📰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.
"An 'idol' in the books of the prophets refers to a false shepherd (pastor). Food sacrificed to idols is false doctrine and teachings"
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony
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During the days of one's youth, everyone has someone they look up to and admire, such as a parent, teacher, celebrity or sports star. But there is something surprising in the Bible. Revelation 22:15 says that those who worship idols cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Does that mean, therefore, that we cannot go to heaven? In Revelation 2:14, we read that Balaam had taught Balak to set a trap for Israel, so that the people of Israel would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit adultery. What are the idols spoken of in the Bible?
In the Ten Commandments God gave through Moses, it is recorded, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image… You shall not bow down to them or worship them (Exodus 20:4-5)'. The idol here refers to an actual idol made by human hands, such as Aaron's golden calf. Solomon also worshipped a physical idol, and the nation of Israel was subsequently cursed.
However, the idols in the books of the prophets are spiritual (figurative) idols, which are likened to physical idols. In Isaiah 41, God tells us to bring a case against the idols, and also tells us about the future. In our times today, how could a case and statement be made against a physical idol?
In the Bible, idols are likened to wind and confusion (Isaiah 41:29), and to false prophets (Jeremiah 5:13), and an idol carved by a craftsman to a false teacher (Hab 2:18). Therefore, it can be seen that the idols mentioned in the books of the prophets refer to false shepherds (pastors) who teach lies because they do not have the truth of God. They are likened to a physical idol made of gold, silver, wood and stone (etc.), which is lifeless and can neither speak, nor hear, nor see. At this time today, the food sacrificed to idols that God's people should not eat refers to the false doctrine and teaching that comes from the lips of a false shepherd.
What was the reality of an idol, and food sacrificed to idols, at the first coming when the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled? The scribes and Pharisees, who were the pastors of that time, claimed that their father was God, but Jesus said that the scribes and Pharisees were children of snakes and a brood of vipers. In Deuteronomy 32:33, it was said that their doctrine is the poison of serpents and poison of vipers.
At the time of the fulfilment of Revelation, what is the actual reality of an idol and food sacrificed to idols? In 2 Thessalonians 2, it is said that the work of salvation at the Second Coming of the Lord will take place after the events of betrayal and destruction occur. In Revelation 1, the seven stars of the tabernacle (church) of the seven golden lampstands that prepare the way for the Lord appeared. Following the appearance of the tabernacle of the seven golden lampstands, the Nicolaitans entered it in chapter 2. As the Nicolaitans were feeding the seven stars food sacrificed to idols, the seven stars who had been in Jesus' right hand committed adultery with the spirit of Satan. As a result, Jesus appeared to John and told him to write a letter, which John sent to the seven stars who betrayed.
The book of Revelation is written using the names and locations recorded in the Bible (Revelation 11:8). In the main verse in Revelation chapter 2, when looking at Jesus' letter to the church of Pergamum, we see that Jesus rebuked some of the people for keeping the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. In the Old Testament, Balaam was one of the few Gentile diviners who believed in God. He was blinded by wealth, and he taught Balak king of Moab to set a trap of idolatry before Israel. The Israelites fell for Balak's scheme and committed adultery with the Moabites, worshipping their gods and eating food sacrificed to their idols.
The same thing happened spiritually at the time of the fulfilment of Revelation when a false shepherd like Balaam became a spiritual idol and one with the destroyer-like entity, Balak. At that time, God's people, that is, the messengers and congregation of the tabernacle of the seven golden lampstands, did not even know that they were being fed the doctrine of the destroyer, which is food sacrificed to idols, and rather listened to him willingly, followed him and committed adultery with the spirit of Satan. Revelation 13 explains this event in detail. The beast with seven heads and ten horns that came out of the sea invaded the tabernacle of the seven golden lampstands and fought against the chosen people who betrayed, trampling them underfoot for a period of 42 months.
At that time, the beast that came out of the earth made an image of the beast that came out of the sea, and this beast from the earth gave life to the image and made it speak. The beast that came out of the earth made the chosen people follow the doctrine and teachings of the false shepherd, and all those who did not obey were expelled from the church. At that time, the false doctrine that the false shepherd, who is the idol, fed, was the words of commentary, that is, food sacrificed to idols. Those who received and ate this, and received the mark on their right hand and forehead, were the chosen people of the tabernacle of heaven who represented spiritual Israel.
As they committed fornication with the spirit of Satan, there was no longer a chosen pastor or people of God among the entire earth. However, at the location of these events, those who fought and overcame with the blood of the Lamb and the words of testimony, and did not receive the mark of the beast, were the brothers and the one who overcomes who established the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Revelation 15. The kingdom of heaven in the spiritual realm comes to the one who overcomes of this Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. This is the place of salvation that appears after the events of betrayal and destruction recorded in the book of Revelation.
"Obsessed with 'concerts' or 'sport', and sacrificial foods eaten following ancestral rites"
Korean Church
Pastor A, Presbyterian Church
"These are the words given to the church in Pergamum from Revelation 2:12 and on. Anything crazy can be deemed an idol. Whether it is, for example, a performance, football or baseball game, falling in love with something and selling yourself to it more than to the Lord is idolatry."
Pastor B, Presbyterian Church
"There are people who bring food for rituals. After the rituals of founding a business, they bring rice cakes. Do you say 'thanks' and eat well, or do you throw it in the rubbish? What on earth were those people doing knowing they were eating food sacrificed to idols without a conscience?"
Pastor C, Presbyterian Church
"In the name of our dead ancestors, they prepare food, cut fruit, cut a pig's head, dry pollock's head, and bow and then share the food. That is sacrificial food It is said that eating food sacrificed to idols constitutes the sin of fellowshipping with demons."
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