Noah Brown: May 2025

There is a church whose entire congregation masters the Book of Revelation by taking a Bible test every week. It is Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (hereinafter referred to as Shincheonji Church of Jesus). This is a place where only those who have completed the introductory, intermediate, and advanced curriculum at the Zion Christian Mission Centre and passed the graduation exam (consisting of about 100 questions) can enter the church. In recent years, the church has held four graduation ceremonies of over 100,000 people.

ManHee Lee, Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, has been touring church branches throughout South Korea despite being advanced in age. Every time he takes to the pulpit to preach, he cites Revelation 22:18-19, saying, “You must not add to or subtract from the Book of Revelation. Those who add to or subtract from it cannot enter heaven,” and that the Book of Revelation must be recorded in one’s hearts and mind.

In accordance with Chairman ManHee Lee’s desire to seal all members so that they are eligible to enter heaven, the Education Department of the Shincheonji General Assembly is currently conducting a ‘Sealing Verification Exam’ for Shincheonji members around the world. This test, which began online when the world was enduring COVID-19, is now conducted in person at the church and internationally on a weekly basis, so that members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus around the world can become walking Bibles.

A Shincheonji Church of Jesus official said, “The only way to know the true meaning and reality of the Book of Revelation is to receive testimony from the witness who saw and heard the actual events of Revelation when it was fulfilled. Today, Christians worldwide have never seen or heard the reality of the Book of Revelation fulfilled, so everyone from pastors to members has added to or subtracted from the Book of Revelation.”

“Excluding Shincheonji members, there is not a single Christian in the world who has not added to or subtracted from it. Revelation 22:18-19 says that if you add or subtract from the Book of Revelation, you will not be able to enter heaven, but pastors and members of the church do not even worry about adding or subtracting from the Book of Revelation. How can this be called true faith?” He continued, “Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is considered a heresy by Catholics and Protestants, has every one of its members master the Book of Revelation. However, Catholics and Protestants have added to the Book of Revelation, including their pastors and followers. So, judge for yourself who is truly orthodox and who is truly heretical according to the Bible.”

The Bible test that every member of Shincheonji Church of Jesus takes every week is centred on the prophecies of the four gospels of the New Testament and the entire Book of Revelation. Shincheonji Church of Jesus explained that this test is a training to seal God’s word in one’s heart and to keep the New Covenant Book of Revelation.

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On April 9th, the French branch of Shincheonji Church of Jesus strongly refuted an article published by Le Parisien on April 7th, criticising it as a biased and sensational portrayal of the church. The article, titled “They Treated Us Like Animals,” labelled Shincheonji a “problematic evangelical group” and was largely based on the testimony of an anonymous former member. The church stated that it severely misrepresented their faith community.

The church explained it had submitted detailed responses to 12 questions from the journalist, totalling thousands of words, but only two sentences were included in the article. A church spokesperson said this selective reporting deprived readers of a fair view and suggested the article was a pre-planned smear.

“If more information was needed, the journalist could have visited us directly,” the church noted, emphasising its openness to transparent communication.

To share genuine experiences, the church released member testimonies. Teresa, a member for six years, said faith was a personal choice, while Axel shared that the church gave him meaning and fulfilment, including meeting his wife through church activities.

The church condemned the article’s title as sensational and misleading, insisting that no one has ever been treated in the way described. It also denied influencing a couple’s breakup, explaining that the relationship ended due to personal differences, not church pressure.

A photo cited in the article as evidence of corporal punishment was also refuted. The individual in the photo, still a member, claimed it was taken in jest before he joined and plans legal action for misrepresentation.

The article’s mention of a “training camp” was clarified as a voluntary short-term programme for spiritual growth, which has since been discontinued to prevent misunderstanding. The church also rejected claims of data collection, internet restrictions, or encouraging family disconnection.

Regarding the “ECA Academy,” the church said it was a temporary name for a Bible course, with participants informed it was affiliated with Shincheonji from the outset.

Shincheonji has urged the media to report responsibly, include diverse perspectives, and avoid sensationalism that fosters prejudice. “Biased reporting harms religious freedom and human rights,” the church stated, calling for higher journalistic standards and ongoing dialogue for better understanding.

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