📰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 24 elders carry out the administrative affairs of the kingdom of God"
Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony
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In Revelation 4, we see that Apostle John ascended to heaven by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and saw God sat on the throne with the twenty-four elders seated surrounding the throne, the spirit of the seven lamps, a crystal-like sea of glass, four living creatures around the throne, with eyes in front and behind. He saw this in its entirety. Let's take a look at the 24 elders.
In brief, the 24 elders seated surrounding the throne of God, which Apostle John saw under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are the elders in charge of the administrative affairs of the spiritual kingdom of heaven. They are 24 spirits.
To understand why, let's take a look at the spiritual throne in Revelation 4, which John saw by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Firstly, he saw God sitting on the throne with its appearance of jasper and ruby. Encircling the throne, he saw a rainbow that shone like an emerald. Surrounding the throne are 24 other thrones, and seated on them are 24 elders dressed in white and with crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne come flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, the spirits of the seven lamps blaze, and in front of the throne is a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the centre, around the throne, are four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and behind. This here is the throne of God in the spiritual world that John saw through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In brief, the 24 elders seated surrounding the throne of God, which Apostle John saw under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are the elders in charge of the administrative affairs of the spiritual kingdom of heaven. They are 24 spirits.
To understand why, let's take a look at the spiritual throne in Revelation 4, which John saw by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Firstly, he saw God sitting on the throne with its appearance of jasper and ruby. Encircling the throne, he saw a rainbow that shone like an emerald. Surrounding the throne are 24 other thrones, and seated on them are 24 elders dressed in white and with crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne come flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, the spirits of the seven lamps blaze, and in front of the throne is a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the centre, around the throne, are four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and behind. This here is the throne of God in the spiritual world that John saw through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The first thing to understand is that the throne of the spiritual realm in heaven is not something that any person can see. The God of the Old Testament showed the appearance of the throne in the spiritual realm in a vision only to the prophets, such as Moses and Ezekiel. At the first coming, only Jesus saw the appearance of the throne in the spiritual realm.
Therefore, in this present day when the book of Revelation is fulfilled, only the pastor of New Heaven and New Earth, who comes in the position of Apostle John, can testify the things of heaven that he has seen and heard in the spiritual realm of heaven.
Could it be that the heaven Apostle John ascended to is the skies of the earth? In Revelation 4:2, what Apostle John said that he saw in the Spirit is not what he saw with his flesh, but with his spirit. The place where God's throne is located is not the actual sky, but it is the spiritual realm where God is. Therefore, ascending to heaven means ascending to the spiritual world where God, who is spirit, dwells.
This is like what Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12 - that through the vision and revelation of the Lord, there was a man in Christ who had been caught up to the third heaven.
Therefore, John was moved by the Holy Spirit to witness the kingdom of God in the spiritual realm, and all those he saw there were spirits. Let's understand the 24 elders who, among all the spirits, are on the throne of God.
In the same way the literal elders on the earth are in charge of the housekeeping and administrative affairs of the church, the 24 elders in the spiritual realm are 24 spirits who are in charge of all the administrative affairs of the kingdom of God in the spiritual realm.
In Revelation 4 and Revelation 6, four living creatures appear, and the four living creatures ride on horses and act as military officers. They each play a role according to their mission and status.
What does it mean for the 24 elders to be dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads? In Revelation 3:4, it is said that those who have not soiled their clothes are dressed in white and are worthy, and Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armour of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Also, in Revelation 19:8, it is said that fine linen, bright and clean, is given for the righteous acts of the saints, so the spiritual clothes refer to one's righteous acts. Therefore, for the elders to be dressed in white, it means that their acts are acknowledged as righteous. The crown of gold symbolises glory.
In the same way the literal elders on the earth are in charge of the housekeeping and administrative affairs of the church, the 24 elders in the spiritual realm are 24 spirits who are in charge of all the administrative affairs of the kingdom of God in the spiritual realm.
In Revelation 4 and Revelation 6, four living creatures appear, and the four living creatures ride on horses and act as military officers. They each play a role according to their mission and status.
What does it mean for the 24 elders to be dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads? In Revelation 3:4, it is said that those who have not soiled their clothes are dressed in white and are worthy, and Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armour of God, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Also, in Revelation 19:8, it is said that fine linen, bright and clean, is given for the righteous acts of the saints, so the spiritual clothes refer to one's righteous acts. Therefore, for the elders to be dressed in white, it means that their acts are acknowledged as righteous. The crown of gold symbolises glory.
The 24 elders of God in heaven are spirits, and the 12 tribes created at the time of Revelation are sealed entities.
"The 12 tribes of the Old Testament and the 12 Apostles of Jesus equal 24, which is a number representing the people saved within the Old and New Testaments"
Korean Church
Pastor, Presbyterian Church
"Scholars generally agree on who the 24 elders here are. Who are they? These 24 elders are the patriarchs of the 12 tribes in the Old Testament, plus (+) the 12 apostles of Jesus, so they are the 24 elders. So now these 24 elders are portrayed as representative of all the people who receive salvation in the New and Old Testament times. That's how I see it."
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