According to data recently presented by Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), as of the end of May, 819,063 members of 7804 churches in 80 countries have signed MOUs with Shincheonji to receive the biblical teachings from Shincheonji. At present, there are 68,892 believers belonging to 1268 pastors in 1087 places in 32 countries who are receiving the word from Shincheonji since signing an MOU.

Changing the signboard of an existing church to Shincheonji does not mean simply changing its name. It is only possible if you withdraw from the denomination, and you must give up the many benefits that pastors of the established denominations can enjoy and be prepared for persecution. When looking at the reasons given by pastors of the existing churches in every country who changed their signboards to Shincheonji, they commonly answer, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I became convinced that the words I was hearing from the Shincheonji online seminar were the truth.”

It may seem implausible to say that the Book of Revelation, which has not been fulfilled for 2000 years, has now been fulfilled and its reality has appeared. However, if it is a prophecy that will come true someday, then there is no reason why it will not one day come true. Does logic and common sense not demand that one checks for oneself? Furthermore, is it wrong for a general pastor who has struggled all their life to understand the true meaning of the Bible to admit that “the revealed words of Shincheonji are true”?

At the First Coming, Jesus lamented the religious state of the Jewish world, saying, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?” Among the reasons why the Jews at the time did not believe in Jesus and persecuted him are his poor social standing and outward appearance.

Chairman ManHee Lee introduces himself as a 'messenger sent for the churches' and emphasises that he knew nothing about the Bible, was never taught by any person nor did he study at a seminary, but only "testifies what Heaven has shown and heard." In the many lectures that Chairman Lee has given, he reiterates that he  speaks only according to the Bible, which records the writing of God, without any of man's interpretation. What he conveys are the things of heaven, and not the things of man. Prominent theologians have interpreted the Bible for centuries, but they have only proven that 'human beings cannot know the will of God'.

Hearing the words of the Chairman of Shincheonji, a farmer who began a 'life of faith guided by the stars', pastors from around the world are now flocking to Shincheonji on their knees. Attention is centred on whether Shincheonji, like many religious groups that have grown rapidly and then declined, will disappear into the dark side of history or usher in a new religious era with unprecedented growth.