Can Shincheonji be Corrected?

Dear reader,

What would you think of final prophets who would not let themselves be corrected by the Bible?  This would seem strange and spiritually haughty.  All Christians know that we must submit to God's Word and let the Scriptures correct us.  All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for correction (2 Tim. 3:16). In Christian thinking, the Scriptures contain spiritual truths from Christ for our lives.

In end-time groups, final prophets use a series of statements that make it nearly impossible for Christians to correct them with God's Word.  These spiritual points elevate the prophet's voice over God's voice in the written word.  Even though final prophets encourage Christians to test their revelation with the Bible, their claims simultaneously make it difficult to correct their revelation with the Bible.  This is why many end-time movements continue to exist today.

What are these points that make it difficult to correct revelations to final leaders/prophets?

1.   Final prophets have the power to remove what seems clear in Scripture.  

Since final prophets claim to receive information from angels, Jesus, or God, this allows them to give the real meaning to prophetic and non-prophetic parts of the Bible.  Even clear parts of the Bible can mean something different if the leader uses a different connection or a spiritual definition of a word. The true meaning of a verse in the written word does not depend on what the words communicate on their own. For instance, Ac. 1:9-11 does not mean what most Christians think it means.  The final prophet has the authority to define figurative/hidden language in reference to clouds and give the right meaning.

Since Jesus and God are seen to be working through the prophet, the leader becomes the ¨revealer¨. The prophet does not submit to the written word, but reveals it.  This gives unlimited interpretation power to the leader.  It also means he does not have to submit to the ideas that God was making clear in the written word.

When leaders have this special anointing, it disarms Christians from using comprehensible passages in the Bible (the written word) to correct a final leader.  When a group is challenged, the final leader and his group respond by saying that the true meaning of many verses is hidden.  In this way, the final leader does not have to submit to the meaning that Christians clearly see God's voice saying in Scripture.

Once I met up with a leader in a movement in Latin America.  When he pointed out that the Son of God did not exist before coming to earth, I told him that most Christians see the Scriptures saying the opposite (Jn. 1:1, Jn. 17:5, Mic. 5:2, Jn. 8:58, Phil. 2:6, etc.).  This pastor agreed with my comment and, paraphrasing him, said, ¨What you really need is revelation knowledge to see this.¨

Secondly, another consequence of this relates to members of these movements.  When final leaders introduce new definitions, connections, and explanations to the written word, followers accept the new interpretations thinking this is what the Bible is affirming all along.  They believe the Bible is saying new things even when Christians see the written word saying something else.  This makes it hard to use Scriptures to correct revelations when final prophets have given the same verses new meanings.

For example, Jesus refers to a visible coming in Mt. 24:27 when he uses lightning.  But, Christians cannot use this to correct Shinchonji's teaching of an invisible return because SCJ uses other verses (e.g. Lk. 10:18, Rev. 11:19) to show that lightning in Mt. 24:27 is not visible. This is why Christians and members of end-time groups can debate and get nowhere.  Both sides are using the written word in different ways.       

2.  A final leader claims that Jesus has opened up seals to them in the Bible. 

When a final prophet proclaims that Jesus or God has opened seals and mysteries to them in the Bible, it makes it difficult for outside Christians to refute what they reveal because the Christian world is said to only go by a closed book/sealed prophecies.  Manhee Lee makes this point when talking about the importance of a revealed word and the time of unsealed prophecies (Creation of Heaven and Earth, pp. 6-9).

In Christian thinking, a revelation to a leader must still submit to the clear ideas in the written word.  But, leaders with a revealed word argue that Christians are like the Pharisees in the first coming.  They cannot rightly interpret the written word when the prophecies are sealed.  When the Bible is made to be a completely sealed book, it implies that what most Christians see the Bible saying does not necessarily mean it is the right meaning.

One person wrote saying that one Shinchonji instructor told him and another person to completely put aside what they had thought the Bible was saying before.  For example, Shinchonji gives a revealed meaning to the events in Rev. 6, 8, & 9, referring to the church of the seven golden lampstands.  Most Christians, however, see the events referring to people in the whole world.  

When Christians try to use the voice in God's written word to correct Shinchonji, Manhee Lee's writings claim that Christians are using a closed book, which they cannot interpret or understand correctly.

3.  Final leaders claim that all Christians who do not believe in their revelation are deceived by Satan and follow traditions of men.

In end-time movements, the group's literature has many statements about Christians being in darkness and only using traditions of men.  In Christian thinking, ¨traditions of men¨ are ideas that are not clearly stated in God's written revelation.  It's extra information.  For example, the Pharisees held on to a Corban tradition that nullified God's command to honor one's parents (Mk. 7:9-13).

To final prophets' ¨traditions of men¨ are defined as Christian beliefs that the majority of Christian churches have about Christ Jesus and the written word.  In Manhee Lee's writings, he teaches that all ministers in Christianity are either going by the traditions of men or are unscriptural and blinded.

The problem is that this forces insiders to rely more fully on what the final leader reveals to be true than what the voice in the written word is saying.  This is why it is hard to correct members with the written word since they have been trained to think that the written word is only open to the final leader.  They believe outside Christians are deceived by Satan's kingdom.

4. Final leaders use circular reasoning/interpretation.  

When a final prophet employs circular reasoning/interpretation, it is nearly impossible for Christians to correct them with the written word.  For example, many leaders have revealed that they or their group is ¨the servant¨ in Mt. 24:45-47.  The servant is the final leader, which is revealed by the final leader.  But, the written word on its own does not speak of one final servant (but faithful servants in general).  The leader can give this circular interpretation even if Christians see the written word saying something different.

Taken together, these four statements make it hard for Christians to correct final leaders with God's Word.  In addition, leaders have much spiritual pride and confidence that no believer can answer their questions or give them better interpretations.  They are the teachers and everyone in Christianity must listen to them.

Since we are supposed to humbly put ourselves under/submit to the Lord's voice in Scripture, it is important to let God's voice in the written word correct the voice in a revealed word, not the other way around.  All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for correction (2 Tim. 3:16,17).  When end-time leaders use these points to support new interpretations, Christians should be cautious.

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.     

Shincheonji's Description of the Beast in Rev. 13.

Dear reader,

Shinchonji/Shincheonji teachers receive their Bible explanations from one source, Manhee Lee, who received his information from an angel (a holy spirit), Jesus, and God.

Since the information comes from these sources (i.e. supernatural spirits from heaven), we must be careful and test it.  Of course, testing is not physically persecuting a leader, who is loved by God. But, it is necessary to avoid deception (Lk. 21:8, I Tim. 4:1, I John 4:1).

When we test a leader's information, it is important to consider if the revealed voice and the written voice are the same.  Does the revealed voice submit to the voice in the written word or does it only reveal meanings in the written word?  Do the revealed meanings seem to be what the written word is saying?  Does the revealed word make connections that seem forced or controlled?

As we become more familiar with these questions, it becomes easier to test a final leader's information.

With this in mind, let's test an important explanation given to Manhee Lee about the book of Revelation - the secret of the beast in Revelation 13.

According to Mr. Lee, it was revealed to him that a church he was attending in South Korea (the Church of the Seven Golden Lampstands) was chosen by Jesus and had Jesus' words.  However, this church betrayed Christ and was destroyed by the invaders (the Nicolatians/Satan's organization).  The pastor and his associates who invaded this church are the ¨beast¨ in Revelation 13.

In his book, Manhee Lee writes, ¨This chapter concerns the event of a false pastor (a beast) belonging to the world (the many waters or the sea) entering the church of the seven golden lampstands (the tabernacle of heaven) to destroy its chosen people using his ecclesiastical authority.  The destroyers are called beasts because they lack knowledge of God's word just like animals (Prov. 30:2.3, Is. 56:9-11)¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, 217).

What is the problem with this explanation?  What do we discern?

First, there is a problem with Manhee Lee's perception of the Church of the Seven Lampstands, which was an apocalyptic group in South Korea with problems of its own.  It is doubtful that they possessed Jesus' words from the beginning.  (See article on the history of Mr. Lee before SCJ.)

Second, Manhee Lee's sources change the meaning of a beast used in apocalyptic prophecies.  When God explains the meaning of beasts and wild creatures in Daniel's prophecies, the images refer to real kings, empires, and world leaders (Dan. 7:17,24, Dan. 8:19-24, Dan. 11).

The beast in Revelation is taken from the images of beasts in Daniel, and it is expected that Christian readers around the world will understand this.

Manhee Lee uses verses in Proverbs and Isaiah (about beasts and a lack of knowledge) to change the apocalyptic meaning of a beast.  What we notice is that this is a connection that is based on the authority of Mr. Lee's sources, not a connection that is taught in God's Word on its own.

Third, when we read the descriptions of the beast in Revelation, the voice in the written word points to something bigger.  Rev. 13:7 says the beast has authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. The whole world is astonished by the beast.  Some are killed for defying the beast (Rev. 13:15, Rev. 20:4).    

In Christian thinking, we see that God spoke to Daniel of a final ruler in the end (see Daniel 7:15-26, 8:23-25, 9:26,27, 11:33-12:11).  In Dan. 11, a final king appears, which was not fulfilled in the times before Christ.  This ruler/king blasphemes God, conquers the saints, invades the nation of Israel, and has authority over real countries and nations.  The voice here in the written word refers to a world leader.

Manhee Lee subtracts a global meaning from God's Word in Rev. 13 and adds a local meaning.  He writes, ¨The events in this chapter occur in a single place called the tabernacle of heaven (a reference to the Church of the Seven Lampstands).  They do not take place all over the world¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, 218).

When we study the descriptions of a beast in Revelation (along with the references of a final leader in Daniel), we see that God is giving a much bigger idea of a beast than a false pastor in South Korea.

This is what we discern when we test Manhee Lee's secret about the beast in Revelation 13.

Manhee Lee: A Flesh-Spirit Incarnation of Jesus?

Dear reader,

Do you believe any missionary, minister, or Bible teacher could be a divine incarnation just like the Messiah in the first coming?

In Christian thinking, a final prophet who announces that that they are incarnated/indwelled by God or Jesus is a red flag.  A leader who claims to be the flesh (or human body) that Jesus uses to return to the planet would turn Christians off.

It sounds strange, but this is what Shinchonji's promised pastor teaches about himself.  Even though SCJ explains that Manhee Lee is not Jesus or God, when we read Mr. Lee's descriptions about himself, he is considered to be a unique and divine incarnation of Jesus' spirit.    

After reading through Shinchonji's blog, one Christian commented that Shinchonji makes Manhee Lee the incarnated Jesus/the body of Jesus' spirit return.  What made him think this?  

Let's look at what Shinchonji teaches about Manhee Lee's body.  What kind of spiritual indwelling does he have, according to SCJ sources?  In one website article, Shinchonji reveals that God has entered Mr. Lee just like God entered Jesus in the first coming.

¨Just as the spirit of God entered and dwelt within Jesus (Jn 14:9-11), who overcame at the time of the first coming (Jn 16:33), the holy Spirit of Truth will come and dwell within one chosen person (i.e. the one who overcomes).¨(1)

¨The one who overcomes preaches the revealed word after uniting with the spirit of the counselor, who comes in the name of the Lord (Jn 14:16-17; Jn 14:26; Jn 16:13-14). This is similar to the time of the first coming when God came to Jesus (Matt 3:16; Jn 1:32) and united with him¨ (Jn 10:30). (2)

According to Shinchonji's descriptions, the Shinchonji pastor has Jesus' spirit and the Spirit of Truth, just like when God came to Jesus.  This makes Manhee Lee the second flesh of Jesus' spirit.  It means that seeing Mr. Lee is seeing the physical embodiment of Jesus' return.   

Of course, Shinchonji does not claim that Manhee Lee is God or Jesus himself.  But, Mr. Lee is described as having a series of incarnations by spiritual beings (the Spirit of the Counselor, Jesus' spirit, and God).  The presence of God is inside the Shinchonji pastor in an exclusive way.  In an article on Rev. 1:7, SCJ teaches that when believers see Mr. Lee, they see the Lord.  

¨The fact that every eye will see him means, as discussed above, that people will see the person with whom the spirit of the Advocate has united. Seeing that person is the same as seeing the Lord.¨(3)

When I asked one Shinchonji member if Manhee Lee was the physical-Messianic coming that most Christians were waiting for, he became silent.  In the quote below, Mr. Lee is the physical body that we should expect.  According to this quote, the promise of Jesus' return is fulfilled by a spirit return that comes to Mr. Lee's body, who is the chosen one.  

¨Jesus, during the time of his first coming, promised that he would return (Jn 14:1-3). He said in Matt 23:39, “For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”  Who, then, is this one who comes in the name of the Lord?  He is the holy Spirit of Truth, the Counselor (Jn 14:16-17, Jn 14:26). The holy Spirit of Truth, who comes in the name of the Lord, will come to dwell within one person.¨(4)

¨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 (Mt. 24:47)¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 143).

-----------------------------------

(1) ¨Promised Pastor,¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed May 26th, 2010. http://healingallnations.shinchonji.kr/content/promised-pastor

(2) ¨Faith and the Promised Pastor,¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed May 20th, 2010. http://healingallnations.shinchonji.kr/content/faith-and-promised-pastor

(3) ¨What is the true meaning of Rv. 1:7?¨, Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed May 25th, 2010. http://healingallnations.shinchonji.kr/content/what-true-meaning-rv-17

(4) ¨Promised Pastor,¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed May 26th, 2010. http://healingallnations.shinchonji.kr/content/promised-pastor

Christians do not Reincarnate other Christians.

Dear reader,

The Lord Jesus revealed that the Father's will was to raise us to life (Jn. 6:40). What an awesome promise!

When spiritual entities (angels, Jesus, or God) come to a final prophet, it's important to test their information with the voice in the written word.  This is what we want to do here with the resurrection.  According to Shinchonji, those believers who have been martyred will come back as spirits in Rev. 20 (i.e. the first resurrection) and indwell the bodies of believers on earth.  Here are some quotes from the SCJ website.

¨Because their own bodies have long since decayed, the souls of the martyrs in heaven will enter and unite with our bodies. The martyrs and we, who are physically and spiritually alive, will marry, unite as one, and live with Christ for eternity, beginning with the promised millennium. This is the truth of the resurrection and of being born again.¨ (1)

¨According to the scriptures, when the seventh trumpet sounds, God will bring with him 'those who have fallen asleep.' In other words, those who have died in the Lord will come with him as spiritual bodies¨ (1 Cor 15:51-54; 1 Thes 4:13-16). (2)

¨The 'dead,' whose flesh have died in the Lord, will be raised as spirits. Those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will live with Jesus for a long time just as people lived a long time before Adam sinned. Having faith in this idea is the true meaning of carrying out a life of faith. If there is a natural body, there is a spiritual body as well¨ (1 Cor 15:44). (2)

In the written revelation, we notice that God's voice is saying something different.  What are the clear (and unhidden) points that God revealed about the resurrection before Shinchonji appeared?  Does Shinchonji's revelation rightly divide the verses quoted above?  Why do Christians believe that all believers will be resurrected with a new, superhuman body?

First, when we look at the meaning of the resurrection in the written word, it does not refer to a spirit resurrection or a spirit inhabiting another person's glorified body.  Jesus associated it with his own human body.  He prophesied that something would happen to his human body, not his spirit (Jn. 2:19-21).  When God raised him from the dead, he was not a spirit.  God did something to his body (Lk. 24:39).

¨Jesus answered and said to them, ´Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.´ But he was speaking of the temple of His body¨ (Jn. 2:19,21, NKJV).

¨Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.¨ (Lk. 24:39, NKJV).

Some spirit revelations to final groups argue that Jesus became a resurrected spirit or his human body was destroyed or disintegrated.  But, the written word says that the Messiah's body was raised never to decay (Ac. 2:31, Ac. 13:34) and that resurrection bodies are indestructible/imperishable (I Cor. 15:42-44).

Second, according to the written word, Jesus' resurrection is the blueprint of future, human resurrections (I Cor. 15:20, Phil. 3:21).  The Lord Jesus was the first resurrected human (I Cor. 15:20) and was not resurrected as a spirit (Lk. 24:39) or resurrected in the body of another living person (i.e. reincarnated).

In Christian thought, the Creator's plan is to resurrect humans in the same way that the Lord Jesus was resurrected (Rom. 8:11).  Our mortal and sin-affected bodies groan now and long to be redeemed and glorified, which is our hope.  This promise is for all believers, not just those who are alive in the end.

¨But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you¨ (Rom. 8:11).¨And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body¨ (Rom. 8:23).

At the end of I Cor. 15, the voice in God's Word reveals that all of us (those who have died and those who are alive when the Lord returns) will be transformed/changed in the twinkling of an eye.  The changing refers to a new, complete human nature that is glorified, like Jesus' human nature (I Cor. 15:20).  The early Christians did not believe that they would come back to incarnate someone else's nature.  Rom. 8:11 and Rom. 8:23 refer to God's transforming one's own mortal body.

In the quotes above, Shinchonji, like other end-time movements, misinterprets I Cor. 15:44 and teaches that a ¨spiritual body¨ means an immaterial, spirit resurrection.  The word ¨body¨ in Greek, however, refers to a physical body. A spiritual body is a new human body of a higher form, unlike the natural body.  This is the point of the argument in I Cor. 15:20-51.  The Apostle Paul reveals a new kind of human body that becomes incorruptible, indestructible, powerful, glorified, and spiritual (not a natural, sinful body).

When the Lord Jesus resurrects the dead through his power, he promises to transform the old body (of sin and mortality) into a new body, like his own.  This is what God's Word makes known in Phil. 3:21. God will transform bodies of humiliation.  ¨He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself" (Phil. 3:21).

When we put all these points together from God's written word, we see that the Creator's plan is to make new humans via resurrection life, not re-incarnate human spirits into other human bodies.  For more information, see the article on the Gnostics, Spirit-Jesus, and a Spiritual Body.

----------------------------------------

(1) ¨The first resurrection and the millennium,¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed May 20th, 2010. http://han.shinchonji.org/ru/content/first-resurrection-and-millennium
(2) ¨New heaven and eternal life¨ Accessed July 15th, 2010. http://scjblog.egloos.com/348873

A Clue: Which Jesus Returns in Acts 1:11?

Dear reader,

In the written word, the authority in Christian thought, we find a voice that communicates very powerfully that the Messiah will be seen by others when he returns to the planet in power and glory (Lk. 21:27, Mk. 13:26, Mt. 16:27, Mt. 24:27-30, Rev. 1:7, Ac. 1-9-11).

This is probably one of Jesus' promises that is most overlooked by the media at Christmas and Easter.  But, it is a statement the Messiah wants his followers to remember.  It is not a hidden promise.  Let's look again at one of the well-known texts for this in Acts 1:9-11.

¨When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven'¨ (Ac. 1-9-11, NRSV).

In the spirit world, heavenly entities (angels, Jesus, and God) have been giving secret revelations to final prophets in end-time groups to re-explain this text.  They teach a figurative meaning to ¨clouds¨ and use spiritual reasoning or hidden meanings in other verses to show that ¨clouds¨ hide things.  In these movements, Christians are taught that the clouds make it clear that Jesus' return will be hidden/invisible or as a spirit.

In Shiinchonji's article on Rev. 1:7, they write, ¨Clouds are capable of hiding things from view. The fact that Jesus returns with the clouds means that he is coming in spirit. In Acts 1:9-11, Jesus’ disciples were staring into the sky after Jesus’ ascension, and a cloud hid Jesus from their sight¨ (1).  

How can we know who has the right meaning?

The surest and most reliable method to test a spirit revelation to a final prophet is to let the voice in God's written word reveal the right idea.  The written word should correct a revelation, not the other way around.  In the written record, one phrase sheds light on this question.  God's voice makes it known that ¨this same Jesus¨ or ¨this Jesus¨ is the one who returns to earth.

¨This Jesus, who has been taken up from you in heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.¨ (NRSV).

¨Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner¨ (21st C. KJV).

According to the voice in the written word, the same Messiah/Jesus is coming back.  This means that, regardless of any secretive or figurative meaning to clouds, the same Jesus is returning, not a different Jesus.  This is an important voice in the written word because the Jesus who left was not a glorified spirit.

God raised Christ's humanity to a new glorified state, which is why the tomb was empty (Lk. 24:2-5).  Jesus is the firsfruits of a new race of humans (I Cor. 15:20, Col. 1:19).  The Messiah was not transfigured into a spirit (Lk. 24:39).  Rather, his body never saw decay (Ac. 2:29-31, Ac. 13:35-37).  Christ was the first human to be raised with a body prepared for glory.  The written word shows that he still has this body (Phil. 3:21).  See other articles on the resurrection for more information on this topic.
  

In summary, even though final leaders reveal figurative meanings to the clouds in Acts 1:11 - meanings that the written word does not teach independently - one phrase indicates that the same Jesus is coming back, not a spirit Jesus (Ac. 1:11).  This harmonizes with Jesus' statement that he would be seen (Mt. 24:30).

_______________________

(1) For Shinchonji's full explanation, see ¨What is the True Meaning of Rv. 1:7?,¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. http://correctunderstandingofshinchonji.wordpress.com/tag/what-is-it-mean-by-jesus-returns-with-the-clouds/.  Accessed January 11, 2014.

Hard Questions Posed by Shincheonji.

Dear reader,

According to Shinchonji, the SCJ pastor, Manhee Lee, had an encounter with heavenly entities on a mountain in South Korea.  These entities (God, Jesus, and a holy spirit/angel) gave Mr. Lee a ¨revealed word¨ or ¨revelation¨ on the prophecies related to the second coming (their meaning and their physical fulfillment).  Mr. Lee says that he is the New Apostle John figure who received the scroll (the revealed word) in Rev. 10.

When heavenly entities convince a leader that their ¨revelation¨ is true and a movement is started, it's important to test this revelation.  Testing, of course, is not physically persecuting a leader or their followers, who are loved by God.  But, it's important to avoid spiritual deception (I Tim. 4:1, I Jn. 4:1).

Leaders in end-time movements believe their revelation is from God because a) it seems to answer all the prophecies about the last stage of Christianity and b) no one else in Christianity knows their answers to these questions.  This is seen as evidence that the ¨revealed word¨ must be divine in origin.

Members in Shinchonji use the revealed word to pose questions to Christians.  In SCJ literature, it is stated that no one can answer their questions about Revelation or the second coming.  To Shinchonji, this demonstrates that the ¨revealed word¨ is superior to all Bible knowledge in Christian circles today.

These questions are also used to make Christans feel like they must have this knowledge (¨the revealed word¨) to be ready for Jesus' return.  In his zeal, one Shinchonji member sent out more than 70 e-mails with questions to his Christian family.  The message was, ¨If you don´t know the answer to these questions, you need to study with Shinchonji?¨

What is the problem with these questions?  What do we discern?

First, it is suspicious when the ¨revealed word¨ asks questions that the written word does not require believers to know.  For example, one Revelation question is, ¨What is the meaning of the white stone in Rev. 2:17?¨ But, when we listen to God´s voice in Rev. 2:17, the written word is not commanding believers to know this meaning.

The reader is able to understand that it is something wonderful.

In Rev. 1:3, God's voice states that those who read Revelation and take to heart what is written in it will be blessed.  Without perfect knowledge, believers throughout the centuries have been blessed by the powerful themes that come from the written word in Revelation.  But, the written word does not command us to understand every word.

Shinchonji members might respond, ¨This is equal to saying that it's not important to understand Jesus' words at all.¨  But, this is different.  All followers of Christ believe that we should study what Jesus makes known in the Bible.  The difference is when a ¨revealed word¨ emphasizes something that the written word does not emphasize.  Only the revealed word requires it to be known.

Instead of trusting in Christ's power, love, and promises, people become more worried about understanding every word in Revelation that the ¨revealed word¨ asks a question about.

When God's word does not emphasize something, we can trust that God either does not emphasize the meaning or he chooses not to reveal it, which is a divine prerogative (Jn. 21:20-23, I Cor. 13:12, I Jn. 3:2). A host of topics in Scripture is unknown to the Christian world (the identity of the spirits in 1 Pet. 3:18, future activities in eternity, the time that elapsed before Satan's rebellion, and much more).

Imagine an English professor asking students, ¨When Cinderella lost her slipper in the story, what was the price of that slipper?¨  The story does not reveal the answer.  In the same way, the ¨revealed word¨ in Shinchonji creates questions that the story in the written word does not ask (and then expects answers that the written word does not reveal).

(Note to reader: Many questions raised by Shinchonji fall under this analysis, but it is possible that some do not.  Each question should be analyzed separately/case by case to see if it applies.)

What are some other problems with ¨revealed questions¨?

Since the ¨revealed¨ questions require answers not easily known in the written word, it slowly makes participants view the ¨revealed word¨ in Shinchonji as the primary source of truth.  Shinchonji would disagree with this, but it becomes more apparent to outside Christians that the revealed word from Manhee Lee becomes the real authority in SCJ, not the written word.

When this happens, it makes it nearly impossible to correct a leader with a ¨revealed word¨ with God's written word.  Revealed ¨words/revelations¨ insist that their revelation unveils the deeper connection or the real meaning in the written word (even if the written word says something different).

For example, God's word in Mt. 24:27 makes it known that the meaning of lightning is related to visibility, but the revealed word in Shinchonji cites other verses, like Lk. 10:18 and Rev. 11:19, to show that the deeper meaning in Mt. 24:27 does not refer to visibility.  So, the revealed word ¨corrects¨ the written word, not the other way around.

A third problem with the ¨revealed word¨ is circular interpretation.  One Shinchonji member once asked, ¨If Mr. Lee is not the Apostle John figure, who is?¨  But, this person did not realize that Mr. Lee (the new Apostle John) is the one who says there must be a new Apostle John.  When the written text is consulted on its own, it does not require followers of Jesus to believe a new John is coming.

Another case is when Manhee Lee reveals that the ¨one who overcomes¨ in Rev. 2,3 refers to one person, Mr. Lee, (as a primary meaning) and to others (as a secondary meaning).  Only Mr. Lee sees that this is a prophecy for a final leader.  When God's Word is consulted independently, it is the exact opposite.

Fourth, when Shinchonji speaks of knowing answers to Revelation (how prophecies should be understood and how they are physically fulfilled), the assumption is that giving interpretations (and the physical fulfillment) is the same as giving the right interpretation (and the right physical fulfillment).  Teachers and students of logic know this is false.  A student can give answers to all the hard questions on an exam and still be wrong (even though their answers were unique and not found on any other exam).

The same is true with revelations from spirit entities to final prophets.  The kingdom of darkness has been revealing end-time answers to many groups for a long time. The fact that final prophets are convinced that supernatural beings from heaven are guiding them doesn't mean that their guided answers are the right ones.  Crafty, intelligent spirits can deceive humans (1 Jn. 4:1), which is why we must test them.

Testing is not merely seeing if a ¨revealed word¨ can give answers to 40 questions on Revelation that the revealed word created, which is circular.  A much safer test is seeing whether or not the voice of the ¨revealed word¨ is the same voice in God's written word.

Lastly, when we test the answers from Shinchonji's revealed word, the ¨revealed word¨ seems to impose itself on the the written word.  The interpretations seem controlled and self-validating. Manhee Lee says, ¨This is connected to the meaning here,¨ but other connections or meanings are possible too.  It feels controlled, like in other movements with a revealed word (see the testimonial section).

For instance, what is Shinchonji's revealed answer to the ¨white stone¨ in Rev. 1:17?

God's Word has many contexts and uses for stones/rocks (Ez. 36:26, Mt. 16:18, 2 Cor. 3:3, 1 Sam. 17:50, Ac. 4:11, Mk. 16:3, etc.), but Manhee Lee's revealed word states that stones represent ¨the tools of God¨ (the words of God) used for judgment, like the stone tablets given to Moses.  In the end, the revealed word says the ¨white stone¨ is ultimately the revealed word (the revelation to Manhee Lee in Rev. 10).

¨The Bible borrows the physical qualities of a stone when it uses stones figuratively to represent the tools of God - people who pass judgment...The white stone (Rev. 2:17) that Jesus (the living stone) promised to give to the one who fights and overcomes the group of Satan (the Nicolaitans) represents the law, which is the word of the New Testament Jesus received from God.  This word is also the word of the open scroll from Rev. 10, and it is by this word that the earth and the sea are judged (Jn. 12:48, Rv. 16)¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, pp. 485-487).

At a certain point, the meanings in Revelation and other prophecies become predictable - everything refers, in some way or another, to the revealed word (see Manhee Lee's book, Creation of Heaven and Earth).

In summary, when a revealed word appears from heavenly entities (an angel, Jesus, or God) and uses questions that it creates, puts itself above the meanings in the written word's self-revelation, or controls meanings between verses, it is a sign to Christians.  It shows that the voice in God's written revelation is not the same voice from the prophet's revelation.

Thank you for considering these points and principles when testing Shinchonji's questions.

Question for Manhee Lee: Where is the Promise?

Dear reader,

Thanks for taking these points to heart.

In the last two hundred years, many final leaders have given prophecies for themselves in the written word to assure their followers that God has chosen them.  Yet, Christian researchers notice that when final leaders reveal prophecies for themselves, the biblical texts do not say what the leaders affirm.

Let´s look at an example in Shinchonji.

According to Shinchonji's public website, Manhee Lee has received information from an angel (a holy spirit), Jesus, and God.  These spiritual entities, working through Mr. Lee, reveal that the New Testament announces the coming of a final pastor.  To Mr. Lee, this is no exaggeration.

Manhee Lee's coming is just as big as the Messiah's first coming.  He writes, ¨Just as the Old Testament promises Jesus Christ (Jn. 5:39), the New Testament prophesies about this promised pastor¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 82).  ¨The Old Testament testified about one person in Jesus, God's promised pastor.  It is no exaggeration to say that the New Testament testifies about the one pastor Jesus promised¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 337).  ¨It could be said that the New Testament proclaims one pastor promised by Jesus¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 429).

In Manhee Lee's book, he explains that the Bible reveals a series of pastors and chosen people in different time periods, and that there is now a final pastor (Mr. Lee) and a final chosen people (Shinchonji) in the end. Through this final pastor God accomplishes his will in the book of Revelation.

What is the problem with this claim about a promised pastor?

First, a legitimate promise in the written word is one that everyone sees.  Otherwise, it is not a true promise according to the written word (the Bible).  If it were a clear promise, we should expect devoted Christians from the first century on to be talking about this coming, which we do not find in Christian writings.  This means it is a promise only based on Mr. Lee´s authority, not the written word.

Second, Manhee Lee's statement that his coming is prophesied just like Jesus' coming is not accurate.  Jesus' coming in the Old Testament was foretold in a clear way.  Although many of the details were disputed in the first century, no one disputed the Messianic promise itself.  One Talmudic tradition says that the prophets spoke of nothing more important than the days of the Messiah.  Multiple groups independently extracted promises of a Messiah, like the Essenes.  The Aramaic targums (translations of the Old Testament) inserted the Messiah in many texts.  Even the Samaritans believed a Messiah was to come (Jn. 4:25, 42).

Thus, when God's voice wanted his people to believe in an important coming, like the Messiah's coming, he used clear and unambiguous language.  Applied to Manhee Lee's statement above, if there is a similar promise from God in the New Testament for a pastor, it should be equally obvious, but it´s not.

Thirdly, when we evaluate the verses used by Shinchonji for a final pastor, they are based on circular interpretation.  That is, they are real prophecies only to Shinchonji.  Let´s look at a few examples.

  

Manhee Lee teaches that the phrase ¨the one who overcomes¨ in Rev. 2,3 refers primarily to one individual/Mr. Lee (and, in a secondary sense, to those who overcome in Shinchonji).  But, according to the testimony of the written word, it is the exact opposite.  The primary meaning refers to all those who overcome in the churches (Rev. 2:24, 3:4), not just one individual.

An unbiased reading, confirmed by Christian communities everywhere, reveals that no one sees this as a clear prophecy for one individual.  It is supposedly a secretive prediction only clear to the leader, which makes it based on his authority.  The same is true for other prophecy texts.

According to Mr. Lee, the promise of the Counselor in Jn. 14,16 refers to a final flesh (pastor).  But, this is only so because he re-defines the Counselor to include two aspects - the Spirit and another ¨flesh¨ through whom the Spirit of the Counselor works.  Further, it is not an example of a clear prophecy.  On the contrary, evidence in the text and in Acts dispels the teaching of the Counselor working through only one flesh.

Other examples can also be cited in Revelation.  However, these are only clear promises to Mr. Lee, not any other Christian community.  Again, apocalyptic leaders cite hidden prophecies for themselves based on their authority, but it needs to be shown that God in his written word has made these prophecies known. 

To justify hidden or secretive prophecies in Revelation, Manhee Lee quotes Hosea 12:10 to show that that the Apostle John in Revelation refers to a promised pastor, a new Apostle John who must appear in the future.  According to one source, in the Korean translation of Hosea 12:10, it states that ¨prophets can be used figuratively,¨ but this does not constitute a specific prophecy.

A specific promise according to the Bible is one that the voice in the written record makes known to others independently, like in the writings of the Hebrew prophets announcing the Messiah's coming.  If the written word does not make this clear, the real source of authority is the leader's revelation (from heavenly entities), which other end-time leaders have used to reveal prophecies for their coming.

Imagine a U.S. judge declaring that ¨something is clear according to the U.S. Constitution¨.  This would mean that other judges could open the Constitution and find it there.  It would be suspicious if it were only clear to this particular judge and no other judge could confirm its clarity.  It would make everything based on this judge's interpretation/perspective of the Constitution, but not the Constitution's self-revelation.

The same is true in God's Word.  One Christian lady said that after looking up Bible verses given to her of a final pastor, she was more convinced that God had not made this promise in the Bible.  According to the written word, God's voice led her in the opposite direction.

One Shinchonji instructor replied that perhaps God planned to hide this promise (i.e. seal it) from Christians.  But, this creates more problems than it answers.  First, it would make Manhee Lee's promise different than the promise of a Messiah in the Old Testament, which goes against Mr. Lee's statement above.  Second, if God truly asks believers to follow a final pastor, it would be strange to hide this promise in his written testimony and then expect everyone to believe a promise that is not clearly revealed in the Bible.

Even though the written word gives many clear prophecies about the end, Christians have never seen a clear promise to follow a world pastor who embodies Jesus' spiritual return.  Jesus' first sign of the end is a warning to stay away from leaders who come in his name and embody his expected return (Lk. 21:8, Mt. 24:4,5).  See article on Manhee Lee's claim to be the flesh-spirit union with Jesus' returning spirit.

Questions for reflection.  

In Latin America, there is a group that believes that their first leader was the new Aaron of the Christian world.  Are there any clear prophecies for a new Aaron in the Bible?  Should followers of Christ believe a promise that only a final leader makes clear to their group?     

What Proof/Signs does Shincheonji have?

Dear reader,

A young person once asked about a magician who posted amazing videos on the internet.  He wondered how he made his magic tricks seem so authentic.  In Christian thinking, signs are powerful.  Even Jesus Christ showed his power by using supernatural signs/miracles to authenticate his identity and message (Lk. 11:17-20).       

However, when Jesus spoke of the end-times, he warned about signs and miracles associated with final leaders (Mk. 13, Lk. 21, Mt. 24).  He said that even the elect might be tempted to believe them.  There are several reasons to be alert concerning signs.

First, the supernatural world has been giving signs for a long time.  Many groups have signs. The Bahais point to fulfilled prophecy and knowledge in their leader.  The Luz del Mundo in Latin America points to miracles and healings through their leaders.  Mormons use the Book of Mormon.  Muslims point to the Koran.  Many Roman Catholics argue the Eucharist is a spiritual sign, and the list goes on.  So, signs are not always safe.

One Shinchonji instructor explained that the biggest sign in SCJ is being able to interpret Revelation.  Another Shinchonji member mentioned that Manhee Lee miraculously recovered from being thrown into a river.  Another member said that Mr. Lee is the only one who has witnessed the events in Revelation.  Other Shinchonji members formulate a list of Revelation signs/questions that no Christian can answer.      

What reasons would Christians have to doubt a powerful sign?

When a sign removes a spiritual truth in the written word, Christians discern the sign is not from God.  A spirit of prophecy is not going to change what God's voice in the written word was making clear to the Christian world.  For example, Mohammad's revelation states that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, but this goes against the clear message in the record of the New Testament.

Likewise, Manhee Lee's sign of Revelation explanations should not remove what God's voice in the written word was already making clear.  Even though final prophets say that they have the power to give new meanings (through revealed knowledge of opened seals), the voice in the written word is still superior.  Many of the understandable ideas in Revelation and other parts of the New Testament record are changed/re-defined because of Mr. Lee's sign.

Second, another reason to be careful about signs is that they distract people from the real spiritual life God wants us to live.  Instead of focusing on the simple and important truths from the Lord (i.e. reaching out to others, growing in love, serving Christ with the gifts he has given us, explaining Jesus' remedy and love to others, etc.), people end up focusing too much on revelation knowledge in end-time movements.

Lastly, a sign also blinds people from accepting problems in their movement.  They minimize errors by pointing to positive signs in their group.  While talking to a woman in Shinchonji, she dismissed many problems by repeating that Manhee Lee was an eyewitness of the events in Revelation.  She did not see how this is spiritually inconsistent.  

    

When God's voice was instructing his people about prophecies, he warned them not to let impressive signs lead them astray from his commands (Deut. 13:1-5).  The Apostle Paul also explained that no sign or supernatural being could alter God's message of the Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).  This is why a sign that makes itself the new Gospel message is not safe.

Shincheonji's Explanation of Rev. 6: God's Wrath.

Dear reader,

Let's look at the content described in Revelation 6 and test the information given to Manhee Lee.

Shinchonji/Shincheonji receives its information from one source (Mr. Lee), who received his information from a spiritual creature (two creatures on a mountain in South Korea according to one account).  Shinchonji believes the information comes from an angel (a holy spirit), from Jesus Christ, and from God.

Before continuing, let's think about this.  Many historians, religious leaders, politicians, and professors would find it amazing to interview Jesus or a heavenly creature.  Now, picture having an encounter with spiritual entities from heaven and receiving information from them.  If this were to happen, what would you do?

Since the voice in the New Testament warns us of deceptive spiritual creatures, spiritual visions, and false leaders (I Tim. 4:1, I Jn. 4:1), it is important to test information from these sources.

Testing a final leader's experience, of course, does not mean physically persecuting a leader or his followers, who are loved by God.  But, it is necessary to avoid deception (I Jn. 4:1, I Tim. 4:1, Lk. 21:8).  Many leaders of religions and apocalyptic groups have been deceived by supernatural experiences.

According to Manhee Lee's experience, he says that the content of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 refer to a specific church in South Korea that received Jesus' words and betrayed him.  This church is the Church of the Seven Golden Lampstands.  In response to this, he wrote seven letters to the seven pastors (messengers) of the church to warn them to repent (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p.209).

Because the seven pastors and church members did not repent, God punishes the betrayers, which is the content of the judgment in Revelation chapter 6.  Manhee Lee writes, ¨These four living creatures judge the seven pastors and their people at the church of the seven golden lampstands.  They are judged because they refused to repent even after receiving the letters from Jesus¨ (The Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 192).

Manhee Lee explains the majority of the symbols in chapter 6 in relation to this event.  For example, the sun, moon, and stars (Rev. 6:12,13) refer to the chosen people in the Church of the Seven Lampstands, and the rolling away of the sky (Rev. 6:14) is the destruction of the church (pp. 192,193).  As Mr. Lee himself summarizes on p. 220, ¨Revelation 6 describes the judgment of the chosen people who betrayed.¨

When we test this explanation with the Bible and spiritual discernment, what do we see in Revelation 6?  Why doubt Shinchonji's explanation and the spirit revelation to Manhee Lee?

First, there is a problem with Mr. Lee's experience and perception of the Church of the Seven Lampstands.  Manhee Lee attended this church, but it really was another apocalyptic group with problems of its own.  To obtain more information, see the article about the history of Manhee Lee before Shinchonji.

Second, Revelation 6 describes a theme that is much bigger.  At the end of the chapter, people on earth are afraid of God's wrath.  The last verses reveal that it's the time of the ¨wrath of the Lamb¨ and the ¨wrath of the one who sits on the throne.¨  It is known as the ¨great day¨ of wrath (Rev. 6:16, 17).

Why is this significant?

According to the Old Testament, the wrath of God, although partially fulfilled at times against Samaria and Babylon and other nations, is fully fulfilled at a future time when God puts a stop to the increased wickedness on earth - a time like Noah's age when God has had enough.  This time of wrath and judgment is also identified as the Day of the Lord (Zeph. 1:14,15).  In Isaiah 2:10-21, for example, the allusions to the Day of the Lord match the description in Revelation 6:16,17.

¨Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth¨ (Is. 2:19).

So, the ideas in God's Word about the Day of the Lord and God's wrath refer to a final time of judgment for humanity at large (Zeph. 1:14-2:3, Isaiah 2:10-21, Isaiah 13:9-13, Joel 2:31-3:3, 9-15, Amos 5:18-20, Isaiah 34:2-4).

Another theme in Rev. 6 (and in the Old Testament references) is that the day of wrath and judgment is global, not local.  Zephaniah 1:18 prophesies that the whole world will be consumed.  Isaiah 13:11 says that God will punish the world for its evil.  In Rev. 6:4, 6:8, 6:10, and 6:15, the Bible refers to the earth and the inhabitants of the earth.

Jesus Christ mentions that these days will ¨come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth¨ (Lk. 21:35) and speaks of a ¨time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written¨ in the Old Testament (Lk. 21:22).

In contrast, the vision to Manhee Lee changes the global meaning of earth from Revelation 6 (i.e. subtracts this from the text) and adds a different meaning about a local church in South Korea.

Fourth, Rev. 6 speaks of a dreadful time of death and humans being killed (Rev. 6:4, 6:8, 6:11).  Peace is taken from the earth and the inhabitants slay each other in the second seal.  In the fourth seal, Hades and death are mentioned as people are killed by the sword, famine, and plagues.

These words (sword, famine, plagues) are used by God in the prophets to refer to real and powerful judgments.  See Jer. 32:24, 36, Jer. 29:17-19, Jer. 14:11,12, Ezek. 7:8-19.  Shinchonji subtracts this meaning and adds a spiritual meaning, referring to spiritually dying in the Church of the Seven Lampstands.

Fifth, there are two methods of interpreting the Bible.  The safe approach is allowing the ideas from God in the written word be the standard, letting the meanings speak to our hearts (when given).  The other way is the ¨revelation¨ method, which reveals meanings behind the texts that the texts do not reveal on their own.

This is what we notice with Manhee Lee's explanation in Revelation 6.

Jesus Affirms Physical Israel.

Dear reader,

When someone asks you an important question, how do you answer?  Naturally, it depends on the topic.  After Jesus Christ resurrected, the disciples asked him this important question.

¨Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6)?¨ 

When Jesus Christ heard this, two important points surface.  First, the disciples were familiar with God´s plan for the nation of Israel based on prophecies from God in their history.  Second, Jesus did not ignore or downplay Israel´s role in the end, but rather said that the disciples were not to worry about God´s timing for Israel.  Peter later records that Jesus did not fulfill all God promised to do through the prophets (Ac. 3:21).  

What final promises of restoration does God give Israel? 

In Jer. 30-33, Is. 11,12, 45-66, Ezekiel 36-39, and sections of the minor prophets (Zech. 9-14, Joel 3, Amos 9, Mic. 4,5, and Zeph. 3), Israel has a role in the last days.  Because of God's faithfulness and great love for the patriarchs (Rom. 11:28), God will be glorified through Israel in the end (Ez. 36:23).  

Although God rejected Israel and punished them at different times in history, the prophets before, during, and after the Babylonian exile prophesied a final and complete restoration for Israel in the end (i.e. spiritual purification, a return to the land, peace, the Messiah's kingdom, and the exaltation of Jerusalem).  This is what interested the disciples in Ac. 1:6.  

When a revealed word comes to a final prophet through spirit entities (angels, God, Jesus), it is important to examine how it treats Israel.  For example, Shincheonji changes Israel's primary meaning of ¨one who wrestles with God¨ to ¨one who overcomes¨ (the same title as the SCJ pastor).  The revealed word in Shinchonji removes national Israel from the final scene. However, the independent voice in the Scriptures reveals something different.    

God's voice in the prophets refers to physical Israel in the end.  This can be seen in the language used.  For example, the phrase ¨your people¨ in the prophets refers to national Israel.  In Dan. 9:27, it is revealed that ¨seventy sevens are decreed for your people.¨  Dan. 12:1 speaks of Michael, the great prince, who protects ¨your people¨ in the end.  When Jesus gives information about a future abomination that causes desolation, he mentions a time of wrath against ¨this people¨ (Lk. 21:23).     

Imagine hearing God's voice through Ezekiel, Isaiah, or Jeremiah and hearing about Israel's future.  Then someone says, ¨Don't take these promises seriously because they refer to Gentiles in the future who are spiritual, not us.¨ This would be strange.  

For a more thorough study, look up all the references of Israel in the minor and major prophets.  See if God's promises refer to physical Israel in the future.  When we do, we see that God prophesies about Israel and the Israelites, are not figurative prophecies about one who overcomes or spiritual Christians.  It is referring to Israel as a whole.  

One of the surest prophecies concerning Israel's restoration is in Ez. 37:21-25.  This promise speaks of a return from a final exile, the Messiah's rule, and spiritual cleansing.   

¨This is what the Sovereign Lord say, 'I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone.  I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.  I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.  There will one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.  They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them.  They will be my people, and I will be their God.  My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd.  They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.  They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived.  They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.'¨

Old Testament prophecies about Israel and the Israelites include many references that make it evident that physical Israel is the meaning.  If some Americans announce they are going to visit Washington (and include references to Mt. Helen or Seattle), such clues make it evident that Washington State is the intended meaning, not Washington D.C.  Similar language about national Israel also make it evident that God is referring to something in relation to national Israel.

God´s voice in the New Testament echoes this idea in Rom. 11:25-29 when Paul reveals that Israel will not be hardened forever (Rom. 11:25).  A time will come when they will be cleansed (Rom. 11:27).   God's voice uses words like ¨Zion¨ and ¨Jacob¨ that reveal physical Israel is in mind.  ¨The deliverer will come from Zion he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.  And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins¨ (Rom. 11:26,27).

The danger with revelations to final prophets is that followers fall under a spell and believe that the Bible only affirms what the leader says it affirms.  They trust the prophet is God's voice.  But, when Christians are diligent to seek God's voice in all the passages, we begin to see God saying something different.  This is an important test.  

Sit down and read through all the references of a final restoration in the prophets and notice the references to Israel or Jerusalem (Is. 2, 11,12, 44-65, Jer. 30-33, Zech. 9-12, Ezek. 34-39, Dan. 11,12, Joel 3, Amos 9, Micah 4,5, Zeph. 3).  Why does Paul say in Rom. 11 that Israel is not rejected (11:1) and that they are still loved by God (11:29)?  According to God's Word, there is a time when Israel is no longer hardened (Rom. 11:25).

The Jews Missing the First Coming/I Thess 5.

Dear reader,

Why did the Jews miss the Messiah's first coming to earth?

One Shinchonji instructor claimed that the real problem was the Jews' ignorance of Old Testament prophecies (Ac. 3:17).  The argument is that since the Jewish nation did not understand the Old Testament prophecies, they missed Jesus' message, which was the very thing they were longing for.

This Jewish-error is fundamental in Shinchonji thinking because the same principle is used to show that Christians today are not ready for the Lord's return because they lack "revelation knowledge" about end-time prophecies.  True knowledge of the prophecies equals preparation for the Lord's return.

What is the problem with these claims?

First, even though it is true that the Jews had different ideas (and wrong concepts) about the Messiah, so did everyone else - Mary, Jesus' disciples, John the Baptist, etc.  The disciples did not fully understand what was occurring when Jesus was crucified.  Only Christ truly knew what he was doing. Throughout Jesus' time on earth, the disciples' understanding was often wrong.

Second, according to the written testimony, the real problem the Jews missed the first coming was their sinful hearts.  Jn. 3:18 says that men did not come to the light because they loved darkness.  The Jewish leaders had hardened hearts.

When the wise men entered Jerusalem, the religious leaders knew that the Messiah-prince would be born in Bethlehem (Mt. 2:1-6).  They had the correct knowledge concerning this prophecy, but they didn't have a heart after God to search for the child.  They should have rejoiced in their hearts.  When Jesus rose from the dead, they had a correct understanding of what happened.  Instead of believing Christ, they made up a story to protect themselves (Mt. 28:11-15).  

In Isaiah's day, Israel was so far from God that their hearts had become calloused.  Not even God could change them. When the Messiah came, he likened his generation to Isaiah's contemporaries. It was a problem of the heart.  "You hypocrites!  Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, 'These people honor with their lips, but their hearts are far from me'" (Mt. 15:7,8,9a).

When the Pharisees saw Jesus perform miracles, they hardened their hearts more.  Instead of praising God, they plotted his death. Notice why Jesus was grieved: "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?  But they remained silent.  He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart" (Mk. 3:5).

The first martyr, Stephen, told the Jewish authorities that they were like their ancestors with "uncircumcised hearts" (Ac. 7:51). Paul uses the same quote Jesus used in Isaiah to refer to the Jews in Rome: "They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: 'The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: "Go to this people and say, You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.  For this people's heart has become calloused"'" (Ac. 28:25-27).

Think about this point.

Their hardened hearts was the problem.  Of course, they also misunderstood the Messiah's mission, just like the disciples did.  But, God was not looking for Israel to perfectly understand all his prophecies. When John the Baptist appeared, he was sent by God to prepare their hearts.  The written testimony says nothing of John focusing on the Messianic references in Daniel, Zechariah, or Ezekiel. The same is true today.

See the article on Manhee Lee's revelation which affirms that seven pastors (messengers) in the Church of the Seven Lampstands were like John the Baptist and prepared the way for the Lord's coming.

Shinchonji teaches that Christians must perfectly understand the events of Revelation to be ready for Christ's return, but this is not a message that harmonizes with God's heart.  In the written word, God wants us to be ready by loving the master and faithfully serving him when he appears (Mt. 24:45-47).

1 Thess. 5:1-11 reveals that people in the world are in darkness about Christ's return, which will come when they are talking about peace and safety (5:3).  Paul's admonition for Christians (in the light) is not to worry about dates or times (5:1), but to increase their love and faith in Christ's salvation promise (5:8): "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him" (I Thess. 5:9).  Paul uses the light and darkness comparison elsewhere in reference to believers and non-believers (Eph. 5:8-14).

When a revelation appears to a final prophet and reveals that the Jews' main problem was a lack of understanding and the same is true in Christians today, we can see that this is false.  The real problem in Jewish and Christian circles is a right heart.  Many believers do have a right heart.  They long for Jesus' return to earth, and they love him and serve him, like many of the God-fearing Jews in the first century.