Founded in 1984, Shincheonji Church of Jesus (full name ‘Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony’) has been growing by 20-30,000 members yearly over the last five years, but is expected to grow by a staggering 100,000 members in 2019 alone. The reason for its explosive growth is that Shincheonji church is promised in the Bible. ‘Shin-cheon-shin-ji’ (in full) translates from Korean into 'New Heaven New Earth', which is promised to appear in Revelation 21 as the place where God will end all death, mourning, crying and pain. It is named ‘The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony’ because it is where the plain testimony (evidence) of the promised events in Revelation are explained through one person, who is Jesus’ promised messenger (pastor) who has seen and heard all the promised events at the location of the events (see Revelation 22:8, 16). Man Hee Lee, chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and Jesus’ promised messenger, is making this known to people throughout South Korea, according to the promise of the Bible.

On the morning of 18th October, Shincheonji Pohang Church held a press conference at Philos Hotel Pohang, Republic of Korea (South Korea), to expose the corrupt behaviour of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) as it continues to slander Shincheonji church with groundless accusations about its Bible teachings while the CCK repeatedly avoids engaging in open dialogue about its own Bible teachings. 

In recent years, Shincheonji church has sent invitations to the CCK to engage in an Open Bible forum to help Koreans discern the correct understanding of the Bible in an objective and impartial way, thereby addressing the false accusations made against Shincheonji church by the CCK. Earlier this year, in the other side of the country in Cheonan, CCK Cheonan responded to Shincheonji church's invitation and agreed to engage in a local Open Bible forum. Although discussions began well on 22nd June, as New Testament topics of discussion for the forum were agreed, CCK Cheonan later pulled out of discussions, claiming that Shincheonji church had not met their demands. 

In Pohang, even though Shincheonji Pohang has sent out four invitations (May 23rd, June 26th, July 10th and July 22nd) to CCK Pohang to engage in a local Open Bible forum, CCK Pohang ignored the invitation and even held their own press conference at Pohang City Hall on October 10th claiming that Shincheonji church had failed to commit to an Open Bible forum. Moreover, CCK Pohang formed a 'Pohang Disclosure Forum' composed of several local Christian groups and organisations, including a private Christian university, with Mrs. Choi (55) as its head. 

Shincheonji Pohang’s press conference also urged for a more pressing matter; a ban on the CCK’s vile ‘coercive conversion’ practice, which has robbed two young women of their lives and continues to separate thousands of families. ‘Coercive conversion’ was established by the CCK - an organisation of Korean churches founded on the Presbyterian doctrine in 1989 - and it is implemented by pastors affiliated to the CCK. Such so-called ‘pastors’ target believers from up-and-coming churches by deceiving their families into believing that their loved one has joined a cult. Upon the pastor’s counsel, families then feed their loved ones sleeping pills and abduct them to a remote location where they are robbed of their phones, handcuffed, and subjected to physical and psychological abuse until they renounce their religious beliefs and consent to receiving the CCK’s Presbyterian ‘conversion education’. To date, there have been upwards of 1500 known cases of 'coercive conversion', largely committed against young believers in their late teens and 20s, in South Korea; a supposedly democratic country which enshrines religious freedoms within its constitution (article 20 states 'all citizens enjoy freedom of religion'). The recent death of Ji-In Gu in January 2018 led to worldwide rallies and a public outcry from the United Nations who called for a shutdown of the CCK and punishment for coercive conversion pastor. Yet the Korean government has not issued a single statement about this. Perhaps as shocking is the fact that CCK pastors, have received 12,000 sentences for crimes including burglary, drink-driving and sexual assault.

Shincheonji church has been strongly advocating for punishment of these pastors, a ban on coercive conversion and a shutdown of the CCK. The aforementioned Mrs. Choi of 'Pohang Disclosure Forum' was recently found guilty of kidnap, detainment and assault by the District Prosecutors' Office in Daegu for having forcibly converted Shincheonji church youth through the ‘coercive conversion’ programme. Who is the real cult?

A representative of Shincheonji church said, “Recently, Shincheonji Church of Jesus has been successfully hosting a nationwide seminar. More than 8000 people attended seminars in Seoul, Incheon and Daejeon with total registration from over 15,000 people. Shincheonji Church of Jesus is committed to engaging in discussion with other churches at any time. If CCK Pohang wishes to engage in Bible discussion with Shincheonji, then one of their pastors who possesses sound theological grounding should present clear rules of discussion without confusion. We would welcome this at any time."

At Shincheonji Pohang press conference, Ms. Yu-jung Kim (24), a victim of ‘coercive conversion’, spoke movingly: “Since childhood, I have suffered verbal abuse and assault from my parents. When I went to Shincheonji church, I found my life's purpose and hope, and healing after what my family did. That's when brainwashing began. My mother mustered all her effort and forced me to leave school. One evening, she abducted me. My eyes were masked and my hands and feet tied up as I remained in secluded lodgings in Gapyeong for a period of 13 days. I lost my sanity."

This is the disturbing reality of Christianity in South Korea in 2019. The international community has become increasingly vocal on 'coercive conversion'. After the death of Ji-In Gu in January 2018, 221 US media channels, including ABC, publicised her death, which led to reports of large-scale human rights movements in Korea and abroad. In August 2019, at a ministerial conference at the US State Department building, it was officially pointed out that Korea is the only democratic country where forced conversion is tolerated. Fifteen major international NGOs have since written letters to President Moon Jae-in, calling for the eradication of 'coercive conversion'.

A report published by Shincheonji church shows that 'coercive conversion' has caused two deaths, 682 cases of sleeping pills, 861 assaults, 1221 abductions, 1293 forced signatures for 'conversion education', 1338 forced absences from school or work, 43 cases of divorce, and two deaths. The report also cites there being a total of 1507 reported victims of 'coercive conversion'. At present, about 30 people in Pohang city are currently experiencing forced absences from school or work because of 'coercive conversion'. As this article goes out, there are hundreds of people suffering silently throughout South Korea because of their religious beliefs. 

To read the news article as it appeared in the press in South Korea, click here⇨https://bit.ly/2MWMr2R

Shincheonji Church of Jesus "Pohang Christian Circles Should Face Open Discussion Fair and Square"

The third of the six of Shincheonji church's nationwide Open Bible seminars was held in Daejeon, Republic of Korea (South Korea) on 17th October. The purpose of Shincheonji church's “Open Bible Seminar: The Second Coming and Harvest” is to make known Jesus’ second coming (fulfilment of the book of Revelation) and the promised harvest recorded in the New Testament of the Bible. The opening seminar was delivered to an audience of roughly 3000 guests in Seoul (nearly half of whom were pastors and theology students), followed  by a second in Incheon to an audience of 2000. The third seminar was delivered to an audience of 2000 people at Yuseong Hotel, Daejeon, on 17th October.

The speaker was Chairman Lee, who is the promised pastor of the New Testament and chairman of Shincheonji church. He opened by posing the questions, "Who am I in the Bible? Have I been created according to the Bible? What is the true faith that God acknowledges?"

Speaking on the theme 'God's Creation and Promise of a "New Thing"', chairman Lee said that the Jesus' promise recorded in the book of Revelation is being fulfilled today as Jesus is doing the work of harvest with his angels. Chairman Lee explained, “God prophesied the sowing of the two seeds (words) through the prophet Jeremiah, and then fulfilled this through Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. It's at the time of the Lord's return, which is the harvest, when those born of the seed of God will be gathered to create God's new nation and new people."

Chairman Lee continued, “The field where Jesus' words have been sown for the last 2000 years is the Church (Christian world). Those who are born of God's seed are harvested from this field, while those born of the devil's seed will remain. However, those who are not harvested is evidence that they are not born of God's seed."

Chairman Lee, who is Jesus' promised messenger taught about Revelation which he has witnessed every step (see Revelation 22:8, 16). He said, "In the book of Revelation, the first heaven and first earth- that is, the traditional church - passes away, and people born of God's seed are harvested from there to create the new heaven and new earth, which is a new kingdom and new people. It is at that place where God will return. It is God's purpose to create a new kingdom and a new people born of His seed."

Chairman Lee added, “One must ask oneself whether one has been created according to the promise of the Bible and possess true faith based on the Bible that God can acknowledge.”

A representative of Shincheonji church said, “Although we had seating for 3000 in the hotel, we received interest from more than 5000 people, including many pastors and seminarians. To accommodate demand, we opened our neighouring branch churches in Daejeon, Cheongju, Cheonan, Gongju, Seosan, and Asan and live-streamed the seminar there. We also deployed live large-scale vehicles at Cheongju Musimcheon Sports Park and Cheonan Terminal so that more believers could watch the seminar. We received huge interest from pastors, seminarians and believers who were unable to attend the seminar in person."

After the seminar, thousands of people registered their interest in Shincheonji church's 'follow-up' six-month intensive Bible study which provides an in-depth study of the entire Bible that covers the book of Revelation.

Some pastors gave feedback post-seminar, saying: “I feel blessed to have received today's teaching on the book of Revelation according to the logic of prophecy and fulfilment”, “I was enlightened by the words of the chairman,” and "the chairman's words were so clear. I now have a much more positive view of Shincheonji church." Seminarians also spoke positively, saying, “I had questioned the teaching of Shincheonji church, but through today's Open Bible Seminar, I was able to discover my faith and learn how I can lead my ministry in the future. At this time when scepticism about the church is at its peak, we need to look for ways to strengthen our belief in God and in the words of the Bible. Faith has unknowingly shaped our history with the usage of 'AD' and 'BC' to dictate time. I hope many more people will come to Shincheonji church's seminar to understand this word of truth."

Indeed, Chairman Lee is determined that every effort be made for all people to hear about the fulfillment of the book of Revelation today.

Shincheonji church's next stop on its nationwide tour will be Daegu (25th 19:00), followed by Busan (26th 14:00) and Gwangju (2nd November 14:00). All seminars will be livestreamed through Shincheonji church's official website (UTC+9 time zone). Click here⇨http://scj.so/bibleseminar

Related Korean News Articles (Korean only)

Shincheonji Church of Jesus Hosts National Tour Daejeon Open Bible Seminar "Are you harvested"

Shincheonji Church of Jesus The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony Finishes Another Open Bible Seminar with Great Success

⇨https://bit.ly/33Qw5iX

Blog Articles
1000 pastors & theology students pack into Shincheonji Church of Jesus' Open Bible Seminar in Seoul, Korea⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2019/10/1000-pastors-theology-students-pack.html

Shincheonji Church of Jesus' Open Bible Seminar: six cities, Oct-Nov 2019, Republic of Korea ⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2019/09/shincheonji-church-of-jesus-open-bible.html

“We must believe in the Bible, not in the words of men” The 2nd of Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ Open Bible Seminar on “The Second Coming and Harvest”, Incheon, South Korea⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2019/10/we-must-believe-in-bible-not-in-words.html
The eight seminar topics of Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ Open Bible Seminar on “The Second Coming and Harvest”, South Korea
⇨http://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-eight-seminar-topics-of-shincheonji.html

Shincheonji church (full name ‘Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony’) was founded in 1984 and is an abbreviation of 'Shin-cheon-shin-ji', which is 'New Heaven New Earth'; God's promised new kingdom and new people recorded in the Bible.

Shincheonji church has been delivering its nationwide tour “Open Bible Seminar: The Second Coming and Harvest” in order to testify about Jesus’ second coming, which is the fulfilment of the book of Revelation, and the promised harvest. The seminars in Seoul (4th), Incheon (10th) and Daejeon (17th) were delivered to audiences of 3000, 2000 and 2000 people, respectively. Nearly half the guests were pastors or theology students seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible. Shincheonji church livestreamed their seminars in nearby venues to accommodate interest from tens of thousands of Koreans; of faith and without. 

Post-seminar, thousands have registered their interest in Shincheonji church's 'follow-up' free six-month intensive Bible study at their Zion Mission Center, which provides an in-depth study of the entire Bible, including the book of Revelation.

Shincheonji church will continue its nationwide tour in Daegu (25th 19:00), Busan (26th 14:00) and Gwangju (2nd November 14:00). All seminars will be livestreamed through Shincheonji church's official website (UTC+9 time zone). To watch them live, click here

⇨http://scj.so/bibleseminar

In other news, Shincheonji church is expected to host a graduation ceremony for 100,000 students later this year.

Shincheonji church’s nationwide “Open Bible Seminar: The Second Coming and Harvest” was held in Seoul, Korea, on 4th October to an audience of 2000 - of whom 1000 were pastors and theology students. The second of the six seminars was then held in Songdo Central Park Hotel, Incheon, on 10th October to another audience of 2000 guests. Shincheonji church had received interest from 4000 applicants for the seminar in Incheon. To accommodate, the seminar was livestreamed in the nearby Samsan Convention Hall as well as ten churches in Incheon and neighbouring Gimpo, Bucheon, and Gwangmyeong.

The seminar opened with a  moving children’s performance, warming guests’ hearts to prepare them for the one-hour sermon on the word of God delivered by the promised pastor of the New Testament and chairman of Shincheonji church, Man Hee Lee. Chairman Lee spoke on the theme ‘God's Creation and Promise of a New Thing'. He began the sermon saying, “I stand here to make known to you the fulfillment of Revelation in God’s 6000-year work. God, who left this world, made a plan to return, and His plan will be complete when the book of Revelation is fulfilled. This is the creation of God’s promised new kingdom and new people.”

In an era where believers often neglect the Bible in favour of their pastor’s teachings, Chairman Lee stressed, “We must believe in the Bible, not in the words of men. We must believe in and verify the word of God for ourselves. One must check whether one is truly saved and whether there is a place one must go to find salvation.”

The audience, which ranged in demographic from early 20s-seniors, heard of the Open Bible seminar through word of mouth, leaflets delivered through their homes, newspaper advertisements or online correspondence. These are some of the participants' testimonies:-

“I was confident that I knew a lot about the Bible. I was moved by the chairman’s words and received much grace from him. I also want to learn this word to share it with my acquaintances. Moreover, after today’s lecture, I will tell my colleague pastors that Shincheonji Church of Jesus is not a cult or a heretical church.”

“Through today's seminar, I clearly understood why God's new kingdom is growing rapidly. I was impressed by the teaching on God's history and purpose through the consistency of the Old and New Testaments. We will learn more through their follow-up course.”

"My impression of Shincheonji has completely changed through today's event. I've registered on their follow-up course."

The sermon ended with a prayer led by Chairman Lee, followed by a loud "Amen" as the audience raised their hands upwards to return all the glory to God.
After the seminar, which concluded at 9pm, 400 people registered their interest in Shincheonji church's 'follow-up' six-month intensive Bible study which provides an in-depth study of the entire Bible that covers the book of Revelation. In 2019, a staggering 100,000 people will have completed this study. 

To register for Shincheonji church's free online Bible Study Course, click here
⇨http://bit.ly/bible_061102 (English)
⇨http://bit.ly/shengjing_061102 (Chinese)

Key Seminar Topics
1) New Work of Creation (Jer31:22): Who am I in the Bible?
2) Rev 21:1~4 New Heaven New Earth, Am I created according to the Bible?
3) Am I born of the seed of God or of the evil one? Let's find out!
4) Betrayal, Destruction, Salvation. Understand each and their reality
5) On whom does the blood of Jesus, promised on the night of Passover, take effect?
Luke 22:14-20 → Rev 5:9-10 → Rev chap 7 → Rev 12:7-11
6) Can you enter heaven even after distorting Revelation?(Rev 22:18~19)
7) Do you have rooted belief? (Luke 18:8) Be re-born and leave the way of Israel's shepherds and believers
8) Leave the elementary teachings and go onto maturity (Heb 6:1-2): Where Prophecy is fulfilled

Korean News Articles (Korean only)
Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus hosted successful 2nd Open Bible Seminar in Incheon
⇨https://bit.ly/2INsA4R

Shincheonji Open Bible Seminar with crowd of 3000 people 'Great Success'
⇨https://bit.ly/314AblV

Participants said "This is why people go to Shincheonji...I will tell my colleague pastors"
⇨https://bit.ly/2oySHFL

Related Blog Articles
1000 pastors & theology students pack into Shincheonji Church of Jesus' Open Bible Seminar in Seoul, Korea
⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2019/10/1000-pastors-theology-students-pack.html

Shincheonji Church of Jesus' Open Bible Seminar: six cities, Oct-Nov 2019, Republic of Korea⇨https://noahbrown1984.blogspot.com/2019/09/shincheonji-church-of-jesus-open-bible.html