Below is a case of two voices - the voice of God´s written word and the voice of a revelation from spirit beings (angels, Jesus, the spirit of the Counselor) to Mr. Lee. In Christian thinking, the safest way to understand a text is to let God´s voice in his written word communicate the right meaning. The written word is God-breathed and corrects all other voices (2 Tim. 3:16).
In end-time thinking, the final prophet is God´s voice, which reveals the right meaning in the written word. Although it sounds strange, the revelation voice to the final prophet becomes the voice in the written word. When believers notice that the final leader´s voice and the voice in the written word are at odds, the written word is the higher authority.
Let´s look at an example in Shinchonji´s explanation of Lk. 13:35. In this passage, Jesus speaks of his return to earth. A parallel passage is found in Mt. 23:39.
¨And I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'¨ (Lk. 13:35). ¨For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'¨ (Mt. 23:39).
According to the revelation given to Mr. Lee, the true meaning behind Jesus´ words is that Christ would be returning in a different form (as a spirit). This is why his followers would not be able to recognize him. Here´s a quote from an article on their website, using Lk. 13:35 and Mt. 23:39.
¨Why then did Jesus warn his followers that they would no longer be able to see him (Mt 23:39; Lk 13:35; Jn 16:8-10)? He was pointing out that he will not be coming in the same form when he returns; he will be coming in the spirit.¨ (1)
What is the problem with this revealed explanation?
First, this interpretation is a different voice than what God´s voice in the written word communicates. This is a case of two different voices.
In the written word, Jesus makes two points. He informs unbelieving Israel that they will not see him again until a certain time. Secondly, they will not see him until they bless his return. Four words from Jesus give us this meaning - you, me, again, and until.
¨You¨ refers to the Jewish people (Israel) who did not believe in him. This is the context in Lk. 13:31-35, Mt. 23:1-37. Jesus says that they will not see him again ¨until¨ a certain time. ¨And I tell you (Israel) that you will not see me again until...¨ The object pronoun ¨me¨ refers to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus states that Israel will not see him again, not someone else. ¨And I tell you that you will not see me again¨.
¨Again¨ means a second time. Jesus teaches that Israel will see him ¨again,¨ even after his departure. ¨And I tell you that you will not see me again until...¨ Jesus promises that the Jews will see him a second time. ¨Until¨ here is used as a condition for a future event. Christ says that the Jews won´t see him again ¨until¨ they hail his return and say, ¨Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.¨ Until that day comes, the Jews will not see him.
Taken together, God´s voice in the written word indicates that Israel will not see Christ Jesus again until the time comes when they welcome and bless his return. See other articles about God´s plan for a final restoration of the Jews.
With this in mind, does Shinchonji´s revelation teach this meaning or is the voice from the spirit entities (angels, Jesus, God) different? Does the revelation voice match Jesus´ words or does it give a new meaning which claims to be the real voice in the passage?
______________________
(1) ¨Meeting the Lord in the clouds of the air,¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed January 11, 2014. http://blog.daum.net/wuri0267/8726446
