A Refutation Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

Lesson 125: Rev 17 – The Devil’s Food, The Wine of Adulteries

Viewing Through First-Century Christian, Historical, and Literary Lenses

Introduction: The Final Barrier

Imagine you’re sitting in that classroom, now 12-14 months into your Bible study journey. You’ve learned about parables, Bible logic, the entire book of Revelation. You’ve been told you’re part of the 144,000, that other churches are Babylon, that Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor. You’ve faced opposition from family and friends, but you’ve been taught that’s persecution—confirmation you’re on the right path.

You’re so close now. Just a few more lessons until graduation, until you “pass over” and become officially sealed. You can feel the anticipation in the room. Soon you’ll be part of “new family education,” meeting the leaders of Mount Zion, transitioning from student to full member.

But today’s lesson feels different. There’s an edge to it, an urgency. The instructor’s tone is more serious than usual.

“Before diving into today’s content, there are some important things we need to discuss first. It’s crucial to establish the right mindset and ensure we all have a clear understanding.”

The room quiets. Everyone leans in.

The instructor opens to 1 Corinthians 3 and begins reading about Paul and Apollos. The message is clear: don’t show favoritism to instructors. They’re just vessels, bowls containing the word. What matters is the seed being planted, not who plants it.

Then comes a pointed question: “Are you treating your evangelists with respect? Do you answer their calls? Do you participate in one-to-ones with them?”

You feel a twinge of guilt. You’ve been busy lately, missed a few calls, postponed some meetings. The instructor continues: “They’re trying to water the planted seed, but ultimately, it is God who makes it grow.”

The guilt deepens. Your evangelist has been so patient, so dedicated. You should be more responsive.

Then the instructor moves to 1 Corinthians 4:6: “Do not go beyond what is written.”

“A crucial point,” the instructor emphasizes. “Do not exceed the boundaries of the scriptures. Venturing beyond the scriptures leads one into Satan’s domain.”

You nod. That makes sense. Stay with Scripture. Don’t go beyond it.

But then comes a list that makes you pause:

“In our current time, what lies beyond the scriptures includes:

• The internet
• People’s personal thoughts
• Blogs
• Commentaries
• Articles
• Videos
• Television programs”

The instructor’s voice is firm: “Many people frequently venture beyond what is written, believing they will find truth in these sources. However, this will not lead to truth but instead result in more confusion and maddening wine.”

You’ve been curious lately. You’ve wondered about some of the things you’ve learned. You’ve thought about looking up information online, maybe reading what former members have said, checking out some biblical commentaries to see if Shincheonji’s interpretation aligns with mainstream Christian understanding.

But now you’re being told that doing so would be “venturing beyond the scriptures” and entering “Satan’s domain.” The internet, commentaries, articles—all of it is dangerous, all of it will lead to “confusion and maddening wine.”

The message is clear: Don’t research. Don’t investigate. Don’t consult outside sources. Stay within Shincheonji’s interpretation. Anything else is from Satan.

Then comes the most direct statement you’ve heard yet:

“In this era, during the time of the Second Coming, the word was given to New John. However, following New John should not be based on his speaking style, appearance, nationality, or his military service in the Korean War. The sole reason to follow New John is because the word is present with him.”

There it is. Explicit. Clear. You should follow Lee Man-hee—not because of who he is as a person, but because “the word is present with him.”

The lesson continues into Revelation 17, explaining about the devil’s food (the wine of adulteries from Babylon) versus God’s food (the hidden manna, the opened scroll, Shincheonji’s teaching). The contrast is stark: Satan’s food leads to confusion and death; God’s food leads to understanding and life.

You’re told about “Wash Day”—Sundays and Wednesdays at Mount Zion, where you’ll be “washed by the water of God’s word” and “the sea of glass.” In-person attendance is strongly encouraged because it “eliminates distractions” and “helps maintain focus.”

The instructor explains the timeline: 1984-1990, seven years of the seven bowls of wrath being poured out on the betrayed Tabernacle Temple. Then in 1990, the first Bible Center opened, and people could finally learn the open word. Everything fits together so neatly.

As the lesson ends, you’re told about what comes next: new family education, meeting the leaders, becoming part of the organizational structure. It’s exciting, but also overwhelming.

But something nags at you. The instruction not to research—doesn’t that seem like they’re afraid of what you might find? And the explicit instruction to follow Lee Man-hee because “the word is present with him”—isn’t that making him the mediator between you and God’s truth?

You push the thoughts away. That’s probably just the enemy trying to create doubt. After all, you’ve invested over a year in this. You’ve learned so much. You’re so close to being sealed. Why would you turn back now?

But the questions remain, quiet but persistent, in the back of your mind.

This lesson represents one of the most critical moments in Shincheonji’s indoctrination process. Students are being explicitly told not to research outside sources, explicitly instructed to follow Lee Man-hee, and prepared for full organizational commitment. The information control is no longer subtle—it’s direct and forceful.

As we examine this lesson through the lens of first-century Christian understanding, historical context, and careful biblical interpretation, we’ll discover that Shincheonji is using powerful manipulation techniques to prevent students from discovering the truth about their teachings. This refutation will draw extensively from the 30 chapters of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” which provides comprehensive analysis of how Shincheonji’s system works and why it departs so dramatically from biblical Christianity.

For those seeking additional resources and support, visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive analysis of Shincheonji’s teachings, testimonies from former members, and resources for families.

Let’s begin by examining what Revelation 17 actually means, then explore the dangerous information control tactics, and finally address the explicit instruction to follow Lee Man-hee.

Part 1: Understanding Revelation 17 – Babylon the Prostitute

The Biblical Text

Let’s read Revelation 17 to understand its context and meaning. Due to length, I’ll focus on key verses:

Revelation 17:1-6 (NIV84):

“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.’

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead:

MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.”

Revelation 17:9, 18:

“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits… The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

First-Century Christian Understanding

To understand what first-century Christians would have understood from this passage, we need to consider the historical and political context.

1. The Seven Hills = Rome

Revelation 17:9 gives us a crucial clue: “The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.”

Rome was famously known as “the city on seven hills.” This was common knowledge in the ancient world. The seven hills of Rome were:

1. Palatine
2. Aventine
3. Caelian
4. Esquiline
5. Viminal
6. Quirinal
7. Capitoline

First-century Christians would immediately recognize this reference. The prostitute sitting on seven hills = Rome.

As “How First-Century Christians Read Revelation Like a Political Cartoon” explains, Revelation uses symbolic imagery that would have been immediately recognizable to its original audience. Just as a modern political cartoon uses recognizable symbols (Uncle Sam = America, a bear = Russia), Revelation uses symbols that first-century Christians would understand.

2. “The Great City That Rules Over the Kings of the Earth”

Revelation 17:18 identifies the woman as “the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

In the first century, there was only one city that fit this description: Rome. Rome ruled the known world. It was the center of political, economic, and military power. It ruled over kings and nations.

First-century Christians would have no doubt: this is Rome.

3. The Wine of Adulteries

The “wine of her adulteries” represents the seductive power of Rome—its wealth, luxury, political alliances, and economic dominance. Nations and kings “committed adultery” with Rome by entering into political and economic alliances, compromising their integrity for Rome’s benefits.

In biblical imagery, adultery often represents unfaithfulness to God—turning to other powers, other gods, other sources of security instead of trusting in God alone.

4. Drunk with the Blood of the Saints

Revelation 17:6 says the woman was “drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.”

Rome persecuted Christians. Under emperors like Nero and Domitian, Christians were martyred for their faith. Rome was indeed “drunk with the blood of the saints.”

5. The Judgment on Babylon/Rome

Revelation 17-18 describes God’s judgment on Babylon (Rome). This would have been tremendously encouraging to first-century Christians suffering under Roman persecution. The message: Rome seems all-powerful now, but God will judge it. Rome will fall. God’s justice will prevail.

6. The Political Context

As “The Revelation Project – Day 1-6 (Dr. Chip Bennett & Dr. Warren Gage)” explains, Revelation is deeply rooted in its first-century political context. John is writing to Christians living under Roman rule, facing persecution, tempted to compromise with Roman power and culture.

Revelation’s message: Don’t compromise. Don’t be seduced by Rome’s power and wealth. Stay faithful to Christ, even unto death. God will judge Rome and vindicate His people.

What First-Century Christians Would NOT Understand

First-century Christians reading Revelation 17 would NOT understand:

❌ That Babylon represents a specific organization in Korea in the 1980s
❌ That the prostitute is a “betrayed tabernacle temple”
❌ That the “wine of adulteries” is false teachings from Christian churches
❌ That this prophecy would be fulfilled in Shincheonji’s history
❌ That they needed to identify which specific Korean organization fulfilled this

Why? Because:

1. The text identifies Babylon: Seven hills = Rome. The great city ruling over kings = Rome. This is clear in the text itself.
2. The context is first-century persecution: The woman is drunk with the blood of the saints—this is happening in John’s time, not 1900+ years in the future.
3. The message is for first-century Christians: They needed encouragement to remain faithful under Roman persecution. A prophecy about Korea in the 1980s would be irrelevant to them.
4. The literary genre is apocalyptic: Revelation uses symbolic imagery rooted in Old Testament prophecy (especially Daniel and Ezekiel) to address current situations, not to predict specific organizational events 2000 years later.

Shincheonji’s Interpretation

Now let’s examine Shincheonji’s interpretation as presented in Lesson 125:

Claim 1: “The devil’s food is the wine of adulteries”

The lesson states: “In Revelation 17, we learn about the devil’s food, which is described as the wine of adulteries. This stands in direct contrast to God’s food.”

The Problem:

While it’s true that the wine of adulteries represents something harmful, Shincheonji misidentifies what it represents.

Biblical Understanding:

• The wine of adulteries = the seductive power of Rome (political/economic alliances, compromise with pagan culture)
• It made nations and people “drunk”—intoxicated with Rome’s power and wealth
• It led to compromise and unfaithfulness to God

Shincheonji’s Understanding:

• The wine of adulteries = false teachings from other Christian churches
• It’s “Satan’s food” that leads to confusion
• It contrasts with Shincheonji’s “God’s food” (their interpretation)

This reinterpretation serves Shincheonji’s agenda: other churches have Satan’s food; only Shincheonji has God’s food. This creates a stark us-vs-them dichotomy and validates Shincheonji as the exclusive source of truth.

Claim 2: “God’s food is the hidden manna, the opened scroll”

The lesson states: “The book of Revelation presents God’s food in several ways, but one particularly important description is the hidden manna. This can also be referred to as the opened scroll. God’s food, which stands as the opposite of Satan’s food, is this hidden manna that was initially sealed but was later opened by Jesus.”

The Problem:

This conflates several different biblical images and reinterprets them to mean Shincheonji’s teaching system.

Let’s examine each element:

The Hidden Manna (Revelation 2:17):

Revelation 2:17: “To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”

This is a promise to “the one who is victorious”—the faithful Christian who overcomes. The hidden manna represents:

• Spiritual sustenance from God
• Christ Himself (the bread of life)
• Intimate fellowship with God
• Eternal life and blessing

It does NOT represent an interpretation system or organizational teaching. It’s a promise of spiritual blessing to faithful believers.

The Opened Scroll (Revelation 5-10):

The scroll in Revelation 5 is sealed with seven seals. Only the Lamb (Jesus) is worthy to open it. As the seals are opened (Revelation 6-8), judgments unfold.

In Revelation 10, John is told to take a scroll from an angel and eat it. It’s sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach. He’s then told to prophesy.

These scrolls represent:

• God’s plan of judgment and redemption
• The authority of Christ to execute God’s plan
• The prophetic message John must proclaim

They do NOT represent Shincheonji’s interpretation system.

The Substitution:

Shincheonji takes these biblical images (hidden manna, opened scroll) and redefines them to mean their interpretation system. This allows them to claim:

• We have the “hidden manna” (our teaching)
• We have the “opened scroll” (our interpretation)
• Other churches don’t have these (they have Satan’s food)

This is classic substitution—taking biblical language and redefining it to serve organizational purposes.

Claim 3: “This hidden manna is the food we are partaking of at this present moment”

The lesson states: “This same hidden manna, mentioned in Revelation 2:17, is the food we are partaking of at this present moment.”

The Problem:

This makes Shincheonji’s classroom teaching equivalent to the “hidden manna” promised to faithful believers in Revelation 2:17.

But the hidden manna is:

• A promise to “the one who is victorious” (future reward)
• Spiritual sustenance from Christ
• Intimate fellowship with God

It’s not a classroom curriculum. It’s not an interpretation system. It’s Christ Himself and the spiritual blessings He gives to faithful believers.

By claiming students are “partaking of” the hidden manna in Shincheonji classes, the organization elevates its teaching to divine status and makes itself the exclusive source of spiritual sustenance.

The Historical Reality: Rome, Not Korea

Let’s be clear about what Revelation 17 actually describes:

Babylon = Rome

The evidence is overwhelming:

1. Seven hills (17:9) = Rome’s seven hills
2. Great city ruling over kings (17:18) = Rome
3. Drunk with blood of saints (17:6) = Roman persecution
4. Economic dominance (18:11-19) = Rome’s trade empire
5. Political alliances (17:2) = Rome’s client kingdoms

This isn’t speculation—it’s what the text explicitly states and what first-century Christians would immediately recognize.

The Judgment on Rome

Revelation 17-18 describes God’s judgment on Rome. While Rome didn’t fall exactly as described in Revelation (the imagery is symbolic, not literal), Rome’s power did decline, and its persecution of Christians eventually ended.

The message for first-century Christians: Stay faithful. Don’t compromise with Rome’s power and culture. God will judge Rome and vindicate His people.

Not About Korea in the 1980s

There is no indication in Revelation 17 that this prophecy is about:

• A specific organization in Korea
• Events in the 1980s-1990s
• A “betrayed tabernacle temple”
• Shincheonji’s history

These connections are imposed on the text by Shincheonji, not derived from the text itself.

The Danger of Reinterpretation

Shincheonji’s reinterpretation of Revelation 17 is dangerous because:

1. It Removes the Text from Its Historical Context

By making Revelation 17 about Korea in the 1980s, Shincheonji removes it from its first-century context. This makes the text irrelevant to its original audience and distorts its meaning.

2. It Makes Shincheonji Central

By identifying themselves as having “God’s food” (the hidden manna, the opened scroll), Shincheonji makes themselves central to God’s plan. You need Shincheonji to have spiritual sustenance. You need their interpretation to understand God’s word.

3. It Demonizes Other Christians

By identifying other churches as having “Satan’s food” (the wine of adulteries), Shincheonji demonizes all other Christian teaching. This creates an us-vs-them mentality and isolates students from the broader Christian community.

4. It Creates False Authority

By claiming to have the “opened scroll” and “hidden manna,” Shincheonji claims divine authority for their interpretation. Questioning their teaching becomes questioning God’s word.

5. It Obscures the True Message

The true message of Revelation 17—don’t compromise with worldly power, stay faithful to Christ, God will judge evil and vindicate His people—is lost. Instead, it becomes about joining Shincheonji and accepting their interpretation.

The Biblical Understanding of Spiritual Food

Let’s examine what the Bible actually teaches about spiritual food:

Jesus Is the Bread of Life:

John 6:35: “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”

John 6:51: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Jesus is our spiritual food. Not an interpretation system, not organizational teaching—Jesus Himself.

God’s Word Is Our Sustenance:

Matthew 4:4: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”‘”

Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

God’s Word—Scripture—is our spiritual sustenance. Not one organization’s interpretation, but Scripture itself.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us:

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

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.”

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. We don’t need an organization to mediate God’s truth to us.

We Have Direct Access:

Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Ephesians 2:18: “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

We have direct access to God through Christ. We don’t need organizational mediation.

The Contrast

Let’s contrast the biblical understanding with Shincheonji’s teaching:

Biblical Teaching:

• Jesus is the bread of life
• Scripture is our spiritual food
• The Holy Spirit teaches us
• We have direct access to God through Christ
• Spiritual food is freely available to all believers

Shincheonji’s Teaching:

• Shincheonji’s interpretation is the “hidden manna”
• Their teaching is “God’s food”
• You need their organization to understand Scripture
• You need their mediation to access spiritual truth
• Spiritual food is only available through Shincheonji

The difference is fundamental. Biblical Christianity offers direct access to God through Christ. Shincheonji inserts itself as the necessary mediator.

Part 2: The “Do Not Go Beyond What Is Written” Manipulation

The Biblical Text

Let’s examine the passage Shincheonji uses to justify information control:

1 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV84):

“Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.”

The Context

Paul is addressing divisions in the Corinthian church. Some were saying “I follow Paul,” others “I follow Apollos,” others “I follow Cephas” (1 Corinthians 1:12).

Paul’s point: Don’t create factions around human leaders. We’re all servants of Christ. Don’t go beyond what Scripture teaches about leadership and create personality cults.

The phrase “do not go beyond what is written” means: Don’t add human traditions or elevate human leaders beyond what Scripture teaches. Stay with Scripture’s teaching about the supremacy of Christ and the servant role of human leaders.

Shincheonji’s Application

The lesson states:

“A crucial point – ‘do not go beyond what is written,’ meaning do not exceed the boundaries of the scriptures. Venturing beyond the scriptures leads one into Satan’s domain.

In our current time, what lies beyond the scriptures includes:

• The internet
• People’s personal thoughts
• Blogs
• Commentaries
• Articles
• Videos
• Television programs

Many people frequently venture beyond what is written, believing they will find truth in these sources. However, this will not lead to truth but instead result in more confusion and maddening wine.”

The Manipulation

This is classic information control disguised as biblical fidelity. Let’s break down the manipulation:

1. Misapplication of the Verse

Paul’s statement “do not go beyond what is written” is about not creating factions around human leaders. It’s not about avoiding outside sources of information.

In fact, Paul himself quotes pagan poets and philosophers (Acts 17:28, Titus 1:12, 1 Corinthians 15:33). He engaged with outside sources of information. He didn’t isolate himself or his followers from all non-biblical sources.

The phrase means: Don’t add to Scripture’s teaching or elevate humans beyond their proper role. It doesn’t mean: Don’t read anything except what we tell you to read.

2. Creating a False Dichotomy

Shincheonji creates a false dichotomy:

• Scripture = good, safe, from God
• Everything else = bad, dangerous, from Satan

But this is absurd. Are all commentaries from Satan? Are all articles dangerous? Is all internet content leading to confusion?

What about:

• Biblical commentaries by respected scholars?
• Church history and theology books?
• Testimonies from former Shincheonji members?
• Academic articles about biblical interpretation?
• Resources from mainstream Christian organizations?

These aren’t “Satan’s domain”—they’re legitimate sources of information that can help us understand Scripture better and evaluate Shincheonji’s claims.

3. Preventing Research

The real purpose of this teaching is to prevent students from researching Shincheonji. If students:

• Google “Shincheonji cult”
• Read testimonies from former members
• Consult biblical commentaries on Revelation
• Watch videos explaining Revelation from mainstream Christian perspectives
• Read articles analyzing Shincheonji’s teachings

They would discover:

• Shincheonji is widely recognized as a cult
• Their interpretation of Revelation is not mainstream
• Many former members report manipulation and deception
• Their historical claims don’t match reality
• Their theology contradicts orthodox Christianity

Shincheonji doesn’t want students to discover this. So they label all outside information as “Satan’s domain” and create fear of “confusion and maddening wine.”

4. Isolating Students

By teaching students not to consult outside sources, Shincheonji isolates them from:

• Alternative perspectives
• Critical analysis
• Fact-checking
• Former members’ experiences
• Mainstream Christian teaching

This isolation makes students dependent on Shincheonji as their only source of information. They can’t compare Shincheonji’s teaching with other perspectives because they’ve been taught that doing so is dangerous.

5. Thought-Stopping

This teaching creates a thought-stopping mechanism. When students have questions or doubts and think about researching online, they remember: “The internet is beyond what is written. It’s Satan’s domain. It will lead to confusion.”

This stops the thought process before it can lead to discovery of problematic information about Shincheonji.

The Irony

The supreme irony is that Shincheonji itself goes far beyond what is written.

Consider what Shincheonji adds to Scripture:

• Lee Man-hee is the “promised pastor” (Scripture never predicts this)
• The 144,000 is Shincheonji (Scripture doesn’t identify them this way)
• Revelation 12-22 was fulfilled in Korea 1966-1990 (Scripture doesn’t predict this)
• The Tabernacle Temple was a specific organization (Scripture doesn’t identify it)
• HWPL is part of God’s plan (Scripture doesn’t mention it)
• You must join Shincheonji to be saved (Scripture never teaches this)

Every single one of these claims goes beyond what is written in Scripture.

Shincheonji adds extensively to Scripture—creating elaborate interpretation systems, identifying specific people and organizations as fulfillments, adding requirements for salvation that Scripture never mentions.

Yet they tell students not to “go beyond what is written” by consulting outside sources. The hypocrisy is staggering.

The Biblical Standard

What does the Bible actually teach about testing and discernment?

Test Everything:

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

We’re commanded to test everything—including teachings, teachers, and interpretations. We don’t just accept what we’re told; we test it against Scripture.

Test the Spirits:

1 John 4:1: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

We must test teachers and teachings to discern whether they’re from God. This requires comparing what we’re taught with Scripture and with sound Christian teaching.

The Bereans Were Commended:

Acts 17:11: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans didn’t just accept Paul’s teaching—they examined the Scriptures daily to verify it. And they were commended for this! They were called “more noble” because they fact-checked the apostle Paul himself.

If it was commendable to fact-check Paul, how much more should we fact-check modern teachers and organizations?

Discernment Requires Wisdom:

Proverbs 18:15: “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”

Proverbs 15:14: “The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”

Discernment requires actively seeking knowledge, not passively accepting what one source tells you.

Seek Counsel:

Proverbs 11:14: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”

Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

We should seek counsel from multiple sources, not rely on one organization’s perspective.

What You Should Actually Do

If you’re in Shincheonji and being told not to research outside sources, here’s what you should actually do:

1. Research Shincheonji:

• Google “Shincheonji cult” and read what you find
• Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
• Read testimonies from former members
• Learn about Shincheonji’s history and practices
• Examine critiques of their teachings

2. Consult Biblical Commentaries:

• Read what respected biblical scholars say about Revelation
• Compare Shincheonji’s interpretation with mainstream Christian understanding
• Learn about the historical context of Revelation
• Study the literary genre of apocalyptic literature

3. Talk to Pastors and Mature Christians:

• Share what you’re learning with trusted pastors
• Ask mature Christians for their perspective
• Don’t isolate yourself from the broader Christian community

4. Examine the Fruit:

• What is the fruit of Shincheonji’s teaching in people’s lives?
• Do former members report positive or negative experiences?
• Are families being reunited or torn apart?
• Is there transparency or deception?

5. Compare with Scripture:

• Read Revelation in context, not just isolated verses
• Compare Shincheonji’s claims with what Scripture actually says
• Ask: Does Scripture really predict these specific fulfillments?

6. Ask Critical Questions:

• Why doesn’t Shincheonji want me to research outside sources?
• What are they afraid I’ll discover?
• If their teaching is true, wouldn’t it withstand scrutiny?
• Why label all outside information as “Satan’s domain”?

The Truth Will Set You Free

Jesus said: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Truth doesn’t fear investigation. Truth welcomes scrutiny. Truth stands up to fact-checking.

If Shincheonji’s teaching is true, it will withstand research and comparison with Scripture and mainstream Christian teaching. If it’s false, research will reveal that.

The fact that Shincheonji explicitly tells students not to research outside sources should be a massive red flag. Organizations confident in their teaching don’t need to isolate members from outside information. Only organizations with something to hide need to create information control.

As Chapter 14 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, information control is a hallmark of high-control groups. By limiting access to outside information, these groups maintain control over members’ beliefs and prevent discovery of problematic information.

Don’t let Shincheonji’s misuse of 1 Corinthians 4:6 prevent you from doing what the Bible actually commands: test everything, seek wisdom, and examine the Scriptures to see if what you’re being taught is true.

The Biblical Text

Let’s examine the passage Shincheonji uses to suppress discernment about teachers:

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (NIV84):

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Paul’s Actual Point

Paul is addressing a specific problem in Corinth: factionalism and personality cults around human leaders.

The Problem:

• Some Corinthians were saying “I follow Paul”
• Others were saying “I follow Apollos”
• Others were saying “I follow Cephas (Peter)”
• This was creating divisions and quarreling

Paul’s Solution:

• Don’t create factions around human leaders
• We’re all servants of Christ
• The focus should be on Christ, not on human teachers
• God is the one who makes things grow, not human teachers

Paul’s Purpose:

• Promote unity in the church
• Keep Christ central, not human leaders
• Recognize that all Christian leaders are servants, not masters

This is a beautiful teaching about humility, unity, and keeping Christ central.

Shincheonji’s Application

The lesson states:

“In addressing the Corinthians, Paul considers them still worldly, indicating they aren’t ready for solid food but still require milk. This assessment stems from their behavior – quarreling amongst themselves, acting out of jealousy, and showing favoritism to their instructors.

In Babylon, there was an obsession with particular preachers – preferring one over another, criticizing how different preachers delivered their messages. This attitude didn’t align with Paul’s teachings.

Paul and Apollos are servants, as emphasized in Luke 17:10: ‘So you also, when you have done everything you are told to do, should say, we are unworthy servants. We have only done our duty.’

We shouldn’t be saying, ‘I really like Nate, Mike, Josh, or Peter,’ while dismissing others because we don’t prefer their speaking style. This isn’t the correct approach. The evangelists are merely vessels, bowls containing the word that needs to be received.

What matters is the seed being planted, and God is the one who makes it grow. The person delivering the seed could be a 12-year-old boy or a 90-year-old man – it’s immaterial. They are only vessels; God is doing the work.

Whether it’s Instructor Nate or Instructor Mike, the focus should be on listening and absorbing the word and the seed. The evangelists plant and water the seed – which raises questions: Are you treating your evangelists with respect? Do you answer their calls? Do you participate in one-to-ones with them? They’re trying to water the planted seed, but ultimately, it is God who makes it grow.”

The Manipulation

This teaching takes Paul’s message about unity and humility and twists it into a tool for suppressing discernment and creating guilt. Let’s break down the manipulation:

1. Suppressing Legitimate Concerns

By teaching that instructors are “merely vessels” and that students shouldn’t prefer one over another, Shincheonji suppresses legitimate concerns about specific teachers.

But what if:

• One instructor is more biblically accurate than another?
• One instructor is more manipulative than another?
• One instructor contradicts what another instructor taught?
• One instructor’s teaching raises red flags?

Students are being told these concerns don’t matter because instructors are “just vessels.” But this prevents students from exercising biblical discernment about teachers.

2. Creating Guilt About Responsiveness

Notice the pointed questions: “Are you treating your evangelists with respect? Do you answer their calls? Do you participate in one-to-ones with them?”

This creates guilt. If you’ve been busy, if you’ve missed calls, if you’ve postponed meetings—you’re now made to feel you’re disrespecting the evangelists and hindering God’s work.

But this is manipulation. You have the right to:

• Set boundaries on your time
• Decline meetings when you’re busy
• Take space to think and process
• Not answer every call immediately

Creating guilt about these normal, healthy boundaries is a control tactic.

3. Preventing Critical Evaluation

By emphasizing that “the person delivering the seed could be a 12-year-old boy or a 90-year-old man – it’s immaterial,” Shincheonji prevents students from critically evaluating the qualifications, character, and teachings of their instructors.

But the Bible gives us qualifications for teachers and leaders:

1 Timothy 3:1-7: Qualifications for overseers (including being “able to teach,” “not a recent convert,” “having a good reputation”)

Titus 1:5-9: Qualifications for elders (including “holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught”)

James 3:1: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

Teachers should be evaluated based on their qualifications, character, and faithfulness to Scripture. It’s not “immaterial” who teaches—it matters greatly.

4. Equating All Teaching as “The Seed”

By calling all Shincheonji teaching “the seed” and saying “what matters is the seed being planted,” Shincheonji assumes their teaching is God’s truth.

But what if the “seed” being planted is false teaching? What if it’s not God’s word but human interpretation? What if it’s leading people away from Christ rather than toward Him?

The assumption that all Shincheonji teaching is “the seed” (God’s word) needs to be examined, not accepted without question.

5. Using Scripture to Prevent Scriptural Discernment

The supreme irony is that Shincheonji uses Scripture (1 Corinthians 3) to prevent students from doing what Scripture commands (testing teachers and teachings).

The Bible commands us to:

• Test teachers (1 John 4:1)
• Examine teachings (Acts 17:11)
• Watch out for false teachers (Matthew 7:15)
• Evaluate fruit (Matthew 7:16-20)

But Shincheonji uses 1 Corinthians 3 to say: “Don’t evaluate teachers. They’re just vessels. Focus on the seed.”

This prevents the very discernment Scripture commands.

The Biblical Standard for Evaluating Teachers

What does the Bible actually teach about evaluating teachers?

1. Test the Spirits:

1 John 4:1-3: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

We must test teachers to discern whether they’re from God. This requires evaluating their teaching, not just accepting them as “vessels.”

2. Watch Out for False Teachers:

Matthew 7:15-20: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Jesus explicitly tells us to watch out for false prophets and evaluate them by their fruit. This requires discernment about specific teachers, not just accepting all teachers as equivalent “vessels.”

3. Examine the Scriptures:

Acts 17:11: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans examined Paul’s teaching against Scripture. They didn’t just accept him as a “vessel” and receive whatever he said. They fact-checked him daily.

4. Beware of False Teachers:

2 Peter 2:1-3: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.”

False teachers exist. They introduce destructive heresies. They exploit people. We must be aware and discerning, not just accept all teachers as equivalent “vessels.”

5. Teachers Will Be Judged More Strictly:

James 3:1: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

Teaching is a serious responsibility. Teachers will be judged more strictly. This means teaching matters—it’s not just about being a “vessel”; it’s about faithfully teaching God’s word.

The Difference Between Unity and Uniformity

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 3 is about unity, not uniformity.

Unity:

• Recognizing we’re all part of Christ’s body
• Not creating factions around human leaders
• Keeping Christ central
• Working together despite differences

Uniformity:

• Everyone must accept all teachers equally
• No one can question or evaluate teachers
• All teaching is equivalent
• Discernment is discouraged

Paul promotes unity—recognizing that despite different teachers and different gifts, we’re all serving Christ.

Shincheonji promotes uniformity—demanding that students accept all instructors equally and not exercise discernment about specific teachers.

These are very different things.

The Real Purpose

Why does Shincheonji teach this? What’s the real purpose?

1. Prevent Questioning of Problematic Teachers:

If students are taught that all instructors are equivalent “vessels” and that it doesn’t matter who teaches, they won’t question problematic teachers or teachings.

2. Create Guilt About Boundaries:

By asking “Are you treating your evangelists with respect? Do you answer their calls?” Shincheonji creates guilt about normal, healthy boundaries. This makes students more compliant and responsive to organizational demands.

3. Suppress Discernment:

By teaching that students shouldn’t evaluate teachers, Shincheonji suppresses the biblical command to test teachers and teachings. This prevents discovery of false teaching.

4. Increase Control:

When students feel guilty about not answering calls or attending meetings, they become more compliant. This increases organizational control over students’ time and attention.

5. Prepare for Organizational Involvement:

This teaching prepares students for full organizational involvement, where they’ll be expected to:

• Respond immediately to organizational communications
• Attend all meetings and events
• Accept all teaching without question
• Submit to organizational authority

What You Should Actually Do

If you’re in Shincheonji and being taught not to evaluate teachers, here’s what you should actually do:

1. Exercise Biblical Discernment:

You are commanded to test teachers and teachings (1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11). Don’t let anyone tell you this is wrong or “worldly.”

2. Evaluate Fruit:

Look at the fruit of Shincheonji’s teaching:

• Are relationships being healed or damaged?
• Is there transparency or deception?
• Are people growing in love, joy, peace, or in anxiety and fear?
• Are families being reunited or torn apart?

3. Set Healthy Boundaries:

You have the right to:

• Decline meetings when you’re busy
• Not answer every call immediately
• Take time to think and process
• Prioritize other commitments (family, work, rest)

Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for having healthy boundaries.

4. Ask Questions:

If different instructors teach contradictory things, ask questions. If something doesn’t align with Scripture, ask questions. If you have concerns about a teacher’s character or methods, express those concerns.

5. Compare with Scripture:

Don’t just accept that Shincheonji’s teaching is “the seed.” Compare it with Scripture. Does it align with biblical teaching? Does it keep Christ central? Does it promote the gospel of grace?

6. Seek Outside Counsel:

Talk to pastors and mature Christians outside Shincheonji. Get their perspective on what you’re being taught. Don’t isolate yourself.

The Contrast

Let’s contrast Paul’s actual teaching with Shincheonji’s application:

Paul’s Teaching (1 Corinthians 3):

• Don’t create factions around human leaders
• Keep Christ central, not human teachers
• Recognize that all leaders are servants
• Promote unity in the body of Christ
• God is the one who makes things grow

Shincheonji’s Application:

• Don’t evaluate or question teachers
• Accept all Shincheonji teaching as “the seed”
• Feel guilty if you don’t respond immediately to evangelists
• Suppress discernment about specific teachers
• Assume all Shincheonji teaching is from God

Paul’s teaching promotes humility, unity, and Christ-centeredness. Shincheonji’s application promotes control, suppression of discernment, and organizational compliance.

As Chapter 15 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, high-control groups often use Scripture to suppress the very discernment Scripture commands. They take passages about unity and twist them into tools for preventing critical thinking and maintaining organizational control.

Part 4: The Explicit Instruction to Follow Lee Man-hee

The Most Direct Statement Yet

Lesson 125 contains the most explicit instruction yet to follow Lee Man-hee:

“In this era, during the time of the Second Coming, the word was given to New John. However, following New John should not be based on his speaking style, appearance, nationality, or his military service in the Korean War. The sole reason to follow New John is because the word is present with him.”

Let’s break this down carefully.

What This Statement Claims

Claim 1: “The word was given to New John”

This claims that Lee Man-hee (“New John”) has been given “the word”—exclusive access to God’s truth, the correct interpretation of Scripture, divine revelation.

Claim 2: “The sole reason to follow New John is because the word is present with him”

This claims that you should follow Lee Man-hee because he alone has “the word.” Not because of his character, qualifications, or background—but because he has exclusive access to truth.

The Implication:

If “the word” is present with Lee Man-hee, and if this is “the sole reason” to follow him, then:

• You must follow Lee Man-hee to access “the word”
• You cannot access “the word” apart from Lee Man-hee
• Lee Man-hee is the exclusive mediator of God’s truth
• Rejecting Lee Man-hee = rejecting “the word” = rejecting God

This makes Lee Man-hee essential to knowing God and accessing His truth.

The Biblical Problem

This teaching directly contradicts Scripture in multiple ways:

1. Jesus Is the Word

John 1:1, 14: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is the Word. Not Lee Man-hee. Not any human teacher. Jesus alone is God’s ultimate revelation.

2. Jesus Is the Only Mediator

1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity. We don’t need Lee Man-hee to mediate God’s truth to us. We have direct access through Christ.

3. The Holy Spirit Teaches Us

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

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

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.”

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. We don’t need a human mediator to access God’s truth. The Spirit teaches all believers.

4. Scripture Is Sufficient

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

Scripture is sufficient to equip us for every good work. We don’t need Lee Man-hee’s interpretation to access God’s truth. Scripture itself, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, is sufficient.

5. We Have Direct Access to God

Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 10:19-22: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”

We have direct access to God through Christ. We don’t need human mediators. The curtain has been torn. We can approach God’s throne with confidence.

The Danger of This Teaching

This teaching is dangerous because:

1. It Makes Lee Man-hee Essential

By claiming “the word is present with him,” Shincheonji makes Lee Man-hee essential to knowing God and accessing His truth. You need Lee Man-hee. You can’t know God without him.

This is the opposite of the gospel, which declares that we have direct access to God through Christ alone.

2. It Creates Dependency

If you believe “the word” is only present with Lee Man-hee, you become dependent on him and his organization. You can’t leave without losing access to “the word.” You can’t question his teaching without questioning “the word” itself.

3. It Elevates a Human to Divine Status

By making Lee Man-hee the exclusive source of “the word,” Shincheonji elevates him to a status that belongs only to Christ. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the mediator. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Making Lee Man-hee the essential mediator of truth is giving him a role that belongs only to Christ.

4. It Prevents Evaluation

If Lee Man-hee has “the word,” then questioning him becomes questioning God’s word. Evaluating his teaching becomes evaluating God’s truth. This prevents the biblical discernment we’re commanded to exercise.

5. It Contradicts the Reformation

The Protestant Reformation was fought over this very issue: Do we need human mediators (the church hierarchy) to access God’s truth, or do we have direct access through Christ and Scripture?

The Reformers declared: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), Sola Gratia (grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone).

We don’t need human mediators. We have Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and direct access to God through Christ.

Shincheonji’s teaching that “the word is present with” Lee Man-hee contradicts this fundamental Protestant (and biblical) principle.

The Pattern of Cultic Leadership

This teaching follows a common pattern in cultic groups:

The Pattern:

1. The leader claims special revelation or exclusive understanding
2. Followers are told they need the leader to access truth
3. The leader becomes the essential mediator between God and followers
4. Questioning the leader becomes questioning God
5. Leaving the group becomes leaving God’s truth

Examples:

• Jim Jones claimed to be the incarnation of Christ; followers needed him to access God
• David Koresh claimed to be the final prophet; followers needed him to understand Scripture
• Sun Myung Moon claimed to be the True Parent; followers needed him for salvation
• Many cult leaders make similar claims of exclusive access to truth

Shincheonji follows this pattern:

• Lee Man-hee claims to be “New John,” the promised pastor, the one who received the revelation
• Followers are told “the word is present with him”
• Students are taught they need Shincheonji to understand Scripture
• Questioning Lee Man-hee’s interpretation becomes questioning “the word”
• Leaving Shincheonji becomes leaving God’s truth

This is a classic cultic pattern, not biblical Christianity.

The Dismissal of Legitimate Concerns

Notice how the lesson dismisses legitimate concerns about Lee Man-hee:

“Following New John should not be based on his speaking style, appearance, nationality, or his military service in the Korean War.”

This dismisses concerns about:

• His background: Lee Man-hee’s history, including his involvement with previous groups
• His character: Questions about his integrity, honesty, lifestyle
• His qualifications: Whether he meets biblical qualifications for leadership
• His track record: Failed prophecies, broken promises, organizational problems

The lesson says these things don’t matter—the only thing that matters is “the word is present with him.”

But the Bible says these things DO matter:

Character Matters:

1 Timothy 3:2-7 lists qualifications for overseers, including:

• Above reproach
• Respectable
• Not a lover of money
• Manages his own family well
• Not a recent convert
• Has a good reputation with outsiders

Background Matters:

Acts 9 shows that when Paul (formerly Saul) became a Christian, people were initially skeptical because of his background persecuting Christians. His background mattered. It took time and evidence of genuine transformation for people to trust him.

Track Record Matters:

Deuteronomy 18:21-22: “You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”

A prophet’s track record matters. If their predictions don’t come true, they’re not from God.

Fruit Matters:

Matthew 7:16-20: “By their fruit you will recognize them… Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

The fruit of a leader’s life and teaching matters. We evaluate leaders by their fruit.

Shincheonji wants students to ignore all of these biblical standards and simply accept that “the word is present with” Lee Man-hee. But this contradicts Scripture’s own standards for evaluating leaders.

What About Lee Man-hee’s Background?

Since the lesson mentions Lee Man-hee’s “military service in the Korean War” and dismisses it as irrelevant, let’s briefly address what students should actually know about his background:

According to “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and Part 2”:

Lee Man-hee was involved with several groups before founding Shincheonji:

• The Olive Tree movement (a controversial Korean religious group)
• The Tabernacle Temple (which he later claimed betrayed)
• Various other religious organizations

He has made prophecies that didn’t come true:

• Specific dates for Christ’s return
• Specific numbers of the 144,000 being completed
• Various organizational milestones

He has been involved in controversies:

• Deceptive recruitment practices
• Financial irregularities
• Authoritarian leadership style
• Broken relationships with former leaders

The lesson says these things don’t matter. But they do.

If someone claims to be God’s chosen prophet, their track record matters. If they’ve made false prophecies, that matters (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). If they’ve been involved in deceptive practices, that matters. If their fruit is division, broken relationships, and damaged families, that matters (Matthew 7:16-20).

Students deserve to know this information and evaluate it honestly, not be told it’s irrelevant because “the word is present with him.”

The Biblical Alternative

The biblical alternative to following a human leader is following Christ:

Follow Christ:

John 10:27: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

We follow Christ, not human leaders. We listen to His voice in Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

Christ Is Sufficient:

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

In Christ, we have fullness. We don’t need additional mediators or special revelations. Christ is sufficient.

Beware of Those Who Add to Christ:

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

Beware of those who add to Christ—who say you need Christ PLUS their interpretation, Christ PLUS their organization, Christ PLUS their leader.

The Gospel Is Simple:

Romans 10:9: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation is through faith in Christ, not through following a human leader or joining an organization.

Questions to Ask

If you’re being told to follow Lee Man-hee because “the word is present with him,” ask:

1. Where does Scripture say we need a human mediator? Doesn’t 1 Timothy 2:5 say Jesus is the only mediator?
2. Where does Scripture say “the word” would be given to one person in Korea? Doesn’t John 1 say Jesus is the Word?
3. Why should I ignore Lee Man-hee’s background and track record? Doesn’t Scripture tell us to evaluate leaders by their fruit and track record?
4. If “the word is present with him,” why does his interpretation contradict mainstream Christian understanding? Wouldn’t God’s truth align with what Christians have understood for 2000 years?
5. Why do I need Lee Man-hee to understand Scripture? Don’t I have the Holy Spirit to teach me (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27)?
6. If I have to follow Lee Man-hee to access “the word,” isn’t that making him essential to my salvation? Doesn’t that contradict the gospel of salvation through Christ alone?
7. What happens if I leave Shincheonji? Do I lose access to “the word”? Doesn’t that make the organization essential rather than Christ?

The Reality

The reality is:

You don’t need Lee Man-hee. You need Jesus Christ.

You don’t need Shincheonji’s interpretation. You need Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

You don’t need organizational membership. You need faith in Christ.

You don’t need a human mediator. You have direct access to God through Christ.

The gospel is simple and beautiful: God loves you, Christ died for you, salvation is by grace through faith in Him. You don’t need anything else—not an organization, not a special interpretation, not a human mediator.

As Chapter 9 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, one of the key markers of a cultic group is making the leader or organization essential to salvation or knowing God. Biblical Christianity makes only Christ essential. Everything else is secondary.

Part 5: The “Wash Day” Concept – Organizational Dependency

The Teaching

Lesson 125 introduces a new concept: “Wash Day.”

“We call Sundays and soon Wednesdays ‘Wash Day’ because of Numbers 19, which speaks of cleansing from the week’s dirtiness. These days provide an opportunity for us to be washed by:

• The water of God’s word
• The sea of glass (as referenced in Revelation chapters 4 and 15)

These services are cherished because they:

1. Allow us to reset ourselves
2. Help us get back on the right track
3. Cleanse our inner being through God’s word

In-person attendance is encouraged because it:

• Eliminates distractions
• Helps maintain focus during service time”

The Biblical References

Let’s examine the biblical passages Shincheonji references:

Numbers 19 – The Water of Cleansing:

Numbers 19 describes a ritual for cleansing from ceremonial uncleanness caused by contact with a dead body. A red heifer was sacrificed, and its ashes were mixed with water to create “water of cleansing.”

This was part of the Old Testament ceremonial law—specific regulations for ritual purity under the Mosaic covenant.

Revelation 4:6 – The Sea of Glass:

Revelation 4:6: “Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”

This describes the throne room of heaven. The sea of glass is part of the heavenly imagery, representing the purity and majesty of God’s presence.

Revelation 15:2 – The Sea of Glass:

Revelation 15:2: “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God.”

This shows the victorious saints standing beside the sea of glass in heaven, having overcome the beast.

The Misapplication

Shincheonji takes these passages and applies them to organizational gatherings. Let’s examine the problems:

Problem 1: Misapplying Old Testament Ceremonial Law

Numbers 19 is part of the Old Testament ceremonial law—specific regulations for Israel under the Mosaic covenant. These laws pointed forward to Christ and were fulfilled in Him.

Hebrews 9:13-14: “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!”

The ceremonial cleansing of Numbers 19 pointed to the cleansing we receive through Christ’s blood. We don’t need ritual water of cleansing—we have been cleansed by Christ.

Applying Numbers 19 to organizational gatherings misses the point entirely. The ceremonial law was fulfilled in Christ, not in Shincheonji services.

Problem 2: Misapplying Heavenly Imagery

The “sea of glass” in Revelation 4 and 15 is part of the heavenly throne room. It’s not describing earthly gatherings—it’s describing heaven.

To claim that Shincheonji services are the “sea of glass” is to claim that their organizational gatherings are equivalent to the heavenly throne room. This is presumptuous and unbiblical.

Problem 3: Creating Dependency on Organizational Gatherings

By teaching that students need to attend “Wash Day” services to be “cleansed from the week’s dirtiness” and to “reset ourselves” and “get back on the right track,” Shincheonji creates dependency on organizational gatherings.

The implication: You get dirty during the week (by living in the world, perhaps by exposure to outside influences), and you need Shincheonji services to cleanse you.

This creates a cycle of dependency:

• You get spiritually “dirty” during the week
• You need Shincheonji services to get “clean”
• You can’t stay spiritually healthy without regular organizational involvement

Problem 4: Increasing Time Commitment

Notice that “Wash Day” is “Sundays and soon Wednesdays.” This means twice-weekly attendance is expected.

This significantly increases the time commitment required. Students who are nearing graduation are now expected to attend:

• Weekly classes (2-3 hours)
• Sunday services
• Wednesday services (coming soon)
• One-on-one meetings with evangelists
• Additional organizational events

This is a substantial time commitment that will increase after graduation when students become full members.

Problem 5: Emphasizing In-Person Attendance

The lesson emphasizes that “in-person attendance is encouraged because it eliminates distractions and helps maintain focus.”

While there are legitimate reasons to prefer in-person attendance for any gathering, in the context of a high-control group, this serves additional purposes:

• Monitoring who attends and who doesn’t
• Creating social pressure to attend
• Preventing students from having time for outside activities or relationships
• Increasing organizational control over students’ schedules

The Biblical Understanding of Cleansing

What does the Bible actually teach about spiritual cleansing?

1. We Are Cleansed by Christ’s Blood:

1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Hebrews 9:14: “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!”

We are cleansed by Christ’s blood, not by attending organizational gatherings.

2. We Are Washed by God’s Word:

Ephesians 5:25-26: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.”

Yes, God’s word cleanses us. But this happens through reading and meditating on Scripture, not exclusively through organizational gatherings.

3. We Are Cleansed Through Confession and Repentance:

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

We are cleansed through confessing our sins to God and repenting, not through attending services.

4. The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Us:

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”

The Holy Spirit sanctifies us (makes us holy), not organizational gatherings.

5. We Are Already Clean in Christ:

John 15:3: “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

If we are in Christ, we are already clean. We don’t need repeated ritual cleansing through organizational gatherings.

The Function of “Wash Day”

What is the real function of “Wash Day” in Shincheonji’s system?

Function 1: Increasing Organizational Involvement

Twice-weekly services significantly increase students’ involvement with the organization. This:

• Takes time away from outside relationships and activities
• Creates routine and habit around organizational involvement
• Makes the organization central to students’ weekly schedules

Function 2: Creating Dependency

By teaching that students need organizational gatherings to stay spiritually “clean,” Shincheonji creates psychological dependency. Students feel they can’t maintain spiritual health without regular organizational involvement.

Function 3: Monitoring and Control

Regular services allow the organization to:

• Monitor who attends and who doesn’t
• Identify students who are becoming less committed
• Apply pressure to those who miss services
• Maintain regular contact and influence

Function 4: Reinforcing Teaching

Regular services provide opportunity to:

• Reinforce Shincheonji’s teachings
• Address doubts or questions that arise
• Counteract outside influences
• Maintain ideological purity

Function 5: Preparing for Full Membership

For students nearing graduation, “Wash Day” prepares them for the level of involvement expected after they become full members. It normalizes high organizational involvement.

The Contrast with Biblical Christianity

Let’s contrast Shincheonji’s “Wash Day” with biblical Christianity:

Biblical Christianity:

• We are cleansed by Christ’s blood (once for all)
• We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (ongoing process)
• We grow through reading Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and obedience
• Church gatherings are important but not essential for cleansing
• We have direct access to God at all times
• Spiritual health comes from relationship with Christ, not organizational involvement

Shincheonji’s “Wash Day”:

• You need organizational gatherings to be cleansed
• You get spiritually “dirty” during the week
• You need twice-weekly services to stay spiritually healthy
• Missing services means missing necessary cleansing
• Spiritual health depends on organizational involvement
• The organization mediates spiritual cleansing

The biblical view emphasizes relationship with Christ and the finished work of the cross. Shincheonji’s view emphasizes organizational dependency.

The Danger

The danger of the “Wash Day” concept is that it:

1. Undermines the Sufficiency of Christ:

If we need organizational gatherings to stay spiritually clean, then Christ’s cleansing isn’t sufficient. But Scripture says we are “washed… sanctified… justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

2. Creates False Guilt:

If you miss a service, you might feel spiritually “dirty” or “off track.” This creates false guilt and anxiety about organizational involvement.

3. Increases Control:

By making students feel they need twice-weekly services, Shincheonji increases control over their time, schedules, and lives.

4. Isolates from Outside Influences:

Twice-weekly services, plus classes, plus one-on-ones, plus other events, leave little time for outside relationships, activities, or influences. This isolation increases organizational control.

5. Prepares for Escalating Commitment:

As students become accustomed to high organizational involvement, they’re prepared to accept even greater demands after graduation.

What You Should Know

If you’re being taught about “Wash Day,” here’s what you should know:

1. You Don’t Need Organizational Gatherings to Stay Spiritually Clean:

You are cleansed by Christ’s blood. You are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. You grow through relationship with Christ, not through organizational involvement.

2. Church Attendance Is Important, But…

Yes, Christians should gather for worship, fellowship, teaching, and encouragement (Hebrews 10:25). But:

• This doesn’t require twice-weekly attendance at one specific organization
• Missing a service doesn’t make you spiritually “dirty”
• You can worship and grow in many contexts, not just Shincheonji

3. Be Aware of Escalating Commitment:

Notice how organizational demands are increasing:

• Started with weekly classes
• Now twice-weekly services
• Plus one-on-ones with evangelists
• Plus (after graduation) additional organizational involvement

This pattern of escalating commitment is common in high-control groups.

4. Maintain Outside Relationships:

Don’t let organizational involvement consume all your time. Maintain relationships with family, friends, and other Christians. These relationships are important for perspective and support.

5. You Have Direct Access to God:

You don’t need organizational mediation to access God. You can pray, read Scripture, worship, and grow anywhere, anytime. God is not confined to Shincheonji services.

As Chapter 16 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, creating dependency on organizational gatherings is a common tactic in high-control groups. By making members feel they need the organization for spiritual health, these groups maintain control and prevent members from leaving.

Shincheonji’s Claims

Lesson 125 presents specific historical claims about the fulfillment of Revelation 16:

“Some key points from Revelation chapter 16:

1. Rev 16: 7 Bowls of Wrath
2. 7 Bowls of Wrath Poured Out as Payback
3. Poured out for 7 years! 1984-1990
4. Way was prepared for the kings from the East!

The seven bowls represent God’s promised payback being poured out. This payback was initially promised to the martyrs in Revelation 6…

By Revelation 16, this condition had been met. The sequence of deaths occurred as follows:

• One-fourth died in chapter 6
• The remaining three-thirds died progressively in chapters 8, 9, and 12

Once the number was complete, the payback could begin. According to Revelation 18, this payback was to be double in measure.

The initial judgment period lasted 3 and a half years, so the double portion resulted in 7 years of payback, occurring between 1984 to 1990.

A significant event marked 1990: the opening of the first Bible Center. Here, people began learning the open word, similar to our current practice.

The 7-year delay in establishing the Bible Center had a specific reason, as explained in Revelation 15:8 – they first had to fight and overcome the group of the dragon…

The Temple, known as the Tabernacle of the Temple of Testimony (TTT), remained inaccessible until the completion of the 7 plagues. These seven plagues, manifested as seven bowls of wrath, were poured out from 1984 to 1990. Only after this period could the first people enter to study the open word.”

The Specific Claims

Let’s identify the specific, verifiable claims:

Claim 1: The seven bowls of wrath were poured out from 1984-1990

This is a seven-year period during which Shincheonji claims Revelation 16’s judgments were fulfilled.

Claim 2: This was “payback” for martyrs

The bowls were judgment/payback for the deaths that occurred in Revelation 6, 8, 9, and 12 (which Shincheonji claims were fulfilled in their organizational history).

Claim 3: The payback was “double” – 7 years instead of 3.5 years

Shincheonji claims the initial judgment was 3.5 years, so the payback was double (7 years).

Claim 4: In 1990, the first Bible Center opened

This is a specific, verifiable historical claim. Shincheonji claims their first Bible Center opened in 1990.

Claim 5: The TTT couldn’t be entered until 1990

The “Tabernacle of the Temple of Testimony” (which Shincheonji claims is their organization) couldn’t be entered until the seven plagues were complete in 1990.

Claim 6: This fulfilled Revelation 15:8

Revelation 15:8 says no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were complete. Shincheonji claims this was fulfilled in their history.

The Problems with These Claims

Problem 1: The Events Don’t Match the Biblical Description

Let’s compare what Revelation 16 describes with what Shincheonji claims happened:

Revelation 16 describes:

• First bowl (16:2): “Ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast”
• Second bowl (16:3): “The sea turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died”
• Third bowl (16:4): “The rivers and springs of water… became blood”
• Fourth bowl (16:8-9): “The sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat”
• Fifth bowl (16:10): “The kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony”
• Sixth bowl (16:12): “The great river Euphrates… its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East”
• Seventh bowl (16:17-21): “A severe earthquake… The great city split into three parts… Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found… From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people”

Shincheonji claims these were fulfilled 1984-1990 through:

According to “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and Part 2,” Shincheonji interprets these bowls as:

• Preaching/teaching activities
• Organizational conflicts
• Leadership changes
• Internal disputes
• Doctrinal corrections

The disconnect is obvious:

Revelation 16 describes cosmic, catastrophic judgments:

• Sores on people
• Sea turning to blood
• All sea creatures dying
• Rivers turning to blood
• Sun scorching people
• Darkness covering a kingdom
• Euphrates drying up
• Earthquake splitting a city
• Islands fleeing
• Mountains disappearing
• 100-pound hailstones

Shincheonji claims these were fulfilled through organizational activities like preaching and internal disputes.

Does organizational preaching match “the sea turned into blood and every living thing in the sea died”?

Do internal disputes match “a severe earthquake… every island fled away and the mountains could not be found”?

The events don’t match the description. Not even symbolically.

Problem 2: The Scope Is Wrong

Revelation 16’s judgments affect:

• “The people who had the mark of the beast” (global)
• “The sea” (global)
• “The rivers and springs of water” (widespread)
• “The sun” (affecting everyone)
• “The kingdom” (at minimum, a large political entity)
• “The great river Euphrates” (specific geographical feature)
• “The great city” (major urban center)
• “Every island” and “the mountains” (global)

These are cosmic or at least widespread judgments, not localized organizational events.

Shincheonji’s interpretation makes these global/cosmic judgments into events affecting one small organization in Korea. This doesn’t match the scope described in the text.

Problem 3: The Timeline Is Arbitrary

Why 1984-1990? Shincheonji claims this is because:

• The initial judgment was 3.5 years
• The payback is double (7 years)
• Therefore 1984-1990

But this reasoning is circular:

1. Shincheonji decides when the “initial judgment” occurred (based on their organizational history)
2. They calculate 3.5 years
3. They double it to get 7 years
4. They identify 1984-1990 as the fulfillment

But the text doesn’t say the bowls last 7 years. The text doesn’t say the judgment is “double” the previous period. These are assumptions Shincheonji makes to fit their organizational timeline.

Problem 4: The 1990 Bible Center Opening

Shincheonji claims that in 1990, the first Bible Center opened, fulfilling Revelation 15:8 (“no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed”).

But this raises questions:

Question 1: If the temple is Shincheonji, and no one could enter until 1990, what about all the people who were part of Shincheonji before 1990? Were they not “in the temple”?

Question 2: Opening a Bible Center is not the same as entering the heavenly temple described in Revelation 15. The text describes the temple in heaven filled with smoke from God’s glory, not an organizational facility in Korea.

Question 3: If the temple couldn’t be entered until 1990, how could the events of Revelation 12-14 (which Shincheonji claims happened before 1990) involve the temple? Shincheonji’s timeline contradicts itself.

Problem 5: Lack of External Verification

Revelation 16’s judgments are so dramatic that they should be externally verifiable:

• Did the sea turn to blood 1984-1990? No.
• Did all sea creatures die? No.
• Did rivers turn to blood? No.
• Did the sun scorch people with intense heat? No more than usual.
• Was there darkness over a kingdom? No.
• Did the Euphrates dry up? No.
• Was there an earthquake that made islands flee and mountains disappear? Definitely not.

None of these events happened in any observable way during 1984-1990.

Shincheonji’s response is that these are “spiritual” events or symbolic of organizational activities. But if the fulfillment is so different from the description that it’s unrecognizable and unverifiable, how can we know it’s actually fulfilled?

The Historical Reality

Let’s examine what actually happened 1984-1990:

In the World:

• The Cold War was ongoing
• The Berlin Wall fell (1989)
• Tiananmen Square protests (1989)
• Various political and social events

None of these match Revelation 16’s description.

In Shincheonji:

According to “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and Part 2” and “The Real Reasons Behind the Tabernacle Temple’s Destruction and Sale”:

• Organizational conflicts and disputes
• Leadership changes
• Doctrinal developments
• Internal restructuring
• Eventually, the opening of educational facilities

These are normal organizational activities, not cosmic judgments.

The Pattern of Failed Predictions

This isn’t the first time Shincheonji has made specific timeline claims. According to “Why Fulfillment of Prophecy is Absolutely Critical for Shincheonji – Especially Revelation”:

Previous Claims:

• Specific dates for completing the 144,000
• Specific dates for Christ’s return
• Specific organizational milestones that would mark prophetic fulfillment

The Pattern:

1. Make specific prediction
2. When it doesn’t happen as predicted, reinterpret
3. Claim it was fulfilled “spiritually” or differently than expected
4. Make new predictions
5. Repeat

This pattern should raise serious concerns. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 gives a clear test for prophets:

“You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”

If predictions don’t come true, the prophet has spoken presumptuously—not from God.

The First-Century Understanding

What would first-century Christians have understood from Revelation 16?

They would understand:

1. Exodus Imagery: The bowls parallel the plagues on Egypt (water to blood, darkness, etc.). This would remind them of God’s judgment on Egypt and deliverance of His people.
2. Judgment on Rome: The bowls are poured out on “those who had the mark of the beast” and “the kingdom” (the beast’s kingdom = Rome). This is judgment on the Roman Empire.
3. Cosmic Scope: The judgments affect sea, rivers, sun, earth—cosmic scope indicating God’s ultimate judgment.
4. Encouragement: Despite Rome’s power and persecution, God will judge Rome and vindicate His people.
5. Warning: The judgments include a warning (16:15) to stay faithful and ready for Christ’s return.

They would NOT understand:

• That these judgments would be fulfilled in Korea 1900+ years later
• That the bowls represent organizational activities
• That they need to identify specific dates (1984-1990) for fulfillment
• That the “temple” is a Korean organization

Why? Because:

• The text addresses their situation (Roman persecution)
• The imagery is rooted in their context (Exodus, Roman Empire)
• The message is relevant to them (stay faithful despite persecution)
• The scope is cosmic/universal, not localized to one organization

The Danger of Date-Setting

Shincheonji’s specific date claims (1984-1990) are dangerous because:

1. They Can Be Fact-Checked:

Unlike vague predictions, specific dates can be verified. Did the events described in Revelation 16 happen 1984-1990? No. This reveals the interpretation is wrong.

2. They Create False Certainty:

Specific dates create a sense of certainty and precision that makes the interpretation seem more credible. But this certainty is false—the dates are imposed on the text, not derived from it.

3. They Distract from the Real Message:

The real message of Revelation 16 (God will judge evil, vindicate His people, and establish His kingdom) is lost in debates about specific dates and organizational events.

4. They Set Up for Disappointment:

When predictions don’t come true as expected, followers experience disappointment and cognitive dissonance. Some leave; others rationalize and reinterpret.

5. They Violate Jesus’ Teaching:

Jesus explicitly said we cannot know times and dates:

Acts 1:7: “He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.'”

Matthew 24:36: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Yet Shincheonji claims to know specific dates for prophetic fulfillment. This contradicts Jesus’ teaching.

Questions for Verification

If you’re being taught that Revelation 16 was fulfilled 1984-1990, ask:

1. Where are the observable events?

• Where is the sea that turned to blood?
• Where are the dead sea creatures?
• Where are the rivers that turned to blood?
• Where is the earthquake that made islands flee?
• Where are the 100-pound hailstones?

2. Why doesn’t the fulfillment match the description?

If organizational preaching is the “fulfillment” of the sea turning to blood, why is the description so different? How can we verify that this is the correct interpretation?

3. What about the scope?

Revelation 16 describes global/cosmic judgments. How can these be fulfilled in one organization in Korea?

4. What about external verification?

Can anyone outside Shincheonji verify that these events happened? Or is this only “visible” to Shincheonji members?

5. What about previous predictions?

Has Shincheonji made other date-specific predictions? Did they come true? If not, why should we trust this one?

6. What does Jesus say about knowing times and dates?

Jesus said we cannot know times and dates (Acts 1:7). Why is Shincheonji claiming to know specific dates for prophetic fulfillment?

The Biblical Alternative

The biblical alternative to Shincheonji’s date-setting is:

1. Focus on Readiness, Not Dates:

Matthew 24:42-44: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

We should be ready at all times, not focused on calculating dates.

2. Understand Revelation’s Message, Not Timeline:

Revelation’s message is:

• God is sovereign
• Christ has won the victory
• Evil will be judged
• God’s people will be vindicated
• Stay faithful despite persecution
• Worship God alone

This message is timeless and doesn’t depend on identifying specific dates.

3. Trust God’s Timing:

2 Peter 3:8-9: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God’s timing is perfect. We don’t need to calculate dates; we need to trust Him.

4. Live Faithfully:

Rather than focusing on dates and timelines, we should:

• Love God and others (Matthew 22:37-40)
• Make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)
• Live godly lives (Titus 2:11-14)
• Serve others (Galatians 5:13)
• Proclaim the gospel (Romans 10:14-15)

This is what Christ calls us to, not calculating dates for prophetic fulfillment.

The Reality

The reality is that Shincheonji’s 1984-1990 timeline:

• Doesn’t match the biblical description
• Can’t be externally verified
• Follows a pattern of failed predictions
• Contradicts Jesus’ teaching about not knowing times and dates
• Distracts from Revelation’s real message

As Chapter 18 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, specific date claims are a red flag in any religious group. When a group claims to know specific dates for prophetic fulfillment, especially when those dates are in the past and the “fulfillment” is only visible to group members, this indicates the group is imposing their narrative on Scripture rather than deriving interpretation from Scripture.

Part 7: New Family Education – Preparation for Full Commitment

The Revelation

Near the end of Lesson 125, students learn about what comes next:

“Before Passover: New Family Education

For those who have decided to enter Mount Zion and have completed the process, there is a special period before Passover called new family education, which lasts about a month.

During this time, you will hear from various leaders throughout Mount Zion, including those from our evangelism ministry, theology ministry, and internal affairs ministry. Although these leaders have different teaching styles, the word and the seed they share remain the same. It will be a wonderful opportunity for you to read, listen, and learn from these different leaders – the very ones who taught us and keep us in check.

During new family education, different leaders will take turns speaking, giving you the chance to meet many new people in Mount Zion who have been praying for you and are eager to meet you. This applies to those who are ready to enter Mount Zion immediately after the class.”

What This Reveals

This brief section reveals crucial information about what happens after students complete the curriculum:

1. There’s Another Stage: “New Family Education”

After completing the Advanced Level (Revelation), students don’t immediately become full members. There’s another stage: “new family education,” lasting about a month.

2. It Happens “Before Passover”

This timing is significant. Passover is when students are officially baptized and become full members. New family education prepares them for this.

3. Students Meet Organizational Leaders

During new family education, students meet leaders from:

• Evangelism ministry (recruitment)
• Theology ministry (teaching/doctrine)
• Internal affairs ministry (organizational management)

This introduces students to the organizational structure they’ll be part of.

4. Students Meet More Members

“You’ll meet many new people in Mount Zion who have been praying for you and are eager to meet you.”

This expands students’ social network within the organization, creating more relational bonds that make leaving difficult.

5. The Transition Is Immediate

“This applies to those who are ready to enter Mount Zion immediately after the class.”

Students are expected to transition immediately from completing the curriculum to new family education to Passover (baptism/full membership). There’s no pause for reflection or outside consultation.

The Function of New Family Education

What is the function of this additional stage?

Function 1: Final Preparation

New family education is the final preparation before full commitment (Passover/baptism). It ensures students are fully indoctrinated and ready to commit.

Function 2: Introducing Organizational Structure

Students learn about the organizational structure (ministries, leadership, roles) they’ll be part of. This prepares them for organizational involvement after baptism.

Function 3: Creating Relational Bonds

Meeting many new people creates additional relational bonds. The more relationships students have within the organization, the harder it is to leave.

Function 4: Normalizing High Involvement

A month of intensive new family education (plus ongoing Wash Day services, plus final classes) normalizes high organizational involvement. Students become accustomed to the organization being central to their lives.

Function 5: Preventing Reflection

The immediate transition from classes to new family education to Passover prevents students from taking time to reflect, research, or consult outside sources. The momentum carries them forward into full commitment.

Function 6: Reinforcing Teaching

Hearing from multiple leaders reinforces Shincheonji’s teaching. Different voices saying the same thing creates the impression of consensus and truth.

Function 7: Identifying Roles

During new family education, the organization likely identifies which roles students will fill after baptism—who will be evangelists, who will serve in various ministries, etc.

The Progression

Let’s trace the full progression students experience:

Months 1-3: Introductory Level (Parables)

• Learn symbolic interpretation method
• Form relationship with evangelist
• Begin attending regularly
• Start viewing Bible as book of symbols

Months 4-6: Intermediate Level (Bible Logic)

• Learn Shincheonji’s symbolic system
• Increase time commitment
• Begin distrusting other interpretations
• Start viewing other churches as lacking understanding

Months 7-12: Advanced Level (Revelation 1-11)

• Learn Shincheonji’s historical narrative
• Accept Shincheonji as fulfillment of Revelation
• Begin separating from other churches
• Accept Lee Man-hee as “promised pastor”

Months 12-14: Advanced Level (Revelation 12-22)

• Learn about spiritual warfare (Rev 12)
• Accept other churches as “Babylon” (Rev 13)
• Learn about 144,000 and aspire to be part of it (Rev 14)
• Learn Shincheonji is the temple (Rev 15)
• Introduced to HWPL (Lesson 122)
• Taught about persecution and endurance (Lesson 124)
• NOW (Lesson 125): Taught not to research outside sources, explicitly told to follow Lee Man-hee, introduced to “Wash Day,” prepared for new family education

Month 14+: New Family Education

• Meet organizational leaders
• Learn about organizational structure
• Meet more members
• Prepare for Passover/baptism

Passover: Baptism and Full Membership

• Officially baptized into Shincheonji
• Become full member
• Transition from student to worker
• Begin organizational involvement (recruitment, ministries, etc.)

The Critical Window

Right now—between Lesson 125 and new family education—is the critical window. This is the last opportunity for students to:

1. Step Back and Reflect:

Before committing to new family education and Passover, take time to step back and reflect on what you’ve learned and what you’re being asked to commit to.

2. Research:

Despite being told not to “go beyond what is written,” research Shincheonji thoroughly:

• Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination
• Read testimonies from former members
• Consult biblical commentaries on Revelation
• Talk to pastors and mature Christians

3. Evaluate:

Evaluate what you’ve learned:

• Does it align with Scripture in context?
• Does it match mainstream Christian understanding?
• Does it keep Christ central or make the organization central?
• What is the fruit in people’s lives?

4. Seek Counsel:

Talk to trusted people outside Shincheonji:

• Family members
• Friends
• Pastors
• Biblical scholars
• Former members

5. Pray:

Ask God for wisdom and discernment. He promises to give it (James 1:5).

6. Consider the Cost:

What will full membership cost?

• Time (twice-weekly services, classes, one-on-ones, events, recruitment)
• Relationships (strained family relationships, separation from non-Shincheonji friends)
• Freedom (organizational control over beliefs, time, activities)
• Critical thinking (suppression of questions and doubts)

The Pressure

Students at this stage face intense pressure:

Pressure 1: Momentum

After 12-14 months of intensive study, there’s tremendous momentum toward completion. You’ve invested so much—why stop now?

Pressure 2: Social Pressure

Your evangelist, classmates, and Shincheonji members are all expecting you to complete the process. Stopping now would disappoint them.

Pressure 3: Sunk Cost

You’ve invested over a year of your life. Leaving now feels like wasting all that investment.

Pressure 4: Identity

Your identity has become tied to being part of the 144,000, being in Mount Zion, being among the sealed. Leaving means losing this identity.

Pressure 5: Fear

You’ve been taught that other churches are Babylon, that leaving means losing salvation, that your family’s salvation depends on you staying. Fear keeps you committed.

Pressure 6: Urgency

The immediate transition from classes to new family education to Passover creates urgency. There’s no time to pause and reflect.

Pressure 7: Information Control

You’ve been explicitly told not to research outside sources. This prevents discovery of information that might lead you to reconsider.

The Reality of Full Membership

What does full membership actually involve? Based on “SCJ’s Fulfillment of Revelation Part 1 and Part 2” and testimonies from former members:

Time Commitment:

• Twice-weekly services (Wash Day)
• Weekly evangelism activities (recruiting new students)
• One-on-one meetings with those you recruit
• Additional organizational events
• Ministry involvement (depending on your role)
• HWPL activities (for some members)

Total: 10-20+ hours per week, sometimes more

Financial Commitment:

• Tithes and offerings
• Contributions to organizational activities
• Expenses for events and materials

Relational Impact:

• Strained relationships with family (especially if they oppose Shincheonji)
• Separation from non-Shincheonji friends
• Primary social network becomes Shincheonji
• Pressure to recruit family and friends

Organizational Control:

• Expected to accept all teaching without question
• Expected to attend all required events
• Expected to participate in recruitment
• Monitored for commitment and compliance
• Pressure to conform to organizational expectations

Psychological Impact:

• Anxiety about performance (recruitment numbers, attendance, commitment)
• Guilt about family members who haven’t joined
• Fear of judgment if you don’t meet expectations
• Cognitive dissonance between organizational demands and personal values
• Difficulty leaving due to sunk cost, relationships, and identity

What Former Members Say

According to testimonies from former members (available at https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination):

Common Experiences:

• “I had no idea what I was committing to”
• “The time commitment was overwhelming”
• “My family relationships were destroyed”
• “I couldn’t question anything without being made to feel guilty”
• “I was constantly anxious about meeting expectations”
• “Leaving was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most freeing”
• “I wish I had researched before committing”
• “I wish someone had warned me”

Common Regrets:

• Not researching before committing
• Not listening to family’s concerns
• Not taking time to reflect before Passover
• Not consulting outside sources
• Allowing momentum to carry them into full commitment

Common Relief After Leaving:

• Freedom from organizational control
• Restored family relationships
• Ability to think critically again
• Relief from constant anxiety and guilt
• Discovery of genuine faith in Christ apart from organization

The Choice

Right now, you have a choice. You can:

Option 1: Continue Forward

Proceed to new family education, Passover, and full membership. Accept the time commitment, organizational control, and relational costs.

Option 2: Pause and Investigate

Take time to research, reflect, pray, and seek counsel before committing. This might mean:

• Telling your evangelist you need time to think
• Researching Shincheonji online
• Reading former members’ testimonies
• Consulting with pastors and biblical scholars
• Talking honestly with family about their concerns
• Comparing Shincheonji’s teaching with mainstream Christian understanding

Option 3: Leave

Recognize that Shincheonji’s teaching doesn’t align with Scripture and leave before full commitment. This is difficult because of the investment and relationships, but it’s possible and many have done it.

The Biblical Standard

What does the Bible say about making commitments?

Count the Cost:

Luke 14:28-30: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.'”

Before committing, count the cost. What will this commitment require? Can you sustain it? Is it what God is calling you to?

Don’t Make Hasty Vows:

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”

Don’t make hasty commitments. It’s better not to commit than to commit and later regret it.

Seek Wisdom:

Proverbs 19:20: “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”

Seek advice from multiple sources. Don’t rely only on Shincheonji’s perspective.

Test Everything:

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

Test what you’ve learned. Does it align with Scripture? Does it produce good fruit? Hold fast to what is good; reject what is false.

A Word of Caution

If you’re approaching new family education and Passover, please hear this:

Once you’re baptized and become a full member, leaving becomes much more difficult.

Why?

• More relational bonds (harder to walk away from)
• More time invested (greater sunk cost)
• More organizational involvement (harder to extricate yourself)
• More identity investment (your identity becomes more tied to the organization)
• More pressure (full members face more pressure to stay)

Now is the time to carefully evaluate. Before you commit fully, make sure you’ve:

• Researched thoroughly
• Compared with Scripture
• Sought outside counsel
• Counted the cost
• Prayed for wisdom
• Evaluated the fruit

Don’t let momentum, pressure, or fear push you into a commitment you’ll later regret.

As Chapter 20 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, the transition from student to full member is a critical juncture. Organizations like Shincheonji create momentum and pressure to carry students through this transition without pause for reflection. Recognizing this tactic and intentionally slowing down to evaluate is crucial for making an informed decision.

Part 8: The Progression of Indoctrination at This Critical Stage

Where Students Are Now

By Lesson 125, students have been in Shincheonji’s system for 12-14 months. Let’s examine the progression of indoctrination and where students are psychologically, socially, and spiritually.

The Psychological State

1. Altered Belief System

After 12-14 months of intensive teaching, students’ belief system has been systematically altered:

Before Shincheonji:

• Mainstream Christian understanding of Scripture
• Jesus is central to salvation
• Church is the community of believers
• Revelation is about God’s ultimate victory and Christ’s return

After 12-14 Months:

• Shincheonji’s symbolic interpretation system
• Lee Man-hee is the promised pastor with exclusive truth
• Shincheonji is the only true church; others are Babylon
• Revelation is about Shincheonji’s organizational history

This is a fundamental shift in worldview and theology.

2. Identity Transformation

Students’ identity has been transformed:

Before:

• Individual Christian
• Member of a church community
• Part of the universal body of Christ

After:

• Part of the 144,000
• Member of Mount Zion
• One of the sealed
• Participant in God’s end-times plan
• Potential worker in God’s kingdom

This new identity is powerful and compelling. It makes students feel special, chosen, part of something significant.

3. Relationship Changes

Relationships have shifted:

Shincheonji Relationships:

• Strong bond with evangelist (who has invested 12-14 months in you)
• Friendships with classmates (who share your journey)
• Connection with instructors and other members
• Sense of belonging to a community

Outside Relationships:

• Strained relationships with family (especially if they oppose Shincheonji)
• Distance from previous church and Christian friends
• Reduced contact with non-Shincheonji friends
• Isolation from outside perspectives

The balance has shifted. Shincheonji relationships are now primary; outside relationships are secondary or strained.

4. Cognitive Dissonance

Despite high commitment, many students experience cognitive dissonance—tension between conflicting beliefs or values:

Dissonance 1: Deception vs. Honesty

Students may have used deceptive practices (not revealing Shincheonji connection initially, using front organizations) while valuing honesty. This creates dissonance.

Resolution: “The deception is necessary to protect the truth from persecution” or “It’s not really deception; it’s wisdom.”

Dissonance 2: Family Relationships vs. Organizational Loyalty

Students value family but face opposition from family about Shincheonji involvement. This creates tension.

Resolution: “My family is persecuting me because they don’t understand” or “I must prioritize God’s will over family.”

Dissonance 3: Critical Thinking vs. Acceptance

Students may value critical thinking but are taught not to question Shincheonji’s teaching or research outside sources.

Resolution: “Critical thinking is worldly wisdom; I need spiritual wisdom” or “Questioning is from the enemy.”

Dissonance 4: Time Commitment vs. Other Responsibilities

Students have other responsibilities (work, family, rest) but face increasing organizational demands on their time.

Resolution: “God’s work must come first” or “This is temporary; after I’m sealed, it will be easier.”

5. Sunk Cost

After 12-14 months, students have invested:

• 100+ hours in classes
• Countless hours in one-on-ones with evangelists
• Time in Wash Day services and other events
• Emotional energy in relationships
• Mental energy in learning the system
• Identity investment in being part of the 144,000

This massive investment creates psychological pressure to continue. Leaving now feels like wasting all that investment.

6. Information Control

By Lesson 125, information control is explicit:

• Don’t go beyond what is written (don’t research outside sources)
• The internet, commentaries, articles are “Satan’s domain”
• Researching will lead to “confusion and maddening wine”
• Follow Lee Man-hee because “the word is present with him”

Students are now explicitly told not to fact-check or seek outside perspectives.

7. Thought-Stopping

Students have internalized thought-stopping mechanisms:

Doubt arises: “That’s the enemy trying to hinder me” Family expresses concern: “That’s persecution confirming I’m on the right path” Impulse to research: “That’s going beyond what is written; it’s Satan’s domain” Question about teaching: “I shouldn’t question; I should just receive the word”

These thought-stopping mechanisms prevent critical evaluation.

The Social State

1. Primary Social Network Is Shincheonji

After 12-14 months, students’ primary social network is Shincheonji:

• Spend most free time with Shincheonji members
• Primary friendships are within Shincheonji
• Social activities revolve around Shincheonji events
• Sense of belonging comes from Shincheonji community

2. Outside Relationships Are Strained or Severed

Relationships outside Shincheonji are often:

• Strained (due to family’s concerns about involvement)
• Reduced (less time for non-Shincheonji friends)
• Viewed with suspicion (non-Shincheonji friends might lead you astray)
• Secondary (Shincheonji relationships are prioritized)

3. Social Pressure to Continue

There’s tremendous social pressure to continue:

• Evangelist has invested heavily in you
• Classmates are all moving forward together
• Shincheonji members are expecting you to complete
• Stopping now would disappoint many people

4. Social Rewards for Commitment

Commitment is socially rewarded:

• Praise for dedication and progress
• Excitement about upcoming Passover
• Anticipation of becoming a full member
• Promise of meaningful roles in organizational ministries

5. Social Costs of Leaving

Leaving would incur social costs:

• Disappointing evangelist and classmates
• Losing Shincheonji friendships
• Being viewed as someone who “gave up” or “was overcome by the enemy”
• Potential shunning or negative treatment from former Shincheonji friends

The Spiritual State

1. Confusion About True Christianity

After 12-14 months of Shincheonji teaching, students are often confused about what true Christianity is:

Shincheonji says:

• True Christianity is accepting their interpretation
• True church is Shincheonji; others are Babylon
• True salvation requires being sealed in Shincheonji
• True understanding requires Lee Man-hee’s teaching

Traditional Christianity says:

• True Christianity is faith in Christ
• True church is the universal body of believers
• True salvation is by grace through faith
• True understanding comes through Scripture and the Holy Spirit

Students are caught between these competing definitions.

2. Dependence on Organization for Spiritual Life

Students have become dependent on Shincheonji for spiritual life:

• Need Wash Day services to stay spiritually “clean”
• Need Shincheonji teaching to understand Scripture
• Need organizational involvement to fulfill God’s purpose
• Need Lee Man-hee’s interpretation to access “the word”

This dependence makes leaving feel like abandoning spiritual life entirely.

3. Fear-Based Motivation

Much of students’ motivation is fear-based:

• Fear of judgment if they don’t complete
• Fear of their family’s salvation being lost
• Fear of missing out on being part of the 144,000
• Fear of persecution if they leave
• Fear of being “overcome by the enemy”

This fear drives commitment but also creates anxiety and stress.

4. Performance-Based Spirituality

Students have internalized a performance-based spirituality:

• Must pass exams with high scores
• Must attend all services
• Must respond to evangelist’s calls
• Must “overcome” persecution
• Must prove commitment

This creates constant pressure to perform and anxiety about measuring up.

5. Disconnection from Christ

Despite all the Bible study, many students feel disconnected from Christ:

• Focus is on organizational membership, not relationship with Christ
• Emphasis is on mastering interpretation, not knowing Christ personally
• Identity is tied to being part of 144,000, not being in Christ
• Assurance is based on organizational status, not Christ’s finished work

The Indoctrination Techniques at This Stage

Let’s identify the specific indoctrination techniques operating at this stage:

Technique 1: Information Control

Explicit instruction not to research outside sources, labeled as “Satan’s domain.”

Technique 2: Thought-Stopping

Internalized mechanisms to stop critical thoughts: “That’s the enemy,” “That’s persecution,” “That’s going beyond what is written.”

Technique 3: Loaded Language

Special terms with special meanings: “the word,” “Mount Zion,” “sealed,” “Babylon,” “persecution,” “overcome,” “pass over.”

Technique 4: Us vs. Them

Strong dichotomy: Shincheonji (God’s people, truth, light) vs. Everyone else (Babylon, confusion, darkness).

Technique 5: Guilt and Fear

Constant guilt (about family’s salvation, about responsiveness to evangelist) and fear (of judgment, of missing out, of persecution).

Technique 6: Love Bombing and Social Pressure

Strong relational bonds create pressure to stay and rewards for commitment.

Technique 7: Identity Transformation

New identity (part of 144,000, member of Mount Zion) replaces old identity.

Technique 8: Sunk Cost

Massive investment makes leaving feel like wasting everything.

Technique 9: Urgency

Immediate transition from classes to new family education to Passover prevents reflection.

Technique 10: Authority Manipulation

Explicit instruction to follow Lee Man-hee because “the word is present with him.”

These techniques work together to create a powerful system of influence that makes it extremely difficult to leave, even when doubts arise.

The Critical Juncture

This is a critical juncture because:

1. Last Opportunity Before Full Commitment

After Passover (baptism), leaving becomes much more difficult. This is the last opportunity to reconsider before full commitment.

2. Information Control Is Now Explicit

Students are now explicitly told not to research. This is the organization’s final attempt to prevent discovery of problematic information.

3. The Instruction to Follow Lee Man-hee Is Explicit

Students are now explicitly told to follow Lee Man-hee. The organization is no longer subtle about making him central.

4. The Time Commitment Is Increasing

With Wash Day (twice weekly) plus ongoing classes plus new family education approaching, the time commitment is increasing, making it harder to maintain outside relationships and perspectives.

5. The Momentum Is Strong

After 12-14 months, the momentum toward completion is very strong. It takes significant intentionality to step back and evaluate.

6. The Social Pressure Is Intense

Everyone is expecting you to complete. The social pressure to continue is at its peak.

7. The Identity Investment Is Deep

Your identity is now deeply tied to being part of the 144,000, being in Mount Zion. Leaving means losing this identity.

What This Means for Students

If you’re at this stage, you need to understand:

1. You’re at a Critical Decision Point

The decision you make now—to continue to Passover or to pause and evaluate—will significantly impact your life. Take it seriously.

2. The Pressure Is Intentional

The momentum, urgency, social pressure, and information control are intentional tactics to carry you through this critical juncture without pause for reflection.

3. You Have the Right to Slow Down

Despite the pressure, you have the right to slow down, take time, research, pray, and seek counsel. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for taking time to make an informed decision.

4. Information Control Is a Red Flag

The explicit instruction not to research outside sources is a major red flag. Organizations confident in their teaching don’t need to prevent members from researching.

5. Your Investment Doesn’t Obligate You

Yes, you’ve invested 12-14 months. But sunk cost shouldn’t determine your future. If you discover Shincheonji’s teaching is false, the best decision is to leave, regardless of past investment.

6. Leaving Is Possible

Many people have left Shincheonji at various stages, including right before Passover. It’s difficult, but possible. And former members consistently report that leaving was the best decision they made.

7. You Don’t Need Shincheonji

You don’t need Shincheonji to know God, understand Scripture, or be saved. You need Jesus Christ. If you trust in Him, you have everything you need (Colossians 2:9-10).

Questions for Self-Evaluation

Ask yourself honestly:

About Beliefs:

1. Do I genuinely believe Shincheonji’s interpretation, or have I just accepted it because of the investment and relationships?
2. Have I compared their teaching with mainstream Christian understanding?
3. Does their interpretation align with Scripture in context?
4. Am I comfortable with making Lee Man-hee central to my faith?

About Relationships: 5. Are my relationships with family improving or deteriorating? 6. Am I maintaining healthy relationships outside Shincheonji? 7. Do I feel free in my Shincheonji relationships, or is there pressure to conform? 8. If I left, would my Shincheonji friends still accept me?

About Freedom: 9. Do I feel free to question and express doubts? 10. Am I free to research outside sources? 11. Am I free to take time to reflect before committing? 12. Do I feel peace and freedom, or anxiety and pressure?

About Fruit: 13. What is the fruit of Shincheonji’s teaching in my life? 14. Am I growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness? 15. Or am I experiencing anxiety, fear, guilt, broken relationships? 16. What do former members say about their experience?

About Commitment: 17. Do I fully understand what I’m committing to? 18. Have I counted the cost (time, relationships, freedom)? 19. Am I ready to make this commitment? 20. Or do I need more time to evaluate?

Your answers to these questions can help you discern whether to continue forward or to pause and investigate further.

As Chapter 22 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, the progression of indoctrination in groups like Shincheonji follows predictable patterns. Understanding these patterns—information control, thought-stopping, identity transformation, social pressure—can help individuals recognize what’s happening and make informed decisions about their involvement.

By Lesson 125, you’ve been in Shincheonji’s system for over a year. You’re approaching new family education and Passover—the point of full commitment. Before you take that step, it’s crucial to pause and honestly evaluate what you’ve learned and what you’re being asked to commit to.

These questions are designed to help you think critically and biblically about Shincheonji’s teaching. They’re not meant to attack or accuse, but to encourage careful discernment—which is exactly what Scripture commands (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11).

Take time with these questions. Write down your answers. Pray for wisdom. Seek counsel from trusted people outside Shincheonji. Don’t let pressure or urgency prevent you from making an informed decision.

Questions About Revelation 17 and Biblical Interpretation

1. Babylon the Prostitute:

• Revelation 17:9 says the woman sits on “seven hills.” Rome was famously known as the city on seven hills. Why does Shincheonji say Babylon is not Rome but a Korean organization?
• Revelation 17:18 says the woman is “the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” In the first century, what city ruled over the kings of the earth—Rome or a future Korean organization?
• If first-century Christians reading Revelation 17 would naturally understand Babylon as Rome (their contemporary oppressor), why would God give them a prophecy about Korea 1900+ years later that would be irrelevant to their situation?

2. The Wine of Adulteries:

• In biblical imagery, adultery often represents political/economic alliances or unfaithfulness to God. How does this fit with Rome’s political alliances and cultural seduction better than with “false teachings from other churches”?
• If the wine of adulteries is false teaching from churches, why does Revelation 18:3 say “the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries”? How do false teachings make merchants rich?
• Why does Revelation 18:11-19 list specific trade goods (gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, ivory, bronze, iron, marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, carriages, and human beings) if this is about false teaching rather than economic trade?

3. The Hidden Manna:

• Revelation 2:17 promises hidden manna “to the one who is victorious.” Is this a promise to all believers who overcome, or only to Shincheonji students?
• In John 6:35, Jesus says “I am the bread of life.” Could the hidden manna represent Christ Himself rather than an interpretation system?
• If the hidden manna is Shincheonji’s teaching, why does 1 John 2:27 say “you do not need anyone to teach you” because “his anointing teaches you about all things”?

4. The Opened Scroll:

• In Revelation 5, who is worthy to open the scroll? Is it Jesus (the Lamb) or Lee Man-hee?
• If Jesus opened the scroll 2000 years ago, why does Shincheonji claim it was sealed until Lee Man-hee opened it in the 20th century?
• The scroll in Revelation 5-8 contains judgments that unfold as the seals are opened. How does this relate to Shincheonji’s interpretation system?

5. First-Century Understanding:

• If you were a first-century Christian in Asia Minor, suffering under Roman persecution, reading Revelation 17, what would you understand Babylon to be—Rome (your current oppressor) or a Korean organization 1900+ years in the future?
• Would a prophecy about Korea in the 1980s be relevant or helpful to you as you faced persecution from Rome?
• Does it make sense that God would give first-century Christians a detailed prophecy about organizational events in Korea that they couldn’t possibly verify or benefit from?

Questions About Information Control

6. “Do Not Go Beyond What Is Written”:

• In 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul says “do not go beyond what is written” in the context of not creating factions around human leaders. How does this relate to not reading commentaries or researching online?
• Paul himself quotes pagan poets and philosophers (Acts 17:28, Titus 1:12). Was Paul “going beyond what is written”?
• If “do not go beyond what is written” means don’t consult outside sources, how can we learn church history, theology, biblical languages, archaeology, or any information not explicitly in the Bible?

7. The Internet and Outside Sources:

• Why does Shincheonji label the internet, commentaries, articles, and videos as “Satan’s domain”?
• If Shincheonji’s teaching is true, wouldn’t it withstand scrutiny from outside sources?
• Why would an organization confident in its teaching need to prevent members from researching?
• What is Shincheonji afraid you’ll discover if you research outside sources?

8. Biblical Discernment:

• Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for examining Paul’s teaching against Scripture daily. Were the Bereans “going beyond what is written” by fact-checking Paul?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 commands “test everything; hold fast what is good.” How can you test Shincheonji’s teaching if you’re not allowed to consult outside sources?
• 1 John 4:1 commands “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How can you test if you’re not allowed to research?

9. Comparison:

• Have you compared Shincheonji’s interpretation of Revelation with mainstream Christian understanding?
• Have you read what biblical scholars, theologians, and church historians say about Revelation?
• Have you read testimonies from former Shincheonji members?
• If not, why not? What are you afraid of discovering?

10. Trust:

• Do you trust Shincheonji’s teaching because you’ve thoroughly examined it and found it true, or because you’ve been told not to examine outside sources?
• If you haven’t researched outside sources, how can you be confident you’re making an informed decision?
• Is faith based on avoiding information, or on examining evidence and choosing truth?

Questions About Following Lee Man-hee

11. “The Word Is Present With Him”:

• The lesson says “the word was given to New John” and “the sole reason to follow New John is because the word is present with him.” Where in Scripture does it say “the word” would be given to one person in Korea?
• John 1:1, 14 says Jesus is the Word. How can “the word” be present with Lee Man-hee if Jesus is the Word?
• If “the word” means God’s truth or revelation, doesn’t the Holy Spirit give this to all believers (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27)?

12. Mediation:

• 1 Timothy 2:5 says “there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” If Jesus is the only mediator, why do you need Lee Man-hee to access “the word”?
• Can you understand Scripture and know God without Lee Man-hee’s interpretation?
• If not, doesn’t that make Lee Man-hee essential to your salvation and relationship with God?

13. Evaluation of Leaders:

• The lesson says following Lee Man-hee shouldn’t be based on “his speaking style, appearance, nationality, or his military service in the Korean War.” But what about his character, track record, and fruit?
• 1 Timothy 3:1-7 lists qualifications for church leaders, including being “above reproach,” “respectable,” “not a recent convert,” and having “a good reputation with outsiders.” Have you evaluated Lee Man-hee against these qualifications?
• Matthew 7:16-20 says “by their fruit you will recognize them.” What is the fruit of Lee Man-hee’s leadership? Are families being reunited or torn apart? Are people growing in love and freedom or in fear and control?

14. Track Record:

• Deuteronomy 18:21-22 says if a prophet’s predictions don’t come true, “that prophet has spoken presumptuously.” Has Lee Man-hee made predictions that didn’t come true?
• Have there been specific dates given for completing the 144,000 or other milestones that weren’t met as predicted?
• If so, what does this say about his claim to be God’s chosen prophet?

15. Comparison with Christ:

• Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Is Jesus sufficient, or do you need Lee Man-hee too?
• Colossians 2:9-10 says “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” If you have fullness in Christ, why do you need Lee Man-hee?
• Is your faith in Christ alone, or in Christ plus Lee Man-hee’s interpretation?

Questions About “Wash Day” and Organizational Dependency

16. Spiritual Cleansing:

• The lesson says you need “Wash Day” services to be “cleansed from the week’s dirtiness.” But doesn’t 1 John 1:7 say “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin”?
• If Christ’s blood cleanses you, why do you need organizational gatherings to stay spiritually clean?
• Does this teaching imply Christ’s cleansing isn’t sufficient?

17. Numbers 19:

• Numbers 19 describes Old Testament ceremonial cleansing rituals. Hebrews 9:13-14 says these pointed to Christ’s cleansing. Why is Shincheonji applying fulfilled ceremonial law to organizational gatherings?
• If the ceremonial law was fulfilled in Christ, why are you being taught you need ritual cleansing through organizational services?

18. The Sea of Glass:

• Revelation 4:6 and 15:2 describe the sea of glass in heaven’s throne room. How does this relate to Shincheonji services?
• Is Shincheonji claiming their organizational gatherings are equivalent to the heavenly throne room?
• Isn’t this presumptuous?

19. Dependency:

• Do you feel you need Shincheonji services to stay spiritually healthy?
• Can you maintain your relationship with God without organizational involvement?
• If not, have you become dependent on the organization rather than on Christ?

20. Time Commitment:

• “Wash Day” is Sundays and “soon Wednesdays”—twice weekly. Plus classes, one-on-ones, and other events. How much time per week does Shincheonji require?
• Is this time commitment sustainable long-term?
• What are you sacrificing (family time, rest, other relationships, hobbies) for organizational involvement?

Questions About the 1984-1990 Timeline

21. Observable Events:

• Revelation 16 describes the sea turning to blood, all sea creatures dying, rivers turning to blood, the sun scorching people, darkness over a kingdom, a massive earthquake, islands fleeing, mountains disappearing, and 100-pound hailstones. Did any of these events happen observably during 1984-1990?
• If not, how can Shincheonji claim Revelation 16 was fulfilled during this period?

22. Scope:

• Revelation 16’s judgments affect the sea, rivers, sun, earth, islands, mountains—cosmic or at least global scope. How can these be fulfilled in one organization in Korea?
• Does the scope of Shincheonji’s interpretation match the scope described in the text?

23. Verification:

• Can anyone outside Shincheonji verify that Revelation 16 was fulfilled 1984-1990?
• Or is this “fulfillment” only visible to Shincheonji members?
• If it can’t be externally verified, how do you know it actually happened?

24. The 1990 Bible Center:

• Shincheonji claims the first Bible Center opened in 1990, fulfilling Revelation 15:8 (“no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were completed”). But Revelation 15:8 describes the heavenly temple, not an organizational facility. How are these equivalent?
• If the temple couldn’t be entered until 1990, what about people who were part of Shincheonji before 1990? Were they not “in the temple”?

25. Jesus’ Teaching:

• Acts 1:7 records Jesus saying “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” Why is Shincheonji claiming to know specific dates (1984-1990) for prophetic fulfillment?
• Doesn’t this contradict Jesus’ explicit teaching?

Questions About New Family Education and Full Commitment

26. What You’re Committing To:

• Do you fully understand what you’re committing to when you proceed to new family education and Passover?
• Have you been clearly told about the time commitment, financial expectations, and organizational involvement required of full members?
• Or are you discovering these expectations gradually as you get more involved?

27. The Immediate Transition:

• Why is the transition from classes to new family education to Passover so immediate?
• Why isn’t there time built in for reflection, research, and consultation with outside sources?
• Does this urgency serve your interests or the organization’s interests?

28. Counting the Cost:

• Luke 14:28-30 teaches about counting the cost before building. Have you counted the cost of full membership?
• What will it cost in terms of time, relationships, freedom, and critical thinking?
• Are you willing to pay that cost?

29. Reversibility:

• If you commit to Passover and later discover Shincheonji’s teaching is false, how easy will it be to leave?
• Former members consistently report that leaving after full commitment is much harder than leaving before. Why make an irreversible commitment before thoroughly investigating?

30. Peace:

• Do you have peace about proceeding to Passover?
• Or do you have doubts, questions, and concerns that you’re suppressing?
• Colossians 3:15 says “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Do you have Christ’s peace about this decision?

Questions About Relationships

31. Family:

• How have your family relationships changed since joining Shincheonji?
• Are they improving or deteriorating?
• If your family has concerns about Shincheonji, have you honestly listened to and investigated their concerns?
• Or have you dismissed their concerns as “persecution”?

32. Outside Friendships:

• Have you maintained friendships outside Shincheonji?
• Or have your relationships become primarily within Shincheonji?
• Is this isolation healthy?

33. Conditional Relationships:

• Do you feel your Shincheonji relationships are conditional on your continued involvement?
• If you left, would your Shincheonji friends still accept you?
• Or would you be shunned or treated negatively?

34. Pressure:

• Do you feel free in your Shincheonji relationships?
• Or is there pressure to conform, perform, and meet expectations?
• Are these relationships characterized by grace and freedom, or by guilt and obligation?

35. Reconciliation:

• If joining Shincheonji has damaged your family relationships, is this the fruit of following Christ?
• Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9) and taught about reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24). Is Shincheonji promoting peace and reconciliation in your family, or division?

Questions About Doctrine and Theology

36. The Gospel:

• What is the gospel according to Shincheonji?
• Is it salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9)?
• Or is it salvation through faith in Christ plus joining Shincheonji, accepting Lee Man-hee as the promised pastor, and being sealed as part of the 144,000?

37. Assurance:

• Where does your assurance of salvation come from?
• Is it from Christ’s finished work on the cross (John 19:30, Hebrews 10:10)?
• Or from your organizational status (being sealed in Shincheonji)?

38. Christ’s Centrality:

• Is Christ central in Shincheonji’s teaching?
• Or has the organization, Lee Man-hee, and the interpretation system become central?
• When you think about your faith, do you think primarily about Christ or about Shincheonji?

39. The Holy Spirit:

• What role does the Holy Spirit play in Shincheonji’s teaching?
• Does Shincheonji teach that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers and teaches them (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27)?
• Or does Shincheonji replace the Holy Spirit’s teaching role with organizational teaching?

40. Mainstream Christianity:

• Shincheonji teaches that other churches are Babylon and don’t have true understanding. But these churches have preserved Scripture, proclaimed the gospel, produced countless saints, and spread Christianity worldwide for 2000 years. Is it credible that they’re all wrong and only Shincheonji (founded in 1984) is right?
• What about the great Christians throughout history—Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham? Were they all deceived because they weren’t part of Shincheonji?

Questions About Fruit and Impact

41. Fruit in Your Life:

• Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Are you experiencing more of these since joining Shincheonji, or less?
• Are you experiencing more anxiety, fear, guilt, and pressure?
• What does this say about the source of Shincheonji’s teaching?

42. Fruit in Others’ Lives:

• What is the fruit of Shincheonji’s teaching in former members’ lives?
• Have you read testimonies from former members? What do they say about their experience?
• Do they report healing and freedom after leaving, or ongoing damage?

43. Families:

• Is Shincheonji bringing families together or tearing them apart?
• Are family relationships being healed or damaged?
• Jesus said “by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). What does the fruit in families say about Shincheonji?

44. Deception:

• Has Shincheonji used deceptive practices in recruitment (not revealing organizational connection, using front organizations, being vague about beliefs)?
• If so, is deception a fruit of the Holy Spirit or of something else?
• Can good fruit come from deceptive methods?

45. Freedom:

• 2 Corinthians 3:17 says “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Do you feel more free since joining Shincheonji, or more controlled?
• Are you free to question, to research, to take time, to make your own decisions?
• Or do you feel pressure, guilt, and obligation?

Questions About Authority and Control

46. Who Has Authority?

• In your spiritual life, who has ultimate authority—Christ and Scripture, or Shincheonji’s interpretation?
• If Shincheonji’s interpretation contradicts your understanding of Scripture, which do you follow?
• Have you given Shincheonji authority over your beliefs, time, relationships, and decisions?

47. Questioning:

• Are you free to question Shincheonji’s teaching?
• What happens if you express doubts or concerns?
• Are you encouraged to think critically, or discouraged from questioning?

48. Leaving:

• Are you free to leave Shincheonji?
• What would happen if you decided to leave?
• Would you face pressure, guilt, or negative treatment?
• If you’re not truly free to leave, what does that say about the organization?

49. Accountability:

• Is Shincheonji’s leadership accountable to anyone outside the organization?
• Is there transparency about finances, decision-making, and organizational practices?
• Or is there secrecy and lack of accountability?

50. Control:

• Does Shincheonji control:
  • What you believe (through their interpretation system)
  • What information you access (telling you not to research outside sources)
  • How you spend your time (through organizational demands)
  • Your relationships (creating distance from family and non-Shincheonji friends)
  • Your decisions (pressuring you toward Passover without time for reflection)
• Is this level of control healthy and biblical?

Questions About Comparison with Cults

51. Cult Characteristics:

• Have you researched the characteristics of cults and high-control groups?
• Does Shincheonji exhibit these characteristics:
  • Charismatic leader claiming special revelation
  • Exclusive claim to truth
  • Information control
  • Deceptive recruitment
  • Us vs. them mentality
  • Thought-stopping techniques
  • Guilt and fear manipulation
  • Time and relationship control
  • Difficulty leaving

52. Former Members:

• Why have so many people left Shincheonji?
• What do former members say about their experience?
• Do their testimonies show patterns of manipulation, deception, and control?
• Why would so many people leave if Shincheonji truly has God’s truth?

53. External Perspective:

• How is Shincheonji viewed by mainstream Christianity?
• How is it viewed by cult experts and religious scholars?
• Why is it widely recognized as a cult?
• Could all these outside observers be wrong and only Shincheonji be right?

54. Comparison:

• Have you compared Shincheonji’s practices with other groups recognized as cults?
• Are there similarities in methods, claims, and structure?
• If Shincheonji uses the same methods as recognized cults, what does that suggest?

55. Your Gut:

• What does your gut tell you about Shincheonji?
• Have you had moments of doubt, concern, or unease?
• Have you suppressed these feelings because you were taught they’re from “the enemy”?
• What if those feelings are your conscience or the Holy Spirit warning you?

Questions About Scripture and Interpretation

56. Context:

• Does Shincheonji interpret Scripture in its historical and literary context?
• Or does it isolate verses and reinterpret them to fit organizational narrative?
• Have you read Revelation in context, considering its first-century audience and historical situation?

57. Mainstream Understanding:

• Why does Shincheonji’s interpretation differ so dramatically from 2000 years of Christian interpretation?
• Is it credible that the entire church has been wrong for 2000 years and only Shincheonji (since 1984) has the correct interpretation?
• Or is it more likely that Shincheonji has departed from biblical interpretation?

58. Proof-Texting:

• Does Shincheonji use proof-texting (isolating verses out of context to support predetermined conclusions)?
• Have you examined the verses Shincheonji uses in their full context?
• Do they actually support Shincheonji’s interpretation when read in context?

59. Additions to Scripture:

• Does Shincheonji add to Scripture (claiming things Scripture doesn’t claim, like Lee Man-hee being the promised pastor, Shincheonji being the 144,000, specific dates for fulfillment)?
• Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding to or taking from the prophecy. Is Shincheonji adding to Scripture?

60. Sufficiency of Scripture:

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says Scripture is sufficient to equip us for every good work. If Scripture is sufficient, why do you need Shincheonji’s interpretation system?
• Can you understand God’s plan of salvation from Scripture alone, or do you need Shincheonji’s teaching?

Questions About Your Decision

61. Informed Decision:

• Have you made an informed decision about Shincheonji?
• Have you researched outside sources, read former members’ testimonies, consulted biblical scholars, and compared with mainstream Christian teaching?
• Or have you only heard Shincheonji’s perspective?

62. Pressure vs. Peace:

• Are you proceeding to Passover because you have genuine peace and conviction?
• Or because of pressure, momentum, guilt, fear, or sunk cost?
• What would you decide if all pressure were removed?

63. Time:

• Do you need more time to research, reflect, pray, and seek counsel?
• Are you being given adequate time, or is there urgency pushing you forward?
• Why not take the time you need to make such an important decision?

64. Counsel:

• Have you sought counsel from trusted people outside Shincheonji?
• Have you honestly shared your family’s concerns and investigated them?
• Proverbs 11:14 says “victory is won through many advisers.” Have you sought many advisers, or only Shincheonji’s perspective?

65. Prayer:

• Have you earnestly prayed for wisdom and discernment?
• James 1:5 promises “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Have you asked God for wisdom?
• What is God telling you in your prayer time?

66. Scripture:

• Have you examined Shincheonji’s teaching against Scripture (not just isolated verses, but Scripture in context)?
• Does Shincheonji’s teaching align with the overall message of Scripture—salvation by grace through faith in Christ, the centrality of Christ, the sufficiency of Christ, the freedom we have in Christ?

67. Alternatives:

• Have you considered that you can follow Christ, study Scripture, and be part of a Christian community without joining Shincheonji?
• Have you visited healthy, biblical churches to see what genuine Christian community looks like?
• Why does it have to be Shincheonji or nothing?

68. Worst Case Scenarios:

• What’s the worst case if you leave Shincheonji and they’re right? (According to biblical Christianity, if you trust in Christ, you’re saved regardless of organizational membership)
• What’s the worst case if you join Shincheonji and they’re wrong? (You commit your life to a false teaching, damage family relationships, waste years in an organization, and potentially lead others astray)
• Which risk is greater?

69. Your Conscience:

• What is your conscience telling you?
• Romans 2:15 speaks of conscience as a moral guide. Is your conscience at peace, or troubled?
• Are you suppressing your conscience’s warnings?

70. Future You:

• Imagine yourself 5 or 10 years from now. What will future you wish present you had done?
• Will you regret taking time to research and evaluate?
• Or will you regret rushing into commitment without thorough investigation?

Final Questions

71. The Gospel:

• Can you articulate the gospel simply: God loves you, you are a sinner, Christ died for your sins, rose from the dead, and offers salvation by grace through faith in Him?
• Or has the gospel become complicated: you must join Shincheonji, accept Lee Man-hee, be sealed as part of the 144,000, and follow organizational requirements?

72. Assurance:

• If you died today, do you know you would go to heaven?
• Is your assurance based on Christ’s finished work (John 19:30, “It is finished”)?
• Or on your organizational status, performance, or being sealed?

73. Freedom:

• Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Do you feel free in Christ, or burdened by organizational demands?

74. Christ’s Sufficiency:

• Is Christ sufficient for your salvation, sanctification, and understanding of God?
• Or do you need Christ plus Shincheonji?

75. Your Decision:

• Ultimately, what will you decide?
• Will you proceed to Passover despite unanswered questions and concerns?
• Will you take time to research, reflect, pray, and seek counsel?
• Or will you recognize that Shincheonji’s teaching doesn’t align with Scripture and leave?

These 75 questions are designed to help you think critically and biblically about Shincheonji’s teaching and your involvement. Don’t rush through them. Take time with each one. Write down your answers. Pray. Seek counsel. Research.

This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Don’t let pressure, momentum, or fear push you into a commitment you’ll later regret. Take the time you need to make an informed, prayerful decision.

As Chapter 25 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” emphasizes, asking critical questions is not a sign of weak faith—it’s a sign of biblical discernment. God gave you a mind to think, a conscience to guide you, and His Spirit to teach you. Use these gifts to evaluate carefully what you’re being taught and what you’re being asked to commit to.

Conclusion: The True Food, The True Temple, The True Hope

The Contrast

Lesson 125 presents a stark contrast:

• Satan’s food (the wine of adulteries from Babylon) vs. God’s food (the hidden manna, Shincheonji’s teaching)
• Babylon (other churches) vs. Mount Zion (Shincheonji)
• Confusion (outside sources) vs. Truth (Shincheonji’s interpretation)
• Worldly wisdom (critical thinking, research) vs. Spiritual wisdom (accepting Shincheonji’s teaching)

This contrast is designed to make the choice seem obvious: Choose Shincheonji (God’s food, truth, spiritual wisdom) and reject everything else (Satan’s food, confusion, worldly wisdom).

But this is a false dichotomy. The real contrast is not between Shincheonji and everything else. The real contrast is between Christ and everything else—including Shincheonji.

Let’s examine what Scripture actually teaches about the true food, the true temple, and the true hope.

The True Food

Jesus Is the Bread of Life:

John 6:35: “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”

John 6:48-51: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Jesus is the true bread, the true manna, the true food. Not an interpretation system, not organizational teaching, not a curriculum—Jesus Himself.

When you come to Jesus, you will never hunger spiritually. When you believe in Him, you will never thirst. He satisfies completely.

God’s Word Is Our Sustenance:

Matthew 4:4: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”‘”

Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Jeremiah 15:16: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”

God’s Word—Scripture—is our spiritual food. Not one organization’s interpretation, but Scripture itself, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us:

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

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

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.”

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. He guides us into truth. He teaches us all things. We don’t need organizational mediation—we have the Spirit dwelling in us.

We Have Direct Access:

Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

We can approach God directly, with confidence, because of Christ. We don’t need human mediators. We have direct access to the source of all truth, wisdom, and life.

The True Food Is Freely Available:

Isaiah 55:1-2: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.”

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

God’s provision is free. You don’t have to earn it by passing exams, mastering an interpretation system, or joining an organization. It’s a gift, freely given to all who come to Christ.

The True Temple

Believers Are the Temple:

1 Corinthians 3:16: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”

1 Corinthians 6:19: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”

If you are a believer in Christ, you are God’s temple. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. You don’t need to enter an organizational temple—you are the temple.

The Church Is the Temple:

Ephesians 2:19-22: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

The church—the universal body of believers—is God’s temple. We are being built together into a dwelling for God by His Spirit. This is not one organization in Korea; it’s all believers everywhere, united in Christ.

Christ Is the True Temple:

John 2:19-21: “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ But the temple he had spoken of was his body.”

Jesus is the true temple—the place where God dwells, the place where we meet God, the place of worship and sacrifice.

Heaven Is the Ultimate Temple:

Revelation 21:22: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”

In the new heaven and new earth, there’s no need for a temple building because God and the Lamb are the temple. We will dwell in God’s presence eternally.

You Don’t Need an Organizational Temple:

You don’t need to enter Shincheonji’s organizational “temple” to access God. If you are in Christ:

• You are the temple (the Spirit dwells in you)
• You are part of the church (the universal temple of believers)
• You have access to Christ (the true temple)
• You will dwell in God’s presence eternally (the ultimate temple)

Shincheonji’s claim to be “the temple” that you must enter is false. You have access to God through Christ, not through organizational membership.

The True Hope

Christ Is Our Hope:

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

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

Christ is our hope. Not an organization, not a leader, not a ministry structure, not being part of the 144,000. Christ alone is our hope.

Our Hope Is Secure:

Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Our hope is an anchor—firm and secure—because it’s grounded in Christ, who has entered the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf. He is our high priest, our mediator, our hope.

This hope doesn’t depend on organizational membership, passing exams, or being sealed. It depends only on Christ and His finished work.

Our Hope Is Based on Grace:

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.”

Titus 3:5-7: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Our hope is based on grace—God’s unmerited favor. We are saved by grace through faith, not by joining an organization or mastering an interpretation system.

Our Hope Is the Return of Christ:

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

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.”

Our hope is Christ’s return. He will come again, raise the dead, gather His people, and establish His kingdom. This is our blessed hope.

Our Hope Is Eternal Life:

1 John 2:25: “And this is what he promised us—eternal life.”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Our hope is eternal life with God. This is promised to all who believe in Christ, not just to members of one organization.

The Real Choice

The real choice is not between Shincheonji and Babylon. The real choice is between:

Christ or Organization:

• Will you trust in Christ alone for salvation, or in Christ plus organizational membership?
• Will you find your identity in Christ, or in being part of the 144,000?
• Will you depend on Christ for spiritual sustenance, or on organizational gatherings?

Grace or Performance:

• Will you rest in God’s grace, or strive to earn salvation through performance?
• Will you have assurance based on Christ’s finished work, or anxiety based on your organizational status?
• Will you experience freedom in Christ, or bondage to organizational demands?

Scripture or Interpretation System:

• Will you trust Scripture illuminated by the Holy Spirit, or Shincheonji’s interpretation system?
• Will you read Scripture in context, or through Shincheonji’s symbolic lens?
• Will you test everything against Scripture, or accept Shincheonji’s teaching without question?

Christ’s Mediation or Human Mediation:

• Will you access God directly through Christ, or through Lee Man-hee’s mediation?
• Will you follow Christ, or follow a human leader?
• Will you trust the Holy Spirit to teach you, or depend on organizational teaching?

Truth or Control:

• Will you pursue truth wherever it leads, or accept information control?
• Will you research and evaluate, or avoid outside sources as “Satan’s domain”?
• Will you think critically, or suppress questions and doubts?

Freedom or Bondage:

• Will you experience the freedom Christ offers, or the control of organizational demands?
• Will you have healthy relationships, or strained family relationships and isolation?
• Will you make your own decisions, or be pressured into organizational conformity?

The Invitation

Jesus’ invitation still stands:

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.”

If you’re weary from the pressure to perform, burdened by the weight of organizational demands, exhausted from the anxiety and guilt—come to Jesus. He offers rest.

His yoke is easy. His burden is light. He doesn’t demand that you pass exams with 100%, master a complex interpretation system, attend twice-weekly services, respond immediately to organizational communications, or carry the unbearable weight of others’ salvation.

He simply invites you to come to Him, trust in Him, and find rest.

John 6:37: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

Come to Jesus. He will never drive you away. You don’t need organizational membership. You don’t need to be sealed. You don’t need to master an interpretation system. You just need Jesus.

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

The invitation is simple: Come. If you’re thirsty, come. If you wish, take the free gift of the water of life.

It’s free. It’s a gift. You don’t earn it by joining an organization or following a human leader. You receive it by faith in Christ.

The Truth Will Set You Free

Jesus said: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The truth about Shincheonji—that their interpretation doesn’t align with Scripture, that their methods are manipulative, that their organization is controlling—will set you free.

The truth about the gospel—that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, that you have direct access to God, that Christ is sufficient—will set you free.

The truth about yourself—that you are loved by God, that you are valuable apart from organizational status, that you have the freedom to choose—will set you free.

Don’t let fear, guilt, pressure, or sunk cost keep you in bondage. The truth will set you free.

A Prayer

If you’re struggling with these questions, here’s a prayer you can pray:

“God, I’m confused and overwhelmed. I’ve invested over a year in Shincheonji, and I’m approaching the point of full commitment. But I have questions and doubts that I’ve been suppressing.

Please give me wisdom to discern truth from error. Give me courage to examine these teachings carefully, even though I’ve been told not to research outside sources. Help me to see clearly what is from You and what is from human organization.

If Shincheonji’s teachings are true, confirm it. If they’re false, reveal it. I want to know the truth, whatever the cost.

Protect my mind from manipulation. Protect my heart from fear and guilt. Protect my relationships with family and friends.

If I need to leave Shincheonji, give me the courage to do so, despite the investment and relationships. If my family’s salvation is at stake, I trust You to reach them—You love them more than I do.

Most of all, help me to know You personally through Jesus Christ. Let my faith be in Him alone, not in any organization, interpretation system, or human leader.

I trust You to guide me into truth. Thank You for Your patience, Your grace, and Your love.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Resources and Support

If you’re struggling with these questions or considering leaving Shincheonji, please know you’re not alone. Many people have walked this path before you and found freedom, healing, and genuine faith in Christ.

Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for:

• Comprehensive analysis of Shincheonji’s teachings
• Detailed refutations of specific doctrines
• Information about Shincheonji’s history and practices
• Testimonies from former members
• Resources for families affected by Shincheonji
• Support for those considering leaving or who have left
• Connection with healthy Christian communities
• Biblical teaching on the passages Shincheonji misuses
• Information about HWPL and organizational structure
• Guidance for recovery and healing after leaving

You don’t have to figure this out alone. There are people who understand, who can answer your questions, who can support you, and who can help you find genuine faith in Christ and connection with a healthy Christian community.

Your family is not alone either. If you have family members in Shincheonji, there are resources to help you understand what they’re experiencing and how to help them.

God’s grace is sufficient. Whatever you’ve done, whatever you’ve invested, whatever mistakes you’ve made—God’s grace is sufficient. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

There is hope. Many former members have found healing, restored relationships, and genuine faith in Christ. You can too.

The truth will set you free. Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Knowing the truth about Shincheonji’s teachings and practices, and knowing the truth of the gospel, will set you free.