Shincheonji · Immortality
Shincheonji Great Multitude: 144,000 Eternal Life Change
Short answer: Shincheonji (SCJ) first taught that only the 144,000 would receive physical eternal life: its 1985 Revelation commentary gives the “wall of death” leap to 144,000 spirit-flesh pairs. Its 2007 and 2009 books describe the great multitude in white (the white-robed multitude of Revelation 7, 흰 무리) as the kingdom’s “people,” who come “to receive salvation,” not as priests. Former insiders and later lesson notes say eternal life was extended to the great multitude around 2007 to 2010, and since 2020 the teaching has softened toward long life. No official SCJ document announcing either change has been found.
Many members today will say the great multitude, the “white-robed” believers who come after the 144,000, will also receive eternal life. Many will also say they were never taught that anyone would live forever in the flesh. Both can be sincere, because the teaching has changed several times in forty years.
This page traces those changes in order. For what the original 144,000 teaching was, see The 144,000 and Physical Eternal Life.
By Chris Vishoot, co-founder of Bible Vaccine Center International and former Shincheonji member9 min readSource notes
How to read the quotes
- Primary
- checked against a copy we hold or a page SCJ published.
- Secondary · via outlet
- copied exactly as that outlet printed it; we have not seen the original.
English renderings of Korean are our own translations; awaiting native-speaker review.
On this page
1. The original line: physical eternal life for the 144,000 only
The 1985 commentary gives the “wall of death” promise to 144,000 spirit-flesh pairs: “십사만 사천의 영들과 … 십사만 사천의 육신을 가진 신부들이 … 사망의 벽을 뛰어넘어” (“the 144,000 spirits and … the 144,000 brides who have bodies of flesh … leap over the wall of death”) (『계시록의 진상』, 1985, pp. 300–301 Primary). The great multitude is not part of that pairing.
The 2009 English book describes what the multitude receives:
SCJ’s English textRevelation 7 records the sealing of the 144,000 people who become priests. After these priests of God are sealed, a great multitude, dressed in robes made white in the blood of Jesus, comes from every nation, tribe, people, and language to receive salvation.
What this says
The multitude comes for “salvation” after the priests are sealed. The book does not say they leap over death.
The Korean edition is plainer: the white-robed crowd “하나님 나라의 백성이 된다” (“become the people of God’s kingdom”) (『천지창조』, 2007, p. 519 Secondary · via amennews).
A former education director, 신현욱, said in 2008 that members could receive “육체영생의 약속” (“the promise of physical eternal life”) only “14만 4천이 차야” (“when the 144,000 are filled”) (교회와신앙, 19 May 2008 Secondary · via amennews).
2. The tree imagery: long life, then “forever”
SCJ’s 2007 book uses Isaiah 65’s picture of long-lived trees to describe the millennium:
English translationIn this period, human life will grow long, like the lifespan of a tree (Isa 65:17–23). … The twelve tribes of spiritual New Israel in the millennial city, who live with Christ, will live forever in a world without evil.
원문 · Original이 시기에는 사람의 생명이 나무의 수명처럼 길어진다(사 65:17~23). … 그리스도와 함께 사는 천년성 안 열두 지파 영적 새이스라엘은 악이 없는 세계속에서 영원히 살게 된다
What this says
Life grows long “like a tree’s,” and the twelve tribes “will live forever.” Both ideas are in the same passage.
The English edition also uses the tree of life, and names the 144,000 as its fruit:
SCJ’s English textAccording to Rv 14:1-4, the 144,000 gathered at Mt. Zion are called firstfruits. These are the priests of the twelve tribes of New Spiritual Israel, which is created in the last days; they are the physical fulfillment of the fruit of the tree of life.
What this says
The 144,000 are the tree of life’s fruit.
In 2024 an instructor’s “eternal life is longevity” (section 4) keeps the tree half of the 2007 passage and drops the “forever” half.
3. The expansion to the great multitude in white (Revelation 7)
The extension of eternal life from the 144,000 to the great multitude rests on testimony and later lesson wording, not on any dated SCJ decision we have found.
Closer Look Initiative, an exit-research site, summarizes the earlier teaching:
Published in EnglishUntil the mid-20s of the SCJ year, the Great multitude in white was not taught to have eternal life. Actually, it was not taught, but only the 144,000 were taught to have physical eternal life.
What this says
Until about SCJ year 25 (SCJ counts 1984 as year 1, so roughly 2007–2010), only the 144,000 were promised bodily eternal life.
A former SCJ education director (“Mr. Shin”) said in a 2025 podcast that immortality was first limited to the 144,000 and later extended to the white multitude. Closer Look’s transcript is paraphrased, so we do not quote him.
Later SCJ lesson notes, as posted by Closer Look, say:
Published in EnglishBoth the great multitude and the 144,000 receive the blessing of heaven and eternal life.
What this says
Both groups now receive “heaven and eternal life.” The notes don’t say whether in the body.
The Korean magazine 현대종교 dates one change to late 2017, when SCJ membership was nearing 200,000. It reports that SCJ dropped the one-spirit-to-one-body pairing and said the multitude would live forever with God and Jesus:
English translation[SCJ] put forward a hasty fix: that the white multitude will live forever with the ‘spirit of God and Jesus’ being ‘with’ them.
원문 · Original흰 무리가 ‘하나님과 예수의 영’이 ‘함께’해서 영생한다는 성급한 수습책을 내놓았다.
What this says
A critical magazine says the multitude was given eternal life by a new route. This is its analysis, not an SCJ document.
What we cannot say. We found no SCJ memo, notice or sermon announcing that the great multitude would now receive physical eternal life, and no exact date. The evidence is testimony, a magazine’s analysis and later lesson wording, so we give a range. (Source pending.)
4. The softening, 2020–2025
The second shift, from 2020 to 2025, is about what eternal life means: public wording moves away from not dying in the flesh and toward long life and a life left to God.
In 2020, SCJ’s affiliated newspaper quoted Lee: “이 몸 이대로 영생한다고 말한 적이 없다” (“I never said I live forever in this body as it is”) (천지일보, 4 Mar 2020 Secondary · via 천지일보).
In April 2023, Lee spoke about his own age:
English translationThis person is 93 years old. Lived too long, right? Well, a person’s life is up to Heaven. Isn’t living and dying bound to God?
원문 · Original이 사람이, 나이가 93살입니다. 너무 오래 살았죠? 그래, 인명재천이라, 죽고 사는 게 하나님께 매여 있는 거 아닙니까?
What this says
Lee leaves his own life and death to God, with no mention of the wall of death.
In November 2024, a center instructor in the Peter tribe, not Lee himself, was recorded telling students:
English translationEternal life is longevity.
원문 · Original영생은 장수다
What this says
An instructor equated eternal life with long life. We have no record of Lee saying this.
Finally, 현대종교 reported in April 2025 that SCJ had begun recasting the wedding itself:
English translation[SCJ] changed its doctrine to say that the groom is Jesus alone, and that the martyred spirits and the Shincheonji members in the flesh are all the bride, waiting for Jesus.
원문 · Original신랑은 ‘예수님’ 한 분이며, ‘순교한 영과 육체인 신천지 신도’ 모두가 신부로서 예수님을 기다리고 있다고 신천지 교리를 바꾸었다.
What this says
In 1985 one earthly servant was the bride; here the bride’s place goes to everyone. The magazine reads this as preparing for Lee’s death. That is its interpretation.
Other reported 2024–25 lines (“God’s will,” “another flesh,” a heaven “without pain or death”) are in the timeline below and in What Happens When Lee Man-hee Dies?
Timeline: how the immortality teaching changed
One dated item per row. Rows marked P1–P5 are “then / later” comparison pairs.
| Year | What the record says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Physical eternal life tied to 144,000 spirit-flesh pairs who “leap over the wall of death” | 『계시록의 진상』, pp. 300–301 (Primary) |
| 2007 | 144,000 are priests who “reign forever”; the white-robed crowd “become the people of God’s kingdom” | 『천지창조』, p. 519, via amennews |
| 2008 | Former education director: members’ promise of physical eternal life comes only “when the 144,000 are filled” | 교회와신앙, 19 May 2008 |
| 2009 | English book: the great multitude in white comes “to receive salvation” after the priests are sealed | The Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 14 (Primary) |
| ~2007–2010 | Exit researchers: until the mid-20s of the SCJ calendar, only the 144,000 were taught physical eternal life | Closer Look Initiative, 23 Feb 2025 |
| Late 2017 | Magazine: one-to-one spirit-flesh union dropped; multitude to live forever with God’s and Jesus’ spirit | 현대종교, 11 Apr 2025 |
| Undated | Lesson notes: “both the great multitude and the 144,000 receive the blessing of heaven and eternal life” | SCJ Lesson 109, via Closer Look Initiative (posted 21 Nov 2024) |
| 2020 | Lee quoted: “I never said I live forever in this body as it is” | 천지일보, 4 Mar 2020 |
| 2023 | Lee, at 93: living and dying are “bound to God” | 기독교포털뉴스, 30 May 2023 |
| 2024 | A center instructor, not Lee: “eternal life is longevity” | 교회와신앙, 3 Dec 2024 |
| 2025 | Magazine: Jesus the only groom; martyrs’ spirits and all members the bride | 현대종교, 11 Apr 2025 |
The full timeline below gives each item with its quote and source.
Lee's ages use Korean reckoning (born 1931: year − 1931 + 1), as our sources give them. “~” marks an approximate year.
1980s
- 1985Teaching
Lee’s Revelation commentary ties the ‘wall of death’ leap to 144,000 spirit-flesh pairs
At last, as Paul said, these are the people who are suddenly changed, leap over the wall of death, and rise into the ranks of eternal life. (our translation)
마침내 이들은 바울이 말한 바와 같이 홀연히 변화 받아 사망의 벽을 뛰어넘어 영생의 반열에 오른 사람들이다.
Source: 『계시록의 진상』 (1985), pp. 300–301
- 1985Teaching
Same commentary names one earthly servant as the Lord’s bride
The Lord, who has come in spirit, chooses one flesh, the commissioned servant on earth, and receives him as his bride. (our translation)
영으로 오신 주께서 지상의 사명자 한 육체를 택하시어 신부로 맞이한다.
Source: 『계시록의 진상』 (1985), pp. 349–351
- 1986Teaching
Early SCJ textbook promises an eternal life that never tastes death
…when the Holy Spirit becomes fully one with the flesh that belongs to this spirit, one reaches an eternal life that never tastes death. (our translation)
이 영에 속한 육신에 성령이 온전히 하나되면 영원히 죽음을 맛보지 않는 영생에 이르게 된다
Source: 『신탄』 (1986), pp. 340–342, via 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
2000s
- 2004Deaths
Bartholomew tribe leader 신** dies; SCJ reportedly calls him an apostate
…branded him an apostate who died because his faith was not enough to enter eternal life. (our translation)
그를 영생에 들어갈 믿음이 안돼서 죽었다는 식으로 배도자로 매도했다.
Source: 황의종, 기독교포털뉴스 13338 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-08-27 (13 Aug 2015)
- 2005Policy
Directive signed in Lee’s name bans long-term insurance for pastors and lecturers
Shincheonji senior pastors and lecturers are forbidden to hold long-term insurance… because it is conduct that shows faith is not recognized and disregards God, and it lowers the faith of the members. (our translation)
신천지 교회담임 및 강사는 장기보험 가입을 금한다. … 이는 믿음이 인정되지 않고 하나님을 무시하는 처사이며 성도들의 믿음을 저하시키는 것이기 때문이다.
Source: 특별 지시사항, 신천기 22년 11월 10일; image published in 기독교포털뉴스 13338 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-08-27 (2015); not independently authenticated
- 2007Teaching
Doctrinal book: 144,000 are priests who reign forever; white-robed crowd become ‘people’
They are God’s kingdom, they are priests, and they reign forever and ever. After this, crowds dressed in white come flocking, and they become the people of God’s kingdom. (our translation)
하나님의 나라요, 제사장이며 세세토록 왕노릇하는 자들이다. 또 이 일 후 흰옷 입은 무리들이 몰려 오는데 이들은 하나님 나라의 백성이 된다.
Source: 『천지창조』 (2007), p. 519, via 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
- 2007Teaching
Doctrinal book: life grows long like a tree’s; the twelve tribes ‘will live forever’
In this period, human life will grow long, like the lifespan of a tree (Isa 65:17–23). … will live forever. (our translation)
이 시기에는 사람의 생명이 나무의 수명처럼 길어진다(사 65:17~23). … 영원히 살게 된다
Source: 『천지창조』 (2007), pp. 120–121, via 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
- 2007Denials
On MBC PD수첩, Lee says he never spoke of eternal life
I have never spoken of eternal life, nor called myself the returning Jesus. If God says live long, I live; if He says die, I die. (our translation)
나는 영생을 말한 적도 없고, 재림예수라 말한 적도 없다. 하나님이 오래 살라면 살고, 죽으라면 죽는 거지
Source: 뉴스앤조이 20990 (opens in new tab) (9 May 2007), transcribing MBC PD수첩
- ~2007–2010Teaching
Exit researchers say only the 144,000 were taught physical eternal life until the mid-20s of the SCJ calendar
Until the mid-20s of the SCJ year, the Great multitude in white was not taught to have eternal life. Actually, it was not taught, but only the 144,000 were taught to have physical eternal life.
Source: Closer Look Initiative, ‘Revelation 7 – Shincheonji and the Great Tribulation’ (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-05-20 (23 Feb 2025)
- 2008Teaching
Former education director: members’ promise waits on the 144,000; Lee ‘must not die’
…even if others die, he must not die. That is Shincheonji’s doctrine… I believed it and taught it. (our translation)
다른 사람은 죽어도 그 사람만큼은 죽지 않아야 하는 것이 신천지측 교리다 … 나도 그렇게 믿었고 그렇게 가르쳤다
Source: 신현욱, 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12 (19 May 2008)
2010s
- ~2010Deaths
Education director 윤재명, taught to be one who would ‘never die’, dies of cancer (date disputed; before Dec 2011)
If even a founding pillar who worked alongside Chairman Lee for so long dies without gaining eternal life, what will become of me? (our translation)
개국공신도 이렇게 영생을 얻지 못하고 죽는데 나는 과연 어떻게 될까?
Source: 지명한 exit statement (26 Jan 2012), ikccah.org/scj/2256 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-23 and amennews 11809 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-09-20; cause per 황의종, 기독교포털뉴스 13338 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-08-27
- After 2010 (undated)Deaths
Peter tribe lecturer 문** dies of cancer; SCJ revises who the ‘실상‘ figures are
Lecturer 문** of the Peter tribe, known as very capable, died of cancer. (our translation)
매우 유능하다고 알려진 베드로지파 문** 강사가 암으로 죽었으며
Source: 황의종, 기독교포털뉴스 13338 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-08-27 (13 Aug 2015)
- 2017Denials
Statement attributed to Lee tells a US outlet he never claimed eternal life
I did not ever say I have eternal life… It’s a misunderstanding.
Source: PRI The World (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-03-14 (22 Jun 2017)
- Late 2017TeachingThen / Later · P2
Magazine reports one-to-one spirit-flesh union dropped; white multitude said to live forever with God’s and Jesus’ spirit
Then · 2007They are God’s kingdom, they are priests, and they reign forever and ever. After this, crowds dressed in white come flocking, and they become the people of God’s kingdom. (our translation)
하나님의 나라요, 제사장이며 세세토록 왕노릇하는 자들이다. 또 이 일 후 흰옷 입은 무리들이 몰려 오는데 이들은 하나님 나라의 백성이 된다.
Source: 『천지창조』 (2007), p. 519, via 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
Secondary sourceLater · Late 2017SCJ put forward a hasty fix: that the white multitude will live forever with the ‘spirit of God and Jesus’ being ‘with’ them. (our translation of the magazine’s analysis)
흰 무리가 ‘하나님과 예수의 영’이 ‘함께’해서 영생한다는 성급한 수습책을 내놓았다.
Source: 현대종교, 조하나 (11 Apr 2025) (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-02-18, Wayback copy
Secondary source
2020s
- 2020Teaching
Anonymous senior official: the 144,000 will live forever in the flesh
The 144,000 saved through Shincheonji will live forever with their flesh, and become royal priests. (our translation)
신천지를 통해 구원받은 14만4000명은 육신을 가지고 영원히 살게 된다. 그리고 그들은 왕 같은 제사장이 된다.
Source: 중앙일보 23719365 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-07-19 (2 Mar 2020)
- 2020Denials
At a press conference Lee does not answer whether he is immortal
Reporter: ‘Do you really think you are immortal?’ Lee: ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ (our translation)
정말 본인은 영생 불사한다고 생각하십니까? … 그게 뭔 소린데?
Source: CBS 김현정의 뉴스쇼 transcript (3 Nov 2020), replaying 2 Mar 2020
- 2020Denials
SCJ-affiliated paper quotes Lee: never said ‘this body as it is’ lives forever
I never said I live forever in this body as it is. … there is a time when our bodies are transformed and live forever. (our translation)
이 몸 이대로 영생한다고 말한 적이 없다. … 우리 몸이 … 변화되어 영생할 때가 있다
Source: 천지일보 714614 (opens in new tab) (4 Mar 2020)
- 2023DenialsThen / Later · P1
At a Word Assembly Lee says he is 93 and that living and dying belong to God
Then · 1985At last, as Paul said, these are the people who are suddenly changed, leap over the wall of death, and rise into the ranks of eternal life. (our translation)
마침내 이들은 바울이 말한 바와 같이 홀연히 변화 받아 사망의 벽을 뛰어넘어 영생의 반열에 오른 사람들이다.
Source: 『계시록의 진상』 (1985), pp. 300–301
Primary sourceLater · 2023This person is 93 years old. Lived too long, right? … isn’t living and dying bound to God? (our translation)
이 사람이, 나이가 93살입니다. 너무 오래 살았죠? 그래, 인명재천이라, 죽고 사는 게 하나님께 매여 있는 거 아닙니까?
Source: 기독교포털뉴스 21295 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-11-03 (30 May 2023), on 22 Apr 2023 event
Secondary source - 2024Teaching
SCJ blog: the spirit-flesh wedding has not yet been fulfilled
…the marriage with spirits and flesh in Revelation 19 has not been fulfilled. The first resurrection in Revelation 20 happens after the marriage with spirits and flesh in Revelation 19.
Source: SCJ official English blog (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-05-11 (28 May 2024)
- 2024TeachingThen / Later · P3
Leaked audio: a center instructor (not Lee) says ‘eternal life is longevity’
Then · 2007In this period, human life will grow long, like the lifespan of a tree (Isa 65:17–23). … will live forever. (our translation)
이 시기에는 사람의 생명이 나무의 수명처럼 길어진다(사 65:17~23). … 영원히 살게 된다
Source: 『천지창조』 (2007), pp. 120–121, via 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
Secondary sourceLater · 2024Eternal life is longevity. (our translation)
영생은 장수다
Source: 교회와신앙 (amennews) 30114 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-01-13 (3 Dec 2024), on 20 Nov 2024 class
Secondary source - 2024TeachingThen / Later · P5
Leaver reports center course now says Lee’s life and death are God’s will and he may appear in ‘another flesh’
Then · 2008…even if others die, he must not die. That is Shincheonji’s doctrine… I believed it and taught it. (our translation)
다른 사람은 죽어도 그 사람만큼은 죽지 않아야 하는 것이 신천지측 교리다 … 나도 그렇게 믿었고 그렇게 가르쳤다
Source: 신현욱, 교회와신앙 (amennews) 8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12 (19 May 2008)
Secondary sourceLater · 2024The Chairman’s living or dying is God’s will. … After the Chairman passes, he may appear in another flesh, because Jesus did too. (our translation)
총회장(이만희 교주)이 죽고 사는 것은 하나님의 뜻이다 … 총회장 돌아가신 후 다른 육으로 나타나실 수 있다. 왜냐하면 예수님도 그러하셨기 때문이다
Source: 교회와신앙 (amennews) 30347 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-03-21 (28 Jan 2025), via YouTube 물고기상담소
Secondary source - 2025TeachingThen / Later · P4
Magazine reports groom/bride recast: Jesus the only groom; martyrs’ spirits and members both the bride
Then · 1985The Lord, who has come in spirit, chooses one flesh, the commissioned servant on earth, and receives him as his bride. (our translation)
영으로 오신 주께서 지상의 사명자 한 육체를 택하시어 신부로 맞이한다.
Source: 『계시록의 진상』 (1985), pp. 349–351
Primary sourceLater · 2025The groom is Jesus alone, and the martyred spirits and the Shincheonji members in the flesh are all the bride, waiting for Jesus. (our translation of the magazine’s summary)
신랑은 ‘예수님’ 한 분이며, ‘순교한 영과 육체인 신천지 신도’ 모두가 신부로서 예수님을 기다리고 있다고 신천지 교리를 바꾸었다.
Source: 현대종교, 조하나 (11 Apr 2025) (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-02-18, Wayback copy
Secondary source - 2025Teaching
Leaked Telegram notice attributed to Lee speaks of entering ‘rest’ and a heaven without death
Let us finish the remaining work and enter that rest. … we will live in a heaven where there is no pain or death. (our translation)
남은 일을 마저 다하고 저 안식에 들어갑시다 … 고통과 사망이 없는 천국에서 살게 됩니다
Source: 교회와신앙 (amennews) 30852 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-09-01 (18 Jun 2025); notice not independently verified
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Notes on the table.
- Lee’s age: Korean reckoning (year − 1931 + 1), matching his own “93살” (2023), the 77 reported for 2007 and the Korean-age 90 reported for 2020. Birth year 1931 per the Korea Herald (2020), 교회와신앙 (2009: “1931년 9월 15일”) and 현대종교 (2025). His international age is one to two years lower. “~” marks an approximate event year.
- Dates: “Mid-20s of the SCJ year” is Closer Look’s phrase; ~2007–2010 is our conversion. 윤재명‘s death is given as 2010 or 2012, but a lecturer attended the funeral before leaving SCJ in December 2011, so we write “~2010.” 문**’s death is undated.
- Leaks: The 2005 directive, 2024 audio, 2024 course report and 2025 Telegram notice reached us through critical outlets. We have not seen the originals.
For families
Frequently asked questions
Who gets eternal life in Shincheonji: the 144,000 or the great multitude?
At first, only the 144,000 were taught physical eternal life: the 1985 commentary gives the “wall of death” leap to 144,000 spirit-flesh pairs, and the 2009 English book says the great multitude in white comes “to receive salvation” after the priests are sealed. Former insiders say this widened around 2007 to 2010, and later SCJ lesson notes say “both the great multitude and the 144,000 receive the blessing of heaven and eternal life.” No official SCJ document announcing the change has been found.
Who is the great multitude (the white-robed multitude) in Shincheonji’s teaching?
In Shincheonji’s reading of Revelation 7, the great multitude, the “white-robed” believers, come from every nation after the 144,000 priests are sealed. SCJ’s 2009 English book says they come “to receive salvation”; the 2007 Korean book says they “become the people of God’s kingdom” (as quoted by amennews). The 144,000 are the priests; the multitude are the people.
When did Shincheonji change its great multitude teaching?
There is no dated decision. Closer Look Initiative, an exit-research site, says that until about the mid-20s of the SCJ calendar (roughly 2007 to 2010) only the 144,000 were taught physical eternal life. The Korean magazine “Hyundae Jonggyo” (현대종교) dates one change to late 2017, when SCJ said the multitude would live forever with God and Jesus “with” them. The evidence is testimony, a magazine’s analysis and later lesson wording, so the page gives a range.
Does Shincheonji still teach physical eternal life?
The meaning has softened since 2020. SCJ’s affiliated newspaper quoted Lee Man-hee in March 2020: “I never said I live forever in this body as it is.” In April 2023 Lee said living and dying are “bound to God.” In November 2024 a center instructor, not Lee, was recorded saying “eternal life is longevity,” and in April 2025 a critical magazine reported that SCJ now calls Jesus the only groom and all members the bride.
Why do some Shincheonji members say they were never taught eternal life in the flesh?
They may be right about their own classes. The teaching has changed several times in forty years, so members who joined later may have received the newer, softer version. The timeline on this page lists each dated change so families can compare what was taught when.
Does Shincheonji teach that only 144,000 people are saved?
No. SCJ’s books separate salvation from the 144,000’s role: the 2009 English book says the great multitude in white comes “to receive salvation” after the priests are sealed, and the 2007 Korean book calls them “the people of God’s kingdom.” What the early books reserved for the 144,000 was physical eternal life, not salvation.
What did it mean that the 144,000 had to be “filled”?
A former SCJ education director, 신현욱, said in 2008 that members could receive “the promise of physical eternal life” only “when the 144,000 are filled.” In that teaching, the promise waited on the number being completed.
Has Lee Man-hee denied teaching eternal life?
Yes, several times. On MBC’s PD수첩 in 2007 he said he had “never spoken of eternal life”; a 2017 statement attributed to him told PRI The World “I did not ever say I have eternal life”; and in 2020 SCJ’s affiliated newspaper quoted him: “I never said I live forever in this body as it is.” His 1985 commentary had promised the 144,000 would “leap over the wall of death.”
Bible Vaccine Center and Closer Look Initiative are run by the same team.
Source notes
- 『계시록의 진상』 (Lee Man-hee, 도서출판 신천지, 1985): pp. 300–301 and 349–351. Checked against our copy; page numbers are section ranges.
- 『신탄』 (김건남·김병희, 1986), pp. 340–342; 『천지창조』 (2007), pp. 120–121 and 519. As quoted in 교회와신앙 (amennews), 19 May 2008: https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
- The Creation of Heaven and Earth (Shinchonji Press, 2009; ISBN 978-1-61658-643-0): pp. 14 and 89–90. Printed page numbers from our copy’s running headers. On p. 14 our OCR reads “14.4,000”; we print “144,000”.
- 신현욱, 교회와신앙, 19 May 2008: https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=8603 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-12
- Closer Look Initiative, “Revelation 7 – Shincheonji and the Great Tribulation,” 23 Feb 2025: https://closerlookinitiative.com/archives/9413 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-05-20
- “Mr. Shin” interview (paraphrased transcript), Closer Look Initiative, 28 Mar 2025: https://closerlookinitiative.com/archives/10596 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-06-18
- SCJ Lesson 109 notes, via Closer Look Initiative: https://closerlookinitiative.com/archives/3381 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-06-17 (Closer Look Initiative post dated 21 Nov 2024; this is the post date, not the date the lesson was taught, which the page does not give.) (Date pending.)
- 현대종교, 조하나, “변개되는 신천지 ‘첫째 부활‘ 핵심 교리,” 11 Apr 2025. Read from a Wayback Machine copy; the live site was down. http://www.hdjongkyo.co.kr/news/view.html?section=22&category=1001&item=&no=20470 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-02-18
- 천지일보 (SCJ-affiliated), 4 Mar 2020: https://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=714614 (opens in new tab)
- Word Assembly, 22 Apr 2023: 기독교포털뉴스, 30 May 2023: http://www.kportalnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=21295 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-11-03
- “영생은 장수다”: 교회와신앙, 3 Dec 2024: https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30114 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-01-13
- 2024 center course report: 교회와신앙, 28 Jan 2025: https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30347 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-03-21
- Telegram notice: 교회와신앙, 18 Jun 2025: https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=30852 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-09-01
- Deaths and the 2005 directive: 황의종, 기독교포털뉴스, 13 Aug 2015: https://www.kportalnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=13338 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2025-08-27 ; 지명한 statement: http://ikccah.org/scj/2256 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-07-23 and https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=11809 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2024-09-20
- Denials: 뉴스앤조이, 9 May 2007: https://www.newsnjoy.or.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=20990 (opens in new tab) ; PRI The World, 22 Jun 2017: https://theworld.org/stories/2017/06/22/apocalyptic-korean-christian-group-goes-different-names-critics-say-its-just-cult (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-03-14 ; CBS 김현정의 뉴스쇼, 3 Nov 2020: https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5440273 (opens in new tab)
- Senior SCJ official (anonymous): 중앙일보, 2 Mar 2020: https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/23719365 (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-07-19
- SCJ official English blog, 28 May 2024: http://enblog.shincheonji.kr/2024/05/the-result-of-spiritual-and-physical.html (opens in new tab) · Archived 2026-05-11
- Lee’s birth year: Korea Herald, 2 Mar 2020: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/2245137 (opens in new tab) ; 교회와신앙, 16 Dec 2009: https://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=9930 (opens in new tab)
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