because it is the seventh in a series of seven trumpets, making it the final one.
However, it’s worth noting that we didn’t always know how many trumpets there would be in total. I’ll explain why I mentioned this in a moment.
This trumpet announces salvation through God’s victory.
While the first six trumpets announce the sin, rebellion, sacrifice, and destruction of the chosen people by the destroyers, the seventh trumpet proclaims salvation through God’s victory.
3.- Sound of the 7th Trumpet
Let us understand the difference between the first 6 trumpets and the 7th trumpet.
Mystery of God (Salvation) → Accomplished
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
Revelation 10:7
Here’s a revised version of the text, preserving the key vocabulary and ideas while improving readability:
As we study Revelation chapter 10, you should be recalling the significant events that occur in this chapter. Let’s consider some of the major occurrences:
- John eats the scroll.
- The angel gives John the scroll.
Keep these events in mind as we examine the content. The passage states, “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished.” This refers to the mystery of God, which represents the mystery of salvation, being fulfilled.
Amen. May this fulfilment come quickly.
God Resigns
Now, let’s see the rest of the sound of this trumpet.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Revelation 11:15
When this trumpet sounds, the kingdom that belongs to the world will become the kingdom that belongs to God. At this point, God finally rests, which is referred to as “reign” in this verse. For God, reigning and resting are the same thing.
God finally reigns because ever since Adam’s fall, the world has been the kingdom of the world, the kingdom of Satan, and the kingdom of darkness. This realm was filled with death, mourning, crying, and pain and suffering of all kinds – the worst things we can imagine. However, God intends to end this, and it happens at the sound of the seventh trumpet.
The sound of the seventh trumpet announces salvation. In contrast, the first six trumpets announce the destruction of the chosen people. These trumpets show how the chosen people were being destroyed and sacrificed by the destroyers. They also reveal the sins and rebellion that led to this destruction.
While the first six trumpets focus on destruction, the seventh trumpet announces salvation. This helps us understand more about the mystery of God.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
There are many amazing things to understand in this passage. Starting from verse 35 of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul discusses the difference between physical (earthly) bodies and spiritual bodies. He explains how bodies differ in splendor, comparing the sun, moon, and stars.
Paul describes how what is sown in disgrace is raised in victory. He uses the parable of a seed that must die for something greater to rise. This deep point illustrates God’s mystery, which can be summarized as the mystery of eternal life.
God’s mystery is connected to the 7th trumpet sound, which represents the swallowing of death. In verse 53, Paul mentions that the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When this happens, death is swallowed up in victory.
Death is swallowed by life, meaning eternal life not just for the spirit, but for the flesh as well. This implies that when this occurs, people who are alive and gathered at the mountain will no longer see death. They will live forever.
This concept sounds incredible and unbelievable. Death has been the way of things for 6,000 years. It’s all we know. We have fashioned our entire lives around the fact that people only live 70 to 80 years, leaving no time for anything.
Everyone rushes to accomplish everything in their short lifespan. This contributes to why people fight in wars over resources and why some abuse others to squeeze every drop out of life before they die. It leads to much corruption.
However, for people who are no longer worried about death, these concerns would evaporate. The question becomes, “Why am I rushing? I have time.”
Let’s focus on God. Try to imagine those people. We struggle to envision individuals who live forever, don’t we?
In movies depicting eternal life, the characters are often miserable because they’re living eternally in a corrupted world with corrupted bodies. Take vampires, for instance. They can’t even enjoy sunlight.
Or consider films where someone is irradiated and becomes immortal. These characters are usually the most miserable, longing for death but unable to receive it. However, this isn’t the eternal life Paul is referring to. It’s not the type God intends to bring.
Eternal life with God will be far superior. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. This is what God wants to restore – the original intention for the Garden of Eden. So, what are the results of the sound of the seventh trumpet?
God’s kingdom is fulfilled. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” What is God’s will? No more death. God is done with death. He actually hates it. The resurrection of the martyrs and those who are alive. Eternal life.
These are the consequences of the seventh trumpet’s sound. Death will be swallowed up in victory. Now, here’s something to consider closely:
If you were to ask a religious leader from your past about God’s mystery or the sound of the seventh trumpet, and they respond with “I don’t know” or “I think it’s this” or “It’s a literal sound that will crack open the sky,” we need to reflect on our position.
We should question what else this person has been teaching that might not be correct. If they don’t know what the sound is, we really need to contemplate that.
I want to be in a place that can explain these things clearly from the scriptures and from what has been fulfilled. Keep this in mind. We’ll explore further who are the ones clothed in victory, clothed with the immortal.
Reminder:
Rev 10:7 → Mystery of God (Salvation) → Accomplished
Rev 11:15 → Kingdom of the World → Kingdom of God (God Reigns)
– 7th Trumpet Sound → Salvation
1 Cor 15:51-54 (Rev 10:7, Jn 11:25-26)
– God’s mystery → 7th trumpet sound
– Mortal clothed with immortality
– Death is swallowed up in victory (by life) → Eternal Life
Results: God’s Kingdom, Resurrection and Eternal Life
4.- Who Changes
4 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. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6
Let’s examine what’s occurring in Revelation 20:4-6, as it describes three distinct groups. To comprehend these groups, we need to consider the Bible’s timeline.
I’ll quickly sketch this timeline, starting from Jesus and extending to the end of the thousand-year period. We are approximately here, in the present.
From Jesus to our current time spans about 2,000 years. From us to the conclusion of the 1,000-year period is another 1,000 years. So, we have two thousand years from Jesus to now, followed by an additional thousand years.
2,000 years 1,000 years
| ———————————– | ——————————|
Jesus (Rev is sealed) Us
Group 1: 12 Disciples and Martyrs
Revelation begins to be fulfilled in our time. The start of Revelation’s fulfillment has now been opened. Revelation was sealed when it was given around 95 AD.
Revelation was recorded at that time. The oldest transcript you can find is approximately from 95 AD. This is most likely when Revelation was recorded.
It remained sealed for two thousand years but is now open in our era. Let’s look at the different groups described in Revelation chapter 20:4-6.
The first group of people:
In verse 4, we see “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.” Who are these people? They are the twelve disciples.
This fulfills a prophecy. What promise was this a fulfillment of? It’s found in Matthew 19.
Jesus promised the disciples that they would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel at the renewal of all things.
So the first group consists of the twelve disciples, but not just them.
The rest of verse 4 states: “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God.” Who are these people?
They are the twelve disciples and the souls of the martyrs.
These are people who died during the time of the first Christians. This is the first group being discussed. These people are in heaven with God, Jesus, and the angels.
Because of their early sacrifice, they are being rewarded. They are the ones who will come back in our time. They are the ones Paul was talking about, starting from verse 35.
People might ask, “How will they come back? Their bodies no longer exist. At most, only their skeletons remain.”
Paul had to correct this misunderstanding. He had to explain that they will receive new bodies, spiritual bodies.
And they will return in our time.
The second group of people:
The passages discuss two groups of people. The second group consists of those who are currently alive. Why? Verse 4 explains that they had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received the mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This second group represents people living in our time who do not worship the beast, his image, or the number of his name, nor receive the mark of the beast.
The first resurrection includes two categories: those who died early on with Jesus, martyred for their faith, and those alive today. These participants in the first resurrection are mentioned alongside the concept of the second death.
What is the second death? It essentially refers to judgment. Revelation 20:14 states, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.” The first death is the death of the body, which occurs when someone dies. The second death is the death of the spirit in hell. We definitely want to avoid the second death.
Those who participate in the first resurrection need not worry about the second death because they will be alive.
There’s also a third group that doesn’t participate in the first resurrection. They must wait. Who are they? The rest of the dead return at the end of the thousand years. This includes everyone who died between the time of the first Christians (martyrs) and us (our time), as well as during the 1000-year period. They all come back after everything is completed. These are the ones to whom the gospel is preached, as mentioned in 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:6, which we’ve discussed previously.
Naturally, we want to be among those who welcome the returning spirits.
Reminder:
Those who participate in the first resurrection:
- The 12 Disciples and souls of the martyrs.
- Those who don’t worship the Beast, his image, the number of his name or receive the mark of the beast.
Spirits and flesh on Mount Zion —> One (Wedding of the Lamb Rev 19, 1st Ressurection Rev 20)
To better understand this concept, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 15. It speaks of the immortal and imperishable (the martyrs).
Who are the mortal and perishable? They are us, the people here. What needs to happen? They need to become one.
This is what 1 Corinthians 15 discusses. It’s also the subject of Revelation 20 and what Jesus was talking about in John 11:25-26 when speaking with Martha after her brother Lazarus died.
Martha said, “Lord, if only you had been here, Lazarus might not have died.” Jesus replied, “Lazarus had to die so that the glory of God may be revealed. I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live even though they die. But he who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
I do. Amen. I believe it.
May that be me. I want to see the first resurrection. The sound of the last seventh trumpet announces the coming of the wedding and the resurrection where the spirits of heaven and the flesh who are on the Zion will become one.
This is the wedding banquet of the lamb in Revelation 19 and the first resurrection in Revelation 20. Let’s hope to see these events take place.
Is everyone clear on what these are talking about?
If anyone is lost, please raise your hand. Are we okay?
We’re still a bit lost, so I’ll explain one more time to ensure we understand well. In the past, we thought eternal life was only after we died, living with God forever.
This is partially true. Living with God forever is eternal life. We couldn’t fathom that eternal life would happen to us because our standard was that this body gets old and dies.
Death has been the standard since before Adam. It’s so ingrained in us that we can’t imagine anything else. Even when Jesus speaks of a world without death, it sounds unbelievable. That’s why God had to emphasize in Revelation 21:5-6, after stating there will be no more death, mourning, crying, and pain, “I am making everything new. Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. It is done.”
God reminds us that although it may sound incredible, His promise will be fulfilled. Don’t doubt. These words are trustworthy. Whether you believe it will happen here or not, it will still occur.
God’s fulfillment is like a train, steadily moving forward, unaffected by anything. People who don’t believe in God’s promises are like dogs yapping at the side of the train. The train continues regardless of the yapping. Don’t be a yapping dog; be on the train.
These promises will come to pass. The world won’t know what to make of these people who never seem to age. They’ll ask, “What’s your secret? What’s your regimen?”
Revelation provides hope in a world that often lacks it. So run, be on the train that isn’t stopped by yapping dogs.
In the last part of the lesson, we learn that the people who are alive will be united with the spirits of heaven. When this happens, there will be no more death. For the next thousand years, their job will be to heal all nations, to reign with Christ and God, and to preach to many people. Despite 2,000 years of spreading the word, many still don’t believe in Jesus. There’s much work to be done until the end of the thousand years.
5.- Three Mysteries of Revelation and Order of Emergence
Let’s now discuss the mysteries of Revelation. We’ve already talked about one mystery, but there are actually three in total.
We’ll explore these three mysteries of Revelation before concluding. This content should feel familiar as it is. These mysteries are connected to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 introduces three events of Revelation Prophecy that must take place. First, there must be a rebellion. Second, the man of lawlessness is revealed; he is the man doomed to destruction. Third, the day of the Lord, which represents salvation, will come.
This order reflects the flow of events in Revelation, and it also applies to many other prophetic events in the Bible, not just the second coming. This pattern is familiar, as we have encountered it before in Scripture.
This is the Revelation and how it is fulfilled. So let’s go over the three mysteries now and how they fit into rebellion, destruction, and salvation.
Let’s turn to the first mystery:
ONE – Mystery of Betrayal (Rebellion)
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:20
What did Jesus call the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands? The mystery.
The mystery of the seven stars and seven golden lampstands is the mystery of betrayal, also known as the mystery of rebellion.
Why is it called a mystery? Here’s the reason:
According to Revelation, the people who are the reality of these events didn’t fully know who they were. Though they may have known a little bit, there were still things they did not realize. This lack of understanding led them to actions that ultimately resulted in their destruction.
These people, who are the seven stars, didn’t even fully know their own identity. They were in this tabernacle and had a job to do. Their task was to shine a little bit of light in a time of darkness. However, something happened to them, and they betrayed the word they had received.
When they betrayed, it opened the door for something to happen.
TWO – Mystery of Destruction
The second mystery is the mystery of the beast and the prostitute who rides upon it. This mystery appeared and was revealed.
5 This title was written on her forehead: mystery babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
Revelation 17:5,7
We encounter another mystery here: the mystery of Babylon, the prostitute, and the beast she rides – the beast with seven heads and ten horns.
This beast was introduced in Revelation chapter 13. The beast and the prostitute represent the mystery of destruction, not betrayal or rebellion. This is the second mystery of Revelation.
What does this beast do? It invades the holy place.
Matthew 24:15-16 speaks of the abomination that causes desolation entering the holy place. The most holy place is actually Mount Zion. This is the connection.
The beast, the dragon, and the prostitute invade the holy place. The beast has an important task: to destroy those who have betrayed. And it does so.
But what is the reality of this beast? It’s not a literal monster with seven heads and ten horns emerging from the sea, resembling a lion, leopard, and bear. Instead, it represents seven pastors and their ten authority figures. They are the ones who invade and crush these people.
We’ll see how they crush them in future lessons. I’m speaking in past tense because these events have already taken place and been fulfilled.
They are no longer a mystery, though they were before. They are called a mystery for the same reason the betrayers are: because they, too, don’t know who they are.
They believe they’re doing what is right. They don’t realize until they hear something. What do they need to hear to understand what they’ve done wrong?
The trumpet. Or more accurately, trumpets.
Seven trumpets need to sound. When they do, they reveal, “Hey, you guys are the betrayers. And you guys are the destroyers. This is what you are doing.”
They didn’t know before. And interestingly, even the seventh trumpet didn’t know who he was either.
THREE – Mystery of Salvation
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
Revelation 10:7
Here’s a revised version of the text, preserving the key vocabulary and ideas while improving readability:
In the days when the seventh angel was about to sound his trumpet (not yet sounded), the mystery of salvation is revealed. This mystery is connected to the seventh trumpet. Who became the seventh trumpet, and how did this happen?
It was John who became the seventh trumpet by eating the scroll when he prophesied what he saw and heard. This event occurred in verses 8 through 11. The one who ate the open scroll became the seventh trumpet and had a specific job to do.
Now, I understand what I need to do and what I need to speak.
The task is to announce to the people their sin and rebellion, revealing their actions. It’s important to note that the other seven trumpets are working alongside the seventh trumpet as a team.
They are announcing events in the tabernacle temple, the holy place. As they announce, destruction is taking place. When reading Revelation 8 and 9, one should consider that these people are being destroyed while still hearing about what’s happening to them, yet the destruction continues.
Here is a revised version of the text, preserving the key vocabulary and ideas while improving readability:
People are still refusing to repent, which is very sad. As Matthew 24:15-16 states, when the abomination enters the holy place, those in Judea should flee to the mountain.
We’ve discussed before that fleeing to the mountain is figurative. It represents the harvest, the wedding banquet, being caught in the net or basket, and being brought into the barn. This is the reality of what people today call the rapture.
The rapture will not occur as previously taught. If that’s what you’re waiting for, you’ll be waiting forever, because it won’t happen that way.
Prophecy is figurative, so discard all preconceived ideas about the rapture. We thought the harvest was the rapture. What Jesus described in various parables and prophecies is the true reality – the real harvest, the barn.
God gave this book to Jesus, who opened it and gave it to the angel. The angel then gave it to John, who testifies about what he has seen and heard.
To recap, the three mysteries are:
ONE, the mystery of betrayal (the seven stars); TWO, the mystery of destruction (the prostitute, the beast with seven heads and ten horns, and Babylon); and THREE, the mystery of salvation (the mystery of the seventh trumpet and the sound announcing what will take place).
Is the seventh trumpet sound happening now? Yes. In fact, you’re hearing that trumpet sound at this very moment. This sound is the testimony of fulfilment. You’re hearing about what has taken place now.
By God’s grace, the first people to hear the testimony of fulfilment were those who were part of the fulfilment. They heard it first, as prophesied.
After these events took place and they were judged, everyone now needs to hear about what has been fulfilled according to prophecy. This is so they can respond appropriately.
All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.
Isaiah 18:3
When the banner is raised and the trumpet sounds, you will see and hear it. At that moment, you will be called to gather.
This gathering represents the harvest. It is the wedding banquet, the basket, and the net. It is also known as the rapture. Jesus and the angels are currently harvesting people.
This is not a future event, so we don’t have the luxury of time. Today, we must act. Let’s run.
The time is now.
Memorization
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
Revelation 10:7
Let’s Us Discern
Analyzing SCJ Lesson 88: The Sound of the Last, Seventh Trumpet
A Comprehensive Analysis Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”
Introduction: When Eschatology Becomes Recruitment
Imagine being in a Bible study about the second coming of Christ. The instructor teaches about trumpets, the gathering of the elect, and the resurrection. Everything sounds exciting, biblical, even hopeful.
But then, subtly, the lesson shifts:
- “When we hear the trumpet call, we are all to gather… on a spiritual mountain”
- “Those who have received the open word, as those who are already on Mount Zion, our job is to make sure that we guide as many people there as we can”
- “At the second coming, His blood frees people from sin, period. Meaning, they will no longer commit sin”
- “For those who are on the mountain, for those who welcome heaven down”
Wait—what just happened? We started with biblical teaching about Christ’s return and ended with the implication that salvation, sinlessness, and eternal life are connected to being “on the mountain” (SCJ’s organization) and hearing their specific “trumpet” (teaching).
This is SCJ Lesson 88, and it demonstrates what Chapter 9 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” calls “The Harvesting Metaphor”—using biblical imagery about the end times to create urgency for joining their organization.
Let’s carefully examine this lesson, distinguishing biblical truth from organizational manipulation.
Part 1: The Emotional Setup – God’s Loss and Your Response
What SCJ Says:
The “Yeast of Heaven” section begins:
“God’s great love in giving the one and only righteous person – His son – to die on the cross for sinners… We must not be immature believers. We must know God’s pain and his situation. The Bible is about God and His Son, Jesus’, tragic and unfortunate circumstances.”
The instructor then asks:
“Who here has ever lost something? Has anybody ever been scammed out of money before? Yeah, kind of painful right?… Has anybody here… had a little small child and they wandered off?… So we get so upset when we lose little things in life, right?”
Then comes the emotional punch:
“But have we ever really thought about what God’s lost? He lost his one and only son, right? He sent it to this sinful world. And what did we do to Jesus? Called him a cult, a heretic, put him on the cross, crucified him, and then persecuted those who followed him as well, murdering them.”
The conclusion:
“So at the time of the second coming, Satan is working the same. He’s going to make sure that you disbelieve in Jesus. So that his blood that he shed on the cross at the time of the first coming won’t have effect.”
The Two Lenses Analysis:
What’s Biblical:
- God gave His Son out of love (John 3:16)
- Jesus was rejected and crucified (Isaiah 53:3, Mark 15:13-14)
- Early Christians were persecuted (Acts 8:1)
- Satan opposes God’s work (1 Peter 5:8)
- We must believe in Jesus for salvation (John 3:36)
What’s Uniquely SCJ (The Manipulation):
- The emotional manipulation comparing personal loss to God’s loss
- The guilt induction: “What did we do to Jesus?”
- The implicit threat: Satan wants you to disbelieve
- The setup: Criticism of SCJ = what happened to Jesus at the first coming
- The implication: If you leave or question SCJ, Jesus’ blood “won’t have effect”
Biblical Refutation:
Yes, God gave His Son. This is the heart of the gospel. But let’s examine how Scripture presents this:
John 3:16-17:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
This is about God’s love, not about inducing guilt. God gave His Son willingly to save us.
Romans 5:8:
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s love is demonstrated while we were sinners—not to make us feel guilty, but to show His grace.
Isaiah 53:10:
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”
This was God’s plan. Jesus’ death wasn’t a tragic accident or failure—it was the purposeful plan of redemption.
The Psychological Technique:
This opening does several things:
- Creates emotional vulnerability – “Think about losing something precious”
- Induces guilt – “We crucified Jesus”
- Establishes fear – “Satan wants you to disbelieve”
- Pre-frames criticism – Questioning SCJ = rejecting Jesus
- Creates urgency – “Jesus’ blood won’t have effect if you don’t believe”
As Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, this is “Deceive, Deny, Revise”—specifically, the tactic of making students feel that leaving or questioning SCJ is equivalent to rejecting Christ.
The Dangerous Implication:
The statement “Satan is going to make sure that you disbelieve in Jesus. So that his blood that he shed on the cross at the time of the first coming won’t have effect” creates a false equation:
SCJ’s equation:
- Questioning SCJ = disbelieving Jesus
- Leaving SCJ = making Jesus’ blood ineffective
- Criticism of SCJ = Satan’s work
Biblical truth:
- Jesus’ blood is effective for all who believe in Him (Romans 3:25)
- Belief in Jesus = trusting in His finished work (John 19:30)
- Testing teaching is commanded (1 John 4:1), not satanic
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.”
The effectiveness of Jesus’ blood depends on faith in Christ, not on organizational loyalty.
Part 2: The Two-Stage Atonement Theory
What SCJ Says:
From the “Review” section:
“Firstly, Jesus’ blood atones for committed sin for all time. Past, present, and future. That’s the first coming.”
“But at the second coming, His blood frees people from sin, period. Meaning, they will no longer commit sin for which it needs to be atoned.”
“First coming atones for the sins that were committed, meaning the sins were forgiven. But at the second coming, Jesus’ blood purchases people from sin. Purchases them from death, meaning they will no longer commit sin.”
“That happens at the time of the second coming to those who are freed, those who are purchased, and those who wash their robes and welcome heaven down.”
The instructor emphasizes:
“And this is the point that Paul was trying to let us know in Hebrews 9:28. That He shed the blood at the first coming. He came to shed the blood once for all. But at the second coming, He’s coming to bring salvation. Salvation from sin By capturing the devil and destroying sin forever. For those who are on the mountain, for those who welcome heaven down.”
The Two Lenses Analysis:
What’s Biblical:
- Jesus’ blood atones for sin (1 John 2:2)
- Jesus died once for all (Hebrews 10:10)
- We look forward to glorification (Romans 8:23)
- Satan will be defeated (Revelation 20:10)
- We will be like Christ when He appears (1 John 3:2)
What’s Uniquely SCJ:
- The division: First coming = forgiveness of sins; Second coming = freedom from sinning
- The implication that Jesus’ work at the first coming was incomplete
- The suggestion that sinlessness comes through a second coming event involving their organization
- The phrase “for those who are on the mountain” (SCJ’s organization)
- The connection between “welcoming heaven down” and their specific group
Biblical Refutation:
This is one of SCJ’s most dangerous distortions. Let’s carefully examine what Scripture actually teaches:
What Hebrews 9:28 Actually Says:
Hebrews 9:27-28:
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Yes, Christ will appear a second time “to bring salvation.” But what does this mean?
The context (Hebrews 9:11-14):
“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
Key phrase: “thus obtaining eternal redemption” – past tense, completed action.
Hebrews 10:14:
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
Jesus’ sacrifice already made us perfect. The “salvation” He brings at His second coming is the completion of our glorification, not a second stage of atonement.
The Biblical Understanding:
Already:
- We are redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
- We are justified (Romans 5:1)
- We are sanctified positionally (1 Corinthians 6:11)
- We have eternal life (John 5:24)
Not Yet:
- We await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23)
- We will be glorified (Romans 8:30)
- We will be like Christ (1 John 3:2)
- We will receive imperishable bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
Romans 8:23:
“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”
The “not yet” is about receiving glorified bodies, not about a second stage of atonement or becoming sinless through organizational membership.
1 John 3:2:
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
When Christ appears, we shall be like Him—not when we join the right organization.
The Sinlessness Claim:
SCJ teaches that at the second coming, certain people “will no longer commit sin.”
But Scripture says:
1 John 1:8:
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:10:
“If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
Ecclesiastes 7:20:
“Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.”
As long as we’re in these mortal bodies, we will struggle with sin. Sinlessness comes at glorification, when we receive new bodies and are fully in God’s presence.
Philippians 3:20-21:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
The Dangerous Implication:
By teaching that sinlessness comes “for those who are on the mountain, for those who welcome heaven down,” SCJ:
- Creates false hope – “Join us and you’ll stop sinning”
- Establishes organizational necessity – “You need to be ‘on the mountain’ (in SCJ)”
- Undermines grace – Implies sinlessness comes through human effort/location
- Sets up disillusionment – Members will still sin, leading to guilt and shame
This is what Chapter 8 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” calls “The Shifting Standards of Salvation”—adding requirements beyond faith in Christ alone.
Part 3: The Seventh Trumpet and the Gathering
What SCJ Says:
“Our hope to hear the sound of the last seventh trumpet and gather on the mountain.”
“Do we need to gather on a literal mountain? No. That wouldn’t make much sense, right? There are those in the past who made claims like that. And the people went to that location at the designated time. And they waited and waited. Until the time passed. Then they made excuses as to why it didn’t happen. That’s not what’s going on here. No.”
“When we hear the trumpet call, we are all to gather. But where we gather is not a physical mountain, but a spiritual mountain.”
The lesson presents Matthew 24:29-31 and explains:
“At that point, then Jesus returns to gather the elect. And these elect will come from the north, south, east, and west, from all directions. And they will take their seats at the kingdom of God.”
Then comes the key question:
“So what is this trumpet call that is being used? And what does it mean to gather the elect? We’ve gone over the other ways this is called, right? What are some other names for the gathering of the elect?”
Answers given:
- Harvest
- Sealing
- Fleeing to the mountains
- Coming out of Babylon
- Being purchased
- Being caught in the net and placed in the basket
The Two Lenses Analysis:
What’s Biblical:
- There will be a trumpet call at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
- The elect will be gathered (Matthew 24:31)
- Believers will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:52)
- We will meet the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
What’s Uniquely SCJ:
- The “spiritual mountain” = their organization
- The equation of multiple biblical events as all referring to joining SCJ
- The implication that “hearing the trumpet” = hearing their teaching
- The suggestion that “gathering” = coming to their Bible studies
- The framework that all these events are happening now through SCJ
Biblical Refutation:
Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about the trumpet and the gathering:
1 Corinthians 15:51-52:
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
This is about physical resurrection and transformation, not about joining an organization.
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.”
Notice:
- The Lord Himself will come down – visible, bodily return
- The dead in Christ will rise – physical resurrection
- We will be caught up… in the clouds – visible, physical event
- To meet the Lord in the air – not to meet on a “spiritual mountain”
Matthew 24:30-31:
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
“All the peoples of the earth will see” – This is a visible, public, undeniable event, not a secret organizational gathering.
Acts 1:11:
“‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'”
Jesus will return the same way He left – visibly, bodily, publicly.
The “Spiritual Mountain” Claim:
SCJ teaches that the “mountain” is spiritual (their organization), not physical.
But Scripture uses “mountain” in specific ways:
Isaiah 2:2-3:
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
This is about God’s kingdom, not an organization.
Hebrews 12:22-24:
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
All believers have come to Mount Zion through faith in Christ. This isn’t about joining one specific organization.
The Equation of Multiple Events:
SCJ claims that harvest, sealing, fleeing, coming out of Babylon, being purchased, etc., all refer to the same event—joining their organization.
But these are distinct biblical concepts:
Harvest – The final judgment (Matthew 13:39-43) Sealing – The Holy Spirit’s guarantee (Ephesians 1:13-14) Fleeing – Escaping judgment (Luke 21:21) Coming out of Babylon – Separation from false religion (Revelation 18:4) Being purchased – Redemption through Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:18-19)
To claim they all mean “join SCJ” is to:
- Flatten biblical imagery into organizational recruitment
- Ignore context of each passage
- Make everything about their group
This is what Chapter 20 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” calls “The Danger of Creative Fulfillment”—forcing diverse biblical concepts into one predetermined meaning.
Part 4: The Sun, Moon, and Stars – Understanding Apocalyptic Language Properly
What SCJ Says:
On Matthew 24:29 (“the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky”):
“Sun, moon, and stars are heavenly bodies, which means they’re supposed to be up there in heaven in the spiritual world. But they go dark and fall, which means they have abdicated their position of authority.”
“This, of course, is not literal. But in Genesis chapter 37:9-11, we see the introduction of the meaning of the sun, moon, and stars. And in Genesis 37:9-11, we see that Jacob, the mother, and Jacob’s 11 brothers, who are the chosen people, are called the sun, moon, and stars.”
The instructor explains:
“If these events happened literally, if the sun went dark, there would be no elect to gather. We would all be dead… So, not literal, thank goodness, but figurative. Meaning that a chosen people at the time of the second coming will lose their position of authority. They will go dark and fall.”
The Two Lenses Analysis:
What’s Biblical:
- Apocalyptic literature uses symbolic imagery (Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation)
- Joseph’s dream used sun, moon, stars symbolically (Genesis 37:9-11)
- Jesus used apocalyptic language (Matthew 24)
- The prophets used cosmic imagery to describe historical judgments
What’s Uniquely SCJ:
- The assumption that all uses of sun/moon/stars must mean the same thing
- The interpretation that this refers to Christian leaders “going dark”
- The implication that this has already happened (traditional Christianity fell)
- The setup that SCJ is the “gathering” after this falling
- The complete ignoring of how first-century Christians would have understood this imagery
Biblical Refutation:
How First-Century Christians Actually Understood This Imagery:
As Chapter 26, Part 10 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, first-century Christians weren’t confused by apocalyptic imagery—it was their native language.
Here’s what modern readers often miss: Revelation contains over 500 allusions to the Old Testament, yet it never once explicitly quotes an Old Testament passage with “as it is written” or “the prophet said.”
Why? Because John assumed his readers already knew these stories intimately.
For first-century Jewish Christians:
- The Old Testament wasn’t ancient history—it was their story, their identity, their hope
- They heard it read aloud every Sabbath
- They memorized it, sang it in Psalms, prayed it, lived it
- Most importantly: They celebrated it every year through festivals that kept the Exile story and its apocalyptic imagery alive
The Exile: The Story That Shaped Everything
The Babylonian Exile (586-516 BC) wasn’t just a historical event—it was the defining trauma and hope of Jewish identity:
- Jerusalem destroyed – God’s chosen city, reduced to rubble
- The Temple burned – The place where God’s presence dwelt, gone
- The people scattered – Dragged to Babylon in chains
- 70 years of exile – An entire generation born in captivity
- Then miraculous return – God brought them home, just as He promised
And here’s the crucial point: The prophets who wrote during and about the Exile—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel—used vivid apocalyptic imagery to describe what was happening and what God would do.
But Here’s What Makes This Even More Powerful:
First-century Christians weren’t just remembering the Babylonian Exile—they were living through a similar pattern in their own time.
Consider their reality:
Under Roman Occupation (like Babylon):
- Living under a foreign empire that demanded submission
- Economic pressure through trade guilds and imperial cult participation
- Persecution for refusing to worship the emperor
- The constant threat of violence and execution
The Temple Destroyed Again (70 AD):
- Just as Babylon destroyed the First Temple in 586 BC, Rome destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD
- The Jewish-Roman War lasted approximately 42 months (the same symbolic period mentioned in Revelation 11:2, 13:5)
- Jerusalem was razed, and the Jewish people were scattered into exile once more
- The sacrificial system ended permanently
Experiencing Exile Again:
- Scattered across the Roman Empire
- Living as “strangers and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11)
- Waiting for deliverance, just like their ancestors in Babylon
- Clinging to the promise of restoration
When first-century Christians read Matthew 24 or Revelation with its heavy use of exile prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, they weren’t reading abstract symbolism about a distant future. They were reading their own story being retold.
The pattern was repeating before their eyes:
- Oppressive empire (Babylon → Rome)
- Temple destroyed (586 BC → 70 AD)
- People scattered (Babylonian exile → Roman persecution)
- Waiting for deliverance (70 years → Christ’s return)
How the Prophets Used Sun/Moon/Stars Imagery:
The “darkening of sun, moon, and stars” was standard prophetic language for describing the fall of nations and their leaders. First-century Christians heard this imagery every year through their festivals and Scripture readings.
Isaiah 13:10 (about Babylon’s fall):
“The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.”
Did the literal sun go dark when Babylon fell in 539 BC? No. This was apocalyptic language describing the fall of a great empire and its rulers.
Ezekiel 32:7-8 (about Egypt’s fall):
“When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Did the literal sun go dark when Egypt fell? No. This was apocalyptic language for political and military defeat.
Joel 2:31 (about the Day of the Lord):
“The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
Peter quoted this at Pentecost (Acts 2:19-21), showing that apocalyptic language can have multiple layers of fulfillment.
What Matthew 24:29 Meant to First-Century Christians:
When Jesus said in Matthew 24:29:
“Immediately after the distress of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'”
First-century Christians immediately recognized this as:
- Prophetic language they heard every year describing the fall of empires
- A reference to the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple (which happened in 70 AD)
- The end of the old covenant system (the “heavenly bodies” = the Temple system and Jewish leadership that rejected Christ)
- The vindication of Jesus as the true King
They weren’t thinking: “I wonder what this means? I need someone to decode this.”
They were thinking: “This is the same language Isaiah used about Babylon’s fall, Ezekiel used about Egypt’s fall. Jesus is saying the Temple system and Jerusalem will fall—and it did, in 70 AD. The old order has passed away. Jesus is vindicated. We’re living through the transition from the old covenant to the new.”
The Feast of Trumpets Connection:
As Chapter 26, Part 10 explains, first-century Christians celebrated the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) every year, which trained them to understand apocalyptic imagery:
What the Feast of Trumpets commemorated:
- The blowing of trumpets (shofars) to call the people to repentance
- To remember God’s kingship
- To announce God’s judgment and deliverance
Trumpets in the Old Testament signaled:
- Warning of judgment (Joel 2:1): “Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming.”
- Gathering the exiles (Isaiah 27:13): “It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD.”
Every year at the Feast of Trumpets, they heard the shofar blast and remembered:
- God is King over all nations (including Rome)
- Trumpets announce God’s action in history
- Judgment is coming for the wicked (Rome)
- Deliverance is coming for God’s people
- The exiles will be gathered when God’s trumpet sounds
So when they heard Matthew 24:29-31 about cosmic signs followed by the trumpet call gathering the elect, they weren’t confused. They thought:
“This is Feast of Trumpets imagery! This is the language our prophets used when empires fell! The Temple system will fall (it did in 70 AD), and God will gather His people (the church) from all nations. We’re living through this transition right now!”
The Day of Atonement Connection:
First-century Christians also celebrated the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) every year:
What it commemorated:
- The one day each year when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people
Connection to the Exile:
- When the Temple was destroyed in 586 BC, this ceremony couldn’t be performed for 70 years
- When the Temple was destroyed again in 70 AD, this ceremony ended permanently
- For Christians, this proved that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient and final
Hebrews 9:11-12, 24-26:
“But when Christ appeared as a high priest… He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands… and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption… For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands… but into heaven itself.”
So when they heard about cosmic signs and the gathering, they understood: “The old Temple system is ending (70 AD). Jesus has made the final atonement. We don’t need the old system anymore. The pattern of exile and restoration is complete in Christ!”
The Feast of Tabernacles Connection:
First-century Christians celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) every year:
What it commemorated:
- The 40 years of wilderness wandering, when the Israelites lived in temporary shelters before entering the Promised Land
For seven days, families lived in temporary shelters, remembering:
- The wilderness wandering (40 years before entering Canaan)
- The Babylonian exile (70 years before returning home)
- Their current status as exiles under Roman persecution
Hebrews 11:13-16:
“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”
1 Peter 2:11:
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts.”
So when they heard about the New Jerusalem and God dwelling with His people, they understood: “This is the ultimate fulfillment of Sukkot! We’ve been living in temporary shelters—as exiles in Babylon, then as exiles under Rome. But the wandering will end. The exile will end. God will dwell with us permanently. We’re finally going home!”
The Contrast with SCJ’s Interpretation:
SCJ’s approach:
- Takes Genesis 37:9-11 (Joseph’s specific dream about his specific family)
- Makes it a universal interpretive key for all uses of sun/moon/stars
- Applies it to modern Christian leaders “going dark”
- Claims traditional Christianity is the fallen sun/moon/stars
- Positions SCJ as the light that remains
- Completely ignores how first-century Christians would have understood this imagery through their Exile experience, their festivals, and their lived reality under Rome
First-century approach:
- Recognized this as standard prophetic language for the fall of nations/systems
- Understood it through the Exile pattern they celebrated every year
- Applied it to their own situation: the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD
- Saw it as the end of the old covenant system and vindication of Jesus
- Knew they were living through the transition from old to new
- Didn’t need a special decoder—this was their native language
Putting It All Together: When First-Century Christians Heard…
“The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky” (Matthew 24:29)
What they immediately thought:
- Passover memory: The plagues on Egypt before deliverance
- Isaiah 13: The language used when Babylon fell
- Ezekiel 32: The language used when Egypt fell
- Joel 2: The Day of the Lord bringing judgment and deliverance
- Their current reality: The Temple system and Jerusalem are about to fall (70 AD)
- The pattern: God judges the oppressor and delivers His people
This wasn’t code. This was their story—past (Egypt, Babylon), and present (Rome). The old order was passing away. Jesus was vindicated. The new covenant was fully established.
“He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect” (Matthew 24:31)
What they immediately thought:
- Feast of Trumpets: Every year they heard the shofar announcing God’s kingship and deliverance
- Isaiah 27:13: The trumpet gathering the exiles home
- Their hope: God will gather His people from all nations into His kingdom
- The pattern: Exile ends, restoration comes, God’s people are gathered
This wasn’t mysterious. This was Feast of Trumpets imagery—God acting in history to judge the wicked and deliver His people.
The Dangerous Assumption:
By claiming sun/moon/stars = Christian leaders who “went dark,” SCJ:
- Dismisses traditional Christianity as fallen and dark
- Positions themselves as the light that remains
- Creates an us vs. them mentality
- Ignores that Jesus promised His church would endure (Matthew 16:18)
- Most importantly: Completely misses how first-century Christians understood this imagery
Matthew 16:18:
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Jesus promised His church would not be overcome. Yes, there are false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), but the global church—the body of Christ—endures.
The Shincheonji Problem Becomes Even Clearer:
If Matthew 24 and Revelation were sealed books that couldn’t be understood until Chairman Lee Man-hee explained them in 1984, then:
Why did God give first-century Christians imagery they couldn’t understand—especially when:
- They were living through persecution and exile under Rome?
- The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and they desperately needed hope?
- They celebrated festivals every year that used the same apocalyptic imagery?
- They knew the Exile prophets intimately and recognized the patterns?
Why did He wait 1,900 years to explain it—leaving generations of suffering Christians without understanding?
Why did He use apocalyptic imagery that first-century Christians recognized from their Exile prophets and festivals, if the book wasn’t actually about their situation?
Why did John say “the time is near” (Revelation 1:3) if the fulfillment was 1,900 years away in Korea?
Why did Jesus promise the Holy Spirit would guide believers into all truth (John 16:13), if they actually needed a special person 2,000 years later?
The answer is clear: Jesus’ apocalyptic language in Matthew 24 and John’s imagery in Revelation were meant to be understood by first-century Christians using:
- The apocalyptic language and patterns they knew from their Scriptures
- The Exile story they celebrated in their festivals every year
- Their lived experience under Roman persecution and the Temple’s destruction in 70 AD
- The pattern of God’s faithfulness: He delivered from Egypt, from Babylon, and He would deliver from Rome
Conclusion: Reading Like They Read
When we read Matthew 24 and Revelation the way first-century Christians would have read them:
✅ With the Exile story in mind (judgment, exile, restoration—from Babylon and now from Rome)
✅ With their lived experience (persecution under Rome, Temple destroyed in 70 AD, scattered in exile)
✅ With the festivals fresh in memory (Passover, Purim, Trumpets, Yom Kippur, Sukkot—celebrated annually)
✅ With the apocalyptic imagery of the Exile prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel)
✅ With the pattern of God’s faithfulness (He delivered from Egypt, from Babylon, and He’ll deliver from Rome)
✅ With eyes on Jesus (the Lamb, the High Priest, the King, the final Temple)
Then the “darkening of sun, moon, and stars” makes sense. It’s not about Christian leaders in the 20th century “going dark.” It’s prophetic language describing:
- The fall of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD
- The end of the old covenant system
- The vindication of Jesus as the true King
- The transition from old to new that first-century Christians were living through
This wasn’t code that needed decoding. This was their native language—and their current reality.
As Chapter 26, Part 10 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” concludes:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” — Revelation 2:7
The Spirit was speaking to the churches—the first-century churches living through persecution, exile, and the Temple’s destruction. And they understood, because they knew their Scriptures, celebrated their festivals, and trusted the same faithful God who brought their ancestors home from Babylon.
Part 5: The Trumpet = A Person
What SCJ Says:
“Does anyone remember what a trumpet means? A person.”
Using Isaiah 58:1:
“‘Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.'”
The instructor explains:
“So the prophet Isaiah is told, shout it aloud. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people two things. Declare to my people their rebellion and their sins.”
“So if you remember the meaning of a trumpet sound, the trumpet sound is the word that declares. Declares two things: 1. It declares rebellion. 2. It declares sins. So that the people can repent.”
Then comes the application:
“Jesus is in what form today? Spirit. Jesus’ angels are in what form? Spirit. How do spirits work? Through flesh. They work through flesh. Flesh that could be named Evangelist Mary or Evangelist Jon or Evangelist David… Those who have received the open word, as those who are already on Mount Zion, our job is to make sure that we guide as many people there as we can.”
The Two Lenses Analysis:
What’s Biblical:
- Prophets were called to speak God’s word (Isaiah 58:1)
- God’s word calls people to repentance (Jonah 3:4-10)
- Believers are called to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20)
- The Holy Spirit works through believers (Acts 1:8)
What’s Uniquely SCJ:
- The equation: trumpet = person (specifically SCJ members)
- The implication that SCJ members are the “trumpet” for today
- The claim that they are “already on Mount Zion”
- The framework that their job is to bring people to SCJ
- The suggestion that spirits “must” work through flesh (implying organizational necessity)
Biblical Refutation:
Is a trumpet always a person?
Let’s look at how “trumpet” is used in eschatological passages:
1 Corinthians 15:52:
“In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
Is this a person? Or is it God’s signal for resurrection?
1 Thessalonians 4:16:
“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.”
“The trumpet call of God” – This is God’s trumpet, not a human person.
Revelation 8-11: Seven angels blow seven trumpets, bringing judgments. These are literal angels in the vision, not human evangelists.
Yes, Isaiah 58:1 uses “trumpet” metaphorically for the prophet’s voice. But to claim that every use of “trumpet” in eschatological passages means “a person speaking” is to:
- Ignore context of each passage
- Force a uniform meaning where Scripture doesn’t require it
- Apply it to themselves without biblical warrant
How First-Century Christians Understood Trumpets:
As we saw in Part 4, first-century Christians celebrated the Feast of Trumpets every year. They understood trumpets as:
God’s signal for action:
- At Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16, 19) – When God gave the Law
- At Jericho (Joshua 6:4-5) – When God gave victory
- Warning of judgment (Joel 2:1)
- Gathering the exiles (Isaiah 27:13)
When they heard about “the last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 or the “trumpet call” in Matthew 24:31, they thought:
“This is God’s signal—like the shofar at the Feast of Trumpets—announcing His final action: resurrection, judgment, gathering His people. This is God’s trumpet, not a human teacher.”
The “Already on Mount Zion” Claim:
SCJ members claim they are “already on Mount Zion.”
But Hebrews 12:22-24 says:
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.”
All believers have come to Mount Zion through faith in Christ. This isn’t exclusive to one organization.
The “Spirits Work Through Flesh” Claim:
Yes, the Holy Spirit works through believers. But notice the difference:
Biblical teaching:
- The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (Romans 8:9)
- All believers can share the gospel (Acts 8:4)
- The Spirit distributes gifts to each believer (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
SCJ’s implication:
- Spirits work through specific people (SCJ members)
- You must be part of their organization to be used by God
- They have exclusive access to God’s current work
This creates organizational gatekeeping that contradicts the priesthood of all believers.
1 Peter 2:9:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
All believers are priests. All believers can declare God’s praises. Not just one organization.
Part 6: The Gathering = Recruitment
What SCJ Says:
The lesson lists various names for “the gathering of the elect”:
- Harvest
- Sealing
- Fleeing to the mountains
- Coming out of Babylon
- Being purchased
- Being caught in the net and placed in the basket
The implicit message: All of these = joining SCJ.
The Two Lenses Analysis:
What’s Biblical:
- These are legitimate biblical concepts
- They appear in different contexts with different meanings
- Some are about salvation, some about judgment, some about sanctification
What’s Uniquely SCJ:
- The claim that they all refer to the same event
- The application of all of them to joining their organization
- The reduction of diverse biblical imagery to recruitment
- The urgency created: “This is happening now; join us”
Biblical Refutation:
Let’s examine each concept in its proper context:
1. HARVEST:
Matthew 13:39-43:
“The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
The harvest is the final judgment at the end of the age, carried out by angels, not organizational recruitment.
2. SEALING:
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.”
Sealing is the Holy Spirit given to all believers at salvation, not joining an organization.
3. FLEEING TO THE MOUNTAINS:
Matthew 24:15-16:
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
This was a warning about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, fulfilled historically. Early Christians fled Jerusalem before the Roman siege, saving their lives.
4. COMING OUT OF BABYLON:
Revelation 18:4:
“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.”
This is about separation from false religion and worldliness, not about joining one specific organization.
2 Corinthians 6:17:
“Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'”
This is about holiness, not organizational membership.
How first-century Christians understood “Babylon”:
As Chapter 26, Part 10 explains, first-century Christians immediately recognized “Babylon” as Rome—the oppressive empire persecuting them, just like historical Babylon oppressed their ancestors.
1 Peter 5:13:
“She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.”
Peter was writing from Rome, which he called “Babylon” because it was the new oppressive empire.
When they heard “Come out of Babylon” in Revelation 18, they understood: “Don’t participate in Rome’s idolatry and persecution. Remain faithful to Christ even under pressure. God will judge Rome just like He judged historical Babylon.”
They weren’t thinking: “I need to join a specific organization.” They were thinking: “I need to remain faithful to Christ and separate from the Roman system of idolatry and persecution.”
5. BEING PURCHASED:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
We were purchased by Christ’s blood at the cross, not at a second coming event through an organization.
1 Peter 1:18-19:
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
Past tense: “you were redeemed.” This already happened.
How first-century Christians understood “being purchased”:
Every year at Passover, they remembered:
- The lamb whose blood saved Israel from death in Egypt
- Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)
- They were purchased/redeemed by His blood
When they heard about being “purchased” in Revelation, they thought: “This is Passover imagery! Jesus is our Passover Lamb who purchased us with His blood. We’ve been redeemed from slavery to sin, just like Israel was redeemed from slavery in Egypt.”
They weren’t thinking: “I’ll be purchased at a future event if I join the right organization.” They were thinking: “I’ve already been purchased by Jesus’ blood. I’m free!”
6. CAUGHT IN THE NET:
Matthew 13:47-50:
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This is about final judgment, not recruitment.
The Pattern:
SCJ takes diverse biblical concepts and forces them all to mean one thing: Join our organization.
This is what Chapter 9 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” calls “The Harvesting Metaphor”—using eschatological imagery to create urgency for organizational recruitment.
But when we understand how first-century Christians understood these concepts through their:
- Exile experience (living under Rome, Temple destroyed)
- Festival celebrations (Passover, Purim, Trumpets, Yom Kippur, Sukkot)
- Prophetic imagery (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel)
- Lived reality (persecution, exile, waiting for deliverance)
We see that these weren’t about joining an organization. They were about:
- Remaining faithful to Christ under persecution
- Separating from idolatry and false religion
- Trusting in Jesus’ finished work on the cross
- Waiting for His visible return and final deliverance
Part 7: The Psychological Framework – Creating Urgency and Dependency
Techniques Used in Lesson 88:
As analyzed through “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”:
- Emotional manipulation (Chapter 11) – “Think about what God lost”
- Guilt induction – “We crucified Jesus”
- Fear creation – “Satan wants you to disbelieve”
- False dichotomy (Chapter 6) – Either you’re “on the mountain” (SCJ) or you’re lost
- Urgency creation (Chapter 9) – “The trumpet is sounding now”
- Organizational necessity (Chapter 8) – “You must be on the mountain to be saved”
- Exclusive knowledge (Chapter 13) – “We understand what the trumpet means”
- Persecution pre-framing (Chapter 11) – Criticism = what happened to Jesus
The Cumulative Effect:
By the end of this lesson, students have been conditioned to believe:
- The second coming events are happening now through SCJ
- They must “gather on the mountain” (join/stay in SCJ)
- Sinlessness is possible for those in the right organization
- They are the “trumpet” bringing people to salvation
- Leaving or questioning = making Jesus’ blood ineffective
- All eschatological imagery points to SCJ
This creates:
- Spiritual anxiety – “Am I on the mountain?”
- Urgency – “I must bring others”
- Dependency – “I can’t leave or I’ll lose salvation”
- Superiority – “We’re already on Mount Zion”
- Isolation – “Other Christians are the ‘darkened sun/moon/stars'”
The Contrast with How First-Century Christians Understood:
SCJ’s approach:
- Creates anxiety and urgency
- Makes everything about organizational membership
- Positions themselves as the exclusive fulfillment
- Requires special knowledge to understand
- Ignores historical context
First-century approach:
- Found hope and comfort in familiar imagery
- Understood through their Scriptures and festivals
- Applied to their current situation (Rome, Temple destruction)
- Recognized the patterns from their history (Exile, deliverance)
- Trusted in Jesus’ finished work and visible return
Part 8: Testing the Claims – Questions to Ask
As Chapter 27 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” emphasizes, “Your Investigation Begins” with asking good questions:
About the Two-Stage Atonement:
- If Jesus said “It is finished” (John 19:30), what more needs to be accomplished?
- If “by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14), how is there a second stage?
- If we “have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), why do we need a second coming event for full holiness?
About the Gathering:
- If “the Lord himself will come down from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), why is the gathering organizational rather than physical?
- If “all the peoples of the earth will see the Son of Man coming” (Matthew 24:30), how can this be a secret organizational event?
- If the trumpet brings resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52), how can it be teaching/recruitment?
About the Mountain:
- If all believers “have come to Mount Zion” (Hebrews 12:22), how is it exclusive to one organization?
- If Jesus said “where two or three gather in my name, there am I” (Matthew 18:20), why must we be on one specific “mountain”?
- If the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20), how can one modern organization claim to be the exclusive mountain?
About Sinlessness:
- If “there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20), how can SCJ members be sinless?
- If “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2), how does organizational membership change this?
- If sinlessness comes when “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2), why claim it’s available now?
About Understanding Apocalyptic Imagery:
- If first-century Christians celebrated festivals every year that used the same apocalyptic imagery, why would God give them a book they couldn’t understand?
- If they were living through the Temple’s destruction in 70 AD and desperately needed hope, why would the imagery be about events 1,900 years later?
- If John said “the time is near” (Revelation 1:3), how can the fulfillment be 2,000 years away?
Part 9: The Heart of the Gospel – Visible vs. Secret
What SCJ Presents:
A second coming that:
- Is happening now through their organization
- Involves “spiritual” gathering rather than physical
- Requires joining the right group to participate
- Brings sinlessness to those “on the mountain”
- Is missed by most Christians
What Scripture Presents:
A VISIBLE, UNDENIABLE RETURN:
Matthew 24:27:
“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Revelation 1:7:
“‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen.”
Acts 1:11:
“‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'”
A PHYSICAL RESURRECTION:
1 Corinthians 15:51-53:
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
John 5:28-29:
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
A COSMIC RENEWAL:
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.”
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.'”
These things haven’t happened yet.
Conclusion: The Sufficiency of Christ’s Return
Lesson 88 takes beautiful biblical truth about Christ’s return and subtly redirects it toward organizational recruitment:
SCJ’s Framework:
- The trumpet = their teaching
- The gathering = joining their organization
- The mountain = their structure
- Sinlessness = available now through them
- The second coming = happening now through their group
- Apocalyptic imagery = needs special decoder (Lee Man-hee)
The Biblical Framework:
- The trumpet = God’s signal for resurrection
- The gathering = Christ physically returning to gather believers
- The mountain = God’s kingdom, accessible to all through Christ
- Sinlessness = comes at glorification when we see Christ
- The second coming = a future, visible, undeniable event
- Apocalyptic imagery = understood by first-century Christians through their Scriptures, festivals, and lived experience
How First-Century Christians Understood:
As Chapter 26, Part 10 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” beautifully explains:
When first-century Christians heard about:
- A Lamb standing as though slain → They thought: “Passover! Jesus is our Passover Lamb!”
- Seven trumpets → They thought: “Feast of Trumpets! God is acting in judgment and deliverance!”
- Babylon has fallen → They thought: “Rome! God will judge Rome just like He judged historical Babylon!”
- A new heaven and new earth → They thought: “Isaiah 65! The ultimate Sukkot! We’re finally going home!”
This wasn’t code. This was their story—past (Egypt, Babylon), and present (Rome). They were living through the pattern their ancestors experienced, and they trusted the same faithful God who delivered before would deliver again.
As Chapter 22 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” reminds us, “When Satan Tried to Hijack God’s Plan (And Failed Every Time)”—God’s plan of redemption and Christ’s return cannot be reduced to organizational membership.
Titus 2:11-14:
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of Jesus Christ. Not the appearing of an organization. Not a secret spiritual gathering. Jesus Himself.
For Those Studying with SCJ:
If you’re being taught that:
- The trumpet is sounding now through SCJ’s teaching
- You must “gather on the mountain” (join SCJ) to be saved
- Sinlessness is available now through their organization
- The second coming is happening secretly through their group
- You need special knowledge to understand apocalyptic imagery
Please consider:
- Jesus’ return will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7) – Not secret or organizational
- The trumpet brings physical resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52) – Not recruitment
- All believers have come to Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22) – Not just one group
- Sinlessness comes when we see Christ (1 John 3:2) – Not through organizational membership
- First-century Christians understood apocalyptic imagery through their Scriptures and festivals – They didn’t need a special decoder 1,900 years later
- Test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21) – Including teachings that create urgency for joining
You don’t need to be “on the mountain” (in SCJ) to be saved. You need Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:17:
“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.”
To meet the Lord. Not to meet on a spiritual mountain. The Lord Himself.
For Family and Friends:
If someone you love is being taught that they must “gather on the mountain” (join SCJ):
- Gently remind them that Christ’s return will be visible (Acts 1:11)
- Ask questions about how organizational membership relates to physical resurrection
- Emphasize that all believers are already part of God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13)
- Share the hope of Christ’s visible return (Titus 2:13)
- Explain how first-century Christians understood apocalyptic imagery through their context
- Pray for discernment and truth to be revealed
Chapter 28 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” provides detailed guidance for “Hope and Help – Guidance for Members, Families, Christians, and Pastors.”
Additional Resources:
For more detailed refutation of SCJ teaching on:
- The second coming and eschatology
- The trumpet and the gathering
- The resurrection
- How first-century Christians understood Revelation
- Organizational claims to exclusivity
Visit: https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
The Shincheonji Examination section provides comprehensive resources for understanding and responding to Shincheonji’s teachings.
Final Thoughts:
The second coming of Christ is our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). It’s not about joining an organization. It’s not about being in the right place at the right time. It’s about Jesus Himself returning.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11:
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
Not: “Whether we’re in the right organization.”
Him. Jesus. That’s our hope.
Appendix: The First-Century Context – Why This Matters
Understanding how first-century Christians read Matthew 24 and Revelation completely dismantles SCJ’s interpretive framework. Let me show you why this is so important:
The Question Every SCJ Student Should Ask:
“If Revelation was sealed until Lee Man-hee explained it in 1984, what was its purpose for first-century Christians who were being tortured, burned alive, fed to lions, and scattered across the Roman Empire?”
Did God give them a book that said, “Here’s hope for you… but you won’t understand it for 1,900 years”?
That makes no sense—unless we understand that they DID understand it, using the tools they already had:
Tool #1: The Exile Story (Their National Identity)
The Pattern They Knew:
- Oppression under foreign empire (Egypt, Babylon)
- God’s judgment on the oppressor (plagues, Babylon’s fall)
- Deliverance of God’s people (Exodus, return from exile)
- Restoration and dwelling with God (Promised Land, rebuilt Temple)
Their Current Reality:
- Oppression under Rome (persecution, economic pressure, emperor worship)
- Waiting for God’s judgment on Rome (the “new Babylon”)
- Hope for deliverance (Christ’s return)
- Promise of restoration (new heaven and new earth)
When they read Revelation, they thought: “This is the Exile pattern again! God judged Egypt and Babylon. He’ll judge Rome too. We’re in exile now, but deliverance is coming!”
Tool #2: The Festivals (Their Annual Rehearsal)
Every single year, they celebrated:
Passover – Remembering deliverance through blood
- When they read about the Lamb’s blood (Rev 5:6, 7:14), they thought: “This is Passover! Jesus is our Passover Lamb delivering us from Rome’s persecution!”
Purim – Remembering protection in exile and enemies defeated
- When they read about the dragon defeated (Rev 12, 20), they thought: “This is like Purim! God protected Esther’s generation in exile. He’ll protect us and defeat our enemies!”
Feast of Trumpets – Remembering God’s judgment and kingship
- When they read about seven trumpets (Rev 8-11), they thought: “This is Feast of Trumpets imagery! God is announcing judgment on Rome and His kingdom coming!”
Day of Atonement – Remembering access to God through blood
- When they read about access to God’s throne (Rev 7:9-17), they thought: “This is Day of Atonement fulfilled! Jesus’ blood gives us permanent access to God!”
Feast of Tabernacles – Remembering temporary dwelling, waiting for permanent home
- When they read about God dwelling with His people (Rev 21:3), they thought: “This is ultimate Sukkot! No more temporary shelters! No more exile! We’re finally home!”
Tool #3: The Prophets (Their Familiar Language)
They heard Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel read aloud every Sabbath. They knew the apocalyptic language:
When Isaiah described Babylon’s fall:
“The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.” (Isaiah 13:10)
They understood: This is poetic language for the fall of a great empire.
When Jesus used the same language in Matthew 24:29:
“The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky.”
They immediately recognized: This is the same prophetic language! Jesus is describing the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple system—which happened in 70 AD!
When John used similar language in Revelation:
“The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth.” (Rev 6:12-13)
They understood: This is apocalyptic language describing God’s judgment on Rome and the old covenant system. We’ve heard this language our whole lives!
Tool #4: Their Lived Experience (70 AD)
Here’s what makes this even more powerful: Many first-century Christians witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.
The Jewish-Roman War (66-70 AD):
- Lasted approximately 42 months (the same period mentioned in Rev 11:2, 13:5)
- Jerusalem was besieged, starved, and destroyed
- The Temple was burned (just like in 586 BC under Babylon)
- Over 1 million Jews died
- The survivors were scattered into exile
For Christians who witnessed this, Revelation wasn’t mysterious:
When they read about:
- “The holy city will be trampled on by the Gentiles for 42 months” (Rev 11:2)
- They thought: “We just lived through this! The Romans trampled Jerusalem for 42 months during the war!”
- “Babylon the great has fallen” (Rev 18:2)
- They thought: “This is about Rome! Just like historical Babylon destroyed the first Temple, Rome destroyed the second Temple. And just like God judged Babylon, He’ll judge Rome!”
- “Come out of her, my people” (Rev 18:4)
- They thought: “Jesus warned us to flee Jerusalem before the destruction (Matthew 24:16). We did! We came out before the judgment fell!”
- “I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev 21:1)
- They thought: “The old covenant system is gone—the Temple destroyed, the sacrifices ended. The new covenant is fully established. We’re living in the new creation age!”
The Devastating Problem for SCJ:
If we understand that first-century Christians could and did understand Revelation using:
- Their knowledge of the Exile story
- Their annual festival celebrations
- Their familiarity with prophetic language
- Their lived experience of the Temple’s destruction
Then SCJ’s entire framework collapses:
SCJ claims:
- Revelation was sealed until 1984
- Only Lee Man-hee can explain it
- It’s about events in Korea
- You need special knowledge to understand
But if first-century Christians understood it:
- It wasn’t sealed—it was meant for them
- They didn’t need a special decoder—they had the tools
- It was about their situation—Rome, persecution, Temple destruction
- The “special knowledge” was their own Scriptures and festivals
The Question That Exposes Everything:
Ask any SCJ instructor:
“If first-century Christians celebrated Passover every year, remembering deliverance through the blood of a lamb, and they read Revelation 5:6 about ‘a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain’—would they have understood this as Jesus, their Passover Lamb? Or would they have been confused and needed to wait 1,900 years for someone to explain it?”
The answer is obvious: They would have immediately understood! This was their native language!
“If first-century Christians celebrated the Feast of Trumpets every year, hearing the shofar announce God’s judgment and kingship, and they read Revelation 8-11 about seven trumpets bringing judgment—would they have understood this as God judging Rome? Or would they have been confused?”
The answer is obvious: They would have immediately understood! This was their annual celebration!
“If first-century Christians were living under Roman persecution, the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and they read Revelation 18 about ‘Babylon the great’ falling—would they have understood this as Rome? Or would they have thought it was about Korea in 1984?”
The answer is obvious: They would have understood it as Rome—the empire persecuting them, the empire that destroyed their Temple, the “new Babylon”!
Why This Matters for You:
If you’re studying with SCJ, understanding how first-century Christians read Revelation changes everything:
You don’t need SCJ to understand the Bible.
You don’t need Lee Man-hee to decode Revelation.
You don’t need to join their organization to be saved.
The Bible was written to be understood by ordinary believers who:
- Read their Scriptures
- Celebrate God’s faithfulness
- Trust in Jesus’ finished work
- Wait for His visible return
That’s you. You can understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit is your teacher.
1 John 2:27:
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
A Final Word: The Beauty of the True Gospel
The true gospel is so much more beautiful than SCJ’s version:
SCJ’s gospel:
- Complicated (requires special knowledge)
- Exclusive (only available through their organization)
- Anxious (am I doing enough? am I in the right place?)
- Conditional (salvation depends on organizational membership)
- Incomplete (Jesus’ work needs finishing)
The biblical gospel:
- Simple (believe in Jesus)
- Universal (available to all who believe)
- Peaceful (Jesus’ work is finished)
- Unconditional (salvation by grace through faith)
- Complete (Jesus said “It is finished”)
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.”
John 6:28-29:
“Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'”
Romans 10:9-13:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
That’s the gospel. Simple. Beautiful. Complete.
An Invitation:
If you’re reading this and you’ve been studying with SCJ, feeling the weight of their requirements, the anxiety of “am I on the mountain?”, the pressure to recruit, the fear of leaving—
There’s freedom in Jesus.
Not in an organization. In Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus’ yoke is easy. His burden is light.
If you’re carrying the heavy burden of SCJ’s requirements—memorization, recruitment, attendance, proving yourself, being “on the mountain”—
That’s not from Jesus.
Come to Him. Just Him.
He is enough.
“Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” – Available for those seeking to understand and respond to SCJ teaching with truth, love, and biblical clarity.
For more resources, detailed analysis, and help for those leaving SCJ:
https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” — Revelation 2:7
The Spirit spoke to the first-century churches. They heard. They understood. They were comforted.
And the Spirit speaks to you today—not through organizational gatekeepers, but directly, through His Word, by His grace.
Listen to Him.
Trust Him.
He is faithful.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. — 2 Corinthians 13:14
Outline
Understanding the Sound of the Seventh Trumpet: A Detailed Table of Contents
I. Introduction and Background (Opening remarks – Introduction)
- Opening Remarks: Expresses gratitude for the audience’s dedication to studying the word of God and sets the stage for a discussion about inheriting the kingdom of heaven.
- Introduction: This section introduces the central theme – the sound of the seventh trumpet – and connects it to the concepts of God’s victory, the resurrection, and eternal life. It provides a scriptural foundation using Matthew 24:29-31, emphasizing the symbolic nature of celestial events and the gathering of the elect.
II. The Symbolic Nature of the Trumpet and Its Message (Reminder – Trumpet Sound at the Time of the Second Coming)
- Reminder: Briefly reviews key points from a previous lesson, emphasizing the Old Covenant as a shadow pointing to Jesus, the atoning power of His blood, and the promise of freedom from sin at the Second Coming.
- The Trumpet: Explores the symbolic meaning of the trumpet as representing a person appointed by God to declare rebellion and sin, prompting repentance. This is illustrated through the examples of Isaiah and Jonah.
- Trumpet Sound at the Time of the Second Coming: Analyzes the seven trumpets of Revelation, highlighting the difference between the first six trumpets (announcing the destruction of the chosen people due to their sin) and the seventh trumpet (proclaiming salvation through God’s victory).
III. The Mystery of God and the Seventh Trumpet (Sound of the 7th Trumpet – Quick Review)
- Sound of the 7th Trumpet: Examines Revelation 10:7 and Revelation 11:15, focusing on the accomplishment of God’s mystery (salvation) and God’s reign commencing at the sound of the seventh trumpet. It also explores 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, where Paul describes the transformation of the perishable into the imperishable at the last (seventh) trumpet, resulting in eternal life.
- Quick Review: Clarifies the distinction between the “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15 and the seven trumpets revealed in Revelation, highlighting the importance of understanding prophecy and its fulfillment. It also reiterates the symbolic nature of the sun, moon, and stars falling from the sky, representing the fall of spiritual Israel.
IV. Participants in the First Resurrection and the Concept of the Second Death (Who Changes – Reminder)
- Who Changes: Identifies three groups of people in Revelation 20:4-6: 1) the twelve disciples and martyrs, 2) those alive today who resist the beast and its mark, and 3) the rest of the dead who return at the end of the thousand years. This section explains the concept of the second death (judgment) and its absence for those participating in the first resurrection.
- Reminder: Reinforces the point that the first resurrection includes both those martyred for their faith and those alive today who remain faithful. It emphasizes the union of spirits and flesh on Mount Zion as the Wedding of the Lamb (Revelation 19) and the First Resurrection (Revelation 20).
V. Unraveling the Three Mysteries of Revelation (Three Mysteries of Revelation and Order of Emergence – SUMMARY)
- Three Mysteries of Revelation and Order of Emergence: Analyzes the three mysteries of Revelation, connecting them to the sequence of events in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (rebellion, revelation of the man of lawlessness, and the day of the Lord).
- Mystery of Betrayal: Focuses on Revelation 1:20, where the seven stars and seven golden lampstands represent the mystery of betrayal (rebellion).
- Mystery of Destruction: Explores Revelation 17:5,7, highlighting the mystery of destruction embodied in the prostitute, the beast, and Babylon.
- Mystery of Salvation: Examines Revelation 10:7, linking the mystery of salvation to the seventh trumpet and the role of John as the seventh trumpet.
- SUMMARY: Recapitulates the three mysteries and emphasizes the ongoing nature of the seventh trumpet sound as the testimony of fulfillment, urging immediate action and gathering for the harvest. It also touches on the importance of caring for oneself to witness these events.
VI. Application and Call to Action (Video)
- Video: Uses the analogy of snakes preying on inexperienced iguana hatchlings to illustrate Satan’s focus on targeting new Christians. This section reinforces the importance of understanding the word of God, recognizing the enemy’s tactics, and persevering in faith. It encourages listeners to prepare for an upcoming test, emphasizing the need to seal God’s word in their hearts and minds.
A Study Guide
Revelation Study Guide: The Sound of the Last, Seventh Trumpet
Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- What is the symbolic meaning of the sun, moon, and stars darkening and falling in Matthew 24:29-31?
- Explain how the trumpet is a parable and what it represents.
- What is the difference between the message of the first six trumpets and the message of the seventh trumpet in Revelation?
- What does it mean when 1 Corinthians 15:52 refers to the “last trumpet”?
- According to Revelation 20:4-6, who are the two groups of people who participate in the first resurrection?
- What is the second death, and how does it relate to the first resurrection?
- Explain what is meant by the “mystery of God” in Revelation 10:7.
- What are the three mysteries of Revelation and their connection to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3?
- Why are the betrayers, destroyers, and seventh trumpet considered “mysteries” in Revelation?
- According to the lesson, what should our response be to the sounding of the seventh trumpet?
Quiz Answer Key
- The darkening and falling of the sun, moon, and stars in Matthew 24:29-31 symbolize the fall of spiritual Israel. These celestial bodies represent the chosen people losing their position of authority at the time of the second coming.
- The trumpet is a parable because it uses a physical object to represent a spiritual concept. It represents a person, specifically a prophet or messenger, who speaks God’s word and declares His message to the people. Isaiah 58:1 illustrates this by comparing the prophet’s voice to a trumpet.
- The first six trumpets in Revelation announce the sin, rebellion, sacrifice, and destruction of the chosen people by the destroyers. The seventh trumpet, however, proclaims salvation through God’s victory and the beginning of eternal life.
- The phrase “last trumpet” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 signifies the final trumpet in a series. By comparing this verse with Revelation, we understand that there are seven trumpets in total, making the “last trumpet” the seventh one.
- The two groups who participate in the first resurrection, according to Revelation 20:4-6, are the 12 disciples and the souls of the martyrs, who died for their faith in the early Church, and those alive today who have not worshipped the beast or received his mark.
- The second death refers to the final judgment and eternal separation from God in the lake of fire, as described in Revelation 20:14. Those who participate in the first resurrection are promised victory over the second death, meaning they will not face judgment or condemnation.
- The “mystery of God” in Revelation 10:7 refers to the mystery of salvation. This mystery is accomplished when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, marking the fulfillment of God’s plan for redemption and the beginning of eternal life for believers.
- The three mysteries of Revelation are the mystery of betrayal (the seven stars), the mystery of destruction (the prostitute, the beast, and Babylon), and the mystery of salvation (the seventh trumpet). They connect to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 because this passage outlines a similar order of events: rebellion, the revelation of the man of lawlessness, and the day of the Lord (salvation).
- The betrayers, destroyers, and seventh trumpet are considered “mysteries” in Revelation because they did not fully comprehend their own identities and roles in God’s plan. They acted without complete understanding, and their actions ultimately contributed to the fulfillment of prophecy.
- Our response to the sounding of the seventh trumpet should be to heed its call to gather, which signifies joining the harvest, the wedding banquet, and escaping destruction. We must recognize that this is not a future event, but a present reality unfolding, and we must act now to align ourselves with God’s will.
Essay Questions
1. What is a trumpet, trumpeter, and trumpet sound?
– Trumpet = Flesh / Person
– Trumpeter = Angel
– Trumpet Sound = Word that declares
2. How many trumpets are in Revelation and what’s their difference?
7 trumpets
– 4 in Revelation 8 and 2 in Revelation 9: Sacrifice of the chosen people by destroyers
– Last in Rev 11:15: Salvation through victory by God
3. What is the sound of the 7th trumpet?
– Sound announcing salvation Mystery of God is accomplished
4. Who changes at the sound of the 7th trumpet?
Those who participate in the first resurrection
– 12 disciples and the souls of martyrs
– Those who don’t worship the beast, image, number of his name, and receive mark of the beast
5. How many mysteries are in Revelation and order of appearance?
3 mysteries:
– Mystery of betrayal (revelion) Rev 1:20
– Mystery of destruction, Rev 17:7
– Mystery of the 7th trumpet / Salvation Rev 10:7
Glossary
- Atonement: The reconciliation between God and humanity through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
- Beast: A symbolic figure in Revelation representing evil, often associated with the Roman Empire and its persecution of Christians.
- First Resurrection: The resurrection of believers at the second coming of Christ, marking the beginning of eternal life.
- Mystery of God: The hidden plan of God for salvation, revealed through the events of Revelation.
- Prostitute (Babylon): A symbolic figure in Revelation representing a corrupt and apostate religious system.
- Second Coming: The future return of Jesus Christ to Earth to establish his kingdom and judge the world.
- Second Death: The final judgment and eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.
- Seventh Trumpet: The final trumpet in Revelation, announcing the fulfillment of God’s mystery of salvation and the beginning of eternal life.
- Spiritual Israel: The true people of God, comprised of believers from all nations, who have been grafted into the covenant through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Tabernacle Temple: A symbolic representation of God’s dwelling place among his people, often associated with the Church.
- Trumpet: A symbol representing a prophet or messenger who declares God’s word.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
It’s important to note that this is a specific theological viewpoint and may not align with all interpretations of the Bible.
Past:
- ~95 AD: The Book of Revelation is written and sealed.
- Time of the First Christians: The twelve disciples and early martyrs die for their faith.
Present (Time of the Speaker):
- The Seventh Seal is Opened: This signifies the beginning of the events described in the Book of Revelation.
- The First Six Trumpets Sound: These trumpets announce the sins and rebellion of the chosen people, leading to their destruction by the “destroyers.”
- The Seventh Trumpet Sounds: This trumpet, embodied by “New John”, announces salvation, God’s victory, and the beginning of the “mystery of God” – the fulfillment of salvation and eternal life.
- The Gathering of the Elect: Those who heed the call of the seventh trumpet are gathered to Mount Zion (a spiritual location). This is compared to a harvest, fleeing to the mountains, coming out of Babylon, being purchased, and being caught in a net.
- The Wedding Banquet of the Lamb: The spirits of the martyrs and the twelve disciples return and are united with the gathered elect in a spiritual union. This is also referred to as the first resurrection.
- Beginning of the 1000-Year Reign: The “mystery of God” is fully realized. Death is overcome, and those gathered on Mount Zion experience eternal life and begin their reign with Christ.
Future:
- End of the 1000-Year Reign: The “rest of the dead” are resurrected and judged.
Cast of Characters
Jesus: The central figure of Christianity. In this interpretation, he has already returned in spirit form and is working through his chosen people to bring about salvation.
The Twelve Disciples: Jesus’ original followers who, according to the prophecy, will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. They are resurrected and join the elect on Mount Zion.
The Martyrs: Early Christians who were killed for their faith. They are resurrected and join the elect on Mount Zion.
The Seven Angels: Angelic beings who each receive a trumpet to announce significant events.
The Seven Trumpets: People chosen by God to speak his word and announce the events of Revelation. The first six trumpets announce the destruction of the chosen people due to their sin and rebellion. The seventh trumpet, “New John,” announces salvation and God’s victory.
The Destroyers: Represented by the beast with seven heads and ten horns (seven pastors and ten authority figures). They are responsible for the destruction of the chosen people who have betrayed their faith.
The Prostitute (Babylon): A symbolic figure representing wickedness and corruption. She rides upon the beast and is part of the “mystery of destruction.”
New John: The speaker believes himself to be the seventh trumpet, tasked with announcing salvation and God’s victory. He believes that he is fulfilling the role of John the Apostle in the Book of Revelation.
Evangelists (Mary, Jon, David, George, Mike, Ana): Individuals who have received the “open word” and are already on Mount Zion. They are actively working to guide others towards salvation.
Instructor Alex: Another individual who has received the “open word” and is working to guide others.
The Elect: Those who hear and heed the call of the seventh trumpet and gather on Mount Zion to experience salvation and eternal life.
The Rest of the Dead: Those who died between the time of the martyrs and the end of the 1000-year reign. They will be resurrected and judged at the end of the 1000 years.
Overview
Overview: The Sound of the Last, Seventh Trumpet
Main Themes:
- The Significance of the Seventh Trumpet: The seventh trumpet in Revelation signifies the culmination of God’s plan, marking His victory, the first resurrection, and the beginning of eternal life.
- Understanding Revelation Figuratively: The events described in Revelation, including the trumpets and celestial phenomena, should be interpreted figuratively, not literally.
- The Mystery of God’s Salvation: The seventh trumpet unveils the mystery of God’s salvation, where the perishable becomes imperishable and death is swallowed up by eternal life.
- Urgent Call to Action: The sound of the seventh trumpet is sounding now, calling believers to gather on Mount Zion (figuratively), embrace the truth, and escape the coming destruction.
- Spiritual Warfare: Believers, especially new Christians, are targets of Satan, who seeks to exploit their inexperience and weakness.
Most Important Ideas and Facts:
- The First Resurrection: This resurrection involves two groups: the martyrs and disciples from the early Christian era and those alive today who resist the beast and his mark.
- The Three Mysteries of Revelation:Mystery of Betrayal: The seven stars (angels of the seven churches) who betrayed God’s word.
- Mystery of Destruction: The beast, the prostitute, and Babylon, representing forces that destroy those who have betrayed.
- Mystery of Salvation: The seventh trumpet, embodying God’s victory and the promise of eternal life.
- The Figurative Nature of Prophecy: Events like the rapture, the harvest, and fleeing to the mountain should be understood figuratively, not literally.
- The Importance of Repentance: The sounding of the first six trumpets highlights the need for repentance from sin and rebellion to avoid destruction.
Key Quotes:
- The Seventh Trumpet: “The seventh trumpet announces salvation through God’s victory.”
- Eternal Life: “Death is swallowed by life, meaning eternal life not just for the spirit, but for the flesh as well.”
- God’s Will: “What is God’s will? No more death. God is done with death. He actually hates it.”
- The Three Groups:“Everyone who died outside of two critical times – the rest of the dead who will return at the end of the thousand years.”
- “Those martyred for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus – early Christians and disciples who died for their faith. They’ll be rewarded by returning with Jesus.”
- “Those who gather on the mountain to welcome them back.”
- The Urgent Call: “This is not a future event, so we don’t have the luxury of time. Today, we must act. Let’s run. The time is now.”
Implications:
- Personal Responsibility: Individuals must actively seek to understand the truth revealed in Revelation and align their actions with God’s will.
- Discernment and Vigilance: Believers need to be discerning and vigilant, recognizing the schemes of Satan and resisting his temptations.
- Hope and Assurance: Revelation provides hope and assurance for believers, promising victory over death and eternal life in God’s kingdom.
Action Items:
- Further study and reflection on the themes and concepts presented in the source.
- Sharing the message of the seventh trumpet with others and encouraging them to seek the truth.
- Living a life of faith and obedience, preparing for the coming of the Lord.
Note: Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information and seek further understanding from diverse theological perspectives.
Q&A
Q&A: The Sound of the Seventh Trumpet
1. What does the seventh trumpet symbolize?
The seventh trumpet in the Book of Revelation symbolizes the announcement of God’s victory and salvation. It marks the transition from the kingdom of the world to the kingdom of God, ushering in an era of eternal life, where death is swallowed up in victory. This trumpet is distinct from the first six trumpets, which announce the destruction of the chosen people due to their sin and rebellion.
2. How is the sounding of the seventh trumpet different from the first six trumpets?
The first six trumpets of Revelation announce the sin, rebellion, sacrifice, and destruction of the chosen people. They act as a warning and call to repentance. The seventh trumpet, however, signifies salvation and the fulfillment of God’s mystery. It marks the beginning of God’s reign and the establishment of his kingdom on earth.
3. Who are the people who will experience the effects of the seventh trumpet?
The seventh trumpet’s effects will be experienced by three groups:
- Group 1: The twelve disciples and the souls of the martyrs who died for their faith in the early Christian era.
- Group 2: Those currently alive who have not worshipped the beast, his image, or received his mark.
- Group 3: The rest of the dead, who will be resurrected at the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ.
4. What is the “mystery of God” mentioned in Revelation 10:7?
The “mystery of God” refers to the mystery of salvation, which is accomplished at the sound of the seventh trumpet. This mystery encompasses the resurrection of the dead, the union of the perishable with the imperishable, and the ultimate victory over death, leading to eternal life.
5. What are the three mysteries of Revelation and in what order do they appear?
The three mysteries of Revelation unfold in a specific order:
- Mystery of Betrayal (Rebellion): Symbolized by the seven stars and seven golden lampstands, this mystery represents the betrayal of the chosen people, who, despite receiving God’s word, ultimately rebelled against him.
- Mystery of Destruction: This mystery is embodied in the beast with seven heads and ten horns, the prostitute, and Babylon. It represents the destruction that befalls the betrayers due to their actions.
- Mystery of Salvation: Revealed at the sound of the seventh trumpet, this mystery marks God’s victory and the establishment of his kingdom, bringing about eternal life and the end of death, mourning, crying, and pain.
6. Is the seventh trumpet sounding now?
Yes, the seventh trumpet is currently sounding. This is evidenced by the fulfillment of the prophecies and the testimony of those who have witnessed these events. The sound is a call to gather, to flee from destruction, and to join the harvest of God’s kingdom.
7. What should we do in response to the sounding of the seventh trumpet?
We should respond to the seventh trumpet’s sound by:
- Heeding the call to gather: This involves separating ourselves from the world’s ways and aligning ourselves with God’s will.
- Fleeing from destruction: This means rejecting falsehood and embracing the truth found in God’s word.
- Joining the harvest: We must actively seek to be part of God’s kingdom by accepting his salvation and living according to his teachings.
8. What does the video of the snakes and iguana hatchlings teach us?
The video of the snakes and iguana hatchlings illustrates the relentless nature of Satan, who, like the snakes, targets those who are most vulnerable – newborn Christians who are inexperienced and lack the strength to resist temptation. It emphasizes the importance of being vigilant, discerning, and rooted in God’s word to withstand the enemy’s attacks.