Such a forecast is based on its current rapid growth in the first half of this year. Although Shincheonji church has grown on average by 20,000-30,000 year-on-year, 30,458 people (27,711 in Korea, 6847 overseas) have already completed the six-month Bible study programme run at its Zion Mission Center and joined the church. This represents a five-fold increase on the same period in 2018 (14,834 - 9683 in Korea, 5151 overseas). Although the number of students enrolled to commence study was 8488 at the end of June 2018 (7175 in Korea, 1313 overseas), the current figure as of the end of June 2019 is 150,641 (141,177 in Korea, 14,578 overseas). This represents an increase of a staggering 1800%.

Shincheonji church aims to have a graduation of 100,000 Zion Mission Center students for 2019. This growth is not only indicative of ‘quantity’. Shincheonji church ensures that its members possess a solid mastery of the Bible. Therefore, in order to become a congregation member of Shincheonji church, one must complete a six-month Bible study programme at one of its 300 Zion Mission Centers worldwide and then complete a 300-question exam, scoring a minimum 90%. This is entering through the ‘narrow door’.

What is the reason for this rapid growth and what will the outcome be? As one member of Shincheonji church said: "Shincheonji church is capable of such explosive growth because of its Bible-centred teachings. If all students complete the six-month Bible study programme this year, a huge wind of change will be felt throughout the Christian world globally.”