Why So Many People Study with Shincheonji. Why Doubt it?

Dear reader,

Thank you for taking these topics to heart.

For the last two hundred years, accounts of supernatural entities (angels, Jesus, a spirit of prophecy) have appeared to apocalyptic leaders with detailed explanations about the last chapter of Christianity - information about the Messiah's return to earth and the true meaning of ambiguous prophecies.

The visions are intriguing because they unlock puzzling Bible predictions on the end-times.  Ironically, they give answers to questions the Bible itself does not answer on its own.  This makes it interesting.  Further, the information is used by their leader to convince others it must be from God.  Leaders then recruit people with detailed studies about their revelation-vision, which becomes their primary focus.

With spiritual discernment, we know that just because explanations come from a supernatural experience or vision, it does not necessarily mean it is true.  Anyone who studies recent Christian history knows that many sincere leaders have been deceived by spirit entities and visions.  The Apostle Paul warned that Satan and his messengers can masquerade as legitimate servants of God (2 Cor. 11:14,15).

These apocalyptic leaders also contend that they have been given a unique anointing or have had seals opened and explained before their eyes.  Therefore, all Christians must now listen to them to receive eternal life and be a part of final salvation.  

The new information from the leader brings a new freshness to the Bible. One young lady I know admitted that she started studying with Shinchonji because she was attracted to the freshness and newness of it all.  The Bible had become routine at that point in her life.

Others on the SCJ testimonial page have said that it was amazing to hear Shinchonji give such clarity and sureness when talking about biblical prophecies.  They wrote that no Christian minister was able to answer their Bible questions.  Only SCJ's explanations and details were found to be clear.  

Others have joined SCJ with a sincere heart to be a part of what God is doing.  To paraphrase a SCJ member, ¨If you hear that Revelation is being fulfilled in front of your eyes, why wouldn't you want to test it out for yourself?¨ The zeal and passion in the group often impresses people as well.  

So, why would many average Christians or Christian leaders question the veracity of these visions to end-time leaders?  Why doubt SCJ?  What causes devoted believers not to join them?

First, information directly from Jesus Christ´s revelation warns of deception, false messengers and spiritual lies from deceptive spirits all masked as Jesus´ final representative or revelation (Mt. 24:4,5, I Tim. 4:1, Lk. 21:8, I John 4:1, 2 Pet. 2:1, etc.).  This means that the Christian world is to stay away from any final messenger or spokesperson who appears in Jesus´ name.    

It is equivalent to a father warning his son never to open the door to masked strangers.  Yet, many masked strangers continually appear claiming to be sent by the father.  The warnings protect the son from harm.  The same is true with Jesus Christ and his words about final leaders in the end (Lk. 21:8).

Secondly, even though Christians have varying ideas about the end-times, one point that is evident in the Bible is that Jesus Christ returns himself without a mask, not as an invisible spirit via a human leader (I Thess 4:16, Acts 1:11, Mt. 24:30).  The same resurrected Jesus is the one who returns (Acts 1:11).  When leaders declare that Jesus Christ´s spirit is working through them, embodying his return, it is a different Jesus.

Third, Shincheonji follows the same pattern as other groups in history whose revelations and spiritual knowledge distort precious truths from Christ.  This casts doubt on the spiritual sources behind the information.  We observe this pattern in harmful movements in Christian history, such as Gnosticism, and in recent organizations such as the Watchtower Society.

These groups emphasize secret or revealed visions from God, yet the information distors elementary truths about salvation, Jesus of Nazareth, or some aspect of God´s identity.  Shincheonji does this with the Trinity, Jesus´ identity, the Holy Spirit, and redemption (i.e. more focus on being ¨in the know¨ than salvation from sin).

Fourth, another reason Christians distrust final leaders is because they become the final authority in their group.  They exalt themselves above the Bible (in practice, not theory) because they claim a unique anointing from God, which makes them the official interpreter/teacher of prophecies, parables, and other passages. This means the Scriptures can be made to mean anything the interpreter reveals them to mean.

The most obvious problem is when outside Christians see that meanings are ¨poured¨ into the Scriptures instead of letting the Scriptures give us the meanings.  One Shincheonji instructor told one individual to put aside everything he thought the Bible was revealing and only listen to the revealed word in SCJ.  In Christian experience, this is backwards.  God´s voice in the Scriptures correct end-time revelations (2 Tim. 3:16, Mt. 4:4,7,10), not the other way around.

Lastly, Christians disregard messages from visions that are contrary to God's heart and character.  When two people know each other well, it is easy to recognize messages which are contrary to the way they think or talk.  A case in point is when someone hacks a friend´s e-mail account and sends messages that they would never write.  The content proves the author is someone else.

In summary, although leaders with revelations from the invisible world bring freshness and new explanations to Bible prophecies, it is important to be alert when other inconsistencies and signs appear.

In the articles that follow, we attempt to look at some of these and other points in more depth.

Thank you for your interest, and God bless.

Does Rev. 8,9 Refer to a Church in South Korea?

Dear reader,

Shinchonji teaches that an angel and a spirit-Jesus appeared to Manhee Lee on a mountain in South Korea. Also, SCJ believes that the Counselor-Holy Spirit promises in Jn. 14,16 are fulfilled by the Spirit uniting to Mr. Lee's flesh in the end-times.  Thus, Mr. Lee is an important figure in the end.

In Shinchonji thinking, he is the Apostle John figure in Revelation through whom Jesus' spirit works in the last days. He is one of the two witnesses in Rev. 11, the main fulfillment of the one who overcomes in Rev. 2,3, and the white horse (flesh) that Jesus' spirit uses to return to earth in Rev. 19.  The appearance of an angel and a spirit-Jesus to Manhee Lee is believed to be the physical fulfillment of Rev. 1:1-3 and Rev. 10.

When a pastor in the Christian world makes these claims, we must be cautious as Christians and test the revelations with the Bible (I Jn. 4:1, I Tim. 4:1).  Many leaders have been deceived by voices from the spirit world.  Of course, testing is not unkindly attacking a leader or their followers, who are loved by God.  But, it is important to avoid deception.

One of the most effective tests is to see if a revealed voice (i.e. the leader's message) matches the voice in God's written word.  In Christian thinking, God's voice found in the written word is far superior to spirit-revelations to end-time leaders.  Let's look at an example in Revelation 8 and 9.

According to Manhee Lee's book, The Truth Regarding Revelation´s Fulfillment, Jesus chose a special church in South Korea (the Church of the Seven Lampstands).  However, this church betrayed Jesus' words and was invaded by a false pastor and his associates.  (The intruders are known as the ¨destroyers¨ or ¨Nicolaitans¨ and the church members who betrayed are the ¨betrayers¨.)  These are two of the important mysteries in Revelation.

Manhee Lee interprets Rev. 8 and 9 to refer to the betrayal and destruction of the Church of the Seven Lampstands.  Since these church members betrayed Jesus (and refused to repent after being warned about the destroyers/Nicolaitans), they are punished.  The plagues in Rev. 8 and 9 refer to the punishment of those in the Church of the Seven Lampstands who refused to repent.

¨This plague of the seven trumpets is a punishment for the church of the seven golden lampstands (Rv. 6:15,16).  They are punished because they entered the caves and rocks of the gentiles even after receiving Jesus' letter telling them to repent and overcome the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2,3).  The church of the seven golden lampstands was specially chosen by God, but they failed him.  If God's chosen church betrayed him, just imagine the condition of the rest of the world's churches¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 198).

What follows is a condensed, figurative explanation of Rev. 8 and 9 from Manhee Lee's book, Creation of Heaven and Earth (pp. 197,198).  For a fuller description, please consult his book.

1.  In the first trumpet (Rev. 8:7), God's chosen people who betrayed represent the earth, trees and grass.

2.  In the second trumpet (Rev. 8:8,9), the creatures in the sea symbolize the chosen people who betrayed, and the ships are the churches of the chosen people.

3.  In the third trumpet (Rev. 8:10,11), the springs and rivers refer to pastors and evangelists from the chosen people.

4.  In the fourth trumpet (Rev. 8:12), the sun, moon, and stars represent the pastors, evangelists, and congregation members of the tabernacle of the chosen people (from the church of the seven lampstands). They are destroyed.

In Rev. 8:13, Manhee Lee teaches that when the eagle speaks of the people on earth and the next three trumpet sounds, it refers to the people of the tabernacle of the seven golden lampstands.  ¨An eagle flying in midair calls out three loud ´woes´ to those who live on the earth...The people of the earth are the people of the tabernacle of the seven golden lampstands¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 198).

5.  In the fifth trumpet (Rev. 9:1-11), the locusts are interpreted as false pastors who torture the betrayers.  The abyss refers to the churches of the Nicolaitan destroyers (who invaded the Church of the Seven Golden Lampstands).

 6.  In the sixth trumpet (Rev. 6:13-21), the heads of the horses are interpreted as seven pastors and their tails are false prophets (i.e. pastors who betrayed) that belonged to the seven pastors.  The fire, smoke, and sulfur are the doctrines of the false pastors who kill people's spirits.

Manhee Lee summarizes chapter 9 in this way, ¨In this chapter, Jesus judges the chosen people from the church of the seven golden lampstands that betrayed (Rv. 6), and these betrayers enter a gentile church.  Even after seeing a third of their spirits killed there, they still refuse to repent¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 201).

What problems do we discern with these interpretations from the spirit revelations Manhee Lee received?

First, Manhee Lee's perception of the Church of the Seven Lampstands is a problem since it was an apocalyptic movement in South Korea.  (See the article about the history of Mr. Lee before Shinchonji.)  Mr. Lee was involved in this movement and others before founding Shinchonji.

Second, when Christians read through Rev. 8 and 9, the voice in the Scriptures does not correspond to Manhee Lee's explanation in several points.  

For example, God's voice in the written word does not suggest the events are happening in a local area on earth (i.e. South Korea), but the earth at large (Rev. 8:7, 8:13, 9:18).  Manhee Lee interprets ¨earth¨ and ¨inhabitants of the earth¨ as symbols for the congregation members of the Church of the Seven Lampstands, but the meaning in the written word refers to all the people in the world.  In the Olivet discourse, Jesus also confirmed that a time of universal distress unparalleled in history would come in the end (Mk. 13:19,20).

The context of Rev. 8 and 9 is one of great distress on the whole earth where humans seek relief from their suffering.  After the fifth plague, people ¨seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will allude them¨ (Rev. 9:6).  Shinchonji's pastor interprets these deaths and suffering in spiritual terms, but who would seek spiritual deaths because of suffering?  Interpreting ¨deaths¨ as dying ¨spiritually¨ and ¨people on earth¨ to ¨people in the Church of the Seven Lampstands¨ is a voice that differs from the Bible's revelation.

This point leads to a conclusion that many Christian apologists notice in end-time groups.  The leader's interpretations of the Bible become the meaning of the text instead of the Bible's self-revelation.  Apocalyptic leaders claim that they have an anointing that gives them a hidden, deeper meaning that has been sealed in Revelation.  Thus, in their groups, their explanations are more inspired than the meanings from the text.

For instance, when Rev. 9:20,21 says that the inhabitants of the earth refused to repent, Manhee Lee teaches that it is because they betrayed Jesus.  However, there is no indication from the text that they were Christians (from a church congregation, like in Rev. 2 and 3).  The written word states that they did not repent of their great evils and sins - worshiping idols, committing murder, acts of sorcery, sexual behavior, and thefts (Rev. 9:20,21). The Bible does not reveal that they used to be a chosen people, but humankind at large.

¨The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.  And they did not repent of their murders or or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts¨ (Rev. 9:20,21, NRSV).

As mentioned above, end-time prophets with revelations from the spirit world (angels, Jesus, the Spirit of prophecy, or God) consider themselves ¨revealers¨ of the written word.  They reveal the real, hidden interpretations to prophecies and make new connections that no Christian sees.  Their voice is God's Word to their followers (even if the written word affirms something else).

In Christian thinking, this is a severe error.  The voice in the written word is more reliable than a new voice from final leaders, especially when voices from the spirit world inspired the leaders.  Jesus' first sign of the end is pastors or prophets who come in his name (i.e. as his spokesperson on earth) and demand all Christians to follow them (Mt. 24:4,5, Lk. 21:8).  One of the most important ways to discern spiritual error is when the voice in the Bible does not match what the leader is revealing.

Jesus' Warnings in the Olivet Discourse.

Dear reader,

Imagine walking with Jesus Christ and being able to converse with him about the end.  When the disciples asked the Lord about his return, what was his first sign?  Jesus gave an important sign that is before the Apostle John's visions in Revelation.  This first sign concerns future leaders who would appear and take his place (Mt. 24:4, Lk. 21:8).

When Christians study the writings of other apocalyptic groups, this point emerges.  One simple lady once said that she did not join an apocalyptic group when she heard the members continually praise and exalt the role of their prophet.  In practice, they emphasized their leader more, not the Lord Jesus. 

While reading Manhee Lee's book, I thought about this point too.  Does the revelation to Mr. Lee put Mr. Lee on a level that takes the Son of Man's place?  To find answers to this question, we need to analyze the specific signs Jesus reveals about final leaders in the Olivet discourse (Mt. 24, Mk. 13, Lk. 21).

1. ¨For many will come in my name¨ (Mt. 24:4). The Lord says that a leader will come in his name (i.e. claim to be his authority and representative on earth).  In Shinchonji, Manhee Lee claims to come in Jesus' name. ¨The next advocate, the holy spirit of the advocate who comes from heaven at the second coming, comes in Jesus' name¨(Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 437).

2. ¨Many will come in my name, saying I am he,¨ (Mk. 13:5). Jesus says that the leader will announce to everyone that he is the one everyone was waiting for in the end.  He is linked to the Messiah's presence.  In the same way, Manhee Lee teaches that he is the body/flesh that people see when Jesus' spirit returns to earth.

¨Jesus promised that when the gospel of heaven is spread to the ends of the earth, he will return in spirit to unite with his promised pastor¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 143).  Manhee Lee states that he is "the flesh" through whom Jesus appears in Rev. 19. ¨John sees heaven open and someone called 'Faithful and True' riding a white horse leading the armies of God (Rev. 19:11)...The spirit chooses one flesh as its horse and works through that person. At the second coming, Jesus chooses the one who overcomes (Rev. 3:12) as his horse and works through him (Rev. 6:2)¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, pp. 246,247).

3. ¨I am he and the time is at hand,¨ (Lk. 21:8). Jesus says that a leader not only proclaims to be the savior-Messiah's presence, but he announces the coming of the end of the age.  In Manhee Lee's book, he writes that he is witnessing the end of the age and that the time is at hand. ¨...the prophecies in the New Testament exist to testify about the promised pastor who acts as a savior¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 177). ¨Today the time that was appointed for Revelation's fulfillment has finally come¨ (p. 564).

4. ¨...they will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect.¨   The Lord teaches that final leaders will perform signs to convince people, almost convincing the elect (Mt. 24:24). A sign is necessary to give the leader credibility and convince many.  Manhee Lee states that mastery of the Bible's prophecies is a spiritual sign that he is the chosen pastor (i.e. explanations of Revelation).

5. ¨At that time if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ...There he is, out in the desert, do not go out... or here he is in the inner rooms, do not believe it.¨  Jesus states that some will announce how the Lord returns. They will point to a hidden or secret return (Mt. 24:26,27, Lk. 13:21). In Shinchonji's article on Rev. 1:7, Shinchonji teaches that Jesus comes back in an invisible way and the final pastor is the one everyone sees.

When thinking about these signs from the Lord Jesus, we see that he expects us to wait for him, not a leader who comes in his name or embodies a spirit return of Christ.  When leaders of apocalyptic movements appear, they say they come as servants of the Lord but end up ruling, judging, and saving the Christian world in place of the Lord.  In Manhee Lee's book, the emphasis is noticeably on Mr. Lee and his final role.     

Questions for Intellectual Christians.

Dear reader,

Shincheonji/Shinchonji teaches that Jesus' words, Jesus' spirit (and, by extension, Jesus' intelligence) is uniquely tied to their human pastor, Manhee Lee.  He is the Lord Jesus´ representative in the last days - the flesh/body Jesus Christ uses on earth to fulfill his promises in Revelation.  This is why Mr. Lee's voice is considered the voice of Christ.

If you were a spiritual detective, what would make you or other thinking Christians doubt this claim?  What mistakes, contradictions, problems, practices, or lack of information would lead you to a different conclusion?  If a movement is from God, it should be sound in all areas, not just in Revelation.

Christian intellectuals who study characteristics of Christian cults (end-time movements) in history notice a common feature from the kingdom of darkness.  Visions from spirit beings (angels, Jesus, or God) will inaccurately represent Christianity or exaggerate claims to make it seem like they are the only ones who are spiritual and in the light.  Everyone else is in darkness.

For example, in Manhee Lee's book, Creation of Heaven and Earth, he considers pastors and evangelists in Christian circles to be unspiritual and care only about money.  Yet, I have met many missionaries and ministers in poor areas of Latin America who have a genuine love for the Lord Jesus and no interest in materialism or weath.  These claims by Mr. Lee are exaggerated and make it seem that he alone is reliable.

What other cases of exaggeration or misrepresentation do we see in Shincheonji?

Shincheonji, like other Christian cults/end-time groups introduce new concepts about God´s nature, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit.  In doing so, they mock Christians who believe in the Trinity, the special relationship between God the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.  They all represent God´s nature but are distinct.  Christian cults deceptively define this relationship incorrectly or they argue that no one really knows how to define it.  The point is that they are the new revealers of God´s nature.  Yet, a misdefinition constitutes a red flag.

As one Christian pointed out, ¨Since Jesus Christ is the head of Christianity and supremely intelligent, he knows the definition Christians have been using for the last 1,500 years.¨ He is not going to use an erroneous definition to convince Christians that it is erroneous.  This would only hurt his cause.  On the contrary, such deception and misrepresentation is a spiritual tactic from the kingdom of darkness.

Imagine you met someone who claimed that American football was an illogical sport, but they re-defined the game to make it look illogical (e.g. that teams have five down or touchdowns count as 10 points).  Most people would not give them much credibility.

Once a leader of a Christian cult in Latin America met up with me to explain their group's teachings.  When he mentioned the Trinity was an unbiblical doctrine, I asked him to define it first.  When he did, he used an inaccurate concept of what Christians believe.  To me, this was a clear sign of a spiritual error.  

What about Shincheonji's position of the Trinity?

When I first started reading articles on Shincheonji´s website, I noticed two publications showing that the Trinity was not a biblical belief.  Naturally, they misdefined what Christians believe and have believed to make the Trinity seem false.  (See the article on this blog about the Trinity.)

I brought this point up to two different SCJ instructors independently, who were not sensitive to this point at all.  Rather, their answers were defensive. They replied that there are so many confusing definitions of the Trinity in Christianity.  (This is actually false.)  Furthermore, in SCJ´s articles, they did not claim that there were so many definitions.  As a matter of fact, they just used one oversimplified concept to disprove it.  

Although some Christians do not perfectly explain (like other teachings), Christian denominations across the board hold the same belief - a belief that comes from serious study of all the passages about Jesus' human and divine nature, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father.  It is really one of the most fundamental teachings in Christian history.  Yet, Shincheonji's two articles use a definition that no Christian community adheres to.

One Christian confessed, ¨If Shincheonji cannot define the Trinity correctly, why would I trust them on other matters, like prophecy.¨  This is the same red flag found in other groups that have spirit-revelations from the invisible world, revelations which re-define Jesus´ identity and make salvation a matter of belief in their teachigns instead of being united to the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Another example of misrepresentation in SCJ deals with the Apostles' Creed.  Shinchonji makes several harsh comments about anyone who uses the Apostles' Creed.

¨Furthermore, because the Apostles' Creed is not found in the Bible and because it is full of lies, no one should recite it. It should be clear from the following passages why no one should recite the Apostles’ Creed.¨(1) 

¨Many cite the Apostles' Creed, which is not according to the Bible.¨(2)  

¨Is this not the same as the situation regarding the Apostles' Creed?  The apostles never wrote the Apostles' Creed. Others created it on their own and forced all Christians to confess it¨ (3). 

¨They should stop reciting the Apostle’s Creed because it contains several false doctrines¨(4)

These statements are ironic because it means that the Jesus presence inside Manhee Lee despises the Apostles' Creed.  Yet, the first Christians who wrote this creed (or statements of belief) did so to refute bizarre ideas from Gnosticism about Christ and the universe.  Every line debunks misconceptions about Jesus, God, and the world.  The real Jesus would know the historical context behind this creed.

One SCJ instructor wrote back and said that the creed is false for two reasons.  First, it mentions Jesus being crucified under Pontius Pilate (when it was really the Jewish authorities).  Second, he also stated that the reference to the ¨catholic church¨ is misleading.  However, both points are easily understood within the historical context (5).  

To Christian thinkers, Shincheonji's remarks of the creed being ¨full of lies¨ are exaggerated and have the same tone found in other apocalyptic movements.  Contrary to what SCJ affirms, the creed is based on elementary ideas in the Christian faith (i.e. God made this universe; Jesus is God's Son, born of a real woman, died a real death in history, resurrected, and will come again to judge the living and the dead).

These points show that the spirit entities behind Manhee Lee are not accurate.  To thinking Christians, SCJ is misrepresenting or exaggerating these issues, signs that the real Jesus would not give.

______________________
(1) ¨Mrs. Kim: Martyr of Shinchonji¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed June 3rd, 2010.http://han.shinchonji.kr/zh-hans/content/mrs-kim-martyr-shinchonji
(2) ¨Is Shinchonji Church of Jesus really a cult,¨ Website Articles. Accessed June 3rd, 2010.http://han.shinchonji.kr/nl/node/381
(3) ¨Eternal life in the spirit¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed July 15th, 2010.http://scjpeter.blogspot.com/2009/07/scj-eternal-life-in-spirit-and-in-flesh.html
(4) ¨Stop your evil deeds and repent¨ Audio File. Accessed July 15th, 2010.http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/jasminsh_scj/folder/11.html
(5) Christian leaders affirmed in the creed that Jesus truly died under the Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate.  This was because the Gnostics denied that Jesus died.  Christian leaders were giving historical reasons to believe that he died.  Furthermore, Jn. 19:16 makes this same point about Pontius Pilate.  Lastly, about the catholic church, early Christians were referring to one body of Christ, the catholic/universal church of Christ, as opposed to the Gnostic churches.

The Gospel: Being Saved at the End.

Dear reader,

The Gospel (from the old English Godspell or Good News) is the heart and light of the New Testament revelation from Christ. 

¨I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.¨ Is. 49:6 (cf. Lk. 2:32).

As we write, people in different countries are reading about the message of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, a communion with Christ, and God's promise of a new world to come. All kinds of people - plumbers, grandparents, teenagers, farmers, scholars - are experiencing the power behind this message.  Jesus, the light of the world, continues to touch lives in our times.

¨It (the Good News) is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes.¨ Rom. 1:16.

Think about people who come to know this new life and the joy they experience. To paraphrase a friend, ¨The conversion of a sinner is the most exciting miracle of all.¨ Heb. 2:3 calls this ¨a great salvation¨.  Jesus himself said that there is great rejoicing in heaven (Lk. 15).

What happens when a person believes this message about the Lord Jesus? According to the written word, they are included ¨in Christ¨ and are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul writes, ¨And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit¨ (Eph. 1:13).

The Lord Jesus explained that this Gospel – God's power unto salvation - would be preached to all the nations even up to the end times (Mt. 24:14).  The apostle Paul ordered disciples to persevere in the Gospel (I Cor. 15:1-3). So, we are exhorted to be faithful and proclaim this Gospel until the end.

Why is this point important?  It is significant because spiritual entities (angels, Jesus, God) have been giving revelations to final prophets around the world that de-emphasize this message and replace it with a ¨new¨ gospel (a revelation-knowledge of end-time events).  They do not deny the Gospel completely, but they replace it with a new one - the leader's revelation-knowledge.

Apocalyptic leaders focus so much on their revelation knowledge that the original Gospel is not emphasized. All their energy is spent spreading the group's new Gospel to the world.  Their studies center on the leader's revelation and even proclaim that no one in Christianity can be saved from their sins without it.

In Manhee Lee's book, The Truth Regarding Revelation's Fulfillment, he writes, ¨Those who receive the word of revelation from the new Apostle John, believe it, and obey are freed from their sins¨ (p. 5).  ¨Only those who receive the revelation from the new Apostle John are permitted to know Jesus, know the fulfillment, and attain eternal life¨ (p. 29).  

Why is this a problem?

First, the revelation in the New Testament from Christ teaches that no messenger or angel can change or modify the original Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).  This means that spirits (angels, Jesus, or God) with revelations that make themselves necessary for salvation are in error.  

Apocalyptic leaders reply that they are like Noah in the last days and their revelation-knowledge is the ark. But, the only ark in the New Testament is ¨Christ Jesus¨ and we are supposed to be in him.  Col. 3:3 states, ¨For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.¨

Second, knowledge about how Jesus returns to earth does not free people from their sins.  In the Christian revelation, redemption/salvation is related to sin in one's life and sin in the world.  The remedy is repentance before God and relying on Christ Jesus' work on the cross (i.e. his promise to pay for our sins).  Final, world redemption is about sin's presence being destroyed from this world through Christ.  Personal redemption is being freed from sin's penalty before God.

Repentance and belief in Christ are the two central pillars of individual-salvation throughout the whole New Testament revelation (Mk. 1:14,15, Lk. 13:3,5, Ac. 17:30, Jn. 3:16,17, Ac. 16:29-31, Rom. 10:9,10).  If someone in Shinchonji appears before God in the end, what will be the remedy/saving tool for their personal sins - being sealed by SCJ's revelation or trusting in Christ's death/blood for their sins?

God's voice in Revelation speaks of Christ's death/blood, which redeems mankind on earth (e.g. Rev. 5:9).  Those who overcome in the end do so through the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14, Rev. 12:11).

In the written word, the blood of Christ refers to his salvation work for our sins, not revelation-knowledge about the end.  Rev. 1:5 reads, ¨To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.¨  ¨Since we have now been justified through his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him?¨ (Rom. 5:10).  ¨In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins¨ (Eph. 1:7a).  
    
In summary, when spirit entities (angels, Jesus, or God) appear to a final prophet and proclaim that God requires believers to know their revelation to be saved, it is a different voice than the one in the written word.