Shincheonji’s Claims About the Oil Sellers
Shincheonji (SCJ) teaches that the “oil sellers” in the parable represent the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation. They identify these figures as their “promised pastor,” Lee Man-hee, and a key subordinate. According to SCJ, these individuals are the exclusive sources of the “true oil,” which they interpret as the word of testimony or fulfillment concerning Revelation. SCJ argues that this oil is essential for salvation, making the oil sellers indispensable to the spiritual preparation of others.
While an SCJ member may claim that it is inferred within the parable, after all, the oil seller has enough oil to sell to the foolish virgins, unlike the wise virgins, you would think that Jesus would make it explicitly clear that the oil sellers also made it to the wedding banquet explicitly, especially if Jesus wanted his followers to buy oil from the sellers.
The Absence of the Oil Sellers
In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the wise virgins enter the wedding banquet with the Bridegroom, prepared with their lamps and oil. The foolish virgins, lacking oil, are turned away. Yet, there is a puzzling omission: the oil sellers, who were presumably with the foolish virgins as they sought to buy oil, are never mentioned again.
If Jesus intended to emphasize the importance of the oil sellers, why are they not included among the saved or even acknowledged as part of the scene? This silence raises significant theological questions, especially in light of Shincheonji’s interpretation.
The Paradox of the Oil Sellers’ Absence
Despite the central role SCJ assigns to the oil sellers, the parable does not mention their inclusion among the saved. The story’s conclusion focuses solely on the wise virgins who enter the banquet and the foolish virgins who are excluded.
If the oil sellers are as crucial as SCJ claims, their absence from the final scene is striking. It raises the question: if the oil sellers possess and distribute the vital “true oil,” why is there no mention of their salvation?
This omission is significant because it challenges SCJ’s assertion that the oil sellers are integral to salvation. If their role were truly indispensable, the parable would logically highlight their inclusion in the wedding banquet alongside the wise virgins.
Instead, the oil sellers remain unaccounted for, leaving their ultimate fate ambiguous. This silence creates a troubling paradox: does the absence of the oil sellers imply that even those who possess and distribute the “true oil” are not guaranteed salvation?
The Centrality of the Oil Sellers
Shincheonji’s interpretation elevates the oil sellers to a position of immense importance, claiming they are the exclusive providers of the “true oil” necessary for entering the wedding banquet. If this interpretation is correct, the parable should logically emphasize their salvation. However, their exclusion from the final scene undermines this claim.
The parable’s focus remains on the wise and foolish virgins, suggesting that individual preparedness and personal connection to the Bridegroom are paramount, rather than reliance on intermediaries like the oil sellers.
The Problem of the Two Witnesses
Shincheonji’s doctrine introduces further complications with its teaching about the two witnesses. SCJ claims the oil sellers are the two witnesses who fulfill Revelation, yet they also acknowledge significant failures in these figures:
- One of the two witnesses is said to have betrayed God, described as a “reed” with weak faith.
- The remaining witness, Lee Man-hee, is acknowledged to make mistakes in his testimony, despite being considered the sole source of revealed truth.
These admissions raise critical questions:
- How can one of the oil sellers, who is portrayed as essential to salvation, betray God and fail in his mission?
- If the remaining oil seller can make mistakes in his testimony, how can SCJ claim that their followers’ eternal salvation depends on his teaching?
These contradictions undermine the reliability and centrality of the oil sellers within SCJ’s theology. If even the oil sellers are fallible and unaccounted for in the parable’s conclusion, their role as indispensable sources of salvation becomes highly questionable.
Conclusion
The omission of the oil sellers from the conclusion of the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins presents a significant challenge to Shincheonji’s (SCJ) interpretation. By identifying the oil sellers as their “promised pastor” Lee Man-hee and another figure, SCJ elevates these individuals to an essential role in salvation, claiming they are the exclusive providers of the “true oil.” Yet, the parable does not affirm their inclusion in the wedding banquet, leaving their ultimate fate unmentioned. This omission raises a fundamental contradiction: if the oil sellers are indispensable to salvation, their absence from the final scene undermines SCJ’s claim of their centrality.
Moreover, SCJ’s acknowledgment of the failings of these witnesses—one betraying God and the other prone to mistakes—further erodes their reliability as sources of salvation. The notion that flawed human intermediaries are necessary for access to the “true oil” conflicts with the parable’s emphasis on individual readiness and personal relationship with the Bridegroom.
Ultimately, the parable centers on the preparedness of the virgins, not the actions or presence of the oil sellers. This focus underscores that salvation is not dependent on intermediaries but on one’s personal faith and readiness. SCJ’s interpretation, which elevates the oil sellers to an unwarranted level of importance, introduces theological inconsistencies and diverts attention from the central message of the parable: the necessity of personal accountability and connection to Christ.