📰The Bible is one of the best-selling and most widely distributed books in history, yet it is also considered to be among the least understood. The Bible, which is referred to as the New Covenant and Promise of God, in which 'the way to heaven and salvation' is presented, differs in theologians' interpretations that make it difficult to understand. These differing interpretations have been the cause of the rise of denominations with each one establishing their own doctrine. With the increase in online church services and gatherings resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there has been growing interest in the comparison of various church doctrine. This paper, therefore, attempts to provide readers with the opportunity to compare differing Biblical teachings without interpretation. Among a host of online sermons and Bible-based teachings, the contrasting doctrine between the established Church and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has drawn public interest throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, is hereby compared and summarised. Best efforts have been made to provide a summary of Shincheonji Church of Jesus' understanding of the Bible. Judgment as to what is right or wrong is left to the reader’s discernment.
"The 'lamp' in prophecy is the word - that is, the Bible. The 'oil' is the word of testimony given by the witness who saw and heard"
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony
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In Matthew 25, it says that if you, as the bride of the groom, do not have the lamp and the oil, you will not be able to receive the groom (bridegroom), Jesus Christ, and will be kicked out of the wedding feast. The prophecy in Matthew 25 is a parable of that era which used the analogy of a literal wedding feast in Israel, in which the friends of the bride would prepare their lamps to welcome the groom at night. According to Israeli custom, when the groom arrives at the bride's house to collect the bride, the friends of the bride bring their lamps to greet the groom.
What is the meaning of the bride and groom within the prophecies of the Bible? God said in Hosea 2:19-20, 'I will betroth (marry) you to me forever'. This means that God, who is Spirit, came to Jesus, who was flesh, at the first coming. At that time, God was in the position of a groom, and Jesus was in the position of a bride. The bridegroom was figuratively likened to the spirit, and the bride to the flesh. True Biblical marriage is the marriage of spirit and flesh that becomes one.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised that he would come again, and come as the bridegroom (groom) of the chosen believers at his second coming. Spiritual marriage at the time of the Lord's return is for the bridegroom, Jesus, to dwell in our hearts and become one.
In Matthew 25, both the wise and foolish virgins wait for the bridegroom with their lamps. The wise virgins meet the bridegroom with plenty of oil, while the foolish virgins go out to meet the bridegroom without enough oil.
Many believers think that a wise virgin is one who believes in Jesus, and a foolish virgin is an unbeliever. However, since all these virgins are said to be waiting for Jesus, who is the bridegroom, it is clear that all of them are believers waiting for Jesus. That is to say that it is among believers that the wise virgins and the foolish virgins are divided. Therefore, in order to participate in the spiritual wedding feast and to welcome the Lord, one must prepare the lamp and oil.
What is it we need to prepare? The lamp is the Word of God, the Bible (Psalm 119:105). Just as a lamp is a tool that is used to illuminate darkness, every believer who possesses the Bible can only welcome Jesus when he comes again if they understand the meaning of the Bible.
What is the figurative oil? In the Old Testament, Moses saw the things of heaven and built a tabernacle on this earth. Moses built a lampstand of seven lamps made of pure gold, and placed it within the sanctuary of the tabernacle. Aaron filled this lamp with olive oil. This oil, that was used to illuminate the lamp, was the olive oil from the olive tree.
In Zechariah 4, it is said that the two olive trees are the two anointed ones, who were brought to serve the Lord of all the earth. Therefore, just as olive oil is obtained from an olive tree, the word of testimony that comes out of the witness’s mouth becomes the olive oil. Therefore, according to the instruction of the one who saw and heard the fulfilment of the entire book of Revelation, it is the words of his testimony that become the oil of the prophecy. At this time, the witness that testifies to what he has seen and heard is the olive tree, and the one who sells oil in Matthew 25.
The Bible can be divided into four categories: history, instruction, prophecy and fulfilment. There is very important content that is not found in any other religious scripture - that is, prophecy that God promises will be fulfilled, and the words of testimony about that prophecy that prove it has been fulfilled. The prophecies in Matthew 25:1 onwards are about believers who prepare the lamp and oil - that is, the word of testimony - who meet Jesus the bridegroom when the Lord returns, and believers who do not prepare their lamp and oil and can not receive Jesus.
The reason the Jews did not receive God, who was the bridegroom, at the time of the first coming even though they had the Old Testament was because they did not understand the word of testimony delivered by Jesus. Likewise, today, if believers have this New Testament, but do not understand the word of the shepherd's testimony promised within the Book of Revelation, they will persecute without knowing God, Jesus, or the holy city New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven. No matter how hard you work on your faith, you will not be able to enter the wedding feast you so desperately desire without a correct understanding.
The qualifications required to welcome the Lord at the wedding feast at the Lord's Second Coming are to prepare the lamp and oil, and act according to the prophecies and instructions of the New Testament.
"The 'lamp' is one's good deeds, the oil is the Holy Spirit. The interpretation about the lamp and oil differs among every pastor"
Korean Church
"A lamp is one's good deeds. Then, what is the oil that the wise virgins brought along with their lamps?
In Luke 4:18 we read, 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.' It says that The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus Christ, and he took it and it anointed him. Isn't that right? The Holy Spirit of the Lord that came upon Jesus and anointed him, as well as the oil, is speaking of the Holy Spirit."
Pastor B, Baptist Church
"What is oil? Oil is used to light a lamp.
In the olden days, Koreans used perilla oil, or petroleum after industrialisation. However, traditional Jews simply used olive oil extracted from plants. This oil is just oil. It is the oil that lights the lamp. Take this oil and receive the oil of the Holy Spirit. There are people who claim that you must receive the Holy Spirit, and there are people who spiritually interpret this oil as something special. Oil is just oil. It's not talking about the Holy Spirit."
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