Name and Meaning of “Shincheonji”

Shincheonji, officially known as “Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony,” is a religious group whose name carries profound symbolism. The Korean term “Shincheonji” translates to “new heaven and new earth” in English, drawing inspiration from biblical events described in Revelation 21:1 and 15:5. The group interprets this concept metaphorically, believing it represents the replacement of traditional churches with their own organization, which they consider to be God’s kingdom on Earth.

This interpretation aligns with Shincheonji’s core belief that they are fulfilling biblical prophecies and establishing a new spiritual order. The group sees itself as the divine replacement for existing Christian denominations, embodying a new spiritual reality that supplants what they view as outdated or corrupted forms of Christianity. This understanding reconciles the group’s official name, its Korean meaning, its biblical references, and its theological stance on replacing traditional churches with their own kingdom.

The basic premise of Shincheonji is that God chose, in 1966, to restore the truth which had been lost to a group of seven men in South Korea who formed a church called the Tabernacle Temple, which also fell away through apostasy and betrayal, but then was again restored as Shincheonji Church by Lee Man-hee who overcame. The “new heavens and new earth” are not to be understood literally (and neither are most of the events of Revelation) but this refers to the passing away of the traditional churches to be replaced by God’s kingdom of Shincheonji. The meaning of the Book of Revelation was hidden in parables so that no one in heaven or on earth has been able to understand the truth for 6,000 years until now when Revelation’s fulfillment is taking place. All of the events of Revelation have already had their physical fulfillment in South Korea in the past few decades, except for some of the events of chapters 18 to 20 which will soon be fulfilled. 

Leader of Shincheonji

Founded by Lee Manhee, who claims divine appointment and a unique understanding of the Bible, the group asserts that he fulfills prophecies from the Book of Revelation. 

While the Apostle John “saw and heard” the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation in prophecy, being sealed with “parables” (or metaphors), citing Hosea 12:10, the “New John” saw and heard the physical realities of the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation.

• The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, prologue
• Apostle John saw the revelation of Jesus in a vision on the Island of Patmos, which is now part of Greece. At that time, John wrote the book of Revelation as a prophecy to be fulfilled in the future. Today, I [Lee Manhee] have witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation, which were promised by our Lord, and I have written this book according to the explanation given to me by the spirit. I testify that the reality and the explanation thereof recorded in this book are true.

Lee Manhee writes himself into the Book of Revelation and the New Testament, as shown below:

• He is the Messenger in Rev. 1:1
• He is the “one who overcomes’ in Revelation chapters 2 and 3
• The one who wrote the letters to the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
• He is the pillar in God’s temple Rv 3:12
• The one who went up to heaven in Rev. 4:1.
• He was in front of the throne in Rev. 5
• He is the one that is sealing the 144,000 in Rev. 7.
• He is the golden censer of Rev. 8:3-5.
• The one who eats the little book in Rev. 10.
• He was one of the Two Witnesses of Rev. 11.
• He is the Seventh Trumpet in Rev. 11:15ff.
• He is the male child born in Rev. 12:5f.
• He is the white horse that Jesus rides on in Rev 19:11.
• He is the bride of Christ of Rev. 19 and Rev. 21
• He is the Messenger who speaks of in Rev. 22:16.

• He establishes the kingdom of God on earth and seals believers for salvation.
• Faithful and Wise Servant (Mt 24:45)
• The Advocate (John 14-16)
• He is the “tree of life” in the Bible and will sit on God’s throne